Irish Schools Champions 1916-2017

147 Pages·2017·3.72 MB·English

Irish Schools Athletics Champions 1916-2017
Updated December 2017
To be forgotten is to die twice
In February 1916 Irish Amateur Athletic Association (IAAA) circularised the principal schools in Ireland regarding the advisability of holding Schoolboys’
Championships. At the IAAA’s Annual General Meeting held on Monday 3rd April, 1916 in Wynne’s Hotel, Dublin, the Hon. Secretary, H.M. Finlay, referred to
the falling off in the number of affiliated clubs due to the number of athletes serving in World War I and the need for efforts to keep the sport alive. Based
on responses received from schools, the suggestion to hold Irish Schoolboys’ Championships in May was favourably considered by the AGM and the Race
Committee of the IAAA was empowered to implement this project. Within a week a provisional programme for the inaugural athletics meeting to be held at
Lansdowne Road on Saturday 20th May, 1916 had been published in newspapers, with 7 events and a relay for Senior and 4 events and a relay for Junior Boys.
However, the championships were postponed "due to the rebellion" and were rescheduled to Saturday 23rd September, 1916, at Lansdowne Road. In order
not to disappoint pupils who were eligible for the championships on the original date of the meeting, the Race Committee of the IAAA decided that “a bona
fide schoolboy is one who has attended at least two classes daily at a recognised primary or secondary school for three months previous to 20th May, except
in case of sickness, and who was not attending any office or business”. The inaugural championships took place in ‘quite fine’ weather. The honours on the
day were divided between Cork Grammar School and Belvedere College with five champions each and Mountjoy School with three wins.
The IAAA had special medals struck for the occasion. Under the auspices of the IAAA the Irish Schools’ Championships were conducted with Junior and
Senior divisions through 1922.
With the formation of the National Athletic and Cycling Association of Ireland (NACAI) as the National Governing Body for athletics in July 1922 through the
amalgamation of the IAAA and the Athletic Council of the GAA, direction of the now titled “All-Ireland Schools and Colleges Championships” fell under its
auspices. Age categories [Juvenile (Minor), Junior and Senior] and events within each category were redefined. The championships moved from Lansdowne
Road to Croke Park annually. The Intermediate age category was introduced in 1928. By that year the number of events had expanded to 27 overall – Juvenile
3, Junior 6, Intermediate 11 and Senior 7. At the NACAI Congress in January 1931, the Juvenile Class was discontinued and the Senior category was changed
to Youths, in essence amalgamating the separate Youth Championships and the Senior Schools Championships.
The split in Irish athletics in the 1930’s between the NACAI and the Northern Ireland Amateur Athletic Association (NIAAA), which eventually
involved the world athletics governing body, the IAAF, impinged on participation in Schools Championships. No schools from Ulster took part from
1932 through 1936, although an Ulster Secondary Schools Sports meeting was held annually.
The idea of an All-Ireland Schools Athletic Union was first mooted by the Co Dublin Schools’ Union in late October 1936 at its AGM. The motion passed
provided for a Union controlled by County or Provincial Committees, selected by representatives of schools, and holding their own provincial championships
and other inter-school competitions. At the annual NACAI Congress in February 1937 a motion was passed: “That the Annual Congress of the NACAI invites
closer cooperation of the schools and colleges in the development of athletics and that, with a view to the furtherance of this object, the Congress desires to
hand over the control of the All-Ireland Schools and Colleges Championships to a properly constituted Schools' Athletic Union".
Furtherance of a Schools’ Athletic Union developed rapidly. At a meeting of the Co Dublin Schools’ Union in March 1937, this body was translated into the
Leinster Schools Athletic Union. This meeting was presided over by Mr Patrick Lynch, Attorney General, who indicated that their Union was controlled by
headmasters for boys in their schools and had nothing to do with an athletic association for the control of athletics for adults. While the Leinster Union had
no objection to an NACAI representative, it was made clear that the Leinster Union could not speak for the proposed All-Ireland Union. The rustication of the
NACAI by the IAAF as the NGB in April 1937 obviated this particular issue. The NACAI conceded that schoolboys who were members of clubs which had
resigned from the NACAI were entitled to compete for their respective institutions in schools & colleges championships. By the middle of May 1937 Munster
and Connacht Schools' Athletic Unions had been formed and an Ulster Union was in train. Provincial championships were held in 1937.
