Sports Facilities

Golf is a very popular sport in Clongowes with boys of all ages, and at all levels enjoying our golf facilities and programme.

We are fortunate to have our own 9-hole golf course located on-campus which is complimented by our indoor Trackman Golf Simulator.   Our comprehensive golf programme involves lots of access to the golf course and Trackman during the week and at weekends.  Our programme is greatly enhanced by our year round golf coaching from our golf pro,  Mr Niall McGlynn.  In the summer term, boys can opt to go to the Golf Ireland Academy at the nearby Carton House.

At Clongowes, the daily routine allows for boys playing golf Wednesday and Saturday afternoons (after lessons which finish at 12 noon), at the weekends and in long summer evenings.

Watch our short video on our golf facilities.
 

Hear from our students and Niall McGlynn, in-house golf pro.
 

Many students enjoy using the fully equipped weights gym at Clongowes.  The gym has a wide range of equipment for weight training and cardio fitness.  Our gym is located conveniently above the swimming pool in the Clongowes sports complex.

All gym sessions are supervised by a member of the Sports Department or a qualified Strength and Conditioning Coach. The weights gym opens for early morning sessions and in the evenings so that students can work time in the gym into their daily schedules.

The 3G pitch at Clongowes is known as The Vinnie Murray Pitch (VMP), named for a past Deputy Headmaster at Clongowes.

Recently resurfaced with a top class 3G surface, the full size rugby pitch is a hive of activity after school and on weekends with a variety training games taking place including football/soccer, GAA and rugby.

Located within the shelter of the walls of the old walled garden and illuminated by floodlights, the VMP is used all year round and by students of all ages.

Opened in 2019, the 25M, 5 lane pool at Clongowes is top class sporting resource for students. Boys use the pool daily for recreational swimming and fitness and those that are interested in competitive swimming can take advantage of sessions with our swim coach.

The hydrotherapy pool that sits alongside the swimming pool is a great way for students to ease muscle strain and encourage repair after exercise.

Transition Year students have the opportunity to learn important life saving skills.  The pool is large enough to accommodate our kayaks so that students can train before heading to open water.

Cricket is a very popular sport at Clongowes and is played as part of the summer sports programme. Cricket is played with teams of all ages so it is a great way to make new friends.  Boys can take part in cricket with no previous experience and learn as they go.

The cricket pitch is located at the back of the 1929 building in front of the picturesque cricket pavilion.

Our running track is located just behind the school and a cross country track that runs through the woodlands that surround the campus.

Many boys take part in athletics training and competitions throughout the year with training provided by dedicated and experienced in-house coaches.

The impressive Sports Hall is a modern, bright space that is sufficiently large to accommodate multiple games of basketball, indoor soccer or volleyball at once. As well as basketball nets, the Sports Hall is equipped with indoor cricket nets to allow boys to continue their batting practice during the winter months.

A versatile space, the Sports Hall is used for Sunday liturgy, parent teacher meetings, careers fairs to name but a few.

Space is never an issue at Clongowes with 150 of the 550 acre campus given over to sports grounds and pitches. There are 11 grass rugby pitches, a soccer pitch, a running track, a cricket pitch and many tennis courts and some basketball courts located to the rear of the school.

The 9-hole golf course is located to the front of the castle, just a short walk from the main school buildings. The outdoor pitches are used daily for sport including team training, competitive matches on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Tennis is a popular sport in Clongowes with 8 courts available all year round for boys to play for fun and competitively.

In November 2024, the courts were re-developed and upgraded, including:

• Resurfaced with Tiger Turf Advantage Pro carpet which is considered to be the most advanced and durable tennis surface.  The unique yarn used has been designed so that it doesn’t shine when wet, or under floodlit conditions.
• Addition of floodlights on 4 of the 8 courts which allow boys to play through the year.
• New high spec perimeter fencing, kickboards, posts, nets and kerbing

Boys compete at all age groups in tennis competitions throughout the summer term, often travelling to away games.

Below is a short video showing our new tennis courts after the recent refurbishment.