Glenstal Abbey School

Infobox School
name = Glenstal Abbey School
irish_name = Gleann na Stail


motto = PAX
established = 1932
location = Murroe, County Limerick
country = IRL | students = c.200
type = Boys only, 7-day Boarding
principal = Br. Denis Hooper OSB
website = http://www.glenstal.ie

Glenstal Abbey School is a private Irish seven-day boarding secondary school for boys, located on the grounds of Glenstal Abbey, in Murroe, County Limerick. It is run by monks of the Benedictine order. The student body totals around 200.

Glenstal takes its name from Gleann Stail in the Irish Language, which translates to "Glen of the Stallion".

History

Glenstal is a Norman Revivalist Castle, designed by William Bardwell, an English architect and built by Sir Matthew Barrington in 1839. In 1927 Sir Charles and Lady Barrington sold Glenstal to Benedictine Monks who came over from Maredsous Abbey in Belgium.

In September 1932, the monks opened the Secondary School. The first headmaster was Fr Columba Skerret. The school started with just seven pupils and the first lay master was Mr Vincent Quirke, from Wexford.

Surroundings

Glenstal is south facing and has an excellent view of the Galtee Mountains. It is on an estate of around convert|500|acre|km2, of which some is farmland, forestry, games fields, lakes, gardens and school and monastery buildings.

The Abbey grounds contain a great variety of trees and flowers, mostly planted during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the Barrington Family. There are also five artificial lakes, mostly stocked with trout and one of which pupils may swim in during the summer months.

School Life

The school is divided into three houses, Junior House, Inter House and Senior House. Each house has its own Housemaster. Currently these are; Br. Matthew, Fr. Joseph and Fr. William, respectively.

Each house has dormitories for the boy to sleep in, a common room with a television and games facilities, the housemasters office and a "Pantry" (a basic cooking area with a microwave, toaster, kettle and fridge).

Junior House holds the first and second years, Inter House the third and fourth years and Senior House the fifth and sixth years.

The dormitories range in size from about six beds to about sixteen.

The sixth years have their own rooms which include a bed, wardrobe, desk and sink.

Second to fifth years have designated study places (known as "Trenches") in rooms along the "Study Corridor". This corridor is supervised by a member of staff during study times.First Years study in one of two designated class rooms and are supervised by Prefects from 5th year.Prefects are nominated by the Headmaster and Senior Housemaster.

A Normal School Day

Monday to Friday

A standard school day commences with being woken up, usually around 7.50am. Breakfast is from 8:15 in the refectories and morning prayer is at 8:50. Class starts at 9:00 and consist of 7 classes, each lasting 40 minutes. Three in the morning until 11:00, followed by a 20 minute break, followed by another two classes, followed by lunch at 12:40 and the final two classes of the day from 13:40 until 15:00.

After 3:00 it is games time, when everyone is encouraged to participate in a sport or activity of some sort.

First Study starts at 17:40 and lasts until 19:00, when supper is provided in the refectories.

Second Study starts at 20:00 and ends at 20:45 for Juniors and at 21:30 for Inters and Seniors.

First Years have night prayer followed by bed and lights out at around 21:15, Second Years at 21:45, Third Years at 22:15 and Fourth Years at 22:30. Fifth and Sixth Years do not have night prayer, but have their lights out at 11:30 and 12:00 respectively.

Saturday

The Saturday timetable is the same as the Monday - Friday one up until lunch, but after lunch there are no more classes and the students are free for the afternoon. There is Saturday evening study from 18:00 until 20:00.

After study on a Saturday, a DVD that the students had chosen to be rented during the week is shown in each of the House Common Rooms.

Sunday

There are no classes on a Sunday, but attending mass at 10:00 is obligatory for all students that are staying in the school for the weekend. Students are free for the entire day, free to go out with their parents for lunch or to stay put and take part in some of the weekend activities that have been organised. Meals are as per usual and so is bed time.

