[Playmobil]

Can anyone recommend a private school with a really good extra-curricular program, especially outdoor/adventurous stuff? As we are fairly remote he will have to board anyway, so location not important.

[Moonbeam]

It depends on religion,budget and what else you want from a school.
Is it for a boy or girl?

I presume in Ireland?

[Playmobil]

Yes, Ireland.
He's a Catholic. I would consider schools of any denomination, or none.
Of course we're interested in academic achievement, but this is not an overiding concern. I think a child's own motivation is a bigger factor in whether or not he will excel, than the school.

He's a very active child who loves to be with his friends 'doing', and we think a school where he'd be kept busy would be good for him in terms of building character/maturity, but mainly we want him to be happy. The activities in our part of rural Ireland revolve around the GAA, and although he plays Football and Hurling, he'd be more into Scouts, climbing, hiking etc. We spend a lot of time taking him on hikes or driving him to various clubs, but when he's at home he can get bored and bickers with his siblings!
Any ideas welcome!

[Bazinga_N]

I hear Wesley College is supposed to be quite good for sport and what not! Its in Dublin..

http://www.wesleycollege.ie/

[Playmobil]

Thanks for that. Had not heard of Wesley College.

[boatbuilder]

Dundalk Grammar School... not the same "class" as Wesley where the students wear gowns, but still pretty good.

[Playmobil]

Thanks for the suggestions. We are in the South West and Dundalk is only 5-day boarding, so not really do-able.
It's really quite difficult to discriminate between schools based on their websites, which all seem to suggest great exam results, fantastic facilities and a huge range of sporting activities!

[kebris]

The south-west is a "big" area, so there are a number of options.
Near Limerick there is Glenstal Abbey.
In Limerick there is Villiers School.
In East Cork there is Middleton College and further west is Bandon Grammer.
Rockwell is close to Cashel but cannot remember if it is still a boarding school.
I'm sure there may be a few others but not sure which are still boarding, but these are the ones that jump immediately to mind.

[Junokevv]

Roscrea maybe?

[robjones1981]

Wilsons Hospital School in Co Westmeath

http://www.whs.ie/

[byhookorbycrook]

Some of the schools mentioned would not do any GAA.

[onedmc]

Originally Posted by Playmobil

Thanks for the suggestions. We are in the South West and Dundalk is only 5-day boarding, so not really do-able.
It's really quite difficult to discriminate between schools based on their websites, which all seem to suggest great exam results, fantastic facilities and a huge range of sporting activities!

Ring them and make an appointment to meet them, when you have short listed then attend some school functions. If you are going to spend 50,000 to 75k with them then the school would expect this as a minimum. Perhaps they do summer camps or day trials for prospective students.

By the time you have spoken to a few headmasters you will know what you want and perhaps what you can afford.

[IrishLoriii]

Clongoes College? In kildare

[Zaffy]

Originally Posted by Bazinga_N

I hear Wesley College is supposed to be quite good for sport and what not! Its in Dublin..

http://www.wesleycollege.ie/

As a current boarder of Wesley, this. So many different extra curricular things are available, and the atmosphere is great!

Originally Posted by boatbuilder

Dundalk Grammar School... not the same "class" as Wesley where the students wear gowns, but still pretty good.

That's St Columbus, Wesley is actually cheaper than a lot of boarding schools.

[notsobusy]

Wesley, King's Hospital and Wilson's Hospital are all good schools. I've got a few friends kids all in those schools, and enjoyed them. Great sports facilities and great academic results.