St Augustine's and Good Counsel College, New Ross
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St Augustine's and Our Lady of Good Counsel College (Coláiste na Dea Comhairle), New Ross, known as "Good Counsel College" by its students and residents of the local area, is an all-boys secondary school in County Wexford, Ireland, which caters for over 850 students. It was founded and is now conducted by the Irish Augustinians. It is one of only two secondary schools in Ireland under the order of the Augustinians, with the other being in Dungarvan, County Waterford. It is the largest school in New Ross. The current principal is Mark O Brien, who assumed the post in 2013, after the principal Fr. John Hennebry O.S.A. took the position of Provincial of the Order of Saint Augustine.
Patron saint
The College is named in honour of the 4th-century
Other English-speaking Augustinian schools with the same patron include
History
Since it was established in its present form in 1256, the
With the educational revolution in the 1960s, the scene changed dramatically. Student numbers increased greatly, the great majority of them being local day-students. A greatly expanded curriculum placed increasing demands on the existing facilities. Accordingly, a new college was constructed on the outskirts of the town and opened its doors as the new "Counsel" in 1984. Since then the college has grown further with the addition of a technology block (Villanova), a new classroom block (Cascia), and a large sports hall with gymnasium named after the past rector of the college, Fr. John Cosgrave, O.S.A.. More recently, four floodlit astro turf pitches have been added. Catering today for over 850 boys, Good Counsel College continues to provide an education in the Augustinian tradition.
Facilities
Facilities include a refectory, assembly hall, sports centre including an indoor sports hall and gymnasium, learning support centre, technology block, first year block and various playing fields including three GAA pitches, two rugby pitches, a soccer pitch and four astroturf pitches. There are two basketball/tennis courts behind the sports hall.
The APEX Gym & Swimming Pool is located on the grounds of Good Counsel College.
Former students
Notable former students include:
- Ger Aylward, hurler
- Ben Brosnan, Wexford football captain and businessman
- Pádraic Delaney, actor
- Dermot Desmond, businessman and financier
- Kevin Doyle, former professional footballer
- Tadhg Furlong, Ireland and Leinster rugby player
- Aidan O'Brien, racehorse trainer
- Matthew O'Hanlon, Wexford hurling captain
- John Paul Phelan, Fine Gael TD
- Maverick Sabre, recording artist
- Walter Walsh (hurler), Kilkenny hurler
Sport
In 1999 the school secured the Senior Colleges A Football Championship and won the Hogan Cup, the premier trophy for colleges' Gaelic football.[citation needed]
Sources
- Thomas C. Butler, O.S.A., "Near Restful Waters – The Augustinians in New Ross and Clonmines". (Dublin & Kildare, 1975). Mob
External links
- International Order of St. Augustine
- Text of the Rule of St. Augustine
- Catholic Encyclopedia entry for the "Hermits of St Augustine"
- Order of the Hermit Friars of St. Augustine (O.S.A.)
- Official Good Counsel website