While it had been hoped to hold the inaugural All-Ireland Schools’ Championships under the auspices of an All-Ireland Union in 1937, this proved to be
impractical given the limited stage of development of the Provincial Unions, the need to align provincial constitutions, examinations and holidays. On 11
December, 1937 in Jury’s Hotel, Dublin, delegates of the Connacht, Leinster and Munster Schools’ Unions formed the All-Ireland Schools’ Athletic Union. The
inaugural championships took place at Blackrock College, Dublin on 28 May, 1938, with three qualifiers per event per province, but without Ulster. All-Ireland
Schools’ Championships were suspended from 1941 through 1946, although provincial championships took place. There was, however, a determination that,
after the clouds of war had passed, the Union would assume greater National status, with Ulster Schools augmenting the championships and thereby forging
links throughout the island of Ireland, and would maintain its independence and freedom of allegiance to any other organisation.
Interprovincial Schools Championships resumed with a Leinster Schools v Ulster Schools contest at the Iveagh Grounds Dublin in June 1947. The first
quadrangular Interprovincial Championships, again at the Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin, took place on 3 July 1948, with two representatives per event per
province. From 1938 through 1953, the Royal College of Science Cup was presented to the winning province, with the school contributing most points to a
province’s win holding the trophy for that year. In 1949 Ulster Schools withdrew reportedly over a clash of dates, but athletic politics and political boundaries
intervened, as a result of which Ulster Schools did not compete again in the All-Ireland Championships until 1967. Interprovincial championships remained
part of the annual All-Ireland Schools’ Championships through 1957, although from 1954 the Royal College of Science Cup was presented to the best overall
school irrespective of the winning province, Garbally College, Ballinasloe, becoming the first school from the West of Ireland to lift the trophy on that occasion.
The inaugural All-Ireland Schools' Cross-Country Championships for boys took place at St Joseph's College, Garbally Park, Ballinasloe, Co Galway in 1964.
A name change from All-Ireland Schools’ Athletic Union to Irish Secondary Schools’ Athletic Organisation/Federation, later Association, appears to have taken
place at its AGM in December 1962 or January 1963, removing the word “Union” as a positive contribution towards associating the four provinces, but in
particular schools’ athletics in Ulster, in All-Ireland Schools’ championships. At this time the Universities were actively involved in asserting the non-
aligned nature of intervarsity competition while attempting at the same time to break down barriers between the NACAI and Amateur Athletic Union of Eire
(AAUE) through athletic meetings involving athletes from both bodies. At the AGM of the ISSAA in February 1966 it was announced that the Ulster
Secondary Schools Athletic Organisation was reaffiliating to the ISSAA. The formation of Bord Lúthchleas na hÉireann in 1967 reopened the doors to
All-Ireland Schools’ and intervarsity competition.
Given that National Track & Field and Cross Country Championships for women were not formally introduced by the AAUE until 1966, it is not unsurprising
that Schools’ Track & Field Championships for girls were not inaugurated until 1970. The time lapse in the introduction of female athletic championships can
be traced back to 1934 when the Reverend John Charles McQuaid, then President of Blackrock College, later Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of
Ireland, asserted that “mixed athletics and all cognate immodesties are abuses that right-minded people reprobate, wherever and whenever they exist”,
further declaring that women competing in the same sporting arenas with men was “un-Irish and un-Catholic”, and that mixed athletics were a “social abuse”
and a “moral abuse”. The 1980’s and 1990’s saw expansion of the range of events for girls as sports medicine indicated that these athletic disciplines were
not injurious to female health.
The first ISSA Junior Tailteann Games took place in Croke Park on 28 September, 1963, encompassing fourteen events in four age groups. The Irish Schools
Inter-Provincial Championships were embraced by the athletics section of the Tailteann Games in 1975 for under-16 year-olds. Nowadays the Schools’
Tailteann Interprovincial Championships are contested by U17 intermediate athletes.
Thanks to an enlightened approach on the island, the first Schools’ Track & Field quadrangular match involving an All-Ireland Schools’ team representative of
the island of Ireland took place on Saturday 20 July, 1968 at Connah’s Quay, near Chester. Ireland finished third behind England and Scotland, the only Irish
win coming in the triple jump by John Magee, the team captain from Castleknock College. The quadrangular match switched from Senior boys and girls to
Intermediate (U17) boys and girls in 1974.
