The College stands on Violet Hill, the same 60 acre (243,000 m²) site it has occupied since 1829, next to the Bishop of Dromore's residence, and the school itself is often referred to colloquially as Violet Hill.[2]
The school motto is Bonitas, Disciplina, Scientia which can be translated as Kindness, Discipline and Knowledge.
College buildings
In the 1930s one of the most iconic buildings in the College complex was completed: the Chapel of Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God, constructed at he western end of the present frontage was solemnly consecrated by Bishop Edward Mulhern on 26 October 1938.[3]
Further work continued in the post-war era as new science rooms, a dedicated design and technology block were all added to the college estate. In January 2008, 15 new classrooms and a multi-purpose hall became available for student use. A refurbishment of the existing College building and classrooms was completed in 2009, with all classrooms now equipped with interactive whiteboards. In addition to this, the grounds were developed with two tennis courts, 60 additional car parking spaces for students and teachers.
Enrolment
As a grammar school, St Colman's selects on the basis of academic ability, primarily through the GL examination; it currently has 860[4] students attending. Enniskillen-born Cormac McKinney was appointed the first lay principal of the College in 2010.[5]
Academic results
In 2020, all of its 129 students who entered five or more GCSEs passed with grades A* to C including the core subjects English and Maths. Of the 109 students who entered A-level exams, 105 obtained at least 3 A-C* grades.[6]
Sports
Gaelic football
Aside from its academic work, St. Colman's is known as a nursery for Gaelic footballers for the senior men's teams of both Down and Armagh. The school is the most successful Ulster team in schools' Gaelic Football. In 2011 the College's senior Gaelic football team was Ulster and All-Ireland champions.[7]
The College has a distinguished history in Gaelic football winning the premier colleges' trophy, the Hogan Cup, eight times in 1967, 1975, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2010 and 2011. Only St Jarlath's College, Tuam has won the All-Ireland competition on more occasions. The college remains the most successful Ulster college winning the MacRory Cup for the 19th time in 2011.
Other sports
Other sports offered at the College include, but are not limited to:
golf – St Colman's were Irish & Ulster Schools Champions in 1992 and former past pupil's Rory Leonard & Hilary Armstrong are current and former Irish Internationals. In 2017 St Colman's reached the Darren Clarke School Golf League Final in Lisburn Golf Club. They won on the day 3.5-3.5, winning by holes won.
The school has a sixty-member orchestra, run by the music teachers and with the help of additional instrumental tuition from local musicians. The school also has two string quartets, a flute quintet, a woodwind quintet, a brass quintet and a band. St Colman's won the 2005, 2013, 2014 and 2019 Newry Feis Orchestra group Cup.[citation needed]
The choir has taken part in six editions of Morning Service for BBC Radio Ulster, broadcast live from the College's Chapel and St Brigid's Church, Newry. The trebles have performed live in Broadcasting House, Belfast as part of BBC Radio Ulster's Sounds Classical. The choir has also recorded with BBC Northern Ireland for the programmes O Little Town and Our Wee World. The choir were winners of the Southern Grammar School Regional Heat of the UTV School Choir of the Year 2005.
Also in 2005 the choir took part in the 20th anniversary of Sing Carols which was broadcast on BBC NI and BBC Radio Ulster. Their live BBC Radio Ulster's performance of Elaine Agnew's commissioned work Blessed was used on the promotional CD for the European Chamber Orchestra's educational programme throughout the European Union.
Organ
The College Chapel has a two-manual pipe organ, originally built by Rieger Orgelbau and rebuilt and installed in the college chapel by Kenneth Jones & Associates, for the use of the students.
