College Record 2025

Message from the President

We live in a world of technology… smart phones, smart TVs, instant tech, promethean screens, Google classroom, Zoom calls, ChatGPT, AI and so much more. Yet in these past days our world, and certainly our Catholic world, sat waiting for a smoke signal! As the Cardinal electors were in conclave, praying and choosing the next successor to St Peter, the world watched that long-famous small chimney above the Sistine Chapel for white smoke. When it came, it brought our first (North) American pope – Pope Leo XIV. The traditions of the papal election brought the world from the technology of today back to the mystery of the past. Tradition, it seems, still holds value.

Tradition does – and we know it well here at St Kieran’s College – now in our 243rd year the College continues to do today what it first hoped to do as that lease was signed on 11th October 1782 – educating students to the highest standards possible, in light of the Gospel, so that all can achieve the very best of their God-given potential. And what joy it is for us to see that happen.

This past year we have won another Leinster Senior Colleges Championship, Ruairí McEvoy who won numerous competitions, for both the school and Ireland, ran a sub 4 minute mile making him the third of our pupils to achieve that once fabled impossibility. Ruairí joins with Cathal O’Reilly and Eoin Everard in this elite club. James Brennan and Robbie Sheehan represented Ireland in showjumping, Michael O’Keeffe who won the national award in the  Student Enterprise Programme for his business idea… as well as the now usual successes in cross-country, swimming, debating, young scientist, chess, badminton, basketball, football, the school play with the Loreto, variety shows, trad bands and so much more.

Our past pupils also amaze as they continue to pursue the tradition of excellence, we hope building on the foundations received here. One of them, Fr Michael Shortall has been asked to serve as the President of St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth, the first for a past pupil from here; another Peter Lynch has broken the Irish 10 mile record running an amazing 45:59, surpassing the previous record of 46:25, set by Olympic silver medallist John Treacy in 1993. He also broke the Irish marathon securing a podium finish in Dusseldorf clocking 2:09:36 to carve six seconds off the previous record. With so many others excelling in work, in sport, in business and in life – the traditions of this College stand proud.   

Our desire is to see all in our community excel, in what ever way possible – academically, spiritually, physically and emotionally. When they do, and they do it so often, we as their school teachers or formators, you as their parents, those of us in management, those who are Trustees, and Bishop Niall as our Patron, are all rightly proud. We delight to share in their success.

Building that tradition we continue to work towards the realisation of the new school building. It is a slow process but one that will be worth the wait. At present the design team are costing the final plans so that we can get the approval from the Dept to proceed to tender. We open in these months two special education classrooms furthering the care and welcome that we can give at St Kieran’s College – a reason for great joy for all in our community. We are working towards a planning application for a full sized Astro-Turf GAA field on our senior hurling field and moving boundaries at Birchfield to get a full sized grass pitch there.

We are building for success in the classroom too –  this year, as this Record documents we see the retirement of Jo Staunton, Jean Fitzpatrick, Philip Walsh and Sharon Keyes. Their contribution to the life and tradition that is St Kieran’s is greatly appreciated by all – and wonderfully documented here. Like all who have been part of the family that is the College, they will visit us and still enjoy the achievements of the students of which we, and they, are so proud.  I thank them, for their selfless service to the College students and our proud tradition, but also for the manner in which they raised the bar for us who follow.

In management I work closest with Adrian Finan, School Principal, Ken Maher and Liam Smith, Deputy Principals. I am humbled by their relentless commitment to building on the tradition handed to us – their passion for leadership, guidance, and endless commitment to a vision for St Kieran’s is a joy to be part of – I am privileged to walk with them in some small way. They, and their amazing colleagues on our school staff, do so much to ensure that all in our community fulfil their goals and realise their potential. What a tradition to serve.

St Kieran’s College remains very much at the heart of the faith community of the Diocese of Ossory. I am delighted to see the continued activity of the Diocesan Forum, the Ossory Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator and the Diocesan Faith Development Group, all continuing their work from St Kieran’s College. The Church, which Pope Leo will lead, continues to serve the traditions of our rich faith past.

We were delighted to celebrate the contribution of a proud past pupil earlier this year when we marked the centenary of the death of William Canon Carrigan – his legacy to the history of this, and other, Diocesan history is well known. It was wonderful and fitting to celebrate it here.

Bishop Niall Coll, our School Patron, has a deep love for all that is education. We were blessed, that this year he was formally welcomed to our community, to meet students, staff and management. His continued support for all that we try to achieve here is a most welcome encouragement of all that we hope to achieve. I thank him and the College Trustees for their unfailing support for all that we do here.

Most importantly I want to thank the students of this wonderful College. We are so very proud of you and all that you achieve. Your ability and resolve, your support for each other, your commitment to chasing your God-given potential is humbling and inspiring. I thank you for the manner in which you continually remind us that God has created us for such promise. May you all continue to chase that in everything you do.

St Kieran’s College is a special place and, as such, I have a deep debt of gratitude to all that make it so. To the students and their Council, the parents and their Association, the School and College staff, my colleagues on the Board of Management, the Trustees, Bishop Niall as our Patron, the Alumni Association and our past pupils and all those who make St Kieran’s College. Let us continue the tradition given to us to protect – hiems transiit.

Rev. Dr Dermot Ryan, President

Chairperson, Board of Management