This web site was created by a group of past pupils, teachers and the De la Salle order who are organising some events around the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Coláiste.
Quite a few of them have been involved with organising class reunions of students of the Coláiste over the years.
On this page you will find the names of those on the organising committee and a short history of Coláiste Iosagáin.
Further pages will discuss the Reunion which is planned on the 23rd and 24th October 2020 (Covid19 permitting); show photographs of classes and events in the past; give details of the class lists from the attendance rolls of various Leaving certificate cert year groups. There is a contacts page where you can contact us with your details, email mobile numbers that is if you are interested and where you can also provide names and details of other past students of the Colaiste if you can remember them or are still in contact.
We would like to reach as many past people as possible so we can publicise the programme of events when this is finalised and give everybody a chance to attend some or all of the events.
Denis Mc Sweeney 1965; Ted Murphy 1966; Jerry Doyle 1969; Micky Ned O’Sullivan 1970 and was the physical education from ’73 – 89 ; Tomas Leonard ‘70; Kieran Gregor ’70 Johnny Porridge O’Connor ’70 Bobby Holland 1971; Owen Hayes 1975; Johnny Allen 1984: Tomas Walsh 1970 – ‘89 Br Kevin McEvoy 1983- ‘86
Committee
Br.Kevin McEvoy 1983-1986
Short history Coláiste Iosagáin
The ‘Colaiste’ named after a story by Patrick Pearse, was an unusual boarding school, purpose-built by the Office of Public Works, established soon after Independence in a Gealtacht area, so interaction with the local Irish speaking community was possible. The architects were Harry Alberry and T.J. Byrne. Martin J. Burke was responsible for the second phase of works. There was a strike in the building of the college, which took 8 years to complete, using all locally sourced materials. It had a great impact on the local community, during the building, and subsequently through the employment provided.
On the 4th of July 1940 the Ballyvourney Community of the De La Salle Brothers was opened with the formal sanction of Bishop Roche of Cloyne. The pioneer Community consisted of Brothers Joseph Hartnett Director, Peter Lynch, Raphael Fitzsimons and Anastatius Kelly. On the 3rd of September 53 students were enrolled. The two lay professors on the staff were Donal Kavanagh and Ignatius Flanagan.
For many years, Coláiste Íosagáin run by the De La Salle Brothers in Ballvourney in Co. Cork was a so-called preparatory college, hosting the top students from all over Ireland who would become the nation’s finest teachers.
For over thirty years from 1927 to 1961, the preparatory colleges were a major recruitment source for primary teachers.
The preparatory colleges were the most significant change in education following the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922. At their core was the ideal of Ernest de Blythe (Ernán de Blaghd) ;“the strengthening of the national fibre by giving the language, history, music and tradition of Ireland their natural place in Irish schools”.
The establishment of preparatory colleges was a significant step towards remedying the shortage of student teachers with a fluent knowledge of Irish. These colleges were residential, second level colleges in which candidates for a teaching career would get a ‘thoroughly sound secondary education, combined with the advantages of a collective school life lived in an atmosphere of Gaelic speech and tradition. Half the vacancies in each college were to be reserved for candidates who obtained not less than 85% for oral Irish at the entrance test and 50% of these in turn were reserved for native speakers of Irish. These colleges were established and funded by the state and placed under the control of Catholic religious orders or the Church of Ireland authorities.
In Coláiste Iosagán Ballyvourney,,each year 28 of the best students mainly from Gaeltacht areas qualified for a grant after sitting an entrance examination. After 4 years they had an opportunity to enter straight into St Patrick’s training college to become teachers in primary schools, and so help spread the Irish Language. The majority of these students were Dúchas Irish speakers
In 1963 with the interdiction of free post primary education this practice was discontinued and the Colaiste became a fee paying boarding school and local day purples were admitted. The ethos of speaking Irish as a mandatory requirement was continued. Even English was taught through Irish
In 1974 in a major development local female students were admitted
Over the years Iosagain also functioned as Colaiste an tsamhraigh, taking in students from all over Ireland during the summer months to improve their Irish.
Coláiste Iosagáin between 1989 and 2020
The Coláiste closed in 1989 and was bought by Údarás na Gaeltachta in 1998 for over £500,000. Many attempts were made over the following years to develop the building but to no avail.
However, recently funding of €180,000 from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was seen as a first step in helping Údarás na Gaeltachta to carry out feasibility studies as to how the building could be utilized for the benefit of the local community. Last year €2.7m of Government funding for the development of a regional development hub at Coláiste Íosagáin was approved. The funding is being provided through the Enterprise Ireland Regional Enterprise Development Fund. Planning has been applied for and will hopefully be granted in June of 2020.
Over the years since the acquisition of the site by Údarás na Gaeltachta, an industrial estate has been created in the former playing field where up to 13 enterprises of scale are located. In addition the local GAA club have developed a magnificent club house and grounds.
Song for a Raggy Boy is 2003 Irish historical drama film directed by Aisling Walsh. It is based on the book of the same name by Patrick Galvin staring Aidan Quinn was filmed in the building and grounds of the Coláiste.
Coláiste Iosagáin 