Subjects

Glenstal offers a wide range of subjects:

Junior Cycle

Subjects offered up until the Junior Certificate:
*Irish
*English
*Mathematics
*French
*German
*Spanish
*History
*Geography
*Latin
*Music
*Art
*Civic, Social and Political Education
*Social, Personal and Health Education
*Business Studies
*Classical Studies
*Religious Education
*Science

Senior Cycle

Subjects offered for the Leaving Certificate:
*Irish
*English
*Mathematics
*French
*German
*Spanish
*History
*Geography
*Latin
*Music
*Art
*Business Studies
*Biology
*Chemistry
*Physics
*Applied Mathematics
*Classical Studies
*Religious Education

Current Staff Positions

*Principal: Br. Denis Hooper OSB
*Deputy Principal: Ms. Maree McCarthy
*Dean of Studies: Br. Cillian ó Sé OSB
*Dean of Boarding: Fr. William Fennelly OSB
*Director of Sport: Mr. Patrick Collins
*Director of Music: Ms. Hazel O'Herlihy
*Transition Year Co-Ordinator: Dierdre O' Leary Fraterolli
*School Administrator: Ms. Ruth Healy

Sports

The main sport in Glenstal is and has always been rugby union. For all students in first and second year it is mandatory that they play rugby union. Teams are fielded at all ages from U-13 to U-18 and are involved in both friendly and competition fixtures from late-September until March.

2008 was a good year for Glenstal rugby when they reached the semi-finals of the Munster Schools Senior Cup. The last time they reached this position was nine years ago. However they lost to Christian Brothers College, Cork. Also the junior-cup team proved to be the most successful junior team in Glenstal's history although they lost in the quarter-finals against crescent they had to play six games before reaching this position.

Over the years Glenstal has produced many fine sportsmen - notably rugby players, athletes and tennis players. In recent years the school has enjoyed limited success off the rugby pitch in local and regional track and field, tennis and soccer competitions.

Sports Facilities

Glenstal has very good sporting facilities. These include a sports hall, five rugby pitches, a soccer pitch, six tennis courts and a well equipped gym (for seniors only).

Glenstal does not have a swimming pool, but there is a large lake beside the main rugby pitches where students are allowed to swim (with staff supervision) during the summer term. There was a jetty and diving board there up until the summer of 2006 when it was knocked down as a safety precaution. It is said that some type of floating jetti will be built to replace it in time for this coming summer.

During the summer term the main rugby pitches are turned into a 400 m grass running track and there is an area for shot put, javelin and discus throwing. There are also soccer pitches marked out.

Music

Glenstal has an excellent music department, headed by Ms. Hazel O'Herlihy. There are lessons offered in many instruments, for example drums, guitar, violin, clarinet, piano, voice and many more. Most of these instruments are taught to the students by people from outside of the school who come in during the day or evening to give half hour lessons.

Orchestra

There is a Glenstal Abbey School orchestra and it comprises about 30-40 students. However the orchestra only gets together for special occasions, such as parents day.

Trad Group

Glenstal also has a trad group, a group of students who play traditional Irish music, or Irish trad. This group meets more regularly then the orchestra.

Bands

There are quite a number of bands in Glenstal, all playing varying styles of music. Once or twice per term, a Battle of the Bands is organised for the bands to play a few songs at a concert. There are judges (usually members of staff) and the winning band receives a prize.

Barbershop Quartet

In the summer of 2008 Glenstal Abbey School witnessed the establishment of its first and only barbershop quartet - 'Johnny Depp & the Four Shakespeares'. The group consists of Duncan Casey (bass), Thomas Joyce (baritone), Shane Cosgrove (tenor) and Andy Ryan (alto). The group's first major performance took place on 25 May 2008 during the school's annual sports day, where their rendition of The Chordettes song 'Mr Sandman' was met with critical acclaim.

Theatre

Glenstal Abbey School puts on a musical or straight drama every year around March. Usually they get in a director who works closely with the musical director to put the show together. The roles are almost always students of the school, the only exceptiong being some female parts played by girls from neighbouring girls schools and the odd appearance of the headmaster Br. Denis.

Previous shows have been "Cats", "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Importance of Being Earnest", "Tarot Tarocchi", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde" and "Oliver!".

This year's show was the Queen musical - "We Will Rock You".

Alumni

Richard Johnson, President of The High Court

John Magnier, former Senator, Businessman

John Kelly, former Minster for Defence, Attorney General and Fine Gael TD.
Harold Whelehan, former Attorney General
Frederick Morris, President of The High Court Emeritus

Dr. John Horgan, Press Ombudsman, former TD., MEP, Senator

References

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* "The Raven", A short magazine produced by the school to notify students, staff and parents of news

External links

* [http://www.glenstal.ie/ School website]
* [http://www.glenstal.org/ Monastery website]
* [http://www.myubique.com/ The Glenstal Old Boys Society]