CLONKEEN COLLEGE

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'Clonkeen College' is a non-fee paying Christian Brothers secondary school for boys in Deansgrange, County Dublin. The school opened in 1965, and was originally called 'St. Joseph's Private Preparatory School'. The school stands on the site of Charles Stuart Parnell’s second last public meeting. Neil O'Toole has been the principal since 2001. Clonkeen is home to 500 students and 30 staff. The School has strong bonds to the Self Help charity and the school has its own Third World support group. Composed of senior students and headed by a teacher from the school, the group works tirelessly in their fundraising efforts for the people of Africa. Clonkeen also provides a forum for student input into the schools running, this comes in the form of a Student Council which consist of class reps in 1st-4th year and student councillors elected by their peers in 5th year. Religion is important at the Catholic school. Currently there are major plans to build a new school on the existing site.

Contents

History

Facilities

Subjects Offered

Junior Cycle Subjects

Senior Cycle Subjects

Transition Year

Clonkeen Student Council

Sports

Inter-school sports

Club sports

Extracurricular Activities

Notable alumni

External links

History

The original school, on what are now the the Clonkeen college school grounds, was St. Joseph’s Private preparatory school which was built in September of 1965. It was run by a staff of three Christian Brothers until the school was closed in 1975. Upon the closure of the preparatory school the running of the current secondary school was well under way (beginning in 1967).
The first pupils were admitted to the new school in the autumn of 1967 and the school was principled by a br. Jo Hogan. The first Inter cert class (now Junior Certificate) sat their exams in 1970 and then went on to sit the schools first Leaving Certificate exams in 1972. The school received its official opening by Mr. David Andrews T.D. on January 31st 1972.

Facilities

★ Three full sized Gaelic football pitches and one training pitch, used for gaelic football, hurling and soccer.

★ Two outdoor basketball courts. One indoor court (situated in the gymnasium).

★ Three fully equipped science labs, for chemistry, physics and biology.

★ A hall that acts both as a sports gymnasium and an auditorium for the school theatrical productions. The hall also contains an indoor climbing wall.

★ An art room.

★ A computer room.

★ A vast array of various sporting equipment.

Subjects Offered

Junior Cycle Subjects

★ Irish

★ English

★ Mathematics

★ French

★ Geography

★ History

★ Science

★ Business Studies

★ Art

★ Civic, Social and Political Education

★ Religious Education

★ Physical Education

Senior Cycle Subjects

★ Irish

★ English

★ Mathematics

★ French

★ Geography

★ History

★ Physics

★ Chemistry

★ Biology

★ Business

★ Economics

★ Accounting

★ Art

★ German

★ Classical Studies - Extracurricular

★ Applied Mathematics - Extracurricular

★ Religious Education

★ Physical Education - Only for those students not studying Higher Level Mathematics

Transition Year

Transition year in Clonkeen College is a very eventful year; the schools development plan currently has TY students in their very own transition year block. The year’s main outing is a TY holiday organised by the TY co-ordinator, in the past the classes have visited Greece, the Aran Islands and Paris. This year they visited Venice and Lake Garda. During the year the students have the opportunity to complete a very popular self defence course, the full ECDL course, Gaelic football and FAI coaching courses and a sailing course. New subjects encompassed in Clonkeens transition year course are cooking, music, effective communication, German, Japanese and technical drawing. The tourism teachers and the TY co-ordinator accompany the students on tours to historical sites like Christchurch, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, and Glendalough; they also visit Croke Park, Kilmainham Gaol and the National Art Gallery. On top of all this the students are provided with an opportunity to attain a GaiscePresidents award Award.

Clonkeen Student Council

Since its inception, the Clonkeen Student Council has been heavily involved in the smooth running of the school. The council meets once a week to discuss various projects and any gripes that the student body may have. The council is composed of eighteen Student Councillors or Prefects, nine of whom are voted in by their fellow fifth years and nine of whom are selected by the teaching staff. Each year the council focus on one major project. In the past they have had water fountains installed in the junior and senior corridors; more recently they had formal shoes and school jackets introduced to the uniform. Annually, the Council, in conjunction with the Parents Council and the Cluny Student Council, organise a “Ball in the Hall” to welcome Clonkeen's new first year students. Council meetings are chaired by the Chairman and the Secretary takes the minutes. Currently, a Councillor's term of office runs from December of 5th year to December of 6th year.

