Ardee Community School

Ardee Community School, also known as St Killian's or ACS, is a community school located in Ardee, County Louth, Ireland. It is a co-educational school where pupils of all religious denominations study together. As is the case with all community schools, a board of management, answerable to the school's trustees and to the Minister for Education, manages the school. The board is composed of two teacher representatives, two parent representatives, six nominees from the trustees and the principal, who is secretary to the board of management.

Ardee Community School
Pobalscoil Chillín Áth Fheirdia
A purple triangle (denoting the letter A), inside which C is drawn in green, and S is drawn in red, where S looks like a Swan and extends beyond the lower line of the (purple) triangle
Location
Ardee
Coordinates53.8512708°N 6.5461477°W / 53.8512708; -6.5461477
Information
TypeCommunity school
MottoNá bris Sith: Ná bris Cáirdeas
Established1974
PrincipalMary Jackson

As of 7 October 2015, the school has approximately 738 students enrolled in its classes.[1]

An extension to the school was completed in 2017 delivering a 2-storey extension along with a new car park.[2]

Overview

ACS has a wide array of subjects for students to choose from. Leaving Cert students may study: Accounting, Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Construction Studies, Economics, English, Engineering, French, Geography, German, Home Economics, History, Health Education, Irish, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education and Technical Drawing.[3]

The school is staffed with Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) who provide assistance to students with additional needs.[4]

History

Ardee Community School was established in 1974 and was the first community school outside the Greater Dublin area. It aims to fulfil the secondary educational needs of Ardee and its surrounding areas. The school was founded as an amalgamation of three schools which had previously existed independently: St Anne’s Convent of Mercy, De La Salle Brothers’ School and the Vocational School. Many of the teachers who worked in one of the three schools continued their work in Ardee Community School.[5][6]

Sport

ACS encourages students to participate in Gaelic football, soccer, rugby, golf, basketball and athletics.

Selected sporting highlights from 2012-14 included:

Lennon Cup

In 2012, the Senior Gaelic football team, under the guidance of Mark Gilsenan, a Maths teacher in ACS, won the Lennon cup for the first time, defeating St. Mary's of Drogheda on a scoreline of 4-11 to 0-7. The following year, Ardee made it back to the Lennon cup victorious once again, defeating The Marist of Dundalk in a replay. The school was not as success in the following years however, it wasn't until 2017 that Ardee CS claimed the Lennon Cup after three attempts, edging out St Josephs Secondary School on a scoreline of 0-13 to 1-09.[7]

All-Ireland 'C' Championship

In 2014, the Senior Gaelic team at the time reached the All Ireland 'C' final, this team included Louth player Ryan Burns, though they were defeated by Coláiste Ghobnatan of Cork on a scoreline of 1-12 to 2-6.[3] Four years later, after two new senior team squads, the Senior Gaelic team achieved success at a national level by beating St Declan's Community College from Waterford in Newbridge on Easter Saturday in 2018, they were crowned All-Ireland Schools 'C' Championship winners, beating St. Declan's CS from Waterford 1-9 to 0-3 at Newbridge.[8][9]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Ardee Community School, Ardee, Co Louth". www.irishtimes.com. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  2. "Ardee Community School".
  3. "Ardee Community School - Home". Ardeecommunityschool.ie. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  4. "Inclusion of students with additional educational needs" (PDF). Education.ie. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  5. "New Community School principal". Independent.ie. 8 December 2000. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  6. Faulkner, Padraig (1999). "Excerpt from "Ardee Community School – 25 Years A Celebration 1974-1999"". www.ardeecommunityschool.ie. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  7. Landy, Barry (7 December 2017). "Ardee CS claim Lennon Cup". www.thisisardee.ie. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  8. Landy, Barry. "All-Ireland champs Ardee CS in line for honour". Dundalk Democrat. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  9. "Masita Post Primary weekend round-up". www.gaa.ie. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  10. "Mairead McGuinness". 19 October 2016.
  11. "Past presidents". www.rtpi.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  12. "Local girl Sarah Bardon nominated for 'Young Journalist of the Year' 2012". The Dundalk Democrat. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  13. "Bardon quits Irish Times for minister's adviser role". The Sunday Times. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  14. Sarah Bardon [@SarahBardon] (17 August 2018). "Bid farewell to The Irish Times after three brilliant years and moving to very daunting pastures new. It has been an absolute blast.. Thanks to everyone along the way" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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