The first Schools’ Cross Country International was a triangular match with Scotland and Wales for Senior (U19 on August 1st) boys and girls held at Clydebank
on 25 March 1972. Ireland took both team honours. Beatrice Lambert (St Leo’s College, Carlow) and Marie Buckley (Mercy Convent, Kinsale) scored a 1 – 2 in
the girls’ race and Michael O’Shea (Gormanston College) by inches over Des O’Connor (Tipperary VS) with Phil English (Tipperary VS) placed 1 – 2 – 3 in the
boys’ race. The Schools’ Cross Country became a quadrangular match in 1973 at Newtown High School (built on the site of a WWII prisoner of war camp),
Montgomeryshire (now part of Powys), Wales, when the Irish girls placed 2nd to England. The age category switched from Senior to Intermediate (U17) and
Junior (U15) boys and girls in 1974.
The below lists of champions have been gleaned from multiple sources and with 8000 lines of information there are bound to be errors.
For this, the authors apologise and humbly request you send additions/corrections/amendments to [email protected] & [email protected]
Top Irish Athletics Schools of All Time
(based on number of gold medals won)
1 Blackrock College, Dublin 184
2 Belvedere College, Dublin 169
3 Cistercian College Roscrea 145
4 St Augustine's College, Dungarvan 101
5 Rockwell College, Cashel 98
6 Methodist College, Belfast 86
7 Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork 82
8 Ballyclare High School 71
9 Castleknock College 71
10 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 68
11 Gormanston College, Meath 65
12 St Malachys College Belfast 64
13 Campbell College, Belfast 62
14 St Marys SS Convent of Mercy Nenagh 59
15 O'Connell Schools, Dublin 58
16 Regent House GS, Newtownards 57
17 Loreto Kilkenny 56
18 Belfast Royal Academy 54
19 CBS Synge Street 51
20 Ballymena Academy 50
21 Ursuline Waterford 50
22 CBC Monkstown 46
23 North Monastery CBS 45
24 St Leo's, Carlow 42
25 Terenure College Dublin 40
26 St Munchins Limerick 40
27 Crescent CC, Limerick 39
28 St Aidans CBS, Dublin 39
29 Presentation Carlow 37
30 De La Salle, Waterford 36
31 St Jarlath's, Tuam 33
32 King's Hospital School, Dublin 31
Oustanding Athlete of the All-Ireland Championships
(Inaugurated by the ISAA in 2009)
2009 Ciara Mageean Assumption Grammar School Ballynahinch Senior 800m Rec/1500m
2010 Ciara Mageean Assumption Grammar School Ballynahinch Senior 1500m Rec
2011 Kate Veale St Augustine's Dungarvan Senior 3000m Walk Rec
2012 Sarah Lavin Castletroy College Limerick Senior 100mH Rec
2013 Marcus Lawler St Mary's Academy CBS Carlow Senior 100m Rec/200m Rec
2014 Harry Purcell Castleknock College Senior 400m/800m Rec
2015 Alice Akers Scariff Community College Senior Hammer Rec
2016 Michaela Walsh Scoil Muire agus Padraig, Swinford Senior Hammer Rec, Shot Put Rec
Most titles
18 Síofra Cléirigh Buttner - Coláiste Íosagáin, Dublin 2 x 800m, 3 x 1500m, 2 x 3k, 11 x X Country (6 x ind & 5 x team)
15 Michael J O'Sullivan - Rockwell College / UCD 4 x 100 yds, 5 x 220 yds, 2 x 440 yds, 3 x Long Jump, 1 x Relay
Most titles in one event
7 Brenda Walsh - FCJ Laurel Hill, Limerick Javelin
Most titles in a single Championships
1925
6 Richard Graham Hamilton - Morgan's School 100 yds, 220 yds, 440 yds, 880 yds, Long Jump & 4 x 440 yds relay
