Christian Brothers College, Cork

CBC Cork
Certa Bonum Certamen (Fight the good fight)
Location
Sidney Hill, Cork, Ireland
Information
Type	Private
Established	1888
Principal	Dr Laurence Jordan
Enrollment	1000+ (Entire College)
School fees	€3,100 in 1st year. €2,850 per year thereafter
Colors
Website	http://www.cbccork.ie

Christian Brothers College, Cork (CBC Cork) is a fee-paying Catholic school under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust in Cork, Ireland.^[1]

Their sister school in Dublin is CBC Monkstown. The school scores well compared to the national average at both Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate level.^{[citation needed]} The college's main rivals are Presentation Brothers College. As the two main fee paying all-boys schools in Cork, both share similar histories, student bases, and sporting & academic traditions.

History

Saint Patrick's Place building

In the mid 19th century the Vincentian Fathers maintained a seminary at Saint Patrick's Place in Cork, known as the Cork Diocesan Seminary. In 1888 a new seminary with residential accommodation was completed at Farranferris, and the Vincentian ecclesiastical students transferred there.

The then bishop of Cork, Most Rev. Dr O'Callaghan, invited the Christian Brothers to take charge of the St Patrick's Place establishment.

The Congregation of Christian Brothers had been established almost 90 years earlier by Edmund Ignatius Rice for the education of poor Irish boys. Over the years, the Order's mission had extended to other countries and other social groups.

From the beginning, CBC was principally involved in preparing pupils for University entry, and operated on St Patrick's Place for a hundred years.

Recent development

Marking the centenary in 1988, the College moved from its original site to a new location, one hundred metres away, atop Sidney Hill.

1996-1998 saw the modernisation of sports facilities at Lansdowne. 1999 saw an extension to the College complex itself which included improved dining facilities and the creation of a special complex for sixth year students. In 2008, construction was completed on an AstroTurf pitch, which is now used for various sporting activities, including after school football.

Though the Christian Brothers retain a presence on the Board of Management, as Trustees, CBC is now staffed entirely by lay teachers, and is recognised as one of Ireland's leading educational establishments at secondary level. (In the 2006 Sunday Times Schools League Table, CBC was listed among the country's top twenty boys schools.)

CBC has over 1000 students in the college with 885 studying at Secondary Level and more than 250 studying at Primary Level in the Preparatory School.^{[citation needed]} The current principal of the college (both secondary and preparatory) is Dr. Laurence Jordan.^[2][3]

As of 2008, annual fees were €3,100 for first year and €2,850 for subsequent years.^[4]

Extracurricular activities

CBC rugby team at Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament, Global Arena, 2006

The school is one of Cork's "rugby union nurseries" and have won the Munster Schools' Senior Cup twenty eight times (equal with rivals PBC Cork).^[5][6] Current members of the Munster rugby squad, Stephen Archer, Darragh Hurley, Tomás O'Leary, Billy Holland, and Donncha O'Callaghan^[7] are recent past pupils (2006, 2004, 2002, and 1998 respectively).^{[citation needed]}

CBC's most recent Senior Cup victory came in 2009 when the side defeated Rockwell College. This came after 2 successive defeats in the final. In 2010, the CBC side failed to regain their title.

The school also participates in other extracurricular activities, including debating,^[8] charitable activities, basketball and others.^[9] The school also participates in other sports, including soccer (football) and GAA (Gaelic football and Hurling) - with CBC winning the Junior Cup for soccer in 2003 and 2008 and several Lord Mayor Cups.

Through several fundraising efforts, including the annual Christmas appeal, CBC supports charities including SHARE, S.V.P., HOPE, Trócaire and Concern.^{[citation needed]} One of the school's main charitable activities is the "Zambia Immersion Project",^[10] which has run biannually since 2003. This Immersion project involves students travelling to Zambia with chosen staff and assisting the Christian Brothers missions in Murundu, Mufulira.

Notable alumni

• Peter Barry, Minister for Foreign Affairs (1982–1987), Tánaiste (1987).
• J. Kevin Boland, RC prelate bishop of Savannah
• Mark Cagney, TV and radio broadcaster.
• Hugh Coveney, Minister for the Marine (1994–1995), Minister for Defence (1994–1995).^[11]
• Darragh Hurley, Munster rugby player
• Donal Lenihan, former Ireland rugby union captain.
• Frank Murphy, former Munster rugby player and Leicester Tigers, current Connacht Rugby player.
• Noel Murphy (Sr.), Irish Rugby Union international, Munster Rugby and British and Irish Lions team member
• Noel Murphy (Jr.), Irish Rugby Union international, Munster Rugby and British and Irish Lions team member
• Donncha O'Callaghan, Irish Rugby Union international, Munster Rugby and British and Irish Lions team member.^[7]
• Shane O'Connor, Munster Rugby player.
• Tomás O'Leary, Irish Rugby Union international and Munster Rugby and British and Irish Lions team member.^[12]

References

1. ^ "Subject Inspection of Latin in Christian Brothers College, Cork". Department of Education and Science. 17 January 2008. http://www.education.ie/insreports/report2_62520C.htm. Retrieved 22 October 2010. 
2. ^ "Straight As, a keeper's comeback and one happy hurler". Irish Times. 19 August 2010. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0819/1224277151332.html. Retrieved 23 October 2010. 
3. ^ CBCCork.ie - Message from Principal
4. ^ "School fees to soar as state aid is cut by €10m". Irish Independent. 28 October 2008. http://www.independent.ie/education/latest-news/private-school-fees-to-soar-as-state-aid-is-cut-by-836410m-1511140.html. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
5. ^ "Ryan magic seals title for CBC as brave 'Rock' fall short". Irish Independent. 16 March 2009. http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ryan-magic-seals-title-for-cbc-as-brave-rock-fall-short-1674080.html. Retrieved 23 October 2010. 
6. ^ "O'Flaherty stars in PBC triumph". Irish Independent. 18 March 2010. http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/schools-rugby/oflaherty-stars-in-pbc-triumph-2102891.html. Retrieved 22 October 2010. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Rugby stars line out for Donncha's big day". Irish Independent. 24 December 2009. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rugby-stars-line-out-for-donnchas-big-day-1988272.html. Retrieved 23 October 2010. 
8. ^ cbccork.ie/pages/debating
9. ^ CBCCork.ie - Clubs and Activities at CBC
10. ^ ZambiaProject.com - Official Site of the CBC Zambia Immersion Project
11. ^ "Tributes flow for TD in tragic cliff walk death". Irish Examiner. 16 March 1998. http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/03/16/ihead.htm. Retrieved 24 October 2010. 
12. ^ IrishRugby.ie - Player profiles - Tomás O'Leary

External links

• Official site - CBC Cork

Coordinates: 51°54′13″N 8°28′03″W / 51.9036°N 8.4674°W / 51.9036; -8.4674