SVC Head Prefects 1835-1998
Head Boys
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Prefects
The Dean at Castleknock College, like all boarding schools as it was then, needed help when the professors departed for home after classes. So since 1835 the system of prefects has operated, whereby anything up to twenty senior boys assisted in maintaining order in dormitories, study halls and all other areas outside of the teachers classroom.
These prefects were all powerful especially so in the earlier years for whilst it was the Dean who administered punishments, most of his referrals arose from pupils being "sent" by prefects. They were a class apart and became known as the “Top Walk” after the area between the Chapel and the crease which was reserved exclusively for their use.
In 1968 the "Top Walk" gave way to the new Gym and with that vernacular usage of that term then also lapsed. The system of prefects however continues to this day albeit now with nothing like the same absolute powers or privileges.
Head Prefects
Within their number, first amongst equals were the select few elevated as Head Prefects.
In the earlier years, several served for consecutive years, as students then could stay at SVC to read 1st & 2nd Arts. The College was also a seminary at that time, so others like Richard Bodkin of Memorial History prize fame, was Head Prefect in 1863-64, 1864-65 and then again in 1869-70 when he returned as a seminarian.
George Campbell holds the record in this regard for he was Head Prefect for the five years 1858-63. His entry in the Vincentian necrology reads:
George Campbell (Drumcondra, 14 May 1906, aged 63) was from Templemore, Derry. He joined the community in 1863 aged twenty-one, and was ordained in 1867. He taught scripture and canon law in the ICP up to 1893, when he returned to Ireland and was in Drumcondra for the rest of his life. He used his personal money to finance the completion of the main building in Castleknock, with the erection of the end block for the infirmary, with the present community dining room on the ground floor. He also financed the new, street-level, sacristy in Sunday’s Well, and there is a plaque commemorating this.
Donal Cregan and Denis Twomey were the last pair to serve consecutive terms in 1928-29 and 1929-30, and Donal like so many others went on to become a Vincentian of some repute.
Thereafter Head Prefects were two in number, until growth in pupil numbers saw that increase to three by 1946, four by 1970 and then to cater for the dual constituencies of day and boarding, eight for the years 1990 through to 1998. That then was the end of the line for whilst the SVC system of prefects continues to this day, in 1998-99, the College moved to appointing one Head Prefect, but who now went by the resurrected name of House Captain.
Listed below are the 392 Head Prefects who served for the 163 years from the opening of the College in 1835 through to 1998.
Head Boys all.
| YEAR | HEAD PREFECTS |
