Rockwell College (Irish: Coláiste Charraig an Tobair), founded in 1864, is a voluntary day and boarding Catholic secondary school near Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland.

Rockwell College
Coláiste Charraig an Tobair
Location
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Ireland
Information
TypeVoluntary day and boarding school
MottoInter Mutanda Constantia
("Constancy in the midst of change")
Established1864
PresidentJack Meade
PrincipalAudrey O’Byrne[1]
Years1st - 7th
GenderMale and Female
Age12 to 19
Number of students500
Colour(s)Blue and white
Religious compilationRoman Catholicism (Spiritans)
Websitewww.rockwellcollege.ie

The school has a rugby tradition and has won the Munster Schools Senior Cup 26 times and the Munster Schools Junior Cup 20 times. Rockwell is run by the Spiritans. Its list of former pupils and teachers includes two Presidents of Ireland.

History

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Group of priests commissioned by Rev. John J. McCarthy, St. Josephs Missionary House, Rockwell, 1932

Rockwell College was founded in 1864 by two Spiritan priests (also known as the Holy Ghost Fathers) to provide education to the sons of Roman Catholics during a time when Penal Laws were still in place against the Catholic majority in Ireland.[2]

Rockwell College played an important role in the development of the Irish State in the several prominent figures of the Irish Revolutionary period taught at or attended the school. Éamon de Valera taught mathematics there as a young teacher and fellow 1916 Proclamation signatory Thomas MacDonagh attended as a pupil. In 1964 as part of the centenary celebrations President Éamon de Valera returned to the school, 60 years after he taught there.[3]

In 1997, Pat O'Sullivan became Rockwell's first lay principal, and in 2012 Audrey O'Byrne became the college's first female principal.[4]

Sister schools

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Notable past pupils

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Politics

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Former President of Ireland Dr Patrick Hillery, Rockwell past pupil
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Business

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Sport

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Clergy

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Others

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Writer Gabriel Rosenstock, Rockwell past pupil

References

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  1. ^ "Female principal for Rockwell College". Irish Times. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  2. ^ "About Us - Rockwell College Cashel Tipperary Ireland". rockwellcollege.ie. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Rockwell College Centenary". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Female principal for Rockwell College". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
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52°27′33″N 7°53′37″W / 52.4592°N 7.8936°W / 52.4592; -7.8936