Traditional Group
The Traditional Group has two All-Ireland standard Uilleann pipers, two button accordion players, two mandolin players, six tin whistlers, a fiddler, a bodhrán player and a guitarist.[citation needed]
Abuse of pupils
In October 2017, the Diocese of Dromore settled the "biggest ever pay-out in a historical abuse case in Northern Ireland" over claims that Fr Malachy Finnegan, who was President of the College between 1976 and 1987, sexually abused a pupil.[8] Finnegan, who died in 2002, was the subject of twelve abuse allegations made between 1994 and 2016. In the weeks following the scandal, the school removed all photographs depicting Fr Finnegan from the interior of its building.[9][10]
Notable former pupils
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations.(September 2017)
colman, college, newry, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, this, article, adding, secondary, tertiary, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november, 2019, learn, when, remove, this, t. This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources St Colman s College Newry news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message St Colman s College is a Roman Catholic English medium grammar school for boys situated in Newry County Armagh Northern Ireland St Colman s CollegeAddress46 Armagh RoadNewry County Armagh BT35 6PPNorthern IrelandCoordinates54 11 24 N 6 20 30 W 54 190050 N 6 341655 W 54 190050 6 341655 Coordinates 54 11 24 N 6 20 30 W 54 190050 N 6 341655 W 54 190050 6 341655InformationMottoBonitas Disciplina Scientia Latin Religious affiliation s Roman CatholicEstablished1823 200 years ago 1823 FounderFr J S KeenanLocal authorityEducation Authority Southern SpecialistSciencePrincipalCormac McKinneyGenderBoysAge11 to 18Enrolment860 1 Colour s Dark blue grey amp light blue Websitewww wbr stcolmans wbr org wbr ukThe college was founded in 1823 as the Dromore Diocesan Seminary by Father J S Keenan and placed under the patronage of Colman of Dromore The College stands on Violet Hill the same 60 acre 243 000 m site it has occupied since 1829 next to the Bishop of Dromore s residence and the school itself is often referred to colloquially as Violet Hill 2 Contents 1 Motto 2 College buildings 3 Enrolment 4 Academic results 5 Sports 5 1 Gaelic football 5 2 Other sports 6 Music 6 1 Orchestra 6 2 Choir 6 3 Organ 6 4 Traditional Group 7 Abuse of pupils 8 Notable former pupils 9 ReferencesMotto EditThe school motto is Bonitas Disciplina Scientia which can be translated as Kindness Discipline and Knowledge College buildings EditIn the 1930s one of the most iconic buildings in the College complex was completed the Chapel of Mary the Immaculate Mother of God constructed at he western end of the present frontage was solemnly consecrated by Bishop Edward Mulhern on 26 October 1938 3 Further work continued in the post war era as new science rooms a dedicated design and technology block were all added to the college estate In January 2008 15 new classrooms and a multi purpose hall became available for student use A refurbishment of the existing College building and classrooms was completed in 2009 with all classrooms now equipped with interactive whiteboards In addition to this the grounds were developed with two tennis courts 60 additional car parking spaces for students and teachers Enrolment EditAs a grammar school St Colman s selects on the basis of academic ability primarily through the GL examination it currently has 860 4 students attending Enniskillen born Cormac McKinney was appointed the first lay principal of the College in 2010 5 Academic results EditIn 2020 all of its 129 students who entered five or more GCSEs passed with grades A to C including the core subjects English and Maths Of the 109 students who entered A level exams 105 obtained at least 3 A C grades 6 Sports EditGaelic football Edit Aside from its academic work St Colman s is known as a nursery for Gaelic footballers for the senior men s teams of both Down and Armagh The school is the most successful Ulster team in schools Gaelic Football In 2011 the College s senior Gaelic football team was Ulster and All Ireland champions 7 The College has a distinguished history in Gaelic football winning the premier colleges trophy the Hogan Cup eight times in 1967 1975 1986 1988 1993 1998 2010 and 2011 Only St Jarlath s College Tuam has won the All Ireland competition on more occasions The college remains the most successful Ulster college winning the MacRory Cup for the 19th time in 2011 Other sports Edit Other sports offered at the College include but are not limited to handball basketball golf St Colman s were Irish amp Ulster Schools Champions in 1992 and former past pupil s Rory Leonard amp Hilary Armstrong are current and former Irish Internationals In 2017 St Colman s reached the Darren Clarke School Golf League Final in Lisburn Golf Club They won on the day 3 5 3 5 winning by holes won hurling rugby unionMusic EditOrchestra Edit The school has a sixty member orchestra run by the music teachers and with the help of additional instrumental tuition from local musicians The school also has two string quartets a flute quintet a woodwind quintet a brass