Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/a-program-showcase-scoil-iognad-rs/5019034/
Ignatius Rice Primary School is located in Kilkenny, a popular southeast Irish tourist destination with many medieval buildings, including a castle, on the River Nore. Kilkenny celebrates its 400th anniversary as a city this year. The school was the first to be named after Edmund Ignatius Rice (Iognáid Rís), born in 1762 in Callan, 10 miles from Kilkenny. Rice forged a successful career in business and, after a tragic accident that killed his wife and left his daughter disabled, devoted his life to the education and service of the poor. He founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and conceived the idea of a ‘Catholic Model School,’ eventually establishing 11 such programs in Ireland. Several others were later established throughout the world. Rice died in 1844 in Waterford, and became a saint in 1996.The Irish Christian Brothers established Ignatius Rice Primary School in 1851 and shortly thereafter erected a solid stone two-story building. Downstairs were two large classrooms. The upper story acted as a residence for the Brothers. The original building was located slightly in front of the facade of the present school. On the 26th of September 1860, it opened its doors to a large influx of ...