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NEWS 2004 - 2005
ITEMS IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
RINGING THE CHANGES:
CANON ROBERT JOHN BLACK retired as headmaster of Kilkenny College on 31st August 2005.
He can be very proud of his stewardship of Kilkenny College. His tenure as headmaster has seen Kilkenny College continue to grow and to develop. New buildings and new facilities have appeared with miraculous regularity: The McClure Building; the Corrie Building; the Colton Building; the Wolfe Building; a new rugby pitch; a new Astroturf-pitch; expanded and up- graded computer facilities. A new Girls' dormitory building and a new classroom complex are both at an advanced stage of planning.
Curriculum development has not been neglected. Canon Black introduced new subjects. Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Economics, Engineering, LCVP and Religious Education are now offered for the Leaving Certificate.
Academic standards are such that Kilkenny College has consistently appeared in the list of top feeder schools to Trinity and to UCD. Students from the college have won more than their fair share of entrance scholarships to Trinity and to UCD.
Neither did he neglect the professional development of his staff. Many of
the teachers in the college have completed higher degrees at university. Not only has Canon Black facilitated leave of absence for staff, he has ensured that the college has contributed to their tuition fees.
Canon Black has overseen much success on the playing fields. The Senior boys hockey team has won the Leinster Senior Cup on 3 occasions and the All-Ireland on one occasion under Canon Black's watchful eye. The senior Girls' Hockey team has appeared in many finals and this year the Minor Girls won the cup. The Senior and Junior Cup rugby teams play in the premier section of the Leinster Schools Cup competitions. The Senior Cup team has appeared in the cup semi-final in consecutive years. In all sports, boys and girls have represented their province and their country. Music and drama has flourished and soon a brand new grand piano will arrive.
New links have been established with Europe through the Comenius Project and through the European Studies Programme.
None of this would have been possible without Canon Black's vision, his
energy, his encouragement and his support. It is a vibrant, forward -looking
school where pupils receive a balanced education and where teachers work in a supportive environment with access to the best of facilities. In a number of formal gatherings tributes have been paid to Canon Black and he and his wife Ollie, are wished all health and happiness in their next adventure on the road of life.
NEW HEADMASTER:
Mr. Philip Gray has been appointed to the post of Headmaster of Kilkenny
College, following the announcement of the retirement at the end of August
of Canon Black. Mr. Gray will become the 27th headmaster of the College. Hewas born in Enniscorthy, lived also in Fenagh, Co. Carlow and Mountrath , Co. Laois and is the son of the late Archdeacon Hugh Gray. He studied History and Political Science at Trinity College, Dublin and he taught in Dundalk Grammar school from 1975-1977. In 1977 he moved to The King's Hospital School in Dublin where he is currently head of the History Department and Assistant Head with responsibility for Pastoral Care in the school. He is also a member of The Senior Management Team and a Member of The Board of Management of The King's Hospital.
Mr. Gray is very involved in sports, particularly rugby and cricket. He
refereed in The All-Ireland League as well as serving on The Interprovincial Panel. He is still an active referee with The Leinster Branch. He is married to Sandra and they have three children; Glen, Stephen and Laura.
MR. MICHAEL SHINE;
Another member of the College’s senior staff bids adieu as Mr. Michael Shine also retired from the College. Coming as a young teacher of geography in the mid 1960s Mr. Shine has been the backbone of the school and staff for over 30 years. Apart from two years in Canada, his unbroken service to the College as geography teacher, hockey coach and more latterly as head of the special needs area of the school, he is unsurpassed. Many tributes were paid to him and his family at the various presentations and functions that were held in his honour. When asked how he was going to spend his forthcoming free time, he reckoned travel would be high on the list and hoping to visit New Zealand in the New Year. His friendly presence will be missed around the corridors of KCK.
