'Boy from Ballinlough': Cillian Murphy's school pays tribute to star

The Cork star has made history as the first Irish-born winner of the best actor award for his portrayal of theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer. 

St Anthony's Boys School had a distinctive Hollywood feel on Monday in homage to its most famous past pupil, with everything from an imitation Oscar statue to balloons emblazoned with his name.

Fifth-class student Louis Sheehan said he would love to meet the star.

“It would be absolutely amazing and so cool if he came to the school. That would be a great honour. I think he really deserved the Oscar and we would love for him to have a cup of tea with us.” 

Murphy has been a huge inspiration to pupils hoping to follow in his footsteps.

It’s cool to know he walked the same corridors as us and did the same stuff as us like English, maths and Irish.

Principal Seán Lyons shared his sentiment, adding: “Previous staff who knew Cillian say that he was a very grounded and happy boy. He came from a family who supported education. 

"He is a great guy with integrity and humility which are qualities we really value in the school. We are celebrating his success here because it’s amazing to think that a boy from Ballintemple could reach the heights of such an acting career and win an Oscar. 

"We love how he paid tribute to the 'peacemakers' in his speech and had the cúpla focal at the end.” 

Cillian Murphy looks at his Oscar while posing for photos in the press room after winning the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role during the 96th Annual Academy Awards. Picture: Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

The school also has correspondence from Murphy dating back to 2015 proudly displayed. In the letter he explains to students: “I didn’t go to any drama classes or have any formal training in acting. In fact, I didn’t have any interest in acting until I was 19. I was much more interested in music and wanted to become a musician during my youth.”

The principal of the secondary school attended by the star has hailed the Oscar win as an enormously proud moment not only for his Alma Mater but for Cork city.

David Barry of Presentation Brothers College (PBC) told the Cork’s 96FM that he was so ‘pleased and proud’ of the 47-year-old actor.

"He is a very talented actor and he has worked so very hard on his craft.

"We are all so delighted for him and for his family on his success. The school is so, so proud of him."

Pupils from Louise Barrett’s first class in St Anthony’s boys primary school, Ballinlough, are overjoyed for past pupil, Cillian Murphy on his Oscar Win.

PBC plans to extend an invitation to the Ballintemple native to visit his former school at his earliest convenience.

A portrait of Cillian in his role as Tommy Shelby in “Peaky Blinders” is on display in the school in Mardyke Walk in Cork.

Mr Barry said that none of the teachers in the school were working on site when Cillian was a student in the 1990s.

"The staff have moved on since then. But definitely (an invite to visit PBC will be issued). Whether he will find a gap in his busy schedule to come to the school - but we certainly will be extending an invitation to Cillian to come and visit the pupils here. We would be delighted if he could make the time."

Meanwhile, a former teacher of Cillian Murphy said it was obvious during his teenage years that he was born to act.

Messages of congratulations on display in St Anthony’s following past pupil Cillian Murphy’s Oscar win last night. 

Cillian was taught English by poet William Wall, who said that he was delighted at the big win overnight.

“He has always been a brilliant actor. The world is his oyster.” 

The Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG winning actor was taught English by Mr Wall in PBC. Mr Wall subsequently left the school to focus on his poetry and became Cork’s first Poet Laureate in 2021.The novelist and poet previously told the Neil Prendeville show, on Cork's Red FM, that Cillian was a really good student of English.

“He was just one of those kids who got poetry, got Shakespeare and got novels. It wasn’t hard to teach him.