Headmaster’s Message

Welcome to the website of St Vincent’s, Castleknock College. As a Christian school in the Catholic tradition, we place Faith, respect for fellow students and for teachers, care for the poor and vulnerable, and growth of self-worth through active participation, as central to the school’s spirit and ethos. We have as our inspiration the role model of St Vincent himself, the educator chosen by our founding fathers to be our patron.

Established in 1835, the college takes pride in excellent academic results achieved by our hard-working students, directed by dedicated teachers and encouraged by supportive parents.  The College is consistently placed in the top three boys’ schools in the country for students progressing to third-level.  The College mission (outlined on our Ethos page) is to educate the whole person and so, after the best exam results possible, we place sport in a central position, alongside music and the dramatic arts.

Classrooms are modern and well-equipped.  Opportunities to get involved in clubs and societies exist through all six years at school.  School tours and trips offer extra ways to strengthen friendships and expand horizons.  We have a strong link with the Vincentian school in Ambo, Ethiopia, fund-raising for their pupils and sending students to help with their development projects.

Redevelopment of our facilities over recent years now presents the best possible environment for learning.  Modern IT facilities and science laboratories complement our upgraded sports facilities which include a dedicated strength and conditioning gym, astro surfaces and a purpose-built sports gymnasium with full sized basketball court and climbing wall.

Student voice and leadership opportunities are key features of the journey through school.  These are always under review, responding to changing needs.  A student council system involves all students; mentoring programmes for junior students by older seniors help build a strong sense of community.  SVP groups, an Ember Team in 5^th year and Prefects in 6^th year give voice to the call to serve.   It is by such opportunities under the guidance of dedicated staff that our mission to live up to the virtues of St Vincent de Paul is brought to life.

I think St Vincent would be proud of a Castleknock College graduate.  The more our young men engage during their own time here at “the ‘Knock”, the more a sense of service emerges as they leave to join the generations of past-men who can proudly say they went to a Vincentian school.

Christopher Kinder.

Headmaster’s Weekly Bulletin

The weekly Headmaster’s Bulletin provides all the latest news on academic, spiritual, sporting and extra-curricular activity at St. Vincent’s Castleknock College.

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Summer Immersion Programme 2023 – Thigio, Kenya

What is the Summer Immersion Programme?

Since 2008 SVCC has partnered with the Vincentian Lay Missionaries (www.vlm.ie) in working with local communities and our Vincentian colleagues in Mekelle and, in particular, Ambo, Ethiopia. To date, over 70 students and 14 staff have spent 2-3 weeks of their summer break supporting the efforts of the Vincentian Fathers and Daughters of Charity, primarily in the School for the Deaf in Ambo (which was built and funded by the generosity of the SVCC family).

On 3^rd June 2023, twelve Fifth Year students; James Browne, Ben Egenton, Liam Dillon, Ryan Clancy, Cameron Casey, Max Lavelle, Senan Doohan, Cormac Slattery, Séamus MacCanna, Colm Barrett, Daniel Jordan, and Cillian Whelan accompanied by Ms Dowling and Ms McMeel, will spend two weeks working with Sr Deborah Mallott DC and the Daughters of Charity in their Holy Cross Parish Campus in Thigio, a town located 40 minutes from Nairobi, Kenya.

Our student and staff volunteers will support the work of the Daughters of Charity in their school which provides an education for 118 pupils.

How can you help?

Each of our volunteers is tasked with raising €2,000 in advance of the Immersion Programme. This will provide much-needed financial support to the works of the Holy Family Parish in Thigio as well as help offset the costs of travel, accommodation and food while in Kenya. The volunteers will be organising a variety of fundraising events in the coming weeks and they would be very grateful for your support. Details of these events will be posted on the SVCC Twitter and Instagram pages, the SVCC website and in the Headmaster’s Bulletins.

You can donate directly by clicking [here]

Míle buíochas – Many thanks.

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