The History of Blackrock College
The founder of the college was Pere Leman, a Frenchman
and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost. Pere Leman
and his few companions arrived in Ireland in October 1859. They
set out to find vocations to the priesthood among those who had
already completed their studies and who might be willing to serve
as missionaries in English speaking Africa. They found that Ireland,
then recovering from the Great Famine and tottering on the verge
of another, was not at all interested in black Africa. It was
also noticed that the standard of studies of those interviewed
left a lot to be desired.
Within a few months Pere Leman was convinced that,
if they were to have Irish personnel for their demanding mission,
they must start training students from an early age. Such work
would call for a school, and as Catholics were badly in need of
good secondary schools, he felt that they could thus make a useful
contribution to Ireland in return for what they expected from
the country. The prospect of involvement in education in Ireland,
however, was anathema to the authorities of the Congregation of
the Holy Ghost just then because of the lack of men and money
as they strove to cope with the demands of the vast missions
entrusted to their care. Eventually they gave an unwilling consent
to the founding of a college.
Pere Leman set about finding a suitable place to
launch his school. By accident he learned that there was a property
vacant in the Blackrock area, Castledawson House, which had previously
served as a Protestant boys' school. He acquired the property,
and the first students were admitted to the college in September
1860.
Today the college adheres to the principles that
guided Pere Leman. It aims to support Catholic parents in their
responsibility for the spiritual, religious, moral, academic and
physical needs of their children.
A most important element prompting the foundation
of Blackrock was the deep understanding of the call to care for
the poor and disadvantaged, especially those of the Third World.
Both through religious education and in the everyday life of the
school the students are prepared to serve as witnesses to moral
and spiritual values at home and in the wider world.