quintet and a band St Colman s won the 2005 2013 2014 and 2019 Newry Feis Orchestra group Cup citation needed Choir Edit The school choir has worked with St George s Singers Belfast and the Ulster Orchestra the Irish College in Paris and Le Bec Hellouin mother house of the Order of Saint Benedict of Holy Cross Abbey Rostrevor The choir has taken part in six editions of Morning Service for BBC Radio Ulster broadcast live from the College s Chapel and St Brigid s Church Newry The trebles have performed live in Broadcasting House Belfast as part of BBC Radio Ulster s Sounds Classical The choir has also recorded with BBC Northern Ireland for the programmes O Little Town and Our Wee World The choir were winners of the Southern Grammar School Regional Heat of the UTV School Choir of the Year 2005 Also in 2005 the choir took part in the 20th anniversary of Sing Carols which was broadcast on BBC NI and BBC Radio Ulster Their live BBC Radio Ulster s performance of Elaine Agnew s commissioned work Blessed was used on the promotional CD for the European Chamber Orchestra s educational programme throughout the European Union Organ Edit The College Chapel has a two manual pipe organ originally built by Rieger Orgelbau and rebuilt and installed in the college chapel by Kenneth Jones amp Associates for the use of the students Traditional Group Edit The Traditional Group has two All Ireland standard Uilleann pipers two button accordion players two mandolin players six tin whistlers a fiddler a bodhran player and a guitarist citation needed Abuse of pupils EditIn October 2017 the Diocese of Dromore settled the biggest ever pay out in a historical abuse case in Northern Ireland over claims that Fr Malachy Finnegan who was President of the College between 1976 and 1987 sexually abused a pupil 8 Finnegan who died in 2002 was the subject of twelve abuse allegations made between 1994 and 2016 In the weeks following the scandal the school removed all photographs depicting Fr Finnegan from the interior of its building 9 10 Notable former pupils EditThis article s list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia s verifiability policy Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations September 2017 See also Category People educated at St Colman s College Newry Michael Cusack founder of GAA Frank Aitken politician Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore judge Name Born Died DescriptionMichael Cusack 1847 1906 Founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association 11 Frank Aiken 1898 1983 Irish Republican Volunteer Tanaiste and one of the longest serving members of Dail EireannLord Kerr of Tonaghmore 1948 2020 former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland final Law Lord of the House of Lords and Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom John Magee 1936 Roman Catholic Bishop of Cloyne and former private secretary to three popes Paul VI John Paul I and John Paul II Paddy Quinn 1952 Irish Republican who took part in the 1981 Hunger StrikeRaymond McCreesh 1957 1981 Irish Republican Volunteer who took part in 1981 Irish hunger strikeJohn Lynch 1961 actor Cal In the Name of the Father Sliding Doors Cathal McCabe 1963 poetFrank Mitchell 1963 presenter on UTV 12 Dermott Lennon 1969 2002 2006 Show Jumping World Champion 13 14 Greg Blaney Two time All Ireland Senior Football Championship Winner 1991 1994 Three time GAA All Star Winner Down GAA 1983 1991 1994 citation needed James McCartan Jr Two time All Ireland Senior Football Championship Winner 1991 1994 Two time GAA All Star Winner Down GAA 1990 1994 citation needed Paul McGrane All Ireland Senior Football Winner 2002 citation needed Benny Tierney All Ireland Senior Football Winner 2002 citation needed Diarmaid Marsden All Ireland Senior Football Winner 2002 GAA All Star Winner Armagh GAA 1999 citation needed Michael Legge 1978 actor Angela s Ashes Dream Team Shameless Kevin Trainor 1983 actor Hellboy The Catherine Tate Show Utopia Shay McCartan 1994 footballer with Bradford City A F C References Edit Prospectus PDF St Colman s College Newry Retrieved 29 June 2022 St Colman s Violet Hill homepage CO DOWN NEWRY VIOLET HILL ST COLMan s DIOCESAN COLLEGE Dictionary of Irish Architects Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 23 July 2019 Retrieved 15 March 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Cormac McKinney Prospectus PDF St Colman s College Newry Retrieved 29 June 2022 Classy St Colman s Newry ease to Hogan Cup triumph bbc co uk sport 10 April 2010 Retrieved 24 May 2010 Morris Allison 14 February 2018 Victim of paedophile priest secures biggest ever pay out The Irish News Retrieved 17 February 2018 Father Finnegan abuse is a dark cloud on Newry school BelfastTelegraph co uk ISSN 0307 1235 Retrieved 17 February 2018 Fr Malachy Finnegan was accused of 12 abuse cases bbc co uk Retrieved 17 February 2018 Michael Cusack Rare Irish Stuff Retrieved 17 June 2022 Newry Memoirs Newry College Had Key Role In Founding GAA accessed 2 May 2009 www equiworld net efi www equiworld net ish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Colman 27s College Newry amp oldid 1135150824, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