| 1997-98 | David Barry, Barry Dempsey, John Duffy, Ronan Fallon, Thomas Foley, James McElroy, David McEntee, Kevin Murtagh, Alan O'Neill, Andrew Whitty |
| 1996-97 | Roger Byrne, Michael Johnston, Brian Kinsella, Aodh MacFhionnbhairr, Henry McIvor, Colin Murphy, Eamonn O'Sullivan, Barry Wafer |
| 1995-96 | Moses Balagadde, David Casey, Stephen Daly, David Devine, Paul Grimes, Robert McAuley, Ronan Menton, Ian Murphy, Richard Walsh |
| 1994-95 | Finbar Brown, Donnacha Daly, J. J. Dowling, David Doyle, Declan Lee, Aidan McCullen, Hugh O'Dwyer, Mark Woods |
| 1993-94 | Stephen Byrne, Alan Glendon, Victor Loan, Ronan MacNioclais, Fergal Naughton, David Power, Michael Sheary, Owen Walsh |
| 1992-93 | Ronan Delaney, Robert Dunne, Patrick Farrell, Ivo Fay, John Flynn, Paul McCabe, John McCarthy, John Ring |
| 1991-92 | Barry Doyle, Peter J. Harrison, Ciaran Hope, Andrew Loughman, Owen Mathews, Tony McIvor, Jonathan Neilan |
| 1990-91 | Brian Bannigan, Brian Brady, Mark Doyle, Michael Harnett, Daniel Higgins, Marc McSharry, Peter Mullan, Brian Wafer |
| 1989-90 | Derry Moran, Alan Nohilly, Shane Nolan, Karl Noonan |
| 1988-89 | Richard Brophy, Shane Carthy, Robin Cunningham, Charles O'Neill |
| 1987-88 | Cormac Johnston, Philip Kenny, Richard Nash, Neil Naughton |
| 1986-87 | Brian Cullen, Donagh McGowan, Andrew Nolan, Michael Wymes |
| 1985-86 | John Darcy, William Fitzgerald, Rory McGovern, Bryan McSharry |
| 1984-85 | Vernon Crowley, Luke Healy, David Kerr, Conal O'Heriihy |
| 1983-84 | Ronan Carthy, Ian Kelly, Paul Nolan, Richard Rohan |
| 1982-83 | John Brady, Joe Fogarty, Ted Sheils, Eoin Tiernan |
| 1981-82 | Raymond Carroll, Karl Gaffney, Ciaran McGuckian, Alan Rowe |
| 1980-81 | David Hamilton, Declan MacQuillan, Maurice Mason, Raoul Masterson |
| 1979-80 | David Donegan, Patrick McCann, Conor McCarthy, Peter McHugh |
| 1978-79 | Bernard Halpenny, Joe Daly, Declan Joyce, David Lyne |
| 1977-78 | Jeremy Cotter, John Edwards, Joseph Mullan, Mark Peters |
| 1976-77 | Gerard Cleary, Tim Collins, Peter Kinsella, Ken O'Flaherty |
| 1975-76 | David Buckley, Brendan Fuller, Paul MacQuillan, Bill Shipsey |
| 1974-75 | Andrew Marsh, Gerard O'Flaherty, Rory O'Meara, Maurice Shipsey |
| 1973-74 | Sean Grant, Bryan Maher, Neil McCann, Timothy O'Hanrahan |
| 1972-73 | James Brindley, John Crinion, John Lindsay, Ward McEllin |
| 1971-72 | Daniel Boland, David Clarke, Aidan Feighery, Cathal Louth |
| 1970-71 | Patrick McElligott, Thomas O'CalIaghan, Brian O'Connell, Hugh Scanlon |
| 1969-70 | Peter Hay, James Lawler, Conor O'Toole, William Shannon |
| 1968-69 | Eamonn Faller, Eamonn O'Dwyer, Michael Walsh |
| 1967-68 | Patrick Broe, David Hanrahan, Brian McGovern |
| 1966-67 | Alec Blayney, David Gunne, Bernard O'Rourke |
| 1965-66 | David Browne, Arthur Cunningham, Ciaran Feighery |
| 1964-65 | Ronald Cudmore, James Kelly, Anthony Steen |
| 1963-64 | Brian Bresnihan, Conleth Feighery, Charles O'Hanlon |
| 1962-63 | Diarmuid Brereton, Eric Farrell, Patrick Lafferty |
