Salesian College Celbridge

Salesian College Celbridge is a secondary school catering for male students aged 12–19 around the County Kildare village of Celbridge.

History

The Salesian College, Celbridge was originally formed in 1981 in a disused primary school on the Hazeltatch Road, which is now the Church of Ireland Primary School. Fr. Tony McEvoy SDB was the first principal with four staff members and fifty-five students. In the summer of 1984, the school moved to a newly-built premises, where it remains today. The new school and sports grounds are situated on fifteen acres, and there have been a number of developments and extensions since then. As of 2019, the school has over 700 students and over 50 staff.

Subjects

Salesians offers Junior Certificate, Transition Year, and Leaving Certificate courses, as well as a unit for autistic youths. The school's classes have been mixed since 2004.

In the Leaving Certificate cycle, courses in biology, chemistry, and physics are offered. The Junior-cycle subject broadly defined as "Business Studies" is devolved into separate courses accounting, business and economics. Students may also pursue courses in art, construction, technical drawing or engineering. The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, which aims to provide a more vocation-oriented education can also be taken by students of the College. The school also has IT facilities.

Sport

Sports played at Salesians include soccer, athletics, hurling, rugby, badminton and Gaelic football.
An annual road race, held each October, is a road race participated in by around 450 students. The Fr. Archer Cup, named after the late Fr. Charles Archer, a former teacher, is awarded to the winner.

Salesians won the U14 All-Ireland Soccer Final in 2006. The Salesians' senior soccer team advanced to the Senior Soccer All-Ireland final in 2008 in Buckley's Park in Kilkenny, but ultimately lost 2–1 to CBS of Sexton Street in Limerick. They reached the final again in 2010 when they lost to St. Marys, Galway, in the last minute of extra time.
The Salesian Senior football team reached the All-Ireland "B" semi finally in 2010, losing to Éire Óg in Carlow by 2 points.
The U16 football team reached the Leinster "B" Final against Moath CBS, where they lost by 2 goals the same year.

Staff

The school is no longer run by priests of the Salesian order. The principal is Brenda Kearns, who took up the position on 17 August 2009 succeeding Fr. Dan Carroll. There are over 60 teachers in the school in total.

Each year in the school is given a 'Year Head' who is responsible for that year. It varies from year to year but the 'Year Head' of Transition Year is permanent.

Resource

The Resource Department (Centre) was set up in 2005 by Mark Ryan, a teacher in the school. It first started off in three rooms in the school. It was set up to help students with learning difficulties and disorders. A newer facility was later opened in August 2009 by the school Principal Brenda Kearns. There are currently about nine teachers in the Resource Department with seven Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

Associations

A Parents' Association was established focusing on Salesian College in 1994. The Parents' Association is involved with producing a newsletter, in pastoral and remedial requirements.

The Salesian college student council, over the years, helped to raise money for a defibrillator, installed new basketball equipment and organised the first-ever student-led talent show. The student council has been inactive since 2014.

Notable past pupils

* Damien Rice, singer and former member of the band Juniper.
* All four members of indie rock band Bell X1
* Members of "Juliets Rescue", formerly Box Social
* Devon Murray, actor
* Karl Bermingham, striker for Derry City FC
* Mark Kenneally, Olympic marathon runner
* Daniel O'Reilly, footballer

References

{{Schools and colleges in County Kildare

Celbridge
Boys' schools in the Republic of Ireland
Salesian secondary schools
Secondary schools in County Kildare
Catholic secondary schools in the Republic of Ireland
1981 establishments in Ireland
Educational institutions established in 1981