Presentation Brothers College (PBC Cork) (Irish: Coláiste na Toirbhirte; colloquially known as Pres) is a Catholic, boys, private fee-paying secondary school in Cork, Ireland. As of 2020, Presentation Brothers College was ranked as the top boys secondary school in Ireland^[1] and regularly places first in the annual top performing schools table rankings conducted by The Irish Times.^[2]

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Quick Facts PBC Cork, Location ...

PBC Cork
Location
Mardyke, Cork Ireland
Coordinates	51.8976°N 08.4851°W / 51.8976; -08.4851
Information
Other names	Irish: Coláiste na Toirbhirte and Pres
Type	private, fee paying
Motto	Viriliter Age (“Act Courageously ”)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1878
Principal	David Barry
Gender	Boys
Enrolment	720, approx. (120 per year group)
Color(s)	Black White and Purple
Website	https://www.pbc-cork.ie/

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The college was founded by the Presentation Brothers in 1878, in the South Mall. Soon afterwards it moved to the Grand Parade and, in 1887, to the Western Road. In 1985, the college moved to a new building on the Mardyke on the site of the college's rugby facilities; the Western Road premises is now owned and used by UCC. The college has developed new rugby facilities at Dennehy's Cross and uses Shandon Boat Club for rowing.

In 1969, Jerome Kelly returned home from missionary work in the West Indies and was appointed principal of the college.^[3] He organised a series of workshops, in which the students of Presentation College were encouraged to think globally and act locally:^[3]

"Imbuing teenagers with a sense of responsibility and social consciousness is a vital part of any education, and it was with this in mind that Brother Jerome sent his senior Pres students out to walk the streets of Cork..."^[4]

The result was the founding of the charity Students Harness Aid for the Relief of the Elderly in 1970.^[3] SHARE expanded and now includes pupils from other secondary schools in Cork city.^[3]

In 2005, the Preslink organisation was founded in the school; a group of junior students whose stated aim is to forge links with other Presentation Brothers communities.^[5] In 2006, the organisation received an "Edmund Rice Award", which recognises groups that work to improve the lives of others.^[5]

In November 2009, ownership of the school, along with seven other Presentation Brothers schools in Ireland, was handed over to a group of lay trustees^[6]

It is one of the few private fee paying schools in Cork.^[7]

The school offers both the Junior and Leaving Certificate cycles. The current curriculum teaches first years religion; Irish as L2; English as L1; mathematics; Latin; French as L2; German as L2; science; business studies; history ; geography; CSPE; SPHE; art; and physical education. In second year, the students may choose to drop two of the L2 foreign languages. Unusually for a private school, streaming is not used until third year.^{[original research?]}

After completing the Junior Certificate, the college requires students to complete a mandatory Transition Year. In fifth year, students begin the Leaving Cert cycle. At the Leaving Certificate level, the college offers a wide range of courses. Irish as L2, English L1 and mathematics are compulsory. One language must be taken from French as L2, German as L2 and Latin. Any three optional subjects may be taken from the sciences (physics, chemistry, biology), the businesses (business studies, accounting, economics), history, art, applied mathematics, geography, politics and society and religion.

The college sport is rugby union. As of 2024^[update], the college has won 32 Senior Schools Cups and 32 Junior Schools Cups respectively, and has produced 22 Irish Rugby Internationals. In 2007, the school won both the Senior Schools Cup and the Junior Schools Cup (the first time they had won both in the same year since 1995, when Ronan O'Gara was the Senior Captain). Six players have played for the Lions - Tom Kiernan (1962 & Captain in 1968 ), Jerry Walsh (1966), Michael Kiernan (1983), Ronan O'Gara (2001, 2005 & 2009), Simon Zebo (2013) and Peter O'Mahony (2017).

In March 2014, PBC won the Junior Schools Cup for the first time in five years in a 17–12 win over Crescent.^{[citation needed]}

The school participates in a number of Munster under-age School-Boy competitions: McCarthy Cup A, B & B Schools (U-15), The Junior Schools Cup (U-16), The Kidney Cup (Junior B), The Bowen Shield & B Schools (U-18), The Barry Cup (Senior B), and The Senior Schools Cup (U-19). Pres have won every cup at some point and several teams have won every competition.^{[citation needed]}

The school playing fields are located at Dennehy's Cross, Wilton. There are 4 pitches, one walled and one flood-lit.

• Jim Corr, former TD and former Lord Mayor of Cork.
• Micheál Martin,^[9] former Taoiseach
• Pádraig Ó Caoimh, Irish soldier and long-time administrator of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the home of the Cork GAA, is named after him.
• William Wall, novelist, poet and short story