Archives

Archives of the College

Currently, the Archives of the College is divided into two fully catalogued collections notably :

  • The Papers of the President’s Office
  • The College Archives

 

The Papers of the President’s Office are the de facto working papers of the President’s Office, thus much of the material here is of a confidential nature. However, all is not closed to those interesting in delving into aspects of the College’s history, as a great deal of the material here, such as the records pertaining to the College property, architects’ drawings, personnel on Foreign Missions, etc., was made available to the Rev. Fearghus Ó Fearghaill for his St. Kieran’s College Kilkenny 1782-1982 and was also mined by Bishop Birch’s for his St. Kieran’s College (1951).  Thus a careful reading of these invaluable reference books will answer most questions.

These Papers also include a sub-section entitled ‘Museum and Archives’ which contains rare items such as the fifteenth-century Book of Hours which was written up for the 1986 Old Kilkenny Review, pp.277-82. This prayer book was the gift of Cardinal Moran to the Library of the College on 12 April 1883.

The College Archives proper are generally made up of the registers and account books of the College, particular collections of papers, notably the notebook and papers of the Rev. William, Canon Carrigan, papers from the collection of the Rev. James Graves, one of the founder members of the old Kilkenny Archaeological Society (now the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland), papers from the collection of  John O’Donovan, the Dowling Papers and much else besides.

The Carrigan Collection has deservedly attracted, the greatest attention from scholars to-date, as many of the transcripts therein were extracted from documents lost as a result of the destruction of the Four Courts during the disturbances of 1922-3. A full index of this collection has been published in the Irish Genealogist and a copy is available upon request from the College’s Consultant Archivist.

Both of these collections of archives are fully catalogued and housed according to best archival practices.

Requests to use the Archives should be addressed via the College Office. However, it should be noted that an Archivist is in attendance at the College from time-to-time on a sessional basis only, but generally, every effort is made to accommodate and deal with all enquiries within a very short space of time.

Archive Footage

It is almost impossible to walk onto the college campus and not be aware of the great history of these grounds. Throughout the years St Kieran’s College has proudly been home to many great students and teachers, each of whom helped shape the history of this place.

Whether on the field of play, in a lecture hall or in the classroom past students formed many great memories as they passed through these grounds. Thankfully some of these memories have been captured through different media. Recently the family of Ned Costello, a former Irish teacher in the school (1939-1974), shared with us some footage that Ned recorded during his time here in the college.  This short clip of that footage shows how many famous and familiar faces populate our wonderful history.

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

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