{{Multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=October 2007}} {{primary sources|date=February 2024}}}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox school | name = St. Conleth's College | native_name = Coláiste Naomh Conléad | motto = ''Fide et Fortitudine'' | motto_translation = Latin for 'faith and courage' | established = 4 September 1939 | location = 28 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 | country = Ireland | coordinates = {{coord|53.3279|N|6.2407|W|type:edu_region:IE|display=inline,title}} | enrollment = 325 | principal = Angelina Hopkins | staff = 25 full-time teachers | website = [http://www.stconleths.ie stconleths.ie] }} '''St. Conleth's College''' is a private co-educational Catholic school in Ballsbridge, Dublin, founded on 4 September 1939 by Bernard Sheppard.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Family of St Conleth's College founder attend Cloughjordan talk|url=https://www.nenaghguardian.ie/2019/02/14/family-of-st-conleths-college-founder-attend-cloughjordan-talk/|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Nenagh Guardian|date=14 February 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2025, the principal of the senior school was Angelina Hopkins.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Last Waltz – St. Conleth's College |url=https://stconleths.ie/the-last-waltz/|website=St. Conleth's College}}</ref>
==History== The school was named after Conleth, (450-519AD), a sixth-century Irish monk who was a moulder of precious metals whose feast day is 4 May. The senior school, which has over 300 pupils and 25 teaching staff, is co-educational. The junior school has about 160 pupils and is also co-educational.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
In November 2017, the Kevin Kelleher Wing was opened, adding a performance room and study area on top of the gymnasium.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Kelleher (1921-2016),<ref>Kevin D. Kelleher (1921 - 2016)[http://stconleths.ie/kevin-kelleher-1921-2016 "Kevin Kelleher 1921-2016"]</ref> a former international rugby referee,<ref name=Referee>{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/lions%20tour/sonny-bill-williams-becomes-first-all-black-sent-off-for-50-years-after-shoulder-charge-on-lions-anthony-watson/ar-BBDvSlq?li=AAnZ9Ug|title=Sonny Bill Williams becomes first All Black sent off for 50 years after shoulder charge on Lions' Anthony Watson|website=MSN |accessdate=31 July 2017}}</ref> was the headmaster of the school for over 46 years.
==Academics== The school was ranked first in the Irish fee-paying schools league table in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/revealed-top-schools-league-table-493895.html|title=Revealed: top schools league table|date=17 August 2003|work=Irish Independent|accessdate=2009-09-27}}</ref>
==Sport== Rugby is considered the primary sport of the school, and both Junior and Senior Cup Teams are represented in the Leinster Cups. Leinster Rugby focused on rugby in St. Conleth's in 2016 to recognise its successes that year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-08|title=School in Focus: St. Conleth's College|url=https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/school-in-focus-st-conleths-college/|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Leinster Rugby|language=en}}</ref>
St. Conleth's won the Basketball Ireland National Cup and League double in 2009 at the U16 Boys B level. The school has also won several South Dublin Basketball League Championships, most recently in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Basketball |url=https://stconleths.ie/ss-basketball/|access-date=2021-08-13|website=St. Conleth's College}}</ref>
St. Conleth's offers fencing as a school sport for both boys and girls from a young age. Former alumni have been instrumental in developing fencing in Ireland as well as representing Ireland in fencing at the Olympics, World and European championships.<ref name="Newsfour">{{cite news |last1=Kinsella |first1=Craig |title=St Conleth's College Celebrates 75 years « NewsFour |url=https://www.newsfour.ie/2014/11/st-conleths-college-celebrates-75-years/ |work=www.newsfour.ie}}</ref>
The school also offers hockey, tennis and athletics.
==Debating== In 2014, three Conlethians represented Ireland at the World Schools Debating Championship in Bangkok, Thailand.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Is public debating a fate worse than death?|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/is-public-debating-a-fate-worse-than-death-1.1867259?mode=amp|access-date=2021-08-13|website=www.irishtimes.com}}</ref> In 2019, St. Conleth's had two winners in the grand final of the Irish Times Debate, with Kevin Roche (Kings Inns) winning the individual competition and Daniel Gilligan (TCD Hist Society) the team competition, while another former pupil, Conor White, was also a finalist.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trinity students top at The Irish Times Debate grand final|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/trinity-students-top-at-the-irish-times-debate-grand-final-1.3803369?mode=amp|access-date=2021-08-13|website=www.irishtimes.com}}</ref>
== Controversy == Louis Feutren, a Nazi fugitive sentenced to death, taught French at the school from 1957 to 1985.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carroll |first1=Rory |title=Former pupils demand apology from Irish school over Nazi teacher's bullying |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/03/former-pupils-demand-apology-from-irish-school-over-nazi-teachers-bullying |work=The Guardian |date=3 October 2023}}</ref> The school stated it had profound regret for this, and expressed shock over the allegations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Feehan |first1=Conor |last2=Wrona |first2=Adrianna |title=Dublin private school expresses 'shock' and 'profound regret' over allegations of abusive Nazi teacher |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/dublin-private-school-expresses-shock-and-profound-regret-over-allegations-of-abusive-nazi-teacher/a583373721.html |work=Irish Independent |date=4 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
==Alumni== * John M. Kelly (1931-1991) - Fine Gael politician * Uki Goñi (b.1953) - Argentine author * John Bouchier-Hayes (b.1944) - Irish Olympic fencer<ref name="Newsfour" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.stconleths.ie/ School's website]
{{Private schools in the Republic of Ireland}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Conleth's College}} Category:Secondary schools in Dublin (city) Category:Private schools in the Republic of Ireland Category:Boys' schools in the Republic of Ireland