Longest Standing Records
1974 John Treacy St Annes, Cappoquin 14.17.0h Senior Boys 5000m
1975 Aidan Gunning, Paschal Brennan, William Lynch, Vincent Lowry O'Connell Schools, Dublin 45.9h Junior Boys relay
1976 Neil McCarthy St Munchins Limerick 13.36 Junior Boys Triple Jump
1976 Raymond McLoughlin St Mary's Boyle 1.90 Junior Boys High Jump
1977 Marita Walton Loreto Kilkenny 14.13 Senior Girls Shot Put
1978 Paul Quirke St Paul's, Greenhills 17.28 Junior Boys Shot Put
1978 Patricia Walsh SHM Ferrybank 48.04 Senior Girls Discus
1978 Michelle Walsh St Paul's Greenhills 11.3h Inter Girls 100m
1979 Frank O'Brien Dungarvan CBS 54.00 Junior Boys Discus
1979 Frank O'Brien Dungarvan CBS 52.93 Inter Boys Discus
1980 Philip Beattie Royal Belfast Academical Institution 53.9h Inter Boys 400m Hurdles
1981 Frank O'Brien Dungarvan CBS 52.93 Inter Boys Discus
1981 Paul Hogan CBS Carlow 67.84 Inter Boys Hammer
1981 Olive Burke FCJ Laurel Hill, Limerick 12.1h Junior Girls 100m
1981 John Stapleton Gormanston College, Co Meath 13.97 Inter Boys Triple Jump
1982 Philip Beattie Royal Belfast Academical Institution 52.1h Senior Boys 400m Hurdles
1982 Ursula Fay St Dominic's Belfast 1.83 Junior Girls High Jump
1983 Ursula Fay St Dominic's Belfast 1.81 Inter Girls High Jump
1984 Michael McDonald St Louis Ballymena 14.81 Senior Boys Triple Jump
1984 Gary Halpin Rockwell College, Cashel 66.96 Senior Boys Hammer
1985 Ursula Fay St Dominic's Belfast 1.80 Senior Girls High Jump
1986 Frank Conway Intermediate School Killorglin 5.45.69 Senior Boys 2000m S/C
1988 Karen Mills Methodist College Belfast 12.10 Junior Girls 100m
1888 Carlton Haddock Coláiste Chriost Rí 11.0h Junior Boys 80m H
1989 Jonathan Kron Wesley College Dublin 7.10 Inter Boys Long Jump
Imperial, Avoirdupois, Implement & Extant Records
Senior Boys
1969 Anthony Flannery Terenure College 9.9h 100 yds
1968 Ciaran Coakley Coláiste Mhuire 22.0h 220 yds
1941 J O'Driscoll Rochestown College, Cork 34.6h 300 yds
1967 Eamonn O'Keeffe Blackrock College, Dublin 49.7h 440 yds
1968 Barry Hennebry Moyle Park Clondalkin, Dublin 1.57.0h 880 yds
1969 Kevin Humphries Coláiste Mhuire 4.16.0h 1 mile
1969 Eddie Leddy St Felim's College, Ballinamore 14.27.7h 3 miles
1939 William Joseph "Billy" Phelan Cisterician College Roscrea 12.8h 100 yds H
1931 J King Mullingar 15.4 120 yds H (76.2cm)
1933 Richard H Wallace Dublin University 15.4 121 yds H (76.2cm)
1958 Eddie Thornton Terenure College 14.8h 120 yds H
1960 Paul Healion St Fintan's High School, Dublin 16.52 m Shot Putt (12 lb)
1958 Kevin Prendergast Rockwell College 47.62 m Discus (3.3 lb)
1962 Philip Callery St Josephs College ,Garbally, Ballinasloe 61.14 Javelin (old)
1967 Campbell College Belfast 44.0h 4x110 yds
1947 Ulster [R.B.A.I.] 1.27.9h 4x220 yds
1923 Castleknock College 3.50.0h 4x440 yds
1969 Coláiste Mhuire 3.28.0h 4x400m
Intermediate Boys
1962 Philip Hannigan Oatlands College, Dublin 10.2h 100 yds
1968 Garry Coughlan North Monastery CBS 22.8h 220 yds
1936 Joseph Anthony "Joe" Phelan Waterpark College, Waterford 33.3h 300 yds
1935 P Murphy Technical School, Drogheda 55.1h 440 yds
1968 Toss O'Brien St Colman's College, Fermoy 1.59.2h 880 yds
1969 Eamonn Coughlan Drimnagh Castle 4.26.4 1 mile
