Catholic University School
Encyclopedia
Catholic University School (CUS) is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys located on the southside of central Dublin, Ireland
. It is run by the Marist Fathers.
's Catholic Emancipation
movement of the late 1820s, the Catholic Relief Act 1829
, and a broader Catholic Revival in the United Kingdom
(of which Ireland was then part). Before then, while many Catholics received some degree of primary education, few received secondary education and very few received a University education. The only university in Ireland had been Trinity College, Dublin
- the sole constituent college of the University of Dublin
. However, although the University of Dublin (unlike the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge) had been opened to Catholics in 1793, only a few wealthy Catholics attended. And those who did had either been educated privately, or at schools such as Stonyhurst College
in England
.
In 1850, Queen Victoria granted a Royal Charter founding three colleges of the Queen's University of Ireland
. The colleges in Cork, Belfast and Galway
were non-denominational, and at the Synod of Thurles
in 1850, the Catholic Church officially condemned them as "Godless Colleges". They declared a need for a Catholic University and Cardinal John Henry Newman became the first Rector
. The Catholic University of Ireland was founded in 1851 - though not fully established until 18 May 1854.
, founded in 1850, was accompanied by Belvedere College
established by the Jesuits on the north side of the city.
The first administrators in the school were mostly young Dublin priests who had studied at the Irish College in Rome. Among them was Dr. James Quinn
, who set about enrolling students, and within a year the school had an enrollment of 130 students. The subjects taught were classical rather than practical and included Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian and the Arts. Pope Pius XI eventually chose Quinn as the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane
, Australia
- and he left the school.
Not only had Quinn taken up his appointment in Brisbane, but the reaction to a report by the Royal Commission on Endowed Schools in 1858 was coming to a head in 1859. The report suggested that all intermediate schools be run on a "mixed basis" or as a multi-denominational system, which was opposed by the Catholic Church. The report also suggested that intermediate schools be under the management of the "Board of Endowed Schools". The bishops and synods opposed these recommendations, and the Catholic hierarchy as a whole decided that they would not agree to them.
By 1862, many changes had taken place. Dr. Bartholomew Woodlock
took over as rector of the Catholic University, and suggested that the university should ignore the report's recommendations and proceed with the foundation of feeder secondary schools on its own. He decided to set up two new Catholic secondary schools: Catholic University High School, Waterford, and St. Flannan's College
in Ennis
- the latter of which still exists. Along with St. Laurence's Academy in Dublin, these schools were the Catholic University's primary "feeder schools". Over time, St. Laurence's Academy developed a close relationship with the University. Woodlock was President of the school and professors from the University also taught in the school. The school was given a name reflecting its function: the Catholic University School.
In 1867 both Cullen and Woodlock travelled to Dundalk for the consecration of Michael Kiernan as Archbishop of Armagh
. While there, they visited the Marist College in Dundalk and were impressed with what they saw. Subsequently, Cullen and Dr. Conroy, his secretary, wrote to John Letterrier, father superior of Dundalk, and offered him and the Marists St. Laurence's Academy to take over. Letterrier brought the offer to the General Council of the Marist Brothers
in Lyon
s in France. After a two-day petition, he convinced the Council of the benefit of taking on the Dublin school.
After Letterrier returned from Lyons in July 1867, Woodlock informed him of the financial burden the Harcourt Street premises had been. He recommended that the Marists purchase new premises, and when 89 Lower Leeson Street became available, the Marists purchased it. The Harcourt Street site remained on as the premises for the school for a short while, as work was required to prepare the Leeson Street building so it could be used as a school. On 29 September 1867 the Catholic University School opened for business on Lower Leeson.
The school also plays Cricket from Easter on, and Tennis and Athletics. Ronnie Delaney, the 1956 Olympic gold medallist is a past pupil.
Arts, Entertainment and Literature
Government
Politics
Religious
Sports
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It is run by the Marist Fathers.