Mr. HERBIE SHARMAN:
Mr. Sharman has continued his connection with the College, helping with the hockey department administration on a voluntary basis. His advice and
guidance has been invaluable. He has also voluntarily given of his time as a link between the Past Pupils’Association and the school community. He hasalso assisted with boarding duties and with administration over the
intervening years. The College marked the occasion with presentations and he hopes to continue in minor capacities for the immediate future.
DREAM AUCTION:
The Parent’s Association ran a very successful Dream Auction in the Sports Hall at the beginning of April. It was a spectacular success and also a hugely social occasion, bringing together a large contingent of parents. Congratulations to Henry Yates and his hard-working committee with the event realising over € 20,000 which was raised from the areas of farming, house and garden, firms and businesses and a variety of novelty items.
KCK FALLS FROM THE SKY!:
16 brave members of Form Four took to the skies on the school’s first-ever parachute jump. They spent the day with the Irish Parachute Club and after initial training climbed in the small aircraft to 10,000 feet and from where they did a tandem jump attached to a qualified instructor. Everyone survived the exercise and raised € 8,000 for cancer research.
AN GAISCE:
One Wednesday, Assembly was pleased to welcome two uniformed members of the 9th Battalion Army Corp when they attended to present the award to the An Gaisce team who won the Army Combat Skills Competition in mid-March. This competition is run in the South East from Tramore to Athy and no school has ever won it twice, challenging the College’s team for next year. This year’s first time winners were Amanda Williams, Karen Moynan, Keith Dagg, Mark Harris, Sheila Malone, Sharon Fennell, Philip O’Morchoe, Wesley Hughes and Sheena Mahon. The ruggedness of the hike was clear when it was stated that the blister rate was high as the participants were relying on nylon socks rather than the woolly variety!
BUDDING AUTHOR:
Congratulations to Seán McTiernan who has won the "Senior Writing Achievement Award"
Slovenian Visit
Kilkenny College welcomed 18 students and four teachers from 14th to 16th March as part of the Slovenian Partnership Group.
Dorothy McClure
The College was saddened to hear of the passing of Dorothy McClure, wife of the late Sam McClure, former Headmaster. The funeral took place in St. John’s Church, Kilkenny on 1st March.The service was conducted by the Very Revd Norman Lynas, the address given by the Very Revd Cecil Weekes, the Gospel was read by Canon Robert J. Black and the Blessing by the Rt. Revd Peter Barrett. A section of the school choir augmented the singing and rendered Malcolm Archer’s "Listen". We extend our sympathies to Roger, Shirley, Rhona and the family.
Confirmation
This important event took place in St. Canice’s Cathedral on 11th March. Bishop Peter confirmed the candidates with Dean Norman Lynas and many of the clergy from the surrounding parishes in attendance. Also present were the Rt. Revd Michael Jackson, Bishop of Clogher, and the Rt. Revd Roy Warke, former Bishop of Cork, a Godparent and a grandfather respectively – along with the parents, grandparents, guardians, godparents, family members and friends of the candidates. Thanks also to Mr. Trevor Garrett and the Revd Philip Heak for help in the preparation of the candidates. The music was led by the choirs and orchestra of the College under the direction of Mr. David Milne and Ms. Nicola Mahoney. The anthem was "If ye love me" by Tallis and the lesson was read by Mr, Michael Shine.
The Confirmands: Kilkenny: Jacqueline Avery, Patrick Barrett, Gary Chadwick, Sunil Charles, Catherine Eager, Robert Holmes, Alexis Hutchinson, David Moynan. Fenagh: Rachel Atkinson, Alice Jenkinson. From Birr: Lyndsay Baker. Carlow: Zoe Balding, Robert Collier, Emma Egan. Wicklow: Tim Gibson-Brabazon. Tullow: Scott Caldbeck, Bobby Henderson. Stradbally: Howard Carter, Wendy O’Morchoe. Killeshin: Jill Condell. Wexford: Shane D’Alton, Henry Timmins. Bunclody: Andrea Deacon. Clonegal: Richard Deacon. Timolin: Nyall Graham, Roger Holmes. Newbridge: Rachel Graham. Rathdowney: Mary Handcock, Orey Stanley. Killanne: Serena Hatton. Portlaoise: Alan Meredith From Grangemockler: Monique Mehaffey
Abbeyleix: Khalehla Nuzum, Diane Seale, Benjamin Wallace. Nurney: Nicola Sunderland From Dunleckney: Jessica Watkins. Mountmellick: Jayne Smith.
