Calasanctius College
Encyclopedia
Calasanctius College, Oranmore is a co-educational secondary school catering for students between the ages of 12-19 around the County Galway
village of Oranmore
, and the surrounding areas, such as Carnmore
, Claregalway
, Clarenbridge, Kilcolgan
and the south side of Galway City.
, Transition Year
, Leaving Certificate Applied
and Leaving Certificate
courses.
from the convent in Galway
established a new Convent
in Oranmore, at the request of the Bishop John McEvilly. Their initial convent was known to the locals of Oranmore as 'the Hotel'. Not long after its establishment, an out-building of the convent was converted into an educational facility. In July 1869, the Sisters moved into the parochial house of the then-Parish Priest, Fr. R. Quinn, which was purchased by the Presentation Order for the sum of £600. The building of the old National College began in October 1886, and three years later, a new convent was built adjoining the old parochial house.
In 1916, a hall was built on the convent grounds to provide for home economics
classes for girls in the locality. This became the first secondary college, and was blessed by Rev. Michael Browne on the 27th August, 1946, on the feast day of St. Joseph Calasanctius.
In 1947, a boarding school
for girls was opened, which continued to draw students from the surrounding areas, until the increased demand for places led to the building of a major extension in 1963.
In 1973, the college became co-educational, with the college enrolling boys for the first time. This led to the building of a new wing, incorporating a Woodwork room. From 1987 onwards the college no longer catered for boarding students, and the dormitories and refectories were converted into Science Laboratories and further classrooms.
In 1994, the Presentation Sisters decided to withdraw from the teaching staff, the convent was vacated and a lay
college principal appointed. The college remains under the trusteeship of the Presentation Order, while being managed by secular administrators.
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
village of Oranmore
Oranmore
Oranmore is a village in County Galway on the outskirts of Galway city in Ireland. With its major housing developments, Oranmore is rapidly becoming a part of Galway's commuter or suburban belt...
, and the surrounding areas, such as Carnmore
Carnmore
Carnmore is located at the southern end of the parish of Claregalway, approximately east of Galway city in County Galway, Ireland. Carnmore lies within the Gaeltacht although the vast majority of residents there use English as their first language...
, Claregalway
Claregalway
Claregalway is a village situated about 10 km from the city of Galway in County Galway, Ireland. Claregalway was founded on the banks of the River Clare, hence the derivation of its name: Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe meaning "town on the Clare, in Galway"...
, Clarenbridge, Kilcolgan
Kilcolgan
Kilcolgan , is a village on the mouth of the Kilcolgan River at Dunkellin Bay in County Galway, Ireland. The N18 passes through the settlement. There are also two public houses, Donoghue's and Raftery's Rest...
and the south side of Galway City.
Academic
Calasanctius College operates Junior CertificateJunior Certificate
The Junior Certificate is an educational qualification awarded in Ireland by the Department of Education to students who have successfully completed the junior cycle of secondary education, and achieved a minimum standard in their Junior Cert. examinations...
, Transition Year
Transition Year
Transition Year is an optional one-year school programme that can be taken in the year after the Junior Certificate in Ireland and is intended to make the senior cycle a three year programme encompassing both Transition Year and Leaving Certificate...
, Leaving Certificate Applied
Leaving Certificate Applied
The Leaving Certificate Applied is a self-contained two-year programme of the Irish Department of Education and Science. It was introduced in 1995...
and Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
courses.
History
On the 23rd of May 1861, four Presentation SistersPresentation Sisters
The Presentation Sisters, also known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary are an order of Roman Catholic women founded in Cork, Ireland by Nano Nagle in 1775....
from the convent in Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
established a new Convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
in Oranmore, at the request of the Bishop John McEvilly. Their initial convent was known to the locals of Oranmore as 'the Hotel'. Not long after its establishment, an out-building of the convent was converted into an educational facility. In July 1869, the Sisters moved into the parochial house of the then-Parish Priest, Fr. R. Quinn, which was purchased by the Presentation Order for the sum of £600. The building of the old National College began in October 1886, and three years later, a new convent was built adjoining the old parochial house.
In 1916, a hall was built on the convent grounds to provide for home economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
classes for girls in the locality. This became the first secondary college, and was blessed by Rev. Michael Browne on the 27th August, 1946, on the feast day of St. Joseph Calasanctius.
In 1947, a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
for girls was opened, which continued to draw students from the surrounding areas, until the increased demand for places led to the building of a major extension in 1963.
In 1973, the college became co-educational, with the college enrolling boys for the first time. This led to the building of a new wing, incorporating a Woodwork room. From 1987 onwards the college no longer catered for boarding students, and the dormitories and refectories were converted into Science Laboratories and further classrooms.
In 1994, the Presentation Sisters decided to withdraw from the teaching staff, the convent was vacated and a lay
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
college principal appointed. The college remains under the trusteeship of the Presentation Order, while being managed by secular administrators.