Origins
The foundation of the Catholic University School has its basis in Daniel O'ConnellDaniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
's Catholic Emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
movement of the late 1820s, the Catholic Relief Act 1829
Catholic Relief Act 1829
The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom on 24 March 1829, and received Royal Assent on 13 April. It was the culmination of the process of Catholic Emancipation throughout the nation...
, and a broader Catholic Revival in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(of which Ireland was then part). Before then, while many Catholics received some degree of primary education, few received secondary education and very few received a University education. The only university in Ireland had been Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
- the sole constituent college of the University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
. However, although the University of Dublin (unlike the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge) had been opened to Catholics in 1793, only a few wealthy Catholics attended. And those who did had either been educated privately, or at schools such as Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
In 1850, Queen Victoria granted a Royal Charter founding three colleges of the Queen's University of Ireland
Queen's University of Ireland
The Queen's University of Ireland was established formally by Royal Charter on 3 September 1850, as the degree-awarding university of the Queen's Colleges of Belfast, Cork, and Galway that were established in 1845 "to afford a university education to members of all religious denominations" in...
. The colleges in Cork, Belfast and Galway
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
were non-denominational, and at the Synod of Thurles
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in 1850, the Catholic Church officially condemned them as "Godless Colleges". They declared a need for a Catholic University and Cardinal John Henry Newman became the first Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
. The Catholic University of Ireland was founded in 1851 - though not fully established until 18 May 1854.
Early years
The University faced several problems in its opening years due to lack of money, and public and political support - which in turn lead to a low number of students. Dr Daniel Murray, the Archbishop of Dublin established a school at 16-17 Harcourt Street to ensure larger numbers of students for the new university and named the school after Saint Laurence O'Toole, the patron Saint of Dublin. St. Laurence's AcademySt. Laurence's Academy
St. Laurence's Academy may refer to one of*The Catholic University School, Dublin*Saint Lawrence Academy, Santa Clara, California...
, founded in 1850, was accompanied by Belvedere College
Belvedere College
Belvedere College SJ is a private secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is also known as St. Francis Xavier's College....
established by the Jesuits on the north side of the city.
The first administrators in the school were mostly young Dublin priests who had studied at the Irish College in Rome. Among them was Dr. James Quinn
James Quinn
James Quinn may refer to:*Bob Quinn , born James Aloysius Robert Quinn, American executive in Major League Baseball*J. D. Quinn, James "J. D." Quinn, American football offensive guard*James J. Quinn, general in Irish Army and United Nations...
, who set about enrolling students, and within a year the school had an enrollment of 130 students. The subjects taught were classical rather than practical and included Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian and the Arts. Pope Pius XI eventually chose Quinn as the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Brisbane and covering the South East region of Queensland, Australia....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- and he left the school.
Not only had Quinn taken up his appointment in Brisbane, but the reaction to a report by the Royal Commission on Endowed Schools in 1858 was coming to a head in 1859. The report suggested that all intermediate schools be run on a "mixed basis" or as a multi-denominational system, which was opposed by the Catholic Church. The report also suggested that intermediate schools be under the management of the "Board of Endowed Schools". The bishops and synods opposed these recommendations, and the Catholic hierarchy as a whole decided that they would not agree to them.
By 1862, many changes had taken place. Dr. Bartholomew Woodlock
Bartholomew Woodlock
Dr. Bartholomew Woodlock DD was an Irish Catholic priest, educator and bishop, a founder of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Ireland....
took over as rector of the Catholic University, and suggested that the university should ignore the report's recommendations and proceed with the foundation of feeder secondary schools on its own. He decided to set up two new Catholic secondary schools: Catholic University High School, Waterford, and St. Flannan's College
St. Flannan's College
Saint Flannan's College is an Irish secondary school located in Ennis, County Clare. Formerly an all-boys boarding school, the first girls class was entered in 2002 and in 2005 the boarding school was closed. In 2003 an extension which added over 20 new rooms to the college was completed...
in Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
- the latter of which still exists. Along with St. Laurence's Academy in Dublin, these schools were the Catholic University's primary "feeder schools". Over time, St. Laurence's Academy developed a close relationship with the University. Woodlock was President of the school and professors from the University also taught in the school. The school was given a name reflecting its function: the Catholic University School.
