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Newbridge College

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Template:IrishSchoolInfoBox Newbridge College is a co-educational secondary school in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, run by the Dominican Order. The Dominican Fathers founded Newbridge College in 1852 as a boarding school for boys. Today, still under the care of the Dominican Fathers, Newbridge College is a co-educational day school with a student population of just less than 800 students.

Background and ethos

Dominican Education draws its original inspiration from a Spaniard, Dominic Guzman (1170–1221), founder of the Order of Preachers or Dominicans, who based his ministry and that of his followers on the life and work of Jesus. Many famous Dominicans throughout the centuries, for example St. Thomas Aquinas, stressed that all truth eventually leads to God who is Truth. For those imbued with Dominic's spirit then, to study should be simply part of the joy of being fully alive.

The Dominican Order gradually spread throughout Europe. Although Dominicans were soon found in Ireland, the first record of Dominican women there is only found in the turbulent times of the mid-seventeenth century when religious persecution was rife. Records show that the sisters started schools, were forced to disband them, and when a measure of calm had returned, were able to open them once more. With Catholic Emancipation in 1829 came more foundations in Ireland.

The Dominican tradition values the importance and uniqueness of each person, encouraging students to realise all facets of their potential: physical, emotional, social, cultural, intellectual, moral and spiritual.

Motto

The College coat of arms bears two mottos. 'Veritas', ('Truth') is the motto of the Dominican Order. 'Cur me persequeris' ('Why do you persecute me?') is the motto of the Eustace family, who donated the land upon which the school is built. The reference is to the legend of St Eustace, who, out hunting, encountered a stag with a cross between his antlers (visible in the College's arms); the stag addressed the saint in the terms of the motto.

Boarding Students

The school was originally founded as a boarding school for boys in 1852. In 1998, the decision was made to phase out boarding in the College. This was decided because of the changing times. The falling number of boarding students together with the falling number of Dominican Fathers served to make boarding less viable.

History of rugby success

  • Leinster schools Senior Cup : 1940,
  • Leinster schools Junior Cup : 1950,
  • Leinster schools Senior cup : 1970,
  • Leinster schools Junior cup finalists 1998,
  • Leinster schools Senior cup semi finalists 1999,
  • Leinster schools Junior League winners 2000,
  • Leinster schools Junior cup semi finalists 2000,
  • Leinster schools Senior cup semi finalists 2004,
  • Leinster schools Vincent Murray finalists 2004,
  • Leinster schools Junior cup Semi finalists 2006.
  • Leinster schools Junior cup semi finalists 2007.

2 Feb 2008 was a proud day for the school, during the 6 Nations game, Ireland V Italy. Four former pupils lined out for Ireland, Geordan Murphy, Jamie Heaslip, Bernard Jackman and Tony Buckley. The only other time this was achieved was during the 1970's when Tom Grace, Freddie McLennan, Mick Quinn and Robbie McGrath, Ronan Kearney again all former past pupils, lined out for Ireland. The Newbridge College rugby teams are currently sponsored by Newbridge Silverware.The jerseys are manufactured by Irish company, OB Sport. New schemes are currently underway with the aim of re-establishing Newbridge College as one of the historically great rugby schools, by encouraging future students to take up rugby with a club prior to attending Newbridge College.

Academic Achievements

The school prides itself on outstanding results in state examinations each year, with several students achieving maximum points in the Leaving Certificate Examinations in recent years and encourages participation in numerous academic and social extracurricular activities, in which the school has achieved much success:

  • 2006 - Cecil D. Lewis Poetry Competition - Won by Megan Hyland
  • 2006 - Rigby Jones Debating Competition - Runners up. Team consisted of Donal Finnerty(captain), Lorcan O'Carroll and Suzanne Lawlor. Lorcan O'Carroll and Suzanne Lawlor awarded joint runner-up Best Speaker in the competition.
  • 2005 - CIMA Schools' Quiz - Winners. Team consisted of James Nolan(captain), Lorcan O'Carroll, Cian Johnston and Neil Diver.
  • 2005 - Young Scientist Competition - Caoimhe Loftus 3rd in her category.
  • 2005 - European Youth Parliament - seven students qualify for national finals, then three (James Nolan, Katie Price and Lorcan O'Carroll) are selected to represent Ireland as international delegates.
  • 2005 - TCH All-Ireland Schools' Quiz - Winners. Team consisted of James Nolan(captain), Lorcan O'Carroll, Neil Diver and Ciaran O'Carroll.
  • 2004 - European Youth Parliament - Team of 4 students chosen to represent Ireland as international delegates. Team consisted of Aoife Gallagher, Nathan O'Reilly, Fergus Sharpe and Eoghan O'Donoghue.
  • 2004 - CIMA Schools' Quiz - Winners. Team consisted of James Nolan(captain), Jeff Brennan, John Murphy and Lorcan O'Carroll.
  • 2004 - Young Scientist Competition - Eimhin Loftus and Joseph Johnston win their category (Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences).
  • 2003 - TCH All-Ireland Schools' Quiz - Semi-finalists. Team consisted of Conor Morrissey(captain), Eoghan Deasy, James Nolan and Neil Diver.
  • 2003 - Bank of Ireland Kildare Schools' Quiz - Winners. Team as above. (Won quiz every year from 1997, team members differing, until the competition was discontinued in this year).
  • 2002 - An Post Essay Competition - Won by Rebecca Jones.
  • 2002 - Young Scientist Competition - Caoimhe Loftus awarded 2nd place in her category (Junior Individual Biological and Ecological)
  • 2002 - Young Scientist Competition - Rory McGrath and Niall Hetherington awarded 2nd place in their category (Junior Group Biological and Ecological).
  • 2000 and 2001 - Mathematical Olympiad - Martin O'Leary qualifies for Irish team both years, winning a bronze medal in 2001.
  • 2000 - Physics Olympiad - Ciaran O'Rourke awarded bronze medal for achieving highes theory mark on the island of Ireland in the competition.
  • 2000 - Newbridge Parish Christmas Festival Logo Competition - Won by Paul O'Sullivan.
  • 1998 - CKR Brainbusters Quiz - Winners. Team consisted of John Mackell(captain), Kevin Conroy and Declan Cusack.

Music and drama

Newbridge College puts on a musical drama every November which is open to the general public. Formerly directed by teachers from the school, that job now falls to non-staff personnel with experience in drama. Previous shows include:

  • 2007 - High School Musical
  • 2006 - Fame
  • 2005 - Disco Inferno
  • 2004 - Little Shop of Horrors
  • 2003 - Grease
  • 2002 - Oklahoma
  • 2001 - The Wizard of Oz
  • 2000 - Joseph
  • 1999 - Calamity Jane
  • 1998 - Grease
  • 1997 - Oliver
  • 1996 - South Pacific
  • 1995 - Oklahoma

Building Development

The recent building development costing roughly 6 million euro will be finished completely soon although some of the facilities are ready including boys and girls changing rooms, a number of new classrooms and a large new social area.

Famous Alumni

Images

References

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