Newbridge College (Irish: Coláiste Dhroichead Nua), the Dominican College Newbridge, is a co-educational private fee-paying voluntary secondary school in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, run by the Roman CatholicDominican Order. The Dominican Friars founded Newbridge Dominican College in 1852 as a boarding school for boys.[4] Today, still run by the Dominican Fathers, Newbridge College is a mixed day school with a student population of almost 1,000 pupils. It is also the home of a resident Community of Dominican Friars - the Priory and Church being centred between the two wings of the College buildings.
The Dominican College in Newbridge was founded in 1852 by Fr Dominic Walker OP and Fr Nicholas Freyne OP, who established the Dominican College of Saint Thomas Aquinas OP as a result of the high and increasing demand for secondary Catholic education owing to Catholic emancipation in Ireland at the time. In its first year of establishment, Newbridge College had an enrolment of 50 students. A cap was placed on the number of pupils enrolled. This restriction was lifted in 1894 and the roll grew to 100 students.[citation needed]
In 1870 the second church dedicated to Saint Eustace was built.
The Newbridge College Past Pupils Union, which still exists today, was established by Dr JJ Cosgrove in 1937.[citation needed]
In 1956, with completion of Senior House and the refectory, there were almost 300 boys enrolled, 250 of whom were boarders. The third and current church was built in 1966, consecrated by CardinalMichael Browne, OP. 1970 saw Newbridge win another Senior Cup, against Blackrock College, with a team trained by Fr John Heffernan, OP and captained by future Irish international Mick Quinn. In 1980 the bridge over the River Liffey was constructed, and the sports fields were moved from the quadrangle to the land across the Liffey.[5]
Later developments
In 1984, one of the most significant changes in the schools' history took place – the admission of girls to the school for the first time. Today, approximately 50% of the school's pupils are female.[citation needed]
April 1994 saw the opening of the new gym block, science, art and technology suites behind Junior House by the Minister for Education. An all-weather pitch used for girls hockey was also built.[citation needed]
The practice of boarding came to an end in 1998, and the College became a fully coeducational day school. The option for day students to get evening tea and take part in supervised study until 9.30pm started, a practice which still takes places today. 1998 was also the year in which the first female School Captain, Tara Flanagan, was elected, and the first day student.[citation needed]
The College celebrated its 170th anniversary in 2022.[5]
In April 2008, a new €6 million euro extension to Junior House was completed, with new science laboratories, technical and computer rooms, a new staff room and a new social area.[6]
In 2013, an all-weather floodlit AstroTurf sports facility was commissioned at the cost of €1 million. It is used for rugby, hockey, running and other sports.[citation needed]
In 2018 Walker House was built, named after Fr Walker OP, the Prior and one of the founders of the College.
The College coat of arms bears two mottos. Veritas (Latin for 'Truth') is the motto of the Dominican Order. Cur me persequeris ('Why do you persecute me?') is the motto of the Eustace family, who donated the land upon which the College is built. The reference is to Saint Eustace, who, while out hunting, encountered a stag with a cross between his antlers (visible in the College's arms); the stag addressed the saint in the terms of the motto. The College Church is dedicated to St Eustace.
The College is located north of Newbridge, County Kildare, a large urban town with a population of 22,700 people. The school is situated on either side of the banks of the River Liffey, which passes through the school grounds, with a bridge connecting the college to its sports fields. Students come from the surrounding counties, including Wicklow, Dublin, Laois and Offaly.[8]
The College performs very strongly year-on-year when it comes to academic results, consistently topping the Kildare schools league tables[9] (often sending 100% of sixth year pupils to third level education)[10] and was recently ranked as the second best academic performer in the Leinster province.[11][12]
There are a limited number of places available for first years. The 2015/2016 intake was 144. First year is generally three times oversubscribed, and it is not uncommon for there to be 500 or 600 applications.[citation needed] Prospective first years must sit an entrance exam and interview with the principal before acceptance, and preference is given to those with relatives who have or are currently attending the school. The school awards two academic scholarships annually, on the basis of the results obtained in a scholarship examination. Music and sports scholarships have also been awarded.[15]
Other sports are played at the school, including hockey (for girls), equestrian sport, athletics, canoeing, soccer, GAA, basketball and golf.[citation needed]
Since April 1944, the 'Triangular Sword Competition' – a format between Newbridge Dominican College, Clongowes Wood College and the Cadet School of the Defence ForcesMilitary College – has taken place. It involves six sports: golf, Gaelic football, football, swimming, athletics and basketball.[18]
Sports facilities at the school include an indoor gymnasium (indoor running track, basketball court, soccer), a gym equipped with weights, an outdoor running track, tennis courts, playing fields, an all-weather hockey pitch, and two floodlight artificial playing surfaces for all-weather rugby, hockey and athletics.[citation needed]