★ 'First Year Social'
The Social, or "Ball in the Hall" as it was termed by the Prefects of 2006-2007, is a prime example of the Council at work. The ball is in effect a disco for the first years of Clonkeen College boy’s school and Cluny girls’ school. The Council creates a "Social Committee", which contact and then work in tandem with the Cluny Student Council. The organisation and running of the disco is completely in the hands of the Committee, who hire a DJ, meet with the Principals and Parents Councils of both Secondary Schools, print and distribute tickets to the event, purchase and sell refreshments, and set up the Clonkeen Collage auditorium for the big night.

Sports

Inter-school sports

★ 'Athletics (track and field)'
The school regularly participates in Christian Brother and east Leinster athletics competitions.

★ 'Cross country running'
Clonkeen enters runners in the under15 and under17 east Leinster cross country running competitions.

★ 'Gaelic football'
The school enters gaelic football teams into 1st year, under14, under16 and under18 competitions. They have won three Dublin titles in 1975, 1976 and 2003, the under14 team also came runner up in the Leinster championship of 2003.

★ 'Golf'
1st, 2nd and 3rd year students take part in the Dublin junior match play golf competition.

★ 'Hurling'
As with the gaelic football teams the hurlers also play in 1st year, under14, under16 and under18 hurling competitions.

★ 'Soccer'
The school has soccer teams entered into competitions at under14, under16 and under18 level. Leinster Junior Champions, runner up to All-Ireland in 1981-1982

★ 'Chess'
The first Clonkeen College chess team was formed in 2007 and took part in the Scholastic Chess All-Ireland.

★ 'International Rules Football'
In 2006 Clonkeen hosted Southern Cross college and the two schools competed in a friendly international rules football match, Clonkeen won the game.

Club sports

★ Basketball

★ Canoeing

★ Hill Walking

★ Orienteering

★ Swimming

★ Tennis

★ Volleyball

★ Water Polo

★ Sailing

★ Self Defense

Extracurricular Activities

★ 'Public Speaking'
The school's public speaking team recently participated in the Mental Health Public Speaking Competition.

★ 'Pantomime'
Clonkeen hosts regular Christmas pantomimes, most recently "Mother Goose" in 2004.

★ 'Annual adventure holidays'
Every year students are accompanied by several teachers on an outdoor pursuit’s week in the Ardeche region in the south of France.

★ 'BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition'
The school regularly enters in Irelands Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition and has won the competition once in 1992.

★ 'Other activities'
The school offers students music classes, hosts quizzes for both students and adults connected to the school, internal leagues provide sporting opportunities to students who may miss the chance to play for a school team. The school also dedicates one school day a year to a sports day open to entry from all the students.

Notable alumni

★ Colm Jordan, Former President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), who defeated a Government proposal to reintroduction Third Level college fees.

★ Glenn Quinn, actor, played roles in American television sitcom ''Roseanne'', as well as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff, Angel. Died of a heroin overdose in December 2002.

★ Brian Kennedy, former curator of the National Gallery of Australia.

★ Séan Melly, global telecom multi-millionaire, CEO of E-Tel.

★ Ronan Johnston and Tony Kelly, singers and musicians with wide range of RTÉ credits including resident band for Zig and Zag and The Den. Founder members of Emmaus a Christian Community based in Dun Laoghaire for over 20 years

★ Tommy Lyons, former Dublin Football Manager[1]

★ Colum McCann, international writer and novelist[2]

★ Micheal Breatnach Present goal keeper for Bohemians

★ Darren O'Dea Glasgow Celtic defender. Recently signed a new contract with Celtic.

★ Alan Judge Blackburn Rovers midfielder/striker. widely tipped to make is breakthrough in the 07/08 season. Ireland under 19 squad member.

★ Dom Twomey Former Wexford's football manager. Now deputy Principal in Clonkeen College.

★ Conor Lumsden - Vocalist for the band Nine IX Lives

★ Shane Masterson - Bassist for the band Nine IX Lives

External links

★ Clonkeen College website

★ Self Help website