Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School
| Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Newry Scoil na Mainistreach, Iúr Cinn Trá | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
77a Ashgrove Road Newry , County Down , BT34 1QN Northern Ireland | |
| Coordinates | 54°10′19″N 6°19′55″W / 54.172°N 6.332°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Boys Grammar |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1851, current site – 2010 |
| Status | Christian Brothers' Grammar School |
| School board | Education Authority (South Eastern) |
| Principal | Gina Savage |
| Staff | 80 approx. |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 800 |
| Houses | Breffni, Donard, Iveagh, Oriel, Slemish |
| Colour(s) | |
| Sports | Gaelic Football, basketball, rugby |
| Newspaper | The Abbey Way |
| Website | www |
The Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School (Irish: Scoil na Mainistreach, Iúr Cinn Trá[1]) is a voluntary day school for boys aged 11 – 18 years in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland.
History
The school was established in 1851 by members of the Congregation of Christian Brothers. It was named after a Cistercian Abbey founded on the site by St Malachy in 1144. Since then the school had been located at several sites around Newry including Chapel Street, Kilmorey Street, the Carstands at Margaret Street and the Mall, then on to Abbey Yard.[2] From 1966 to 2010 it was located at Courtenay Hill. In 2010, it moved to a new £18 million building on the outskirts of Newry. The school gives its name to many streets surrounding the former site such as Abbey Yard and Abbey Heights.[3]
The school was originally entirely run by the Irish Christian Brothers, but in the late twentieth century their numbers declined and the school is now entirely staffed by lay teachers. It is now under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (NI).
Academics
The school provides instruction in a range of academic subjects. In 2018, 94.5% of its entrants achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, including the core subjects English and Maths.[4] As of 2019, 77.2% of students who sat the A-level exams were awarded three A*-C grades.[5]
Achievements
- Winners of the NI Regional Senior Schools Quiz Challenge (general knowledge quiz) 2011–2018.[6]
- The Hogan All Ireland Gaelic Schools Cup 2006.[7]
- Winners of the Senior UK Schools Quiz Challenge (general knowledge quiz) 2002.
- Winners of the MacRory Cup (Gaelic football competition): 1954, 1959, 1964, 1987, 2006.[8][9]
- Runners-up of the BM Quizzing Championships (NI Schools General Knowledge Quizzing Championships) 2022/2023.[10]
Notable former pupils
| Name | Lifespan | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Leonard Abrahamson | 1896-1961 | Irish cardiologist and Professor of Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland |
| Frank Aiken | 1898–1983 | Teachta Dála (TD), Irish Republican Army commander, Tánaiste; Minister for Defence (1932–1939), Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures (1939–1945), Minister for Finance (1945–1948), and Minister for External Affairs (1951–1954; 1957–1969) |
| Mickey Brady | born 1950 | Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh |
| Art Cosgrove | born 1940 | Irish historian and writer; Chancellor, University College Dublin |
| Denis Donoghue | 1928–2021 | Irish writer |
| Joe Kernan | born 1954 | Gaelic footballer |
| Seamus Mallon | 1936–2020 | Member of Parliament (MP) for Newry & Armagh (1986–2005), SDLP Deputy Leader (1979–2001), and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (1998–2001) |
| Kevin McKernan | born 1987 | Down GAA Gaelic footballer |
| Oisín McConville | born 1975 | Gaelic footballer |
| Peter McVerry | born 1944 | Poverty campaigner |
| Gerard Murphy | 1948–2018 | Actor |
| Turlough O'Donnell | 1924-2017 | Lord Justice of Appeal of Northern Ireland |
| Eunan O'Neill | born 1982 | Television presenter (RT / Russia Today) |
| Seán O'Neill | born 1938 | Gaelic footballer |
| Connor Phillips | Broadcaster | |
| Ronan Rafferty | born 1964 | Irish professional golfer |
| Patrick Shea | 1908–1986 | Northern Ireland civil servant |
See also
References
- ^ "Welcome to the Abbey Grammar School". Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ Boyle, Fabian. "Three Cheers For "The Good Old Abbey Boys"". Newry Memories. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ "The Abbey Grammar School". Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Belfast Telegraph GCSE 2018". Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ "Belfast Telegraph A-Level: Northern Ireland School League Tables 2019". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ "Quizzes". Abbey CBS Grammar School Newry. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ Cummiskey, Gavin (2 May 2006). "Abbey best in classic clash". The Irish Times. Dublin. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "MacRory Cup". Ulster Schools GAA. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Football". Abbey CBS Grammar School Newry. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ "Champions2022". bmquizzing.com. Retrieved 9 December 2022.