CONOR O’BRIEN
A special Assembly was held at the beginning of February to commemorate the first anniversary of Conor O’Brien and to which the staff and pupils welcomed his parents. Afterwards a short ceremony of remembrance was held at the seat donated in Conor’s memory. It was also announced that there would be an award presented by the family in his memory to be given from next prizeday onwards.
DEAN HARVEY
The school was saddened to learn of the passing of Dean Brian Harvey and extends its sympathies to his wife and family, Dean Harvey was for many years Secretary to the Board of Governors and was a regular visitor to the College, taking RE and preparing confirmation classes and supporting sporting fixtures. He also welcomed the College to service both in St. John’s Church and St. Canice’s Catherdal. His son Patrick, now rector in Abbeyleix, attended the school as a senior pupil.
Fund-Raising
Several groups were out and about over Christmas raising money and entertaining. The Transition Year raised € 500 for Concern, carol singers were in evidence in the City of Kilkenny and also in the Good Shepherd Hostel, the local hospitals and homes for the elderly. The school plans to be included in the fund-raising for the victims of the tsunami disaster in SE Asia and currently details are being worked out.
Comenius Project
This interchange has been in operation for some time now. Last year a party of College students spent some time in Slovenia and a reciprocal group from that country will be coming to the school in March and staying in our pupils’ homes. This year we have had Leonida from Slovenia and Marçella from Poland who joined our academic staff. Canon Black with some members of staff will be heading to Saumur shortly to meet delegates from the project countries: France, Poland, Slovenia and ourselves along with a few other nations to plan the remaining year of the operation.
European Studies
Connected with the above but continuing annually in its own right is the trip to Germany which took place at the end of last term. A party of 18 Transition Year students along with Ms. Bourke and Ms. Leonard made the journey to Strasbourg where they were entertained for a day at the European Parliament by MEP Ms. Averil Doyle. They also visited Heidelberg, Baden-Baden and for the first time spent some hours in Freiberg at the European Park, a theme park based on all the EU Countries where they sampled the traditions, food and activities of those countries.
Debating
The senior team reached the quarter-finals of the Leinster schools’ Competition organised by TCD and UCD and we have reached the next round of the national inter-school’s Quiz sponsored by the Irish Examiner.
Ski Trip
The annual ski run took place over the Christmas holiday when Mr. Boyle and Ms. Starrett took a party of energetic skiers to Gstad in Switzerland. The snow was ample, all bones came home intact and fun on the slopes was had by all.
September/November
Day in the Dail
42 students from Forms One, Three and Four with Ms. Marion Shore and Ms. Mary Mulhalll visited Dail Eireann recently as part of their CSPE project on government in Ireland. They received a guided tour of the Dail and Seanad and met with Senator Mary O’Rourke and other members of the Dail. Then the students sat in the public gallery and listened in on Dail debate. Afterwards some pupils decided maybe a career in government would not be a bad idea; one student decided "in for a cent, in for a euro, I am going for president"!
Chernobyl Children’s Project
Well done to Jasmijn Liekens, Jo-Ann Tickner, Richard Smith, David O’Leary and Jack Nea who have raised over € 1,000 with a 48 hour silence towards this charity.
Pupils are also raising to fund bathroom equipment clothing for Belarus.
Public Speaking
The seniors are currently gearing up their thoughts to participate in the various competitions. The Soroptimists’ Public Speaking Competition takes place shortly with up to six competitors from the College will be in action. We are awaiting news of the draw for the Leinster schools competition and in the local Crosby Schools Quiz we will be up against four schools