1929 CW McCreary Methodist College, Belfast 16.8h 120 yds H
1932 J Healy Blackrock College. Dublin 16.8h 120 yds H
1934 P Ryan Blackrock College. Dublin 16.8h 120 yds H
1939 P Reville Blackrock College. Dublin 14.0h 100 yds H
1968 Brian Mailey Lurgan 14.4h 110 yds H
1973 P Rogers Dún Laoghaire 2.51.4h 1000m S/C
1936 Thomas A Headon O'Connel Schools, Dublin 12.83 m Shot Putt (12 lb)
1956 Kevin Prendergast Rockwell College, Cashel 17.71 m Shot Putt (7 lb)
1960 Niall Mullen Blackrock College. Dublin 17.71 m Shot Putt (4 kg)
1980 Terry McHugh St Patrick's Clasical School, Navan 58.16 m Jevelin (old)
1968 Terenure College 45.1h 4x110 yds
1969 Campbell College Belfast 45.1h 4x110 yds
1940 Leinster (Cisterician College Roscrea) 1.04.0h 4x150yds
1934 Clongowes Wood Colege 3.43.0h 4x440 yds
Junior Boys
1969 A Diskin Belvedere College, Dublin 10.0h 100 yds
1935 M de Nogla Scoil na mBráithre Dúngarbhán 24.2h 220 yds
1921 JD Smyth Castleknock College 37.6h 300 yds
1929 Michael J O'Sullivan Rockwell College, Cashel 56.0h 440 yds
1969 Frank Murphy O'Connell Schools, Dublin 2.06.2 880 yds
1969 Jonathan Gray Ballymena Academy 16.72 m Shot Putt (7 lb)
1980 Andrew Turley Down High School 53.02 m Javelin (Old)
1969 Blackrock College, Dublin 47.6h 4x110 yds
1949 Leinster 1.06.7 4x150 yds
1932 Blackrock College, Dublin 1.41.8 4x220 yds
Minor Boys
1929 J Doyle Presentation College, Bray 12.0h 100 yds
1930 JJ Kelleher St Mel's, Longford 12.0h 100 yds
1926 William G Commiskey Morgan's School, Dublin 28.0h 220 yds
Intermediate Girls
1982 Patricia Walsh Notre Dame 55.7h 400m
1988 Joanne Heffernan Clondalkin 62.5h 400m H
1976 Marita Walton Loreto Kilkenny 13.49 Shot Putt (4 kg)
2012 Alice Akers Scariff Community College 48.22 Hammer (4 kg)
1982 Brenda Walsh PCJ Larel Hill, Limerick 44.32 Javelin (Old)
1986 Alison Moffitt Glenlola College Bangor 41.00 Javelin (600g)
Junior Girls
1986 Susan Smith Presentation College Waterford 11.82 80m H
2006 Claire Fitzgerald Presentation College Tralee 13.60 m Shot Putt (3.25 kg)
1975 Marita Walton Loreto Kilkenny 38.28 m Discus (1 kg)
2011 Alice Akers Scariff Community College 49.02 m Hammer (3.25 kg)
1983 Alison Moffitt Glenlola College Bangor 38.18 m Javelin (Old)
2013 Orla O'Brien Ursuline Waterford 49.02 m Javelin (500g)
Father & Son who won Irish Schools titles
Eamonn & John Coghlan
Damien & Aaron Crawford
Tim & Timmy Crowe
Denis & Dan Finnerty
Tom & Denis and Brendan Healy
Frank & Evan Lynch
David & Robbie Marrs
Brian & Mark McDonald
Paul & Paul Opperman
Brendan & Shane Quinn
John & Chris Reynolds
Josh & Ben, Luke Reynolds
Roger & Aaron Sexton
James & Conor Sheehy
Neil & Nicholas Sweeney
Robert & Robert Tully
Donie & Karl Walsh
Father & Daughter who won Irish Schools titles
Phil & Philippa Conway
Liam & Aoife Hickey
David & Megan Marrs
Carson & Debbie Porteous
Brendan & Aisling Quinn
Josh & Sarah Reynolds
Mother & Son who won Irish Schools titles
Margaret (Alexander) & Jason Harvey
Ruth (Atkinson) & Adam Hill
Patricia (Amond) & Marcus Lawler
Mother & Daughter who won Irish Schools titles
Claire (McCarthy) & Deirbhile Ryan
Mary (Coogan) & Lauren Dwyer
Margaret (Alexander) & Kerry Harvey
Mary (McKenna) & Catherine McManus
Brothers who won Irish Schools titles
