About · Since 1782
St Kieran’s College is a diocesan Catholic secondary school under the patronage of the Bishop of Ossory, and the oldest Catholic secondary school in Ireland.
- BeforeSt PatrickSt Kieran of SaighirOur patron is said to have preached the Gospel in Ireland before St Patrick.
- 1782The College opens“The first Catholic College in the Kingdom” opens its doors, after Grattan's Parliament relaxed the Penal Laws in the same year.
- 1836A foundation stoneAfter some decades in a number of different locations, the foundation stone of the present neo-Gothic building is blessed.
- 1838A permanent homeTwo years later, the College has a permanent home.
- 1874The crestThe present crest replaces an earlier one: St Kieran with mitre and staff, standing between two pillars, over the motto Hiems Transiit, “Winter has passed”.
- TodayA diocesan schoolA Catholic secondary school under the patronage of the Bishop of Ossory, with over seven hundred boys. Many extensions have been added over the years, making St Kieran's a fine blend of historical and modern building styles.
Our purpose
In keeping with the aims of the College founders, we at St Kieran’s College strive to prepare an educated, committed, Catholic laity, keeping in mind its particular role in promoting solid Christian values.