St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh
| St Patrick's Grammar School Scoil Ghramadaí Naomh Pádraig | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
Cathedral Road , , BT61 7QZ | |
| Information | |
| Type | Non‑selective voluntary grammar school |
| Motto | Fratres in Unum |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Catholic Church |
| Established | 1838 |
| Chairman of Board of Governors | Desmond Oliver |
| Principal | Dominic Clarke |
| Staff | 100+ |
| Gender | All‑male |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 889 (2021–22)[1] |
| Colour(s) | Red, green |
| Website | School Website |
St Patrick's Grammar School (Irish: Scoil Ghramadaí Naomh Pádraig) is a Roman Catholic boys' voluntary grammar school in Armagh, Northern Ireland. The present‑day school was officially opened on Thursday, 27 October 1988, by the late Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, then Chairman of the Board of Governors, and was the result of the amalgamation of two of Northern Ireland's oldest grammar schools – St Patrick's College and the Christian Brothers' Grammar School at Greenpark – both with traditions dating back to the 1830s.[2]
In 2014–15 the school expanded following the closure of St Brigid's High School (Armagh) and immediately moved away from academic selection – becoming the last Catholic grammar school in the Armagh and Craigavon area to do so, following the example set by St Michael's Grammar School, Lurgan. Enrollment was increased to 1250, and a £3 million site renovation was initiated in October 2015, with construction concluding in June 2017.[3] Further expansion is planned as part of the School Enhancement Programme.
History of St Patrick's
[edit]St Patrick's College
[edit]St Patrick's College, Armagh, was established as a junior seminary on Sandy Hill by Archbishop William Crolly. It was run by diocesan priests until 1861, when the Vincentian Order (the Congregation of the Mission) took charge. The Vincentians maintained their apostolate in Armagh until the amalgamation.[4]
Christian Brothers' Grammar School
[edit]The Irish Christian Brothers arrived in Armagh in 1851 at the invitation of Archbishop Cullen (later Ireland's first residential Cardinal). Within a few years they acquired the Greenpark site and established primary and secondary schools. The Christian Brothers' Grammar School at Greenpark built a strong academic and sporting tradition. When the Vincentian Order signalled its withdrawal, Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich requested that the Brothers serve as joint trustees of the new amalgamated school. Ó Fiaich was succeeded as Chairman of the Board of Governors in 1991 by Cardinal Daly and then in 1997 by Cardinal Brady.[5]
St Patrick's Grammar School (1988–present)
[edit]In 1988, St Patrick's Grammar School was established following the amalgamation of St Patrick's College and the Christian Brothers' school at Greenpark. Brother L. Kelly, then Headmaster of St Mary's Grammar School (Belfast), was appointed as the first Headmaster and was assisted by James McKeown, Damien Woods, Paul McAvinchey, Seamus Savage, and Frank Corvan. Br. Kelly retired in 1999 to take up a post at an American university, and the long‑standing boarding tradition ended that year following the Vincentian Order's departure from Armagh. In 2016, Fr. Kevin Donaghy—the last Catholic priest to serve as headmaster in Northern Ireland and the last priest on staff at St Patrick's—retired after 17 years. His tenure included the last MacRory Cup win (1999/2000), the addition of a new music and technology block in 2003, and extensive renovations between 2015 and 2017. Mr. Dominic Clarke, a past pupil of Sacred Heart College (Omagh), was appointed the first lay headmaster in the school's 180‑year history, and Fr. Peter Clarke became the first school chaplain in 17 years.[6]
Site Renovation
[edit]The school was awarded £4 million for site renovation in October 2013 to expand its facilities – including an extension to the school canteen and meals kitchen, new home economics classrooms, an enlarged staff room, and refurbishment of classrooms, PE departments, and other buildings, as well as permission for four mobile classrooms. The contract was awarded to GEDA Construction, with work commencing in October 2015 and finishing in June 2017. Additional funding for further renovations was secured in May 2018.[7]
Life at St Patrick's
[edit]Languages
[edit]At St Patrick's, all students in years 8–10 study languages, with most continuing at GCSE and A-level. Two languages are offered:
In years 8–10, pupils receive up to two hours per week in each language. At GCSE, most study at least one language (with some opting for more), and selected students continue their studies at A‑level (typically eight classes per week plus two conversation sessions with fluent language assistants). Additionally, students from St Catherine's College (Belfast) study French at St Patrick's. Pupils whose first language is not English are often entered for a GCSE in their mother tongue to maximise overall achievements.[8]
