College President

I am delighted to welcome you to the website for St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny.

St Kieran’s College, which is a Diocesan College under the patronage of the Bishop of Ossory, was founded in 1782. In fact records show that on the 12th October, 1782 a lease was signed for an old house in Kilkenny making St Kieran’s the oldest Catholic College in the country and ‘the first Catholic College in the Kingdom’. Something that was possible because Grattan’s Parliament had relaxed it’s penal laws that same year.

Throughout it’s history the College was situated in a number of different locations throughout, but always at the heart of, the city. The foundation stone for the College’s current neo-gothic home was laid and blessed in 1836. Two years later the College found here a permanent home. Since then, to accommodate its ever growing work of education, many extensions have been added making the building of St Kieran’s College a fine blend of historical and modern styles.

When St Kieran’s opened its door to students long thirsting for learning, its aims were simple: the education and formation of each student, both clerical and lay, to the highest standards, based on the values of the gospel. The College today remains a vibrant place of learning and formation.  It is one of the largest secondary schools for boys (over 720 students) in the Diocese and country.

It would be easy in a place steeped in such a proud history and great tradition to spend our time looking back.  We could for example look to the fact that the seminary suspended its work here in 1994 or to the fact that the boarding school was closed to students in 2006 after 222 years.  However, these are but dates of changes in the College’s every growing and developing history. St Kieran’s has through these, and other changes, always remained faithful to its mission and ethos. So many men who studied here on the seminary and lay side proudly carry that history and tradition with them in positions of leadership in every walk of life in our country and far beyond.  Of this, and these men, we are immensely proud!

The College also now houses The Kilkenny Research and Innovation Centre for teams from Telecommunication Software and Systems group in Waterford Institute of Technology and the Carlow Institute of Technology. This Centre builds on the ground breaking international track record of TSSG; WIT’s and ITC’s joint entrepreneur development programme New Frontiers, the expertise available in ITC’s GameCORE and their new Interreg-funded INSPIRE Programme. Twenty research staff are based in this new research centre in the grounds of the College, and this number is expected to increase significantly over time. This centre provides incubation space for research and entrepreneurs in the important ICT sector and in doing this and in furthering education in Kilkenny it is at the heart of the mission of the College.

The College has also cemented its place at the heart of the Diocese and it is home for the Diocesan Forum Office, The Vocations Office and the Ossory Adult Faith Development Office. We are delighted to also offer here, in conjunction with NUIM, a Certificate in Theology (Level 7) aimed at those who work in Parish Ministries and those who want simply to deepen their faith.

Much is going on inside the great walls of St Kieran’s and all of it is centered on our original and continuing mission to provide excellence in education and formation to all who come here.

Once more I welcome you to St Kieran’s College. Enjoy your time spent looking through our website it offers some insight into the great life and energy of all who work and study here. In keeping with our motto Hiems Transiit (‘Winter has passed’) from the Song of Songs (2:11) we hope your will find here a community of deep faith and warm hospitality.

Rev Dr Dermot Ryan

College President

president@stkieranscollege.ie

Rev. Dr Dermot Ryan

President

Key Dates

Key Dates (Academic Year 2025/2026)

Please note: It may be necessary to reschedule some of the below times and dates. Please check the school website throughout the year for confirmation of the most up to date information.

August
Wednesday 20th
Staff Day (No school for students)
Thursday 21st
6th Years return at 8:50
Friday 22nd
3rd Year students return 8:50am / 1st Year Induction at 11am
Monday 25th
2nd / 5th Years and TY students return to school at 8:50am
September
Monday 15th
Open Evening (Provisional)
Friday 19th
Sports Day (Provisional)
Monday 22nd
Free Day (No school for students) (Provisional)
October
Monday 6th - Friday 10th
October Exams (Provisional)
Monday 13th - Friday 24th
TY Work Experience (Provisional)
Thursday 16th (4:15-6:45pm)
6th Year P/T Meeting (Provisional)
Friday 24th (1pm)
Midterm Break Begins
November
Monday 3rd (8.50 am)
School Reopens after Mid-Term Break
Thursday 13th (4.15pm - 6.45pm)
3rd Year P/T Meeting (Provisional)
Thursday 20th (4.15pm - 6.45pm)
5th Year P/T Meeting (Provisional)
Friday 28th
Staff Training Day (No school for students)
December
Monday 1st - Friday 5th
Christmas Exams (6th Years / 3rd Years)(Provisional)
Monday 15th - Friday 19th
Christmas Exams (1st / 2nd & 5th Years)
Friday 19th (1pm)
Christmas Holidays Begin
January
Monday 5th (8:50am)
School Reopens after Christmas Holidays
Thursday 15th
1st Year Parents Subject Choice Meeting at 7pm
Thursday 22rd (4.15pm - 6.45pm)
1st Year P/T Meeting
Thursday 29th (4.15pm - 6.45pm)
2nd Year P/T Meeting
February
Monday 2nd
St Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday - No School
Tuesday 3rd - Friday 13th
TY Work Experience (Provisional)
Tuesday 3rd - Friday 13th
Mock Examinations for JC & LC
Wednesday 11th
TY Parents Subject Choice Meeting at 7pm
Friday 13th February (1pm)
Midterm Break Begins
Monday 23rd (8.50 am)
School Reopens after Midterm Break
Thursday 26th (4:15-6:45pm)
TY P/T Meeting
March
Monday 2nd - Friday 5th
Easter Exams (1st & 5th Years)
Friday 6th
St Kieran’s Day Activities
Saturday 7th
Entrance Assessment Test (Provisional)
Monday 16th
Free Day (No School for students)
Tuesday 17th
School Closed (St Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday)
Friday 27th (1pm)
Easter Holidays Begin
April
Monday 13th
School Reopens after Easter Holidays
Thursday 23rd
Information Evening for Parents of 3rd Year (Regarding TY)
May
Monday 4th
School Closed (Bank Holiday)
Monday 25th - Friday 29th
Summer Examinations
Friday 29th (1pm)
Summer Holidays Begin
June
Wednesday 3rd
Junior & Leaving cert exams start

Latest News

Quick Links