St Eunan's College

For the Christian churches, see St. Eunan's Cathedral. For the GAA team, see St Eunan's GAA.

54°57′06″N 7°44′44″W / 54.951737°N 7.745554°W / 54.951737; -7.745554

St Eunan's College
Coláiste Naomh Adhamhnáin
A long view of St Eunan's College
Location
Map
Sentry Hill,
Letterkenny,
County Donegal

Ireland
Information
TypeSecondary school
MottoIn hoc signo vinces
(Latin for "in this sign you will conquer")
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1906
FounderBishop Patrick O'Donnell[1]
PrincipalDamien McCroary[2]
Faculty100+[2]
GenderMale
Enrollment912[2] (2020–21)
LanguageEnglish
Colour(s)  
Websitesainteunans.com

St Eunan's College (/ˈjuːnən/ YOO-nən; Irish: Coláiste Adhamhnáin), known locally as The College to distinguish it from the cathedral and GAA club,[3] is a voluntary Roman Catholic all-male, English-medium secondary day school (and former boarding school) in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located upon Sentry Hill in Letterkenny. Named after Adomnán or Eunan (the Abbot of Iona who was native to Tír Chonaill, mainly modern County Donegal, and is patron saint of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe), the school's foundation stone was laid on the patron saint's feast day of 23 September.

Its buildings and grounds include the College Chapel, a medial courtyard and playing fields. Architectural features include four turreted round towers and flying buttresses which are modelled on the nearby Cathedral. Sporadic extensions have occurred, including during the early 1930s and the late 1970s – science laboratories and a demonstration room were added in between these two periods of major building work. A monkey puzzle tree grows on the front lawn close to the front door and the College Chapel. Those men who have attended the college are termed Old Adomnánians (/æðɒvˈnɔːnjæns/).

Sportsmen educated there include Olympic athletes, Mark English (a middle-distance runner) and Philip Deignan (a cyclist who later turned professional), as well as several current county footballers, among whom are Michael Murphy, Shaun Patton and Niall O'Donnell. Several members of Cabinet were educated here, including Pa O'Donnell, Neil Blaney and Jim McDaid. Others educated there include quiz player Pat Gibson (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Mastermind, Brain of Britain, Mastermind Champion of Champions, Eggheads), actor Ray McAnally and lexicographer Niall Ó Dónaill.

The college has a tradition since its foundation of hosting musicals, operas, operettas and other performances. Its current principal is Damien McCroary. The All-Ireland-winning Gaelic footballer, Colm McFadden, serves as his deputy. Other staff members (past and present) include Ollie Horgan, Gary McDaid, Charlie McGeever and John Wilson, who later served as Tánaiste. It accommodates close to 1,000 students and increases its numbers year-on-year.[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference history was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference steep was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "GAA – Treanor Cup: Good win for St Eunan's College". Donegal News. 16 January 2020. p. 79. The College played with a strong breeze... The College boys beat them by one point last year...