Catholic University School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Catholic University School
Location
89 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2 Ireland
Coordinates	53°20′07″N 6°15′21″W / 53.3353°N 6.2559°W / 53.3353; -6.2559
Information
Type	Voluntary (private) school
Motto	Sub Mariae Nomine (Under the name of Mary)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic Society of Mary
Established	1867; 158 years ago (1867)
Headmaster	Clive Martin
Gender	Male
Number of students	525 (2018)
Colour(s)	Blue and Red
Founder(s)	Bartholomew Woodlock
Website	www.cus.ie

Catholic University School (C.U.S.) is a private secondary school for boys in Dublin, Ireland. It was started in 1867 by Bartholomew Woodlock. The school was originally a place to prepare students for the Catholic University of Ireland. This university later became University College Dublin.

The school is now run by the Marist Fathers. Many important people have studied here, including politicians, writers, and even three Olympic gold medal winners.

School History: How CUS Began

Early Days of Education in Ireland

The idea for Catholic University School came from a movement in the 1820s. At that time, Trinity College, Dublin was the only university in Ireland. While Catholics could attend Trinity College after 1793, not many did. Most Catholics who wanted a university education went to schools in England.

Bartholomew Woodlock, the first president of the school.

St. John Henry Newman helped found the Catholic University of Ireland.

In 1850, Queen Victoria created three new colleges for the Queen's University of Ireland. These were in Cork, Belfast, and Galway. These colleges were open to everyone, no matter their religion. However, the Catholic Church did not approve of them. They felt a Catholic university was needed. So, the Catholic University of Ireland was founded in 1851. It officially opened in 1854 with John Henry Newman as its first leader.

Starting the School

To make sure the new Catholic University had enough students, Dr. Daniel Murray started a school in 1850. It was located at 16–17 Harcourt Street and named St. Laurence's Academy. This school was meant to prepare students for the university.

By 1862, Dr. Bartholomew Woodlock became the head of the Catholic University of Ireland. He suggested that the university should have its own special school to prepare students. St. Laurence's Academy became very close to the university. Woodlock was the first president of this school. University professors even taught classes there. This is how the school got its name: Catholic University School.

17 Harcourt Street, the original location of the school.

The first teachers at C.U.S. were young priests from Dublin. They had studied in Rome. One of them was Dr. James Quinn. He worked to enroll students from wealthy Catholic families. Within a year, the school had 130 students! The subjects taught were mostly classical, like Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian, and the Arts.

The Marist Fathers Take Over

In the early 1860s, both the Catholic University School and the Catholic University of Ireland faced money problems. The rent for the Harcourt Street building was very high. The school's leader, Archbishop of Dublin, Paul Cullen, really wanted the school to stay open.

In 1867, Cardinal Cullen and Bartholomew Woodlock visited a Marist college in Dundalk. They thought the Marist Fathers would be good at running the Catholic University School. Cardinal Cullen then asked the Marist leaders in France to take over the school. After some discussion, they agreed.

In July 1867, the Marists bought a new building at 89 Lower Leeson Street. The school stayed at Harcourt Street for a short time while the new building was prepared. On September 29, 1867, Catholic University School officially opened at its new home on Lower Leeson Street.

What Students Learn at CUS

The school offers over 20 subjects. These include all the common subjects for state exams in Ireland. Some examples are Classical Studies, Art History, German, Chemistry, Physics, Accounting, and Economics. In 2018, the school was ranked 63rd nationally for its academic results.

The school's website says that class sizes are usually small, with no more than 22-24 students. For subjects chosen by fewer students, the classes are even smaller.

The junior school (preparatory school) teaches the full primary school curriculum. It also introduces younger students to Spanish and Mandarin.

School Traditions

The school has its own song called “Walking On”. You might hear it at school events or rugby matches. A religious song called "Dominican Magnificat" is also often sung at the school.

In the past, the school was divided into three "houses": Colin, Sarsfield, and Bodkin. Students were part of a house and looked after by a housemaster.

St Stephen's Green in Dublin, near the school, at the end of the 19th century.

School Buildings and Grounds

The school is located near St Stephen's Green in Dublin. The buildings include old Georgian houses at the front. These contain the school's chapel (Oratory) and the Headmaster's home. There are also Victorian buildings, a sports hall with a gym, and the "old school" building.

CUS also owns land in Clonskeagh, County Dublin. This is where the school's rugby pitches, cricket field, and a sports building are located.

School Activities and Sports

Sports at CUS

CUS teams play in school rugby and cricket competitions in Leinster. The school has won the Leinster Senior Cup in cricket six times since 1999.

Other sports played at CUS include tennis and athletics. Rugby and cricket games take place at Bird Avenue in Clonskeagh.

Three students who attended CUS have won Olympic Gold Medals: John Pius Boland, Ronnie Delaney, and David Malone. Also, Eoin Morgan, a past student, was the captain of the England team that won the ICC 12th Cricket World Cup in 2019.

Other Fun Activities

Students from CUS have represented Ireland in the World Schools Debating Championships. This shows their strong debating skills.

The school also works with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, a charity. They hold an annual "hamper fund" to raise money for people in need. Students have also visited and raised money for causes in the Philippines.

Past Pupils Union

The CUS Union is an association for former students of the school. It was started in 1902. In 2002, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, hosted the group at her official residence.

Many important people have spoken at the school's annual dinner. These include former Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern, and broadcasters Eamon Dunphy and George Hook.

Famous People Who Went to CUS

Many notable people have studied at Catholic University School. Here are a few: