St. Colman's College was founded by Fr. J.S. Keenan in William Street, Newry in 1823 as the Dromore Diocesan Seminary. The Education Commissioners Enquiry of 1824 recorded an enrolment of some 40 pupils. Known throughout Ireland as Violet Hill, the College has occupied its magnificent rural setting since 1829. The oldest parts of the present school building date from 1879 and the extensions and renovations under successive Presidents can be traced from the photographs that adorn the corridor walls. In 1970 a building programme made provision for the teaching of Woodwork - later Craft, Design and Technology - and St. Colman's College became the first Grammar School to offer this subject as an integral part of the curriculum. In the 1980s and early 90s, Fr. Boyle carried on the tradition of developing College facilities with the complete renovation of the Chapel. In 1994 the College opened new fully equipped Science and Technology blocks and converted the former Study Hall into a very attractive and up-to-date library, while the following year saw the complete refurbishment of the dormitories. The improvement of College facilities continued when, in 1996, two new Computer Suites were added and in 1997 the Language Room was completely renovated. In 1999 the remaining Science Laboratories were fully refurbished. The turn of the century brought about further developments with two state of the art sand-based football fields opened in 2000.
