Catholic University School

Private secondary school in Dublin, Ireland

Catholic University School

Location

89 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2

Ireland

Coordinates| 53°20′07″N 6°15′21″W﻿ / ﻿53.3353°N 6.2559°W﻿ / 53.3353; -6.2559
Information
Type| Voluntary (private) school
Motto| Sub Mariae Nomine[1]
(Under the name of Mary[2])
Religious affiliation(s)| Roman Catholic
Society of Mary
Established| 1867; 158 years ago (1867)
Headmaster| Clive Martin[3]
Gender| Male
Number of students| 525 (2018)[4]
Colour(s)|    Blue and Red
Founder(s)| Bartholomew Woodlock
Website| www.cus.ie

Catholic University School (C.U.S.) is a private (voluntary) secondary school for boys in Dublin, Ireland. The school was founded in 1867 by Bartholomew Woodlock as a preparatory school for the Catholic University of Ireland, the predecessor to University College Dublin, that was founded by St. John Henry Newman in 1854.[5][6]

Under the custodianship of the Marist Fathers, the private school has educated Irish politicians, academic and literary figures, and three Olympic gold medalists.[7]

## History

[edit]

### Origins

[edit]

The foundation of the Catholic University School has its basis in the Catholic Revival movement of the late 1820s. For over 250 years, the only university in Ireland had been Trinity College, Dublin – the sole constituent college of the University of Dublin. While the Trinity College had been opened to Catholics in 1793 (they could not be elected as Scholars, Fellows, or Professors), only a few attended.[8] Those Catholics who did were mainly educated in England at schools such as Stonyhurst College.[9]

Bartholomew Woodlock
First president of the School

St. John Henry Newman

In response, in 1850, Queen Victoria granted a Royal Charter founding three colleges of the Queen's University of Ireland. The colleges in Cork, Belfast and Galway were non-denominational. However, at the Synod of Thurles in 1850, the Catholic Church officially condemned these institutions as "Godless Colleges" and declared a need for a Catholic University.[10] Thus, the Catholic University of Ireland was founded in 1851 – though not fully established until 18 May 1854 with Cardinal John Henry Newman as its first Rector.

### Early years

[edit]

To ensure larger numbers of students for the new university, Dr Daniel Murray, the Archbishop of Dublin established a school at 16–17 Harcourt Street and named the school after Saint Laurence O'Toole, the patron Saint of Dublin. St. Laurence's Academy, founded in 1850, was accompanied by the establishment of Belvedere College by the Jesuits in 1832 on the north side of the city. The University, as yet, had no dedicated preparatory or feeder school.

17 Harcourt Street, the original location of the school

By 1862, Dr. Bartholomew Woodlock took over as rector of the Catholic University, and suggested that the university proceed with the foundation of its own feeder school. Over time, St. Laurence's Academy developed a close relationship with the university. Woodlock was the first president of the school and professors from the university also taught in the school. The school was given a name reflecting its function: the Catholic University School.[11]

The first teachers in the school were mostly young Dublin priests who had studied at the Irish College in Rome. Among them was Dr. James Quinn, who set about enrolling students from wealthy Catholic families. Within a year the school had an enrollment of 130 students.[12] The subjects taught were classical rather than practical and included Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian and the Arts. Pope Pius XI eventually chose Quinn as the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, Australia – and he left the school.[13]

### Marist takeover

[edit]

In the early 1860s, the finances of the Catholic University School and Catholic University of Ireland were intertwined, and the rent for the Harcourt Street premises was a high £2600 per annum. Neither the school nor the university were able to cope with this burden. Archbishop of Dublin, Paul Cullen was adamant that it was not possible for C.U.S to close down even for a year – because it would be possible that the school would never open again.[14]

In 1867 both Cardinal Cullen and Bartholomew Woodlock travelled to Dundalk for the consecration of Michael Kiernan as Archbishop of Armagh.[15] While there, they visited the Marist College and believed that Marist administration would be beneficial to the Catholic University School. Subsequently, Cardinal Cullen brought the offer to the General Council of the Marist Fathers in Lyons in France. After a two-day petition, he convinced the Council of the benefit of taking on the Dublin school. In July 1867, Woodlock informed Cullen of the financial burden the Harcourt Street premises had been. He recommended that the Marists purchase new premises, and when 89 Lower Leeson Street became available, the Marists purchased it. The Harcourt Street site remained on as the premises for the school for a short while as refurbishments were carried out on the Leeson Street building. On 29 September 1867 the Catholic University School opened on Lower Leeson Street.