Extra‑curricular Activities
[edit]St Patrick's offers a wide range of extra‑curricular societies, including a debating society, a Society of St Vincent de Paul group, and several music ensembles. In the music department, extra‑curricular groups include the school orchestra, steel band, traditional group, and choir—each allocated one hour of practice per day after school. The department also participates in the Soundstart Project, whereby every Year 8 and 9 class receives weekly instruction in orchestral instruments (and African drums) from professional tutors, ensuring each pupil leaves Year 9 able to play an instrument and read music. The music groups perform an annual spring concert at the Market Place Theatre and tour nationally and internationally; for example, the steel band has performed at the Waterfront Hall and on radio shows, and has competed in Jamaica and Spain, while the orchestra and traditional group have toured in Spain.[9]
Sports Department
[edit]Sports at St Patrick's include basketball, cross‑country running, Gaelic football, golf, handball, hurling, squash, and swimming. The school hosts an annual sports day toward the end of each academic year. Historically, in 1923 the headmasters of St Patrick's and St Macartan's (Monaghan) organised a Gaelic match between the two schools – later joined by St Patrick's (Cavan), St Columb's College (Derry), St Malachy's College (Belfast), and St Colman's College (Newry). The MacRory Cup – originally open only to boarding schools (with Abbey CBS becoming the first day school to win it in 1954) – saw St Patrick's dominate in its early years (winning in 1923–29, 1931, 1944–47, and 1953). After a 47‑year gap, the school won the Cup in 2000 and has since secured it 14 times (second only to St Colman's College, Newry). The school has also reached the semi‑final stage in 2007, 2012, and 2017, and reached the final in 1934, 1936, 1938, 1943, 1950–52, 1957, 1967, 1994, and 1997. It was also the first winner of the All‑Ireland Colleges Hogan Cup.[10][11]
Excursions
[edit]It is traditional for first‑year students to attend a residential retreat (typically at Killowen, Carlingford, or Todd's Leap) at the start of their academic life at St Patrick's. At the end of their seven years, students are invited to attend a religious retreat and the annual school formal. The language department has developed links with European countries to facilitate exchange programmes, and the Irish department promotes visits to Gaeltachts for KS3, GCSE, and A‑Level pupils. In addition, the Physical Education department has organised trips abroad – including a student tour to Canada.[12]
School Aid Romania (SAR)
[edit]Established in 1990, School Aid Romania (SAR) aims to assist children in need in Romania and foster community links between Northern Ireland and Romania. Its objectives include promoting mutual understanding and providing material assistance to relieve poverty and improve the well‑being of young people in Romania. Staff accompanying students include Mrs. U. Lennon and Mr. N. King. Irish TV visited the school in January 2016 to interview Year 14 pupils who had visited Romania in 2015. Since 1993, St Patrick's has been involved in SAR – travelling to Brasov in partnership with Cookstown High School; hosting visitors from local institutions in Brasov; and arranging for physiotherapists and special‑needs teachers to work with children in Brașov and Timiș County.[13]
Amalgamation with St Brigid's
[edit]In March 2014 it was announced that St Patrick's would merge with St Brigid's High School (Armagh)—whose closure allowed all Catholic boys to attend St Patrick's. From September 2014, St Patrick's ceased academic selection and became an all‑ability school accepting boys from Armagh and surrounding areas, ensuring a broader curriculum and increased opportunities at GCSE to meet qualification reforms in Northern Ireland.[14][15]
Academic Achievements
[edit]During the summer 2006 exam season, students achieved exemplary GCSE and A-level results – making St Patrick's the top all‑boys grammar school in Northern Ireland and fifth overall. In summer 2008, 27 students attained straight As in three or more A‑level subjects (with five achieving four grade As and one achieving five). In 2016, the school was named the top all‑boys grammar school in the North based on A‑level results. The history department also garnered accolades in 2016 when pupil Eamon Livingstone secured third place in A‑level history (under the tutelage of Mrs. Julianne Denvir and Mrs. Elaine Murphy), while the journalism department saw Conor Finn gain second in A‑level journalism (a pupil of Mrs. Shauna Clements and Mrs. Maria Rafferty).[16]
Notable alumni
