St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast
St Mary's CBGS (Christian Brothers' Grammar School) is a Catholic boys grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
History
The school was formerly run by the Irish Christian Brothers, but as vocations have declined, so the school has become more dominated by lay teachers. Currently no brothers teach at St Mary's.
The school was previously situated at Barrack Street in the city centre, but since the 1960s has been developing a much larger campus at Glen Road (referred to locally as "School Road" due to the high numbers of schools situated along it) in west Belfast. In 1998, it completed the move to Glen Road and now has no facility at Barrack Street.
The current principal of the school is Kevin Burke. He is the first layperson to hold the post (although Jim McClean - also a layperson - was teacher in charge at Barrack Street for many years).
Extra-Curricular Activities
St Mary's has achieved notable success in numerous extra-curricular activities. The school hurling team won 6 Mageean Cup titles in succession in the 1990s. The school also competes in inter-schools competition in water polo, trampoline, athletics, gaelic football and basketball.
Away from sport, the school has produced champions in other endeavours. The school runs debating societies in English, Irish and Spanish, and has sent delegates representing Ireland to both the European Youth Parliament and European Youth Commission.
The inter-schools quiz team has enjoyed considerable success in recent years and are the holders in perpetuity of the Irish News Ulster Schools Quiz trophy, having won outright in 2001. The school also maintains an orchestra and a recording studio, stages theatrical and musical performances, as well as entering students in art competitions.
Notable Alumni
Alumni of the school are referred to as Simmarians. Notable Simmarians have included:
Academic
- Tom Bartlett, Professor of History, UCD
- Maurice Clint, Professor, Applied Mathematics, QUB.
- Dermot Diamond, Professor, Vice-President for research, UCD
- Sean Doran, Professor of Law, QUB
- James Dunwoody, Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Mathematics, QUB
- Myer Fisher, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Chicago University
- John G. Hughes, President, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
- Very Rev. Professor Martin O Callaghan, Principal of St. Mary's Univ. College
Arts
- Ronan Bennett, author, screenwriter
- Ciaran Carson, poet
- Ciaran Mackel, prominent Ulster architect
- DJ MacRandal, architect
Business
- Michael Ryan, Vice-President and General Manager, Bombardier NI
Civil
- Gerry Burns, former NI Ombudsman, author of The Burns Report
- Tom Frawley, NI Ombudsman, Health Trust Chief Executive
- Dr.Martin McAleese, Husband of the Irish President, Accountant and Dentist
- Richard McLaughlin, High Court Judge, Belfast
- Jim Dougal, Head of the European Commission in the UK. Journalist. Broadcaster.
Education
- Gerry Adams, Principal of St. Michael's Grammar, Lurgan
- John Allen, Principal of Our Lady's and St. Patrick's, Knock
- Tommy Armstrong, Principal of CBS, Glen Road, Belfast
- Jim Devine, Former Principal of St. Gall's PS
- Frank Donnelly, Former Principal of St. John the Baptist Boys' PS
- Kevin Gough, Principal of Edmund Rice College, Glengormley
- Dr.Aidan Hamill, Principal of La Salle, Belfast
- Michael McLean, Former Principal of Aquinas College, Belfast
- Leo Rice, Principal of St. Kieran's PS, Belfast
- Kevin Smith, Principal of St. Mark's PS
- Joe McGinnity, Former Principal of Good Shepherd P.S.
- P. Carswell, Principal of St. Bride's P.S.
- P. Crudden, Principal of St. Paul's P.S.
Holy Orders
- Very Rev Tom Bartley (Monsignor)
- His Eminence William Conway, Cardinal
- Most Rev Patrick Walsh, Bishop of Down & Connor
Media
- Paul Clark, telejournalist
- Vincent Kearney, journalist, broadcaster
- James Kelly, journalist, one of the oldest surviving alumni
- Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, Managing Director, Daily Ireland
- Dr.Eamon Phoenix, historian and journalist
- Eugene McEldowney, novelist, journalist, editor
Politics
- Gerry Adams MP MLA, President of Sinn Féin
- John Cushnahan MP, TD, MEP
- Joe Devlin MP
- Sean MacEntee TD, member of the first Dáil Éireann