### Later years

[edit]

In 2019, the school was involved in a High Court dispute with a former teacher. The court ruled that the teacher had been denied a fair disciplinary process, and the school was ordered to reform its complaints and disciplinary processes.[16]

## Curriculum

[edit]

The curriculum offers over 20 subjects and covers all common subjects in the state examinations including Classical Studies, Art History, German, Art, Art history, Chemistry, Physics, Accounting and Economics.[17] Academically, the school was ranked in 63rd place nationally in 2018.[18] According to the school's website, class sizes "do not exceed 22-24" and are "[lower] for option subjects".[19] The preparatory school offers the full primary curriculum as well introducing pupils to Spanish and Mandarin.[20]

## Traditions

[edit]

The school's song, “Walking On”, is sometimes heard at school events and at rugby matches.[citation needed] The primary religious anthem of the school in recent years has been Dominican Magnificat, taken from The Magnificat passage in The Gospel of Luke.[21][failed verification]

Historically, the school was divided into three houses; Colin, Sarsfield, and Bodkin.[22] Students were placed under the supervision of a housemaster, usually a clerical member of the teaching staff.

Photochrom print showing St. Stephen's Green at the end of the 19th century

## Facilities

[edit]

The school is located near St Stephen's Green in Dublin. School buildings include; the Georgian buildings to the front of the school containing the Oratory and Headmasters residence, Victorian buildings, a sports hall with gym and changing rooms and the "old school" building.[23][24] The school also owns land in Clonskeagh, County Dublin, which is home to the school's rugby pitches, cricket field and a sports pavilion.[25]

## School activities

[edit]

### Sports

[edit]

Teams representing CUS participate in schools rugby and cricket competitions in Leinster.[6][26] CUS has won the Leinster Senior Cup in cricket six times since 1999.[25]

Other sports played include tennis and athletics.[25] Rugby and cricket take place at Bird Avenue in Clonskeagh.[25] Three Olympic Gold Medalists have attended the school; John Pius Boland, Ronnie Delaney, and David Malone.[7] Past pupil Eoin Morgan captained the England team to victory in the ICC 12th Cricket World Cup in July 2019.[27][28]

### Other activities

[edit]

CUS students have represented Ireland at the World Schools Debating Championships.[29]

The school has a connection with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and holds an annual "hamper fund" in order to raise funds to the charity.[30] The school has also arranged student visits and fundraising in support of causes in the Davao Region of the Philippines.[31]

## Past Pupils Union

[edit]

The CUS Union, founded in 1902, is the past pupils association of the school.[17] In June 2002, the organisation was hosted at Áras an Uachtaráin by then President of Ireland Mary McAleese.[32]

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern spoke at the school's annual dinner in 2002.[7] Other guest speakers have included Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O'Connor,[33] and broadcasters Eamon Dunphy and George Hook.[34][35]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

See also: Category:People educated at Catholic University School

Former pupils have included:

