St. Malachy's College Coláiste Naomh Maolmhaodhóg |
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St. Malachy's College front exterior
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Address | |
36 Antrim Road Belfast, BT15 2AE Northern Ireland |
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Coordinates | 54°36′32″N 5°56′25″W / 54.6089°N 5.9403°WCoordinates: 54°36′32″N 5°56′25″W / 54.6089°N 5.9403°W |
Information | |
Type | Grammar School |
Motto | "Gloria Ab Intus" (Glory from within) |
Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
Established | 1833 |
Closed | July – August |
LEA | Belfast Education and Library Board |
Principal | Paul McBride |
Years taught | Year 8 – Year 14 |
Gender | All-Male |
Age | 11 to 18 |
Number of students | 1024 (approx) |
Color(s) | |
Athletics | Badminton, Basketball, Cross country running, Gaelic, Golf, Hurling, Rugby, Soccer, Swimming, Volleyball |
Team name | Malachians F.C. |
Website | http://www.stmalachyscollege.com/ |
St. Malachy's College (Irish: Coláiste Naomh Maolmhaodhóg) is the oldest Roman Catholic grammar school in the province of Ulster, and the third oldest in Ireland.
The college was founded in 1833 by Bishop William Crolly with the advent of Catholic Emancipation and the repeal of the penal laws, which had outlawed, among other things, the celebration of the Catholic Mass, and the provision for the education of the Catholics of Ireland. The school is located on the former site of Vicinage Park, just north of Belfast city centre. Its motto is "gloria ab intus" which translates from Latin as "glory from within".
St. Joseph's Seminary, the seminary for the Diocese of Down and Connor, was situated on the same campus for over a century. This was officially known as the Diocesan Seminary at St Malachy's, and colloquially as "the wing" due to it being a wing of the college building. The Diocesan Seminary moved to the Cliftonville Road during the Christmas holidays of 2012, and has taken the name St. Malachy's Diocesan Seminary, in recognition of both the long-standing connection to the College.
St. Malachy's is a boys' school providing education for approximately 1,200 students aged 11 to 18 with a very wide catchment area. It is the only male, Catholic, grammar school in north Belfast and students come from not only local areas such as Ardoyne and New Lodge, but also suburban and rural towns in County Antrim such as Carrickfergus, Antrim town and Randalstown.
The college today boasts impressive records in both GCSE and A-level examinations, and has had many recent sporting successes, especially in athletics and basketball. The college is also noted for having a strong music department and was recently designated as the first specialist music college in Northern Ireland.