In 1949 the buildings that now comprise the Jesuit residence and Prep building with
their surrounding lands of c.15 acres in Ranelagh, two miles south of Dublin city
centre were purchased by the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus with the intention
of opening a preparatory school under the patronage of St. Peter Canisius. The school
which opened September 8th 1950 was in fact called after St. Aloysius Gonzaga and
occupied the present Community residence. It consisted of three class groups (Preps
I, II, III) comprising a total of 52 boys. The founding Jesuit Superior (and later
first Rector) was Rev. Charles O'Conor SJ (The O'Conor Don) and the first Prefect
of Studies was Rev Bill White SJ.
Initially the curriculum of the College was based on an application of the Ratio
Studiorum. The intention was to break from the restraints of the Intermediate and
Leaving Certificate Examinations and emphasise clarity of thought linked to a thorough
knowledge of languages; especially the Classical languages. The curriculum did not
include the sciences. It was planned to have pupils sit the Matriculation Examination
of the NUI which would be taken at the end of 5th Year, enabling 6th Year to be devoted
to a transition into a world of academic work or other occupation during which there
would be wide reading and pupils would learn how to assemble knowledge effectively
as well as how to present it.
In 1956 the first of many building projects for the College was begun. These buildings
included the entrance hallway and library, the assembly hall and two classrooms (now
numbers 10 and 11). The costs of these developments were again borne by the Jesuit
Community and Province so when in 1962 it was proposed to build a College Chapel
the Rector turned to the parents. The College was heavily in debt but with parental
support the proposal became reality and the foundation stone of the Chapel was blessed
in 1965. This tradition of turning to parents to fund new developments has continued
to this day. In 1974 the Classroom block; in 1980 the Chapel windows and in 1984
the Science block were all built with funds raised in the main from the parent body.
In 1993 the First Board of Management, after a review of the existing facilities
undertook a further building project. These buildings included a new gymnasium,
Art rooms, general classrooms, and dining facilities
Over these years many other changes occurred in the curriculum, structure and staffing
of the College but two, in the mid seventies had the most profound long-term effect.
The first re-direction of policy arose from the 32nd. General Congregation of the
Society of Jesus (GC32) which saw the election of Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ as General and
the re-examination and re-direction of the efforts of the Jesuits which focussed
on the “preferential option for the poor”. The second was the introduction of the
points system as a means of gaining entry to specific faculties of the Irish Universities.
The re-thinking of the Jesuits after GC32 led them to question the operation of schools
such as Gonzaga which charged fees and could be considered elitist, being based on
the ability to pay. Arising from the discernment on this issue the Jesuit Province
proposed to the Department of Education the setting up of a co-educational, Comprehensive
School at Gonzaga, owned by the Department but involving Jesuit trusteeship. The
proposal was rejected.
The introduction of the points system effectively spelt the end of the Gonzaga experiment
based on the Ratio Studiorum. It was no longer possible to be certain of admission
to the more selective faculties if the results of a Matriculation examination taken
at the end of Fifth Year were to be the yardstick. The College switched to the Leaving
Certificate, taken at the end of Sixth Year.
Under the dynamic leadership of Fr Dermot Murray SJ many of the most productive changes
in the late seventies and early eighties occurred: the extensive building programme
created a modern school in which science took its proper place in the curriculum
and the introduction of a second stream in the secondary school and an entrance examination
as a means of selecting pupils improved the academic record
When the decision was taken, in 1989, to appoint the first lay Headmaster there was
still a doubt over the continued existence of the College. In 1991 the Jesuit Provincial
Delegate for Education undertook a wide ranging review of the operation of the College.
The outcome of this review was more than positive.
The Provincial gave a commitment, on behalf of the Province, to the continued existence
and development of the Senior School. He decided that the Preparatory School should
close and that the intake of the Senior School would be expanded. It was further
decided to establish a Board of Management in line with national norms.
This first Board of Management initiated the development plans which came to fruition
in the 1996 buildings. They set up an organised and professional fund-raising campaign
to fund these developments. In consultation with the educational stakeholders, the
Board drafted the Gonzaga Mission Statement which was approved by the Provincial.
The Board’s work was continued by the second Board and their joint efforts culminated
in the opening of the new buildings in September 1996 by Fr Provincial SJ. With the
school plant now developed to the needs of a new century the Board established a
sub committee to prepare a ten year plan for the ongoing development of the College.
A fire in February 2003 destroyed the Administration building which had been the
site of the original Prep school. This necessitated extensive re-building and refurbishment
being undertaken during 2003-4.
In March 2003 the Jesuit Provincial advised the five Jesuit Colleges that because
of shortages of Jesuit manpower it would not be possible, within a short period,
to guarantee the presence of Jesuits in the Colleges. He invited the Colleges to
reflect on whether they wished to remain in the Jesuit fold and undertake the Ignatian
vision of education as laypeople. At a meeting with the Provincial in September
2002 the Gonzaga staff undertook to sustain and develop the Jesuit/Ignatian ethos
of the College. An action plan was prepared and adopted by the Board which was aimed
at cementing Gonzaga College into the worldwide network of Jesuit schools.
As an integral part of this ongoing development the fourth Board again reviewed the
College facilities and decided on a further programme of building to begin in Summer
2007. This development combined refurbishment of older buildings with a noteworthy
new construction that increased the floor area of the College by over 80%. This
new building was blessed and formally opened by the Provincial Fr.John Dardis SJ
in October 2009.
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