| 1961-62 | Conal Cunningham, Niall Fitzpatrick, Edmond Quinlan |
| 1960-61 | Thomas Ewing, George Reilly, Victor Stafford |
| 1959-60 | Robert Bastow, Neil Garvan, Anthony Lyons |
| 1958-59 | Dermot Dorgan, William Phelan, James Pierse |
| 1957-58 | Robert Glynn, Niall Hannon, Patrick D Walsh |
| 1956-57 | Owen Clyne, Donal Flynn, Myles Rearden |
| 1955-56 | Richard Brady, John Langan, Thomas Lombard |
| 1954-55 | Patrick Gaffney, John Glynn, John O'Neill |
| 1953-54 | John Bourke, Brian MacMahon, Peter McNamara |
| 1952-53 | John Kelly, Patrick O'Flynn, Henry Slowey |
| 1951-52 | Simon Clyne, Philip MacNamara, David O'Neill |
| 1950-51 | Laurence McGovern, Bernard Moran, Raymond Ward |
| 1949-50 | John Cleary, John Lowe, James Morrin |
| 1948-49 | William Casey, Thomas Duggan, Noel Mullan |
| 1947-48 | John Bolger, Brendan Guerin, James Morris |
| 1946-47 | Daniel Morgan, William O'Neill, Maurice Shipsey |
| 1945-46 | Stanislaus Brindley, Conor Crowley, Brian Mullan |
| 1944-45 | Cahir Davitt, Colman Healy |
| 1943-44 | John Cooney, Hugh O'Donoghue |
| 1942-43 | Patrick Browne, Kevin Steen |
| 1941-42 | Donald Hickey, Charles O'Rorke |
| 1940-41 | Michael Cosgrave, Timothy Lee |
| 1939-40 | Patrick O'Neill, Brendan Steen |
| 1938-39 | Patrick Healy, Patrick Lawler |
| 1937-38 | David Bell, William Hederman |
| 1936-37 | Kevin O'Hagan, Laurence Steen |
| 1935-36 | James Halley, Bartle Sinnott |
| 1934-35 | Martin Dyar, Patrick Dunning |
| 1933-34 | Leo Gibson, William Aalders |
| 1932-33 | Leo Gibson, Hugh Finlay |
| 1931-32 | Thomas Cashin, Hugh Finlay |
| 1930-31 | Michael Gibson, Richard O'Brien |
| 1929-30 | Donal Cregan, Denis Twomey |
| 1928-29 | Donal Cregan, Denis Twomey |
| 1927-28 | John Flynn, Vincent Sheehan |
| 1926-27 | Arthur Conan, Eddie Fitzgibbon |
| 1925-26 | Maurice Carbery, Killian Kehoe |
| 1924-25 | Frank Meagher, Killian Kehoe |
| 1923-24 | Edward Cullen, John McCarthy |
| 1922-23 | Desmond Grant, Richard Derham |
| 1921-22 | Denis Cavanagh, James Shaw |
| 1920-21 | Michael Doyle, Frank O'Leary |
| 1919-20 | Charles Hanrahan, Charles Horan |
| 1918-19 | Bertie England, James O'Connor |
| 1917-18 | John Delargy, Edgar Hanrahan |
| 1916-17 | William Meagher, Cyril O'Neill |
| 1915-16 | William Meagher, John Kinneen |
| 1914-15 | John Bolger, Kevin Morrin, Henry Delaney |
| 1913-14 | Leo Nugent, Dominick Bailey |
| 1912-13 | Henry Delaney, Thomas Austin |
| 1911-12 | Thomas Donovan, Thomas Austin |
| 1910-11 | Thomas Donovan, Francis McDonnell |
| 1909-10 | Vincent Steen, John Sheehy |
| 1908-09 | Timothy Collins, William Hastings |
| 1907-08 | Thomas Hickey, Thomas Murphy |
| 1906-07 | Thomas Hickey, William Stanley |
| 1905-06 | Pierce Higgins, Vincent McQuillan |
| 1904-05 | John Hurley, Henry O'Connor |
| 1903-04 | Michael Nolan, John Hurley |
| 1902-03 | Edward O'Kelly, George Carroll |
| 1901-02 | Edward O'Kelly, George Carroll |
| 1900-01 | Edward Meehan, William Coleman |
| 1899-00 | Edward Meehan, William Coleman |
