Kilkenny College

Kilkenny College or KCK is a co-educational secondary school located in Kilkenny, in the South-East of Ireland. It is a private (fee-paying) school which caters for both boarders and day students. It is the largest co-educational boarding school in Ireland. The schools students are mainly Protestant (Church of Ireland), although it is open to other denominations. [ [http://dev.kilkenny.ie/eng/About_Kilkenny/People/Education/Post_Primary_Schools.html County Council Web Site] ]

The College motto, "Comme je trouve" which in French means (as I find), comes from the Butler family crest, an old local aristocratic family and is intended to mean people taking things as they come and trying to make the best of things given to them. Founded in 1538 A.D to replace the School of the Vicars Choral, which was founded in 1234 A.D. Piers the Butler Earl of Ormond located it in the city centre. It was moved to its current location on the outskirts of Kilkenny city, in 1989.

History

Kilkenny College provides schooling mainly for the protestant sector of the community but is also open to other denominations. It caters for both a boarders and day-pupil. Founded in 1538 A.D by Piers Butler, Earl of Ormonde and his wife, Margaret, Kilkenny Grammar School as was then called was located to the west of the Cathedral and sited beside the library of St Canice's Cathedral. The 1538 school replaced the older School of the Vicars Choral, which was founded in 1234 A.D. It was closed for a period in the 1650's (because of the English civil war that spilled over into Ireland), reopening as Kilkenny College in 1667 under the auspices of James Ormonde, first Duke of Ormonde, following the Butler tradition of promoting education in the city. It soon became a famous school and so, in the 1780s, a new College was built on the same site overlooking the river Nore on John St. In 1989 the college was relocated to the 63 acre site at Celbridge House on the outskirts of the city, while the old school with its Georgian buildings and elegant facade, now houses the offices of the County Council within Kilkenny city centre.

At one time the College was termed a university and boasted a compliment of 3 professors. In contrast at the end of the 19th Century, the College was reduced to one pupil. The amalgamation with the nearby Pococke school was its saving. Twenty-nine headmasters of Kilkenny College are recorded. In the 20th Century there were four long-serving men: C.G. Shankey 1917 - 1952; Gilbert Colton 1953-1979; Samuel McClure 1979-1996; Robert John Black 1996- 2005 and Philip Gray 2005- Present.

During Gilbert Colton's time the school was amalgamated with the Collegiate School, Celbridge in 1973 and Kilkenny College became co-educational. During Sam McClure's stewardship, the College moved to its new campus in 1989, relocating to the in of 63 acre (254,952m²) site at Celbridge House on the outskirts of the city. Under Canon Black and Philip Gray, more buildings were constructed.

Famous pupils

There has been a long list of famous past pupils. The best known are undoubtedly Jonathan Swift, the author and satirist who went on to become Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and George Berkeley, the philosopher and Bishop of Cloyne, who gave his name to the University City of Berkeley in California. Other famous names include William Congreve (a Restoration playwright), John Banim, Thomas Prior (founder of the Royal Dublin Society) and Sir David Beatty one time First Sea Lord and deputy-commander of the Royal Navy at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

Today

The current campus on the outskirts of the city comprises a complex of classrooms, dormitories, catering and dining facilities, it is set on a landscaped 50 acre site framed by mature trees. Today Kilkenny College attempts to serve a dual purpose role as the largest co-educational boarding school in Ireland and as the local school for a large number of day pupils from the city and surrounding area.

The current principal is Philip Gray, a Trinity College, Dublin alumnus, he previously taught History in The King's Hospital, Dublin, he joined the school in 2005, replacing Canon Black as principal.

It is one of 5 Irish Schools in the country taking part in a pilot project on self-assessment and interchange in conjunction with 100 other European schools. The ethos of the school is one of a family community and a big emphasis is placed on team sport in particular rugby and hockey.

Recent News

*The Senior XV rugby team make it to the semi-final of the Leinster Rugby Senior Cup, losing to St. Michael's in the semi-final, having beaten the reigning champions Blackrock College 14-13.
*2007 U-13 Boys Hockey team won the Leinster Cup, beating St.Andrew's.
*The Senior Boys hockey team were knocked out in the first round of the cup.
*September 2007, the newly built "Jonathan Swift" building is opened, which includes 11 class rooms and 2 science labs.

Alumni

* Jonathan Swift 17th century author and satirist.
* George Berkeley after whom the University of California, Berkeley is named.
* David Beatty, Admiral of the Fleet at the Battle of Jutland 1917

References

External links

* [http://www.kilkennycollege.ie/ Kilkenny College] - Official website