- Saint Cronan's Boys' National School
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St. Cronan's BNS 
Address Vevay Road
Bray, County Wicklow, IrelandInformation School type Primary Founded 1820 Principal Vaughan Dodd Staff c. 25 Grades First through sixth Gender Male Age range 6–13 Number of students 500 approx. School Colour(s) Blue, yellow Athletics Gaelic football, hurling Website www.stcronans.ie Saint Cronan's Boys' National School (Irish: Scoil Chrónáin Naofa) is a national school located in Vevay Crescent, just off the Vevay Road in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. It is the oldest primary school in Bray, having been founded in 1820 as Bray Male School. The school is named in honour of Saint Cronan, whose feast day falls on 28 April.
There are currently about 500 boys in the school, aged from 6 to 13 years (first through sixth classes).
St. Cronan's new building, officially opened on 18 June 2001 by then Minister for Education, Dr Michael Woods.
Previous crest of St. Cronan's BNS, officially in use until the year 2000.Contents
History
In 1820, a small number of cottages on Seapoint Road in Bray are believed to have been the site of the first Bray Male Parochial School. It opened on 20 July 1820 and the boys stayed in these premises until 1880. Due to increasing pupil numbers, Bray Male School moved from its original home on Seapoint Road to the Little Flower Hall beside the Holy Redeemer Church off the Main Street in Bray in October 1880. Bray Male School moved again in 1931; this time, the school found a new home in a new building on the Vevay Hill. The school also changed its name at this stage to St Cronan's. On 2 November 1999, after many years of fund-raising, St. Cronan's moved to a brand new building in Vevay Crescent. After the most recent move to the new school building in Vevay Crescent, Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh, a Gaelscoil, took up residence in the schoolhouse on the Vevay Hill.
Current activities
Curricular studies
As a national school, St. Cronan's follows the Primary School Curriculum (1999). The school has a Catholic ethos and prepares its students for the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion. The school is also part of the Modern Languages Initiative,[1] and Spanish is taught in 5th and 6th classes.
Extracurricular activities
St. Cronan's also offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities;
- Gaelic football.
- Hurling.
- Indoor soccer.
- Rugby.
- Golf.
- Basketball.
- Games club.
- Science.
- Arts and crafts.
- Computers.
- Cookery.
- Drama.
- Gardening.
- Photography.
- Tin whistle.
- Piano keyboard.
- Irish dancing.
- Spanish.
- Homework club.
- Wood carving.
The school also runs CroKidzClub, which combines many of the above activities. This club allows children to stay in school from the time the school day ends at 2:30 pm until 5:30 pm. This club is offered to parents as an alternative option to child-minders.
Sports
St. Cronan's GAA jersey sponsored by Bray Lions Club.St. Cronan's GAA Scoil Chrónáin Naofa County: Wicklow Nickname: The Crows Club colours: Blue, yellow Grounds: Páirc Chrónáin, Bray Playing kits 
Standard coloursSt. Cronan's is an active participant in Gaelic games. The school has both Gaelic football and hurling teams which compete against the other schools in the Wicklow area. Both teams have been very successful in recent years. The school's Gaelic football team have been county champions four out of the last five years, and are current holders of the Coughlin Cup.[2] The school's team colours are blue, yellow, and white to match the school's uniform. Prior to the year 2000, the school's colours were red and white; this matched the colour of the previous school uniform.
The school has close ties with Bray Emmetts GAA club, and many of the children in the school are also members of the club. St. Cronan's GAA jerseys are sponsored by a local organisation, the Bray Lions Club. The boys in the school participate in many of the charitable projects organised by this club.
St. Cronan's trophy cabinet.Gaelic football honours
- Coughlin Cup; 1998, 2000, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011.
- Wicklow Schools League; 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004.
- Wicklow County Championship (Corn Uí Dhochartaigh, English: O'Doherty Cup); 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007.
- Mini-Sevens Trophy; 2004, 2005.
Hurling honours
- Mini-Sevens Trophy; 2006.
- Murphy Cup; 2004.
Choral
St. Cronan's has a very active boys choir. As well as performing at many local events, the choir have performed in the National Concert Hall with the National Children's Choir, and have also performed for the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, in Áras an Uachtaráin. In December 2004, the choir released an album entitled The Magic of Christmas, which included a guest appearance by legendary Irish singer, the late Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners.[3]
On the 12th September 2008, St. Cronan's welcomed His Excellency Liu Biwei, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland. The St. Cronan's choir, along with some musicians from the senior classes in the school performed for the Ambassador and his diplomatic entourage.[4] The school choir and musicians performed again on the 10th November 2008, as the school welcomed renowned Aboriginal leader Patrick Dodson.
St. Cronan's takes part in the biennial "National Children's Choir" Concert, and the annual "Hallelujah Concert" in the Point Theatre in Dublin.
Charity
Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes ready for shipping.St. Cronan's has very close ties to the Bray Lions Club. The boys in the senior end of the school take part in many of the club's projects, including the Lions Club International Peace Poster Competition and the Clean Sweep of Bray.
In the run up to Christmas, students in sixth class take part in the Concern Christmas Fast. Each December, the school also participates in Operation Christmas Child. This is a project organised by Samaritan's Purse, and involves children putting together a shoebox of simple gifts for distribution among children in desperate situations around the world.[5]
Other awards
St. Cronan's Eircom Junior Spider Website Award 2009.- Discover Primary Science Award; 2006, 2007, 2008.
- Green Flag Award; 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009.
- European Folk Culture Organisation, Primary Schools Award; 2003.
- Eircom Junior Spider Website Award; 2009
Twinning
St. Cronan's is linked with Edgewood Elementary School in the state of Minnesota.[6] The school is also twinned with the parish of Ikanga, Kenya[7] and the parish of Bugisi, Tanzania.[8] This is through the parishes of Holy Redeemer and Queen of Peace respectively.
Famous alumni
- Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh; former Attorney General, Chief Justice, and President of Ireland (1974–1976).[9]
- Darren Randolph; professional soccer player, currently playing for Motherwell.[10]
- Damien Meaney; Bray Person of the Year 2007[11], and pioneering fundraiser and volunteer for Chernobyl Children's Project International founded by Adi Roche
- Fergal "Prince" Devitt; professional wrestler, currently contracted to New Japan Pro Wrestling.
References
- ^ MLPSI Spanish Schools MLPSI.com. Retrieved on 11-02-08.
- ^ Coughlin Cup report Cumann na mBunscol. Retrieved on 11-02-08.
- ^ The Magic of Christmas The Magic of Christmas album. Retrieved on 22-09-08.
- ^ Mr Karl Ó Broin's 6th Class Website St Cronan's BNS mini-website. Retrieved on 21-09-08.
- ^ Operation Christmas Child Samaritan's Purse. Retrieved on 18-02-08.
- ^ US link StCronans.ie. Retrieved on 10-02-08.
- ^ Bray, Ikanga twinning Ikanga parish. Retrieved on 11-02-08.
- ^ Twin parish Queen of Peace parish. Retrieved on 11-02-08.
- ^ Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh CúplaFocal.ie. Retrieved on 11-02-08.
- ^ Come on you Reds! CroNews. Published on 01-05-99. Retrieved on 11-02-08.
- ^ Bray Endeavour Awards Bray Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved on 12-08-08.
External links
Categories:- Primary schools in the Republic of Ireland
- Bray, County Wicklow
- Boys' schools in the Republic of Ireland
- Educational institutions established in 1820
- Schools in County Wicklow
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