* Academia
* Joseph Plunkett, Count Plunkett – poet, scholar, and politician[36]
* Arthur Clery – politician, university professor[37]
* Robert Dudley Edwards – professor, historian[38]
* John Larchet – composer, UCD's first professor of music[39]
* Jeremiah Hogan – academic and president of University College Dublin (1964-1972)[40]
* Patrick Meenan – President of the Medical Council, helped develop Polio vaccine[41]
* Arts, entertainment, and literature
* David Allen – comedian who briefly attended the school.[42]
* Baz Ashmawy – radio and television host[43]
* Sebastian Barry – author and playwright[44]
* Francis Brennan – hotelier[45]
* Joe Dowling – artistic director at several theatres[46]
* George Desmond Hodnett – musician and music critic[47]
* Rory Keenan – actor[citation needed]
* Graham Linehan – writer and director[48]
* PJ McCall – writer[49]
* Arthur Booth – cartoonist and one of the founders of the Dublin Opinion[50]
* Religion and community
* Austin Darragh – founder of the Irish Cancer Society[51]
* James Moriarty – Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin[52]
* Government and politics
* John Pius Boland – barrister and politician, winner of Olympic gold medals for tennis[53]
* Domhnall Ua Buachalla – 3rd Governor-General of the Irish Free State[54]
* John Dillon – Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party[55]
* Frank Feely – former Dublin City Manager[citation needed]
* Seán Rockall Loftus – Lord Mayor of Dublin[56]
* Patrick Lynch – TD, economist and chairman of Aer Lingus[57]
* Noel Lemass – politician (TD) and son of former Taoiseach Seán Lemass[58]
* Tom Burgess – Newfoundland politician[59]
* Sports
* John Pius Boland – winner of Olympic gold medals for tennis and politician[7]
* Simon Curley – Irish cricketer[60]
* Ronnie Delaney – Irish Olympic gold medal winner (athletics)[7][61]
* David Malone – Paralympic Gold Medal winning swimmer[7]
* Mick McGrath – Rugby Union player for Leicester Tigers[citation needed]
* Eoin Morgan – England Cricket captain and former sports scholar of the school.[62]
* Dean Rock – All-Ireland Football Final-winning Gaelic footballer[63]
* Neil Rock – cricketer[64]
* Paddy Waldron – first-class cricketer[65]
* Frank Reddy – Irish first-class cricketer[66]
* David Kennedy – racing driver[67]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "School Admission Policy" (PDF). cus.ie. Catholic University School.
2. ^ Rowland, Bill. "Not just this school but the whole word Marist!". Marist School. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
3. ^ "CUS - Home (School Executive)". cus.ie. Catholic University School. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
4. ^ "Whole School Evaluation Management, Leadership and Learning Report - Catholic University School" (PDF). education.ie. Department of Education & Skills. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
5. ^ Ciaran O'Neill, Catholics of Consequence: Transnational Education, Social Mobility, and the Irish Catholic Elite 1850–1900, (Oxford,2014), p.110.
6. ^ a b Holden, Louise (7 October 2008). "Troubling times at CUS". IrishTimes.com. The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
7. ^ a b c d e f "Centenary Dinner Speech - Bertie Ahern". CUS Union. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2017 – via Wayback Machine.
8. ^ Michael Tierney, Struggle with fortune : a miscellany for the centenary of the Catholic University of Ireland, 1854-1954, (Dublin, 1954)
9. ^ Whittle, Sean, Newman and Contemporary Debates about Catholic Education, New Blackfriars, (2015), Vol. 96, pp.279–294.
10. ^ Cusack, M.F., The patriot's history of Ireland, Dublin, 1869, p.351.
11. ^ Bartholomew Woodlock, Catholic university education in Ireland : a letter to the Rt. Hon. W.H.F. Cogan (1888)
12. ^ Ian Kerr, John Henry Newman : a biography, (Oxford, 1990), p. 24
13. ^ Kerr, John Henry Newman : a biography, p. 29.
14. ^ Colin Barr, 'An Italian of the Vatican Type: The Roman Formation of Cardinal Paul Cullen, Archbishop of Dublin', A Journal of Irish Studies, 2016, Vol 6, pp. 27-47
15. ^ Dáire Keogh & Albert McDonnell, Cardinal Paul Cullen and his world, (Dublin, 2010)
16. ^ "Teacher denied proper disciplinary process after claim he called pupil 'a little bitch'". IrishTimes.com. The Irish Times. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
17. ^ a b "CUS School Facts". cusunion.ie. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
18. ^ "About School League Tables". Schooldays.ie. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020.
19. ^ "About - Secondary School". CUS.ie. Catholic University School. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
20. ^ "CUS Junior School". Catholic University School. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
21. ^ M.F Cusack, The patriot's history of Ireland, (Dublin, 1869), p. 127.
22. ^ C.U.S., 1867–1967; a Centenary Record, Catholic University School, 1967, pp. 57, 82
23. ^ "Catholic University School, 90 Leeson Street Lower". Buildings of Ireland. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
24. ^ "Catholic University School, Leeson Street Lower". Buildings of Ireland. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
25. ^ a b c d "School Sports". cus.ie. Catholic University School. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
26. ^ "The King's Hospital and CUS through to last four". Leinster Rugby. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
27. ^ "Eoin Morgan charts how England won the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
28. ^ O'Shea, Joe. "Three lions on his geansaí: England's true blue Dub". Independent.ie. The Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
29. ^ "Ireland wins world schools debate contest". IrishTimes.com. The Irish Times. 2 February 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
30. ^ "CUS Hamper Fund - What is it today?". CUS Union. Catholic University School Union. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
31. ^ "Social Awareness - Philippines Project". CUS.ie. Catholic University School. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