Aidan & Michael Ahearne
3 Paul, Clive & Philip Beattie
Antoine & Kevin Burke
Noel J & William P "Liam" Burke
Colin & Paul Byrne
Norman V & William G Commiskey
Brian & Shane Cullinane
3 Denis J, Michael & Robert J Cussen
3 Tom, Jim & Owen Crotty
Brendan & Michael Cullen
James & Christopher Dalton
Ronnie & Joe Delany
Niall & Myles Fitzgerald
Brian & Donal Flanagan
Mark & Padraig Grealy
Colin & Ronan Griffin
3 John J "Jack", Ted J & Patrick V Guiney
Carlton & Darren Haddock
3 Eoin, Cathal & Fearghus Hannon
Denis & Brendan Healy
Ger & Niall Horan
3 Liam, Thomas & Laurence Houlihan
Michael & Jim Hyland
John & James Kelly
CJ & William Kirkpatrick
Michael & Paul Lawther
Patrick & Eddie Leddy
Mark & Padraig Lennon
Roman & Mark Linscheid
Brian & Liam Markham
Alexander & Frederick IN McOstrich
Andrew & Patrick Monaghan
Kevin & Brian McGrath
3 David, Raymond & Brendan McLoughlin
Frank & Michael O'Brien
3 Terry, Pat & Hugh O'Callaghan
Lorcan & Ciaran O Cathain
Mark & Noel O'Connor
3 David, Matt & Colman O'Flaherty
Paul & Aidan O'Regan
Mick & Eugene O'Shea
3 Timothy Gerard "Tim", Joseph Anthony "Joe" & William Joseph "Billy" Phelan
Luke & Ben Reynolds
Joseph & Paul Robinson
Robert & Dermot Roughan
Peter & Michael Ruby
Daniel & David Ryan
Joe & Gerry Ryan
3 John, Stephen & David Thompson
Sean & Aaron Tobin
Nigel & Mervyn Travers
Andrew & Kevin Walker
Sisters who won Irish Schools titles
Patricia & Mary Amond
Rachel & Alice Akers
Deirdre & Niamh Brennan
3 Mary, Anne & Carmel Carolan
Anne Marie & Linda Cronin
Joanne & Catriona Cuddihy
Joan & Marie Dooley
Rebecca & Charlotte French O'Carroll
Elaine & Leanne Hayes
Joan & Phil Healy
Louise & Karen Healy
Siobhan & Aoife Hoey
Fiona & Siobhan Kavanagh
Nuala & Paula Logan
Glynnis & Rowena Lynch
Mary & Eithne McLoone
Rhiannon & Gabby McNally
Sharon & Stephanie McPeake
Aisling & Emer Molloy
Noelle & Evanna Morrissey
Sorcha & Nessa Murphy
4 Mary, Brid, Patricia & Aoife Naughton
Lisa & Emma Nicholson
Marie & Catherine Walsh
Patricia & Niamh Walsh
Marita & Regina Walton
Brother & Sister who won Irish Schools titles
Thomas & Jessie Barr
Stephen & Kathryn Casserly
Victor & Suzanne Costello
Jamie & Nicola Costin
David & Laura Cousin
Maurice & Orna Donoghue
Eoin & Ciara Everard
Stuart & Isobel Gibson
John & Brid Hallissey
John & Gretta Hartnett
Jason & Kerry Harvey
Ben & Megan Kiely
4 Liam, Thomas, Laurence & Lisa Houlihan
Sonia & Dale Kennedy
3 CJ, William & Angela Kirkpatrick
David & Lorraine McCarthy
Neil & Claire McCarthy
Jack & Cliodhna Manning
Robbie & Megan Marrs
3 Michael, Noelle & Evanna Morrissey
Michael & Mary Mulhare
5 John, Mary, Brid, Patricia & Aoife Naughton
3 Frank, Michael & Ailish O'Brien
John & Nora O'Grady
Niall & Emma Prendeville
Mark & Emily Rogers
Annette & Tommy Quaid
Shane & Aisling Quinn
Ben & Sarah Reynolds
3 Ray & Marie, Catherine Walsh
Exceptional Performances
Terry, Pat & Hugh O'Callaghan who all won Irish Schools titles were sons of Ireland's only double Olympic Champion Dr. Pat O'Callaghan
Dr. Pat O'Callaghan's brother Conleth "Con" O'Callaghan was Senior Shot Putt and High Jump Champion in 1925. He competed in the 1928 Olympics.
In 1968 Eddie Leddy won both the Inter and Senior Cross Country titles on the same day.
