Our History            

Coláiste Rís, formerly Dundalk CBS, opened its doors to students for the first time on the 10th of May 1869. The Christian Brothers were invited to set up the school by the Archbishop Kieran of Armagh becuase, in his own words, "they give us the best education that has been offered to the youth of Ireland".

The founder of the school was Brother Yorke, an English man born in Manchester into a protestant family. When he died, in June 1907, the town of Dundalk closed down on the day of his passsing and the street where the school stands was renamed to honour him and his great service to the education of young people in the area.

The first Maths teacher was John Philip Holland, famous now as the inventor of the submarine.

Within a year of the school opening there were 500 boys on the school roll.  This required some major extensions and the developoment of facilities has continued constantly in the years since then. The most recent addition was a technology wing built with the generous assistance of the late former senator Dr. Edward Haughey, a former pupil.

In 1922, when the Irish Free State was established, the school enthusiastically adopted the ideals of the new state. Students began to study their subjects through Irish and in 1934 the school won Corn na Dála, the Dáil Cup, as best in Ireland for the promotion of our culture.

Among other successes in recent years were Irish Senior Golf Champions in 1981, numerous national titles in Debating, 1916 Acholarships, Leinster Senior Football winners in 1985, Young Scientist of the Millenium Year, 2000.

In 1987, the first group of 11 girls were enrolled into the school. In 1990 the Brothers left Dundalk after 121 years and handed over the school to the Armagh Diocese to be goverened by a an appointed Board of Management. The name of the school was then changed from Dundalk CBS to Coláiste Rís.

Coláiste Rís has adapted and continues to adapt to the rapid changes of multi-cultural Ireland.  Though the ethos of the school is Christian, students of other religions are welcomed with respect and tolerance.

In 2019, having helped prepare many thousands of young people for the world in which we love, ous school celebrated with pride and satisfaction, 150 years of its existence.

Éamonn Ó hUallacháin

Retired Teacher

1969 - 2007