St. Patrick'S College, Belfast

St Patrick’s College, Bearnageeha is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys aged between 11-19 situated on the Antrim Road, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The college's catchment area encompasses the New Lodge, Ardoyne, the Antrim Road and various other areas of North Belfast. In the Autumn of 2006, St. Patrick's celebrated its golden jubilee. St Patrick's was the first Catholic secondary school in Belfast to offer A-Levels. The college is one of many schools and colleges throughout Ireland that has taken the name "St Patrick's", after the island's patron saint. HistorySt. Patrick's College opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday, 31 August 1955. The school was constructed at a cost of approximately £250, 000 and offered places to 450 young men, the school was built on the Antrim Road and has the address of "619". The school inherited its subtitle, "Bearnageeha" from Bearnageeha House, the mansion around which the College is built. The name "Bearnageeha" is phonetically derived from the Gaelic phrase "bearna gaoithe", meaning "the windy gap". While little evidence survives as to why Bearnageeha House received its name, it has been suggested that it was related to its isolated location within the original Fortwilliam Estate; surrounded by the Belfast hills. Headmasters Billy Steele and George Salters were charged with steering the school through difficult and turbulent times in the north. The modern era began with the arrival of PJ O’Grady as Headmaster in 1997. The Headmaster and his teaching staff set about reinvigorating the school; refurbishing aging wings of the campus and initiating several construction schemes in the process. PJ O’Grady retired from his position as Headmaster in August 2011. Ms Paula Stuart became Principal in September of the same year.

St Patrick’s College, Bearnageeha is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys aged between 11-19 situated on the Antrim Road, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The college's catchment area encompasses the New Lodge, Ardoyne, the Antrim Road and various other areas of North Belfast. In the Autumn of 2006, St. Patrick's celebrated its golden jubilee. St Patrick's was the first Catholic secondary school in Belfast to offer A-Levels. The college is one of many schools and colleges throughout Ireland that has taken the name "St Patrick's", after the island's patron saint. HistorySt. Patrick's College opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday, 31 August 1955. The school was constructed at a cost of approximately £250, 000 and offered places to 450 young men, the school was built on the Antrim Road and has the address of "619". The school inherited its subtitle, "Bearnageeha" from Bearnageeha House, the mansion around which the College is built. The name "Bearnageeha" is phonetically derived from the Gaelic phrase "bearna gaoithe", meaning "the windy gap". While little evidence survives as to why Bearnageeha House received its name, it has been suggested that it was related to its isolated location within the original Fortwilliam Estate; surrounded by the Belfast hills. Headmasters Billy Steele and George Salters were charged with steering the school through difficult and turbulent times in the north. The modern era began with the arrival of PJ O’Grady as Headmaster in 1997. The Headmaster and his teaching staff set about reinvigorating the school; refurbishing aging wings of the campus and initiating several construction schemes in the process. PJ O’Grady retired from his position as Headmaster in August 2011. Ms Paula Stuart became Principal in September of the same year.