In the 1971 1500m, Eamonn Coghlan won the senior, Mick O'Shea the Intermediate & John Treacy took silver in the Junior - All 3 ran in 1980 Olympics
The 3 brilliant Beattie Brothers all won titles in the 70/80 period - Paul Senior 400m 1974, Clive Senior 110H 1976,
& Philip Senior 400H 1981/82, Intermediate 400m/400H 1980, 400H 1979
1987 Senior Girls Cross Country Championships was won by Sonia O'Sullivan with Catherina McKiernan finishing 9th.
Both went on to win individual and team medals at World CC Championships
From 1987-2003 Cistercian College Roscrea dominated the Boys Hammer competitions winning a total of 30 titles in that 17 year period
North Monastery CBS dominated the Senior Boys CC winning 10 Senior team titles from 1989-1998
From 1989-1991 the title of the fastest school boy in Ireland rested in the Haddock family as Darren & Carlton held the title for the 3 years
From 1996-2000 St Malachys Belfast dominated the blue ribboned 1500m events winning 5 consecutive senior boys titles,
completing a clean sweep of all 3 titles in 1996 and setting new records at Inter and Senior level
Síofra Cléirigh Buttner has won 13 individual titles including 6 Cross Country titles - the only athlete in the history of Irish Schools to achieve this honour
Father, Son & Daughter David, Robbie & Megan Marrs have all won titles in sprints, High Jump and hurdles
The 5 Naughton Siblings John, Mary, Brid, Patricia & Aoife have all won Irish Schools titles
The 4 Houlihan Siblings Liam, Thomas, Laurence & Lisa have all won Pole Vault titles
Josh and offspring Luke, Ben & Sarah Reynolds have all won Irish Schools titles
Karen Mills won 9 sprint titles - 5 x 100m & 4 x 200m
The Carolan sisters Mary, Anne and Carmel all won Irish Schools titles on the same day in 1986
James Sheehy won 13 titles between 1960-1964 and single handedly won Intermediade Shield for De La Salle Macrrom in 1961 & 1962
Michael J O'Sullivan, the only entrant from Rockwell College in 1929, won The Royal College of Sciece Cup for his school
Ursula Fay set Junior (1982) , Intermediate (1983) and Senior (1985) High Jump records which are still the current schools' records
Irish Schools Champions who won Major International Championships
Philip Beattie Royal Belfast Academical Institution Commonwealth Games Champion
Fionnuala Britton Dominican College, Wicklow European Cross Country Champion
Niall Bruton St Aidan's CBS, Dublin World Universities Champion
Mark Carroll North Monastery CBS European Indoor Champion
Eamonn Coghlan Drimnagh Castle & St Vincents CBS Glasnevin World Champion
Colin Costello Gormanston College, Meath European Junior Champion
Ronnie Delany Catholic University School Olympic Champion
David Gillick St Benildus, Kilmacud European Indoor Champion
Robert Heffernan Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork & North Monastery CBS World Champion
Catherina McKiernan Loreto Cavan European Cross Country Champion
Frank O'Mara St Munchin's Limerick World Indoor Champion
Derval O'Rourke Christ King, Cork World Indoor Champion
Sonia O'Sullivan Cobh VS World Champion
Jason Smyth Limavady GS Paralympic Champion
John Treacy St Anne's, Cappoquin World Cross Country Champion
Kate Veale St Augustine's College, Dungarvan World Youth Champion
Irish Schools Champions who became Government Ministers
Ruairi Quinn (Inter Boys 800m Champion 1962) Blackrock College, Dublin Minister for Finance 1994-1997
Enterprise & Empoyment 1993-1994
Irish Schools Champions who won All Ireland Senior GAA medals
Edward Michael Joseph "Ned" Byrne Cistercian College Roscrea Kilkenny - Hurling 1972
Frank Cogan Coláiste Criost Rí, Cork Cork - Gaelic Football 1973
Patrick "Pat" Hartigan Limerick CBS Limerick - Hurling 1973
Ciara McDermott Mercy Ballina Mayo - Ladies Gaelic Football 2002
Irish Schools Champions who were capped for Ireland at senior international Rugby
Niall Brophy Blackrock College, Dublin
Edward Michael Joseph "Ned" Byrne Cistercian College Roscrea
Victor Costello Blackrock College, Dublin