| 1898-99 | Edward Meehan, Simon Donovan |
| 1897-98 | John Ryan, James Bennett |
| 1896-97 | Joseph Lavery, Peter Fegan |
| 1895-96 | William Dwyer, Peter Fegan |
| 1894-95 | William Browne, Joseph Leonard |
| 1893-94 | Lube Peart, Denis Keane |
| 1892-93 | Stanislaus Power, John Ryan |
| 1891-92 | Michael Gorman, Charles Bourke |
| 1890-91 | Michael Gorman, Thomas McCarthy |
| 1889-90 | Joseph Brady, Edmund Comerford |
| 1888-89 | Thomas Gavin, Andrew Moynihan |
| 1887-88 | Thomas Gavin, George Cunningham |
| 1886-87 | Thomas Lawless, George Cunningham |
| 1885-86 | Thomas Lawless, John Tighe |
| 1884-85 | Joseph Slattery, James McDonnell, John Tighe |
| 1883-84 | James Dunphy, Paul Cullen, Joseph Sheehy |
| 1882-83 | James Dunphy, James Rooney |
| 1881-82 | John Lavery, Michael Kiernan |
| 1880-81 | Daniel McCarthy, Eugene Gavin |
| 1879-80 | Robert Jones, John McGuinness |
| 1878-79 | John Conran, Robert Jones |
| 1877-78 | John Conran, Martin Whitty |
| 1876-77 | Patrick Dowling, Patrick McNamara |
| 1875-76 | Patrick Dowling, Patrick McNamara |
| 1874-75 | Patrick Dowling, Michael Maher |
| 1873-74 | John Flynn, Simon Donovan |
| 1872-73 | John Flynn, Simon Donovan |
| 1871-72 | John Flynn, Simon Donovan |
| 1870-71 | Dan Brosnahan*, Louis Bean*, Maurice Quish*, Joseph Walsh* |
| 1869-70 | Cornelius McEnroe*, Richard Bodkin* |
| 1868-69 | Thomas Hardy* *sub-deans |
| 1867-68 | John Leahy, Louis Bean |
| 1866-67 | John Leahy, Michael Foran |
| 1865-66 | Charles Cahill, Michael Foran |
| 1864-65 | Richard Bodkin, Michael Foran |
| 1863-64 | Richard Bodkin, Thomas Hardy |
| 1862-63 | George Campbell, Patrick Leahy |
| 1861-62 | George Campbell, Joseph Hanley |
| 1860-61 | George Campbell, Joseph Hanley |
| 1859-60 | George Campbell, Joseph Hanley |
| 1858-59 | George Campbell, John McParland |
| 1857-58 | John Kenny, James Potter |
| 1856-57 | Peter Kelly, James Potter |
| 1855-56 | Peter Kelly, Joseph Nolan |
| 1854-55 | Felix MacNulty, John Carrick |
| 1853-54 | John Shepheard, Nicholas Donnelly |
| 1852-53 | Michael Molloy, Joseph Quinn |
| 1851-52 | Michael Molloy, Gerald Hunt, Thomas O'Reilly, John Mulqueen |
| 1850-51 | Philip Carberry, Michael Gibney |
| 1849-50 | Joseph Hickey, Michael O'Neill, Matthew Russell, James McCoy |
| 1848-49 | Joseph Hickey, John Cantwell, Barnaby Kelly |
| 1847-48 | James Mulligan, Denis Gleeson |
| 1846-47 | James Mulligan, Denis Gleeson |
| 1845-46 | Malachy O'Callaghan, Thomas Murphy, Daniel Sullivan |
| 1844-45 | Malachy O'Callaghan, Thomas Murphy |
| 1843-44 | Malachy O'Callaghan, Lawrence Byrne |
| 1842-43 | Denis Heyfron, John O'Rourke |
| 1841-42 | Denis Heyfron, Hugh Ingham |
| 1840-41 | Peter McGrane, Matthew Kavanagh, Laurence Murray, Patrick Moran |
| 1839-40 | Peter McGrane, Francis O'Beirne |
| 1838-39 | John Lynch, Francis O'Beirne |
| 1837-38 | John Lynch, Christopher McGrane |
| 1836-37 | Michael O'Reilly, Christopher McGrane |
| 1835-36 | Michael O'Reilly, Christopher McGrane |