32. ^ "Centenary Visit To Áras An Uachtaráin". CUS Union. 25 June 2002. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
33. ^ "2017 ANNUAL DINNER". Cusunion.ie. 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
34. ^ "Eamon Dunphy, Guest Speaker". Cusunion.ie. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
35. ^ "Annual Dinner 2015". Cusunion.ie. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
36. ^ "Joseph Plunkett". rte.ie. RTE - Century Ireland. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
37. ^ Maume, Patrick (November 1998). "Nationalism and Partition: The Political Thought of Arthur Clery". Irish Historical Studies. 31 (122): 222–240\. doi:10.1017/S0021121400013924. JSTOR 30008260. S2CID 147354067.
38. ^ Clarke, Aidan (November 1988). "Robert Dudley Edwards (1909-88)". Irish Historical Studies. 26 (102): 121–127\. doi:10.1017/S0021121400009615. JSTOR 30008134.
39. ^ Cooke, Jim (1994). A Musical Journey 1890-1993: From Municipal School of Music to Technological University Dublin. Dublin: Technological University Dublin. p. 16.
40. ^ Nevin, Thomas E. (1985). "Jeremiah Hogan and University College Dublin". Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review. 74 (295): 325–335\. ISSN 0039-3495. JSTOR 30090666.
41. ^ "Pioneering physician who worked on polio vaccine". The Irish Times. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
42. ^ "Allen, Dave". DIB.ie. Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
43. ^ "Playing the joker; Time and place Baz Ashmawy; The RTE presenter tells Kate Butler about his misguided teenage years when he was surrounded by nurses". Sunday Times. 4 January 2009. p. 9. – via Academic OneFile (subscription required)
44. ^ Kurdi, Maria (2004). ""Really All Danger": An Interview with Sebastian Barry". New Hibernia Review / Iris Éireannach Nua. 8 (1): 41–53\. doi:10.1353/nhr.2004.0026. JSTOR 20557905. S2CID 144459189. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
45. ^ "Francis Brennan". Sunday Independent (Ireland). Retrieved 8 April 2021 – via PressReader.
46. ^ Francombe, Benedict John (1993). "The home of the living writer" : the playwright and the Abbey Theatre. Glasgow: University of Glasgow, PhD thesis. p. 136.
47. ^ White, Lawrence William. "Hodnett, George Desmond ('Hoddy'". Dictionary of Irish Biography - Cambridge University Press. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
48. ^ Gilbert, Gerard. "Graham Linehan: 'I've come to hate the church'". The Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
49. ^ Maye, Brian. "Pulse of the Bard – An Irishman's Diary on poet and songwriter PJ McCal". www.irishtimes.com. The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
50. ^ Pauric J. Dempsey and Bridget Hourican, "Booth, Arthur James Conry", Dictionary of Irish Biography, Cambridge University Press, 2010
51. ^ "Doctor and entrepreneur whose life was touched by tragedy". www.irishtimes.com. The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
52. ^ Bishop Moriarty's life in the Church Archived 2013-02-17 at archive.today Carlow People, Tuesday April 27, 2010.
53. ^ Hunt, Tom. "John Pius Boland: The man who became an accidental Olympic champion". www.irishexaminer.com. The Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
54. ^ O'Day, Alan; Fleming, Neil (2014). Longman Handbook of Modern Irish History Since 1800. New York: Routledge. p. 733\. ISBN 9781317897118. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
55. ^ "John Dillon". iar.ie. Irish Archives Resource. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
56. ^ "Dublin campaigner and 'saint politican' [sic]". www.irishtimes.com. The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
57. ^ "A force behind country's economic growth in the 60s". www.irishtimes.com. The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
58. ^ Horgan, John (1997). Seán Lemass: The Enigmatic Patriot. Ireland: Gill & Macmillan. p. 99\. ISBN 978-0-7171-2079-6. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
59. ^ "Burgess, Thomas William". Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador. p. 288.
60. ^ "Simon Andrew Curley". CricketEurope.com. Cricket Europe. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
61. ^ "Athletics' golden boy Ronnie Delaney: 'I knew I was as good as anyone in the world so my expectation was that I would win'". Independent.ie. 27 February 2017. "Ronnie attended O'Connell Primary School on North Richmond Street, Dublin, then the Catholic University School"
62. ^ "One for the future; Eoin Morgan, Middlesex and Ireland". Sunday Times. 21 March 2004. p. 28. Retrieved 26 September 2017. – via Academic OneFile (subscription required)
63. ^ "Dean Rock escapes hard place to finally become contender for Dublin". IrishTimes.com. The Irish Times. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
64. ^ "Neil set to be a rock at the wicket in the UAE". Fingal Independent. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
65. ^ "Patrick Henry Pearse Waldron". CricketEurope.com. Cricket Europe. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
66. ^ "Player profile: Francis James Anthony Reddy". CricketEurope. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
67. ^ "Legend Series- Barry meets David Kennedy". MotorSport.ie. Leo Nulty Promotions. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* CUSUnion.ie Past Pupils Website

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Tertiary|

* Ballyfermot College of Further Education
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Fee-paying secondary schools in the Republic of Ireland

Connacht|

* Garbally College
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* Yeats College

Dublin|

* Alexandra College
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* Cistercian College, Roscrea
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Munster|

* Bandon Grammar School
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* Midleton College
* Newtown School, Waterford
* Presentation Brothers College, Cork
* Rockwell College
* Scoil Mhuire, Cork
* Villiers School

Ulster|

* Monaghan Collegiate School

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