Tipperary Museum launches exhibition to mark 125th anniversary of Clonmel High School

An exhibition charting the 125-year journey of CBS High School Clonmel opened at the Tipperary Museum of Hidden History on Thursday night.

It was a night of pride, nostalgia, and emotion for the High School community past and present as they gathered to celebrate the occasion, another major event in the year-long celebration of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the school.

The school was established in 1899-1900 in response to the need for young working-class Catholic boys to obtain secondary school education.

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Over 700 students now attend the school and a new extension with an investment in excess of €8m is planned.
The exhibition gives a snapshot of what life was like for students in the school through the decades, as different students recall their special memories of friends , teachers and favourite moments in school.

It tells the story of the incredible High School Olympic connection with the Champion Kiely, Dr Pat O’Callaghan and now Daire Lynch all associated with the school.

Other stories include outlining the historic handover from the Christian Brothers in 1991 when Shay Bannon became the first lay principal of the school,the phenomenal success of the ASD/HUB unit, the success of students in a national German essay competition, the tradition of musicals in the school and the long sporting tradition that has brought the school many glorious sporting moments.

Glowing tributes were paid by the speakers to Marie McMahon, Manager of Tipperary Museum Service and her team for organising the exhibition.

At the opening High School Principal Karen Steenson welcomed guests to the exhibition.
“Welcome to this momentous occasion, the opening of our exhibition celebrating 125 years of educational endeavour, community spirit, and enduring legacy. Today, we don’t just open a door to a room; we open a portal to our past, a testament to our present, and a beacon for our future,” she said.

“As we look to the future, we remain committed to the values that have guided us for 125 years. We will continue to provide a holistic education that fosters intellectual curiosity, moral integrity, and a strong sense of community. We will embrace innovation and adapt to the evolving needs of our students, while remaining true to our core principles.

This exhibition is a celebration of our past, a recognition of our present, and an inspiration for our future. I invite you all to explore the exhibits, to reminisce, to learn, and to celebrate the remarkable journey of Christian Brothers High School Clonmel,” she concluded.

Julia Walsh, Tipperary Museum of Hidden History said the team at the museum were honoured to host an exhibition to celebrate the 125th anniversary. She thanked teacher Regina Tobin who was the liaison officer between the school and the museum and John D Kelly for providing the pictures that illustrate the displays.

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Cllr Michael Anglim, Vice Chairman of Tipperary County Council officially launched the exhibition.
He paid tribute to the museum staff and all involved in the project.
He said the founders of the school aimed to provide opportunity for all and that was still very much the objective of the school 125 years later.

Other speakers included High School students Djamal Souag and Sean Doverman who spoke about their own experiences as students.