Cistercian College, Roscrea

Cistercian College Roscrea Coláiste Cisteirseach Ros Cre
Motto	Insideat Coaelis amino sed corpore com de terris "While his mind is on heavenly things, his body is on the ground."
Established	1905
Location	Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland
Students	220
President Principal	Mrs. Marcelline Cody, Mr Gerry Grealish
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholicism (Cistercian Order)
Homepage	http://cisterciancollege.com/

Cistercian College, Roscrea or Roscrea College is a private boarding school in Ireland. It is a Roman Catholic seven-day boarding school for boys and was founded in 1905. The current school president is Mrs. Marcelline Cody and the current school principal is Mr. Gerry Grealish. Its pupil population is primarily made up of boarding students, though a small number of teachers' sons also attend as day pupils.

Grounds

College grounds

Located within the grounds of Mount St. Joseph Abbey in Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland, the school is managed by monks of the Trappist branch of the Cistercians. It is situated in the grounds of Mount Saint Joseph Abbey, 2.5 miles west of Roscrea town. Surrounded by open wooded countryside and thirty acres of grounds and sports fields it also adjoins the Abbey farm of 360 hectares.

History

The school was founded by the Cistercian monks in 1905 as a monastic boarding school for boys and has educated students from all over Ireland. CCR is one of two monastic schools in Ireland and in 1990 a Board of Governors was appointed by the Abbot to govern the administration of the college on behalf of the Abbey.

Ethos

The influence of the Abbey is an integral part of the college and daily life is influenced by the presence of the few remaining Cistercian monks. . Though most of the school's current teaching staff are now lay-persons, a tiny number of Cistercian monks and brothers take part in the school's administration and chaplaincy.

The college aspires to be a Christian community of learning, a worshipping community with an awareness of the presence of God in daily life and in the preparation of pupils for adult life.

Culture of Roscrea College

The school yearbook is known as The Vexillum. Referred to by the boys as The Vex, it is produced annually towards the summer holidays and usually distributed on the final evening before the last summer exams. It is compiled by the pupils. It contains reports on sporting and non-sporting events throughout the year, including the hurling and rugby campaigns and 6th year profiles. It is a lasting memento for past pupils from their time in the College. Each year an opera is held, around the time of the mid-term break at Halloween. It is a tradition going back to the founding of the school. Boys from all years are encouraged to participate, whether it be directly on stage, or with sound/lighting/costumes backstage.

Sports

Cistercian College Roscrea has a national and international reputation for sporting achievement.^{[citation needed]} Boys have the opportunity to receive coaching and subsequently compete in a large number of sports. Team games are served by the facilities that include;

• Extensive playing fields (rugby, hurling, gaelic football, and soccer)
• An all-weather pitch,
• Heated indoor swimming pool
• Basketball court .
• Tennis courts .
• Gymnasium .

The main sports played are rugby and hurling during the autumn and spring and athletics during the late spring early summer. The school's sporting colours are black and white. The school has produced professional rugby players, county hurlers and representatives on the Irish Athletics team notably in hammer and hurdles.^{[citation needed]}

The College's Sports Complex provides indoor facilities for a wide range of sporting activities.^{[citation needed]}

Debating and Public Speaking

Irish, English and German-language debating teams compete each year from Cistercian College. They have most notably won the all-Ireland debating competition Comrtas an Phiarsaigh in 2010.^[1] Coached by two teachers from the school, all students are encouraged to try out for the debating teams. In-house public speaking competitions take place in each year, with the Silver Medal being awarded to the winner from Third Year, and the Gold Medal to the winner from Sixth Year.

Golf

The students have access to a 9 hole golf course. A golf team participates each year in competition.

Equestrian

Famed horse trainer Willie Mullins is a past pupil and horse riding is a popular sport in the college.

Notable Pastmen

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen

• Brian Cowen - Former Taoiseach.
• Gavin Duffy - International rugby player.
• Conor Brady - Former editor of The Irish Times.
• Dick Spring - Former international rugby player and Tanaiste.
• David Andrews - Former Minister for Foreign Affairs.
• Jim Glennon - Former international rugby player, and former Teachta Dála.

Centennial

The college celebrated its centenary year from September 2005 until September 2006, giving rise to many events, visits and talks from famous past students and their friends. The speakers included; President of Ireland Mary McAleese , Dick Spring, Brian Cowen, Mary Hanafin and Charlie McCreevy.

See also

• Mount St. Joseph Abbey
• Cistercians
• Trappists

References

1. ^ "Congratulations to the Winners of Comórtas an Phiarsaigh 2010!" (in English & Irish). gaelport.com. 2010. http://www.gaelport.com/default.aspx?treeid=37&NewsItemID=4157. Retrieved 22 October 2011. 

External links

• Cistercian College, Roscrea - official website
• Mount St. Joseph Abbey, Roscrea - official website