Marist takeover
In the early 1860s, the finances of the School and University were intertwined, and the rent for the Harcourt Street premises was a high £260 per annum. Neither the school nor the University were able to cope with this burden. The other two schools were not succeeding, and Dr. Woodlock was anxious to relieve himself of the burden of all three schools. While the Catholic University School got into deeper financial trouble, Cullen was adamant that it was not possible for CUS to close down even for a year - because it would be possible that the school would never open again.In 1867 both Cullen and Woodlock travelled to Dundalk for the consecration of Michael Kiernan as Archbishop of Armagh
Archbishop of Armagh
The Archbishop of Armagh is the title of the presiding ecclesiastical figure of each of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland in the region around Armagh in Northern Ireland...
. While there, they visited the Marist College in Dundalk and were impressed with what they saw. Subsequently, Cullen and Dr. Conroy, his secretary, wrote to John Letterrier, father superior of Dundalk, and offered him and the Marists St. Laurence's Academy to take over. Letterrier brought the offer to the General Council of the Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
s in France. After a two-day petition, he convinced the Council of the benefit of taking on the Dublin school.
After Letterrier returned from Lyons in July 1867, Woodlock informed him of the financial burden the Harcourt Street premises had been. He recommended that the Marists purchase new premises, and when 89 Lower Leeson Street became available, the Marists purchased it. The Harcourt Street site remained on as the premises for the school for a short while, as work was required to prepare the Leeson Street building so it could be used as a school. On 29 September 1867 the Catholic University School opened for business on Lower Leeson.
Renovation
Starting in 1990 the school began a large renovation project which resulted in the construction of several new buildings at an estimated cost of 800,000 Euro.Rugby
The school has a long association as a rugby school, with students released on Wednesday afternoons to participate in sports practice at Bird Avenue, Milltown.The school also plays Cricket from Easter on, and Tennis and Athletics. Ronnie Delaney, the 1956 Olympic gold medallist is a past pupil.
Notable alumni
Academia- Arthur CleryArthur CleryArthur Edward Clery was an Irish politician and university professor.-Early life and education:His father, Art Ua Cleirigh, was a barrister practising in India who published books on early Irish history. Clery was brought up to a considerable extent by a relative, Charles Dawson...
- Irish Nationalist politician and university professor - Robert Dudley EdwardsRobert Dudley EdwardsRobert Walter Dudley Edwards was an Irish historian.-Biography:Robert Walter Dudley Edwards, known to his friends as Robin and his students as 'Dudley' was born in Dublin. His father was Walter Dudley Edwards, a journalist who came to Ireland with his wife, Bridget Teresa MacInerney from Clare,...
- Professor and Irish historian - Patrick Lynch (Irish Economist)Patrick Lynch (Irish economist)Patrick Lynch MRIA was an Irish economist. He believed in economic development and the co-ordination of government policy, including fiscal, social and monetary measures to invest in education and joining the European Economic Community...
- former UCD Professor of Economics and Chairman of Aer Lingus
Arts, Entertainment and Literature
- Dave AllenDave Allen (comedian)David Tynan O'Mahoney , better known as Dave Allen, was an Irish comedian, very popular in Great Britain, Australia, and Canada in the 1960s and 1970s. He also became known in the United States through repeats of his shows on public television. His career had a major resurgence during the late...
- comedian - Sebastian BarrySebastian BarrySebastian Barry is an Irish playwright, novelist, and poet. He has been shortlisted twice for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction and has won the 2008 Costa Book of the Year....
- author - Arthur Booth (cartoonist)Arthur Booth (cartoonist)Arthur James Conry Booth was an Irish cartoonist and one of the founders of the satirical magazine Dublin Opinion. Born in Dublin, he was educated at the Catholic University School and joined the Dublin United Transport Company. Through his interest in amateur dramatics, he met fellow cartoonist...
- cartoonist - Joe DowlingJoe DowlingJoe Dowling is the Artistic Director for the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He is also well-known for his work as Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre in Ireland, and has directed plays in all the major theatres in Ireland as well as theatres in London, New York, Washington...
