Gort na Móna Secondary School

Gort na Móna Secondary School was a private Catholic secondary school for boys aged 11–16, located in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It opened in September 1971 with 120 pupils.[1]: 239  In 1988, the school amalgamated with St Thomas's Secondary School, St Peter's Secondary School, and St Paul's Secondary School to become Corpus Christi College, Belfast.[2] The first school premises were located at the current Gort na Móna GAC site in Turf Lodge and consisted of a series of wooden huts while construction of the main building took place.

This article is about a defunct school. For the current school, see All Saints College / Coláiste na Naomh Uile.
Gort Na Móna Secondary School
Handball courts
Address
Upper Springfield Road

Belfast
,
County Antrim
,
BT12 7QP

Northern Ireland
Coordinates54°35′37″N 5°59′37″W
Information
TypePrivate secondary school
Religious affiliation(s)Catholicism
DenominationCongregation of Christian Brothers
Established1971
FounderBr. D.M. O'Connell
StatusClosed
Closed1988
School number123/0179/12
GenderBoys
Age range11-16
Colour(s)Maroon, sky blue and saffron
   
SportsGaelic football and handball, hurling

In 2019, Corpus Christi College amalgamated with St Rose's Dominican College and the Christian Brothers School, Glen Road. The new school is called All Saints College / Coláiste na Naomh Uile.[3]

Facilities

Purpose-built buildings were opened in 1973, on a green field site with space for sports pitches and playing fields. Three open-air handball courts were added to the side of the building at the Dermott Hill entrance. The school continued to expand and in 1980 there were 36 teachers and 550 pupils.[1]: 239  One building housed the classrooms where Science, Irish language, Maths, Geography, Religion, English, Music, Art, Technology and Design were taught. The Sports Halls was located in the other building. Today the buildings are now used by St Gerard's Education Centre.[4]

Uniform

The uniform policy consisted of a black blazer, grey shirt, grey jumper, maroon tie with thin saffron line, black trousers and black shoes; however, this policy was lightly enforced by staff and after pupils entered their second year they could wear almost any attire except jeans.[5]

Sport

As a school run by the Congregation of Christian Brothers it had strong Gaelic Athletic Association ties. Gaelic football, handball and hurling were encouraged and developed, leaving a legacy in the surrounding housing estates of Dermott Hill, New Barnsley and Turf Lodge.

Brother T.F. Moroney was responsible for the development for the teams and choose the dominant maroon colour of Galway GAA as well as sky blue and saffron for the school team colours. Funding for the school kits and hurly sticks came from profits gained from the school tuck shop. Moroney later helped found Gort na Móna GAC in 1974.[1]: 242 

References
  1. Corpus Christi College Twentieth Anniversary Book.
  2. "Editorial". Irish News. 25 February 1987.
  3. "Edmund Rice Schools Trust - ALL SAINTS COLLEGE / COLÁISTE NA NAOMH UILE". Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  4. "Contact us". St Gerald's Resource Centre. 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  5. Facebook profile
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