[edit]| Name | Born | Died | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Blane | 1850 | 1917 | Politician; Member of Parliament for South Armagh, 1885–1892[17] |
| Joseph Cardinal MacRory | 1861 | 1945 | Roman Catholic prelate; Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, 1928–1945[18] |
| Tomás Ó Fiaich | 1923 | 1990 | Roman Catholic prelate; Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, 1977–1990[19] |
 |
1922 | 1982 | Actor[20] |
| Richard McCullen CM | 1926 | 2015 | Superior General of the Vincentians, 1980–1992 |
| John Montague | 1929 | 2016 | Poet; Member of Aosdána; First Ireland Chair of Poetry[21] |
| Denis Faul | 1932 | 2006 | Monsignor in the Catholic Church; President of St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon |
 |
1936 | 2020 | Politician; former Deputy First Minister[22] |
| Paul Muldoon | 1951 | Poet; Professor of Creative Writing at Princeton University; Member of Aosdána; Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature; Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences[23][24] | |
| Seamus McGarvey | 1967 | Cinematographer[25] | |
 |
1969 | Traditional Irish musician[26] | |
| Joe Brolly | 1969 | Derry Gaelic footballer and barrister[27] | |
| Niall Vallely | 1970 | Traditional Irish musician | |
| Oisín McConville | 1975 | Armagh Gaelic footballer[28] | |
| Cormac McAnallen | 1980 | 2004 | Tyrone Gaelic footballer[29] |
| Rónán Clarke | 1982 | Armagh Gaelic footballer | |
| Seán Cavanagh | 1983 | Tyrone Gaelic footballer | |
| Colm Cavanagh | 1986 | Tyrone Gaelic footballer | |
| Charlie Vernon | 1987 | Armagh Gaelic footballer | |
| Conor McKenna | 1996 | Tyrone Gaelic footballer (All‑Ireland Finalist); former Australian rules footballer for Essendon |
References
[edit]- ^ "Post‑primary schools data 2021–2022". Department of Education (Northern Ireland). Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ "History of St Patrick's Grammar School". St Patrick's Grammar School. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "St Patrick's Grammar School receives £3 million renovation boost". Belfast Telegraph. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Our History – St Patrick's Grammar School". St Patrick's Grammar School. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Heritage of Armagh Schools". Northern Ireland Heritage. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "St Patrick's Grammar School celebrates new era". BBC News Northern Ireland. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "O'Dowd announces £10.6 million funding for site renovations". Northern Ireland Executive. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ "Curriculum Overview". St Patrick's Grammar School. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Extra‑curricular Activities". St Patrick's Grammar School. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "MacRory Cup History". Gaelic Athletic Association. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Gaelic Football in Armagh". Northern Ireland Heritage. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Student Life and Excursions". St Patrick's Grammar School. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Romanian aid mission continues to support those in need". The Irish News. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "10 March 2014 – O'Dowd approves decision to end academic selection in changes to Armagh post‑primary education". Northern Ireland Executive. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "April 2009" (PDF). Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ "St Patrick's Grammar School recognised for academic excellence in 2021". Department of Education Northern Ireland. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "UK Parliament Members". UK Parliament. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Joseph Cardinal MacRory". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Obituary: Archbishop Tomás Ó Fiaich". The Telegraph. 24 February 1990. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Patrick Magee". IMDb. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "John Montague". Ireland Chair of Poetry. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ "Seamus Mallon obituary". BBC News. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Paul Muldoon". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ "Paul Muldoon". Ireland Chair of Poetry. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ "Seamus McGarvey". IMDb. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Cillian Vallely". Last.fm. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Joe Brolly on GAA and life in law". The Irish News. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Oisín McConville obituary". The Irish Times. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Tributes paid to Cormac McAnallen". Belfast Telegraph. 6 April 2004. Retrieved 22 March 2025.