Ardscoil Rís is a voluntary, all-boys, Roman Catholic secondary school in Limerick, Ireland. Located on the North Circular Road, its catchment area includes neighbourhoods on the northside of Limerick such as Caherdavin, Mayorstone and Clareview though many students commute from other areas of the city as well as surrounding rural areas.
History
Ardscoil Rís was formally opened by the Christian Brothers, in Limerick on the North Circular Road on 1 September 1963, when it welcomed 52 pupils. Classes were held in an old school house until the first purpose-built classrooms were available. This first intake included Pat Cox, then a noted master debater, later a distinguished politician. From its foundation the school was managed by one of the Christian Brothers. In 1989, a Board of Management, representing trustees, staff and parents, was put in place and a lay Principal was appointed. From small beginnings, the school, augmented by periodic extensions, grew to its present size and now has over 700 students and fifty teachers. The late twentieth century witnessed the contraction of religious orders in Ireland and Ardscoil Rís is now staffed entirely by lay teachers. The Christian Brothers maintain ownership and Trusteeship of the school and are represented on the Board of Management by four lay representatives. In 2010 the redevelopment of the school went to the construction stage following almost a decade of lobbying and planning. Acting as main contractor for the project, Cordil Construction were responsible for the management of the €5 million plan, which sees the school expand to three times the usable space on completion of all three phases. Construction was temporarily abandoned in 2011 due to the liquidation of Cordil Construction, but continued following a seventeen-month delay. The new school was official opened in March 2014 by Limerick City TD and then Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan.
Profile
The School encourage all students to become involved in a variety of activities outside of the curriculum. Life skills are reinforced by participation in such activities as Music, Sports, Work Experience Programmes, Enterprise, Foreign Exchange, Drama, Concerts, Charitable Fund-raising and Gaisce. The School won the RTÉ Television secondary schools quiz programme Blackboard Jungle in 1993.
Sport
Rugby, hurling and basketball are the main sporting activities of the school. The Munster Schools Senior Cup and Junior Cup competitions, the Dr. Harty Cup , The Dean Ryan Cup and The White Cup the Limerick Colleges competitions and the South West of Ireland League are highlights of the sporting calendar. On 11 March 2010 Ard Scoil Ris became the first Limerick team since 1993 to win the Harty Cup. They defeated the 2009 champions Thurles CBS after a third replay and lost to St. Kieran's College in the All Ireland Final later that year.
Shane Dowling Limerick GAA Joint Captain of Harty Cup winning side in 2011. Limerick hurler from 2012 to present. Member of the Munster Senior and U21 Hurling Championship winning side. Railway cup winner with Munster in 2013. Munster Club Player of the Year 2012. GAA/GPA All Star award 2014. Member of the Winning Limerick All-Ireland Hurling Team which won the hearts of the county when they brought the Liam McCarthey Home
Ollie Moran Limerick GAA Limerick hurler from 1997 to 2009. All Star award 2007, 5 railway cup medals with Munster, Shinty/Hurling International with Ireland. Captained Limerick Senior Hurling team in 2005.
Darach Honan Clare GAA Clare hurler 2010 to present. Munster and All Ireland U21 Hurling medal winner 2009. All Ireland Senior Hurling medal winner 2013. Named U21 Hurling Player of the Year in 2009.
Conor Ryan Clare GAA Clare hurler. Munster and All Ireland U21 Hurling medal winner 2012. All Ireland Senior Hurling medal winner 2013. Man of the Match award for his performance in the 2013 All Ireland Hurling Final. GAA/GPA All Star award 2013.
