international, Olympics administrator and doctor Anton O'Toole, footballer Andy Reid, footballer Col Billy Ringrose, army officer and equestrian Liam Whelan, footballer and Busby babe Thomas Williams, cricketer Motto The school motto is "Viriliter Age" (translated "Act Manfully") and is a standard used by many Christian Brothers' schools throughout the world. Religion As a Christian Brothers school, the school has always had a strong Roman Catholic ethos. This includes a long history of having its own fraternity of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, as well as prayers before each class. The teaching of religion was considered to be important not only to the school and pupils, but also to the state. Reputation The school has garnered an enviable reputation, particularly in relation to its notable alumni, even being compared to Eton College in relation to Irish public service. At one point both the President of Ireland and the Taoiseach who served him, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh and Liam Cosgrave respectively, were both past pupils, as well as the Minister for Finance and Garda Commissioner. The Taoiseach, Seán Lemass praised the school as "... a Dublin institution of which all Dublin men were aware and proud..." at the school's centenary dinner in 1967. Lemass's Dail colleague, Cosgrave opined, at a Synge Street Past Pupils Union dinner, that "No Christian Brothers’ school had a better record than Synge Street, and the numerous past pupils ... who had achieved eminence in different walks of life, was an indication of the high standard of education provided". Its illustrious alumni list is no accident. The school always had a reputation for high educational standards and exam results. Students have achieved first place in the Leaving Certificate in subjects such as physics, chemistry and Irish, amongst others. Synge Street students regularly excelled in events such as the Father Mathew Feis, winning and placing in multiple awards year after year. As early as 1907, three of the scholarships offered by the diocese of Dublin were awarded to Synge Street students. Senior boys have been invited to contribute to current affairs programmes on RTÉ Television, and complimented on the lucidity of their contributions. Students also excelled at chess, with the school regularly placing in the upper parts of the Leinster Schools Chess competitions. Students are encouraged to move on to third-level education by the school, and financial assistance is available from a charitable bequest by a now-deceased former