Simon "Sam" Clyne (died 2015) was an educational leader in Ireland, President of St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, the country's largest college of education, and a commentator on educational matters. A Vincentian priest and PhD holder, Sam Clyne also served as Principal of

Castleknock College Castleknock College () is a voluntary Vincentian secondary school for boys, situated in the residential suburb of Castleknock, west of Dublin city centre, Ireland. Founded in 1835 by Philip Dowley, it is one of the oldest boys' schools in ...

and as chaplain to the

President of Ireland The president of Ireland () is the head of state of Republic of Ireland, Ireland and the supreme commander of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Irish Defence Forces. The presidency is a predominantly figurehead, ceremonial institution, serving as ...

Early life and education

Simon Clyne, often called "Sam", was born in

Clara Clara may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Clara'' (2018 film), a Canadian sci-fi drama * ''Clara'' (2019 film), a Ukrainian animated fantasy film * ''Clara'' (TV series), a German TV series * Clara the Cow, mascot of the Greek TV show '' P ...

County Offaly County Offaly (; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is named after the Ancient Ireland, ancient Kingdom of Uí ...

, Ireland, son of Michael and Angela Clyne. He had four brothers and three sisters. He, and all his brothers, attended

in Dublin, where he was an active inter-schools rugby player. He was head prefect in his final year.

Academic career and religious life

After school, Clyne entered the

Congregation of the Mission The Congregation of the Mission (), abbreviated CM and commonly called the Vincentians or Lazarists, is a Catholic Church, Catholic society of apostolic life of pontifical right for men founded by Vincent de Paul. It is associated with the Vin ...

, commonly known as the Vincentians, in St. Joseph's Blackrock, while studying for BA in UCD in 1956, and pursuing theological studies at St. Kevin's, Vincentian House of Studies, Glenart, Arklow. After

ordination Ordination is the process by which individuals are Consecration in Christianity, consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the religious denomination, denominationa ...

, at Clonliffe College, in 1960, he pursued studies in philosophy at the

Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas The Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (PUST), also known as the ''Angelicum'' or ''Collegio Angelico'' (in honor of its patron, the ''Doctor Angelicus'' Thomas Aquinas), is a pontifical university located in the historic center of R ...

(the Angelicum) in Rome, before moving to

Oxford University The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...

, where he obtained honours bachelors and master's degrees in philosophy, politics and economics. He joined the staff of St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Ireland's largest college of education, as a lecturer in philosophy and politics in 1964. Later roles there included Dean of Studies, Bursar (Head of Finance) and Head of the Education Department, the college's main component. He was appointed Acting President of the college from 1974 to 1976. Clyne pursued doctoral studies with

Boston College Boston College (BC) is a private university, private Catholic Jesuits, Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1863 by the Society of Jesus, a Catholic Religious order (Catholic), religious order, t ...

from 1979, and was awarded a PhD in Educational Administration and Supervision in 1982, with a thesis on ''The judicial evaluation model'' (a testing regime). He then returned to St. Patrick's to lead the graduate course for primary school teachers. He was chosen as President of St Patrick's College in 1985, and held that office until August 1999. He spoke out on educational matters, notably funding of schools, pupil-teacher ratios, and expectations and career prospects of teachers. He became President (Principal) of

after stepping down from St. Patrick's, serving from 1999 until retirement in 2005. He was a member of the Castleknock College Governing Body through 2005, overseeing new building development plans. He also served as chaplain to the

Later personal life

After an illness in 2005, Clyne moved to the Sacred Heart Residence, Sybil Hill, opposite the Vincentian Provincialate and

St. Paul's College, Raheny St Paul's College in Raheny, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, is a Roman Catholic Education in the Republic of Ireland, secondary school Single-sex education#Ireland, for boys under the trusteeship of the Vincentian Fathers, formally the ...

, in 2005. He died there on 22 January 2015. His funeral was held at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, and he was buried in Deansgrange Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clyne, Sam Irish Vincentians 2015 deaths Year of birth missing People from Clara, County Offaly People educated at Castleknock College Alumni of the University of Oxford Boston College alumni Castleknock College Christian clergy from County Offaly