- Artistic Director, Guthrie Theater, USA; former Artistic Director, Abbey Theatre - George Desmond HodnettGeorge Desmond HodnettGeorge Desmond "Hoddy" Hodnett was an Irish musician, song-writer and long-time jazz and popular music critic for the Irish Times.-Life:...
- Musician, song-writer and Irish Times music critic - John LarchetJohn LarchetJohn Francis Larchet was an Irish composer. He was music director at the Abbey Theatre from 1907 to 1934, and taught counterpoint at the Royal Irish Academy of Music 1920-1955.His daughter, Sheila Larchet Cuthbert, is an Irish harpist and author....
- Composer, UCD's first Professor of Music (1921-1958) - Graham LinehanGraham LinehanGraham Linehan is an Irish television writer, actor, comedian and director who, often in partnership with Arthur Mathews, has written or co-written a number of popular television comedies...
- Writer, actor and director, including Father Ted - PJ McCallPatrick Joseph McCallPatrick Joseph McCall was an Irish songwriter and poet, known mostly as the author of lyrics for popular ballads: "Follow me up to Carlow", "The Boys of Wexford", "Boolavogue, The Lowlands Low and "Kelly the Boy from Killanne".The Wexford ballads dealing with the 1798 Rising were put to music by...
- songwriter - George O'NeillGeorge O'NeillGeorge O’Neill was a Scottish-American soccer forward. He began his career in Scotland, playing with eight clubs over nine seasons before moving to the Philadelphia Atoms of the North American Soccer League. He retired from playing professionally in 1976. In 1973, he earned two caps with the U.S...
- Academic and author
Government
- Frank FeelyFrank FeelyFrank Feely is a nationalist politician in Northern Ireland.Feely worked as a teacher in Newry. At the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973, he was elected for the Social Democratic and Labour Party in South Down. He held this seat at the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention, and at...
- Former Dublin City Manager - Patrick Lynch (Irish Economist)Patrick Lynch (Irish economist)Patrick Lynch MRIA was an Irish economist. He believed in economic development and the co-ordination of government policy, including fiscal, social and monetary measures to invest in education and joining the European Economic Community...
- former UCD Professor of Economics and Chairman of Aer Lingus
Politics
- Arthur CleryArthur CleryArthur Edward Clery was an Irish politician and university professor.-Early life and education:His father, Art Ua Cleirigh, was a barrister practising in India who published books on early Irish history. Clery was brought up to a considerable extent by a relative, Charles Dawson...
- Irish Nationalist politician and university professor - John DillonJohn DillonJohn Dillon was an Irish land reform agitator from Dublin, an Irish Home Rule activist, a nationalist politician, a Member of Parliament for over 35 years, and the last leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party....
- Leader of the old Irish Parliamentary Party - Sean Dublin Bay Rockall LoftusSeán Dublin Bay Rockall LoftusSeán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus was an Irish environmentalist, barrister and politician who drew attention to his campaign issues by changing his name. He was often known as "Dublin Bay Loftus".Born Seán D...
- lecturer and former politician - Joseph Mary PlunkettJoseph Mary PlunkettJoseph Mary Plunkett was an Irish nationalist, poet, journalist, and a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising.-Background:...
- co-leader of the 1916 Easter Rising
Religious
- James Moriarty - Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
Sports
- John Pius BolandJohn Pius BolandJohn Mary Pius Boland was an Irish Nationalist politician, and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and as member of the Irish Parliamentary Party for South Kerry 1900-1918...
- Barrister, first ever winner of Olympic gold medals for tennis and nationalist MP for South Kerry - Ronnie Delaney - Irish Olympic gold medal winner (athletics)
- Eoin MorganEoin MorganEoin Joseph Gerard Morgan is an Irish cricketer who plays for the England national cricket team. A left-handed batsman, he plays county cricket for Middlesex and has been selected for England's Test, ODI and Twenty20 squads. He originally represented his native Ireland at international level...
- cricketer, Ireland, Middlesex and England.