Marian College Dublin

Infobox_School
name = Marian College
"Colaiste Mhuire"


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motto = Optimum Optare
The pursuit of excellence
established = 1954
type = Secondary School
affiliation = Marist Order
district = South Dublin
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principal = Paul Meany
head of school =
deputy = Kevin Lawlor
faculty =
staff = 35
students = 425 (Full)
enrollment =
athletics = Rugby union, Basketball, Waterpolo
conference =
colors = Royal Blue, Yellow Hoops
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location = Ballsbridge
country = Ireland
information =
website = [http://www.mariancollege.ie] www.mariancollege.ie

Marian College is a Marist Catholic secondary school on Lansdowne Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin. The school motto is "Optimum Optare" - the pursuit of excellence. The school was founded in 1954 and has a student population of 413 boys and 12 girls. The main sports played are rugby, basketball and waterpolo. The principal is Paul Meany.

History

In the early 1950s, the then Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Charles McQuaid, had invited the Marist Brothers to open a school in the Sandymount-Ballsbridge area. The Marists found a beautiful site at Riverside House on the banks of the River Dodder and on 8th September 1954 the first pupils entered the Brothers’ house to begin their secondary schooling. The Brothers decided to name the school Marian College as an acknowledgement of the special place of Mary in the foundation and traditions of the Marist Brothers and as an acknowledgement that the Church had declared 1954 as the Marian Year.

Until 1999, Sandymount High School was next door to Marian College.

For the first 34 years, the College grew and developed under the leadership of Paul Meany's four predecessors, Bro Ligouri, Bro Declan, Bro Fintan and Bro Peter. Over the last 16 years, lay involvement in the management and organisation of the College has grown while at the same time the best of the Marist tradition has been maintained. As a result of this fruitful partnership between Brothers, Staff and Parents, the College has continued to maintain a high standard of education for pupils of all backgrounds and means in the south side of Dublin.

Distinguished past pupils

*Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin (2004 - )
*Adrian Kennedy FM Radio presenter.
* A number of journalists, among them Brian Kelly (whose father Seamus was for many years Quidnunc of The Irish Times), Eddie Barrett (of The Irish Times and RTÉ, and latterly president of the National Union of Journalists), Michael Brophy (a reporter with The Irish Independent)
* The leading producer and impresario Noel Pearson
* The eminent medial doctor and dietary expert Michael Gibney
* Ken Sweeney Entertainment Editor of The Sunday Tribune