Denis J Cussen Blackrock College, Dublin
Gavin Duffy Cistercian College Roscrea
Stephen Ferris Friends School, Lisburn
Gary Halpin Rockwell College, Cashel
Denis Hickie St Marys Rathmines
Cian Healy Belvedere College, Dublin
Kenny Hooks Bangor GS
Kevin Mays St Paul's Dublin
Pat McGrath Rockwell College, Cashel
Tim McGrath Rockwell College, Cashel
Alison Miller St Leo's, Carlow
John Moloney St Mary's, Rathmines
John Moroney Rockwell College, Cashel
Brendan Mullin Blackrock College, Dublin
Venues - Cross Country Track & Field
1964 St Joseph's College, Ballinasloe 1916 - 1922 Lansdowne Road, Dublin
1965 Belfield, UCD Dublin 1923 - 1935 Croke Park, Dublin
1966 Phoenix Park Dublin 1936 Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin, Dublin
1967 Belfield, UCD Dublin 1937 Not held
1968 Phoenix Park Dublin 1938 - 1940 Blackrock College, Dublin
1969 Belfield, UCD Dublin 1941 - 1946 Not held
1970 Tuam Racecourse Co Galway 1947 - 1948 Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin, Dublin
1971 Monaghan Town 1949 Lansdowne Road, Dublin
1972 Rockwell College Co. Tipperary 1950 - 1951 Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin, Dublin
1973 Templeogue College Dublin 1952 The Mardyke, Cork
1974 Tuam Racecourse Co Galway 1953 Tuam, Co Galway
1975 Monaghan Town 1954 Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin, Dublin
1976 Rockwell College Co. Tipperary 1955 The Mardyke, Cork
1977 Coolmine C.S. Dublin 1956 Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, Co Galway
1978 Claremorris AC Grounds 1957 Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin, Dublin
1979 St Macartan's College Monaghan 1958 The Mardyke, Cork
1980 Salesian College Pallaskenry Co Limerick 1959 Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, Co Galway
1981 St Benildus College Kilmacud Dublin 1960 Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin, Dublin
1982 St Colman's College Claremorris 1961 The Mardyke, Cork
1983 Belfast Playing Fields Mullusk 1962 Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, Co Galway
1984 St Augustine's College Dungarvan 1963 Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin, Dublin
1985 St Benildus College Kilmacud Dublin 1964 The Mardyke, Cork
1986 Lough Key Forest Park Boyle 1965 Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, Co Galway
1987 Belfast Playing Fields Mullusk 1966 - 1967 Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin, Dublin
1988 St Augustine's College Dungarvan 1968 - 1973 Santry Stadium, Dublin
1989 St Benildus College Kilmacud 1974 - 1976 Belfield, UCD, Dublin
1990 Lough Key Forest Park Boyle 1977 Limerick
1991 Belfast Playing Fields Mullusk 1978 - 1990 Belfield, UCD, Dublin
1992 St Augustine's College Dungarvan 1991 - 2018 Tullamore Harriers Stadium, Co Offaly
1993 Coolmine C.S. Dublin
1994 Lough Key Forest Park Boyle
1995 Belfast Playing Fields Mullusk Summary by T&F venue
1996 St Augustine's College Dungarvan Tullamore 27
1997 Curragh Army Camp Co. Kildare Belfield 16
1998 Ballybrit Racecourse Co Galway Croke Park 13
1999 Six Mile Leisure Centre Ballyclaire Co Antrim Iveagh Grounds 11
2000 St Augustine's College Dungarvan Lansdowne Road 8
2001 CANCELLED Foot & Mouth Santry 6
2002 Tinryland Co Carlow Mardyke 5
2003 ALSAA Sports Ground Dublin Airport Blackrock College 3
2004 Six Mile Leisure Centre Ballyclaire Co Antrim Duggan Park, Ballinasloe 4
2005 St Augustine's College Dungarvan Limerick 1
2006 St Clare's Sports Ground D.C.U. Tuam 1
2007 St Clare's Sports Ground D.C.U.
2008 Dartfield Equestrian Centre Loughrea Co Galway Years not held 7
2009 University of Ulster Jordanstown
2010 Cork Institute of Technology
2011 National Sports Campus Abbotstown Dublin
2012 St Mary's College Galway
2013 University of Ulster Jordanstown
2014 Cork Institute of Technology
2015 Clongowes Wood School
2016 Sligo Race Course
2017 Mullusk
(NB: For technical reasons only hand times are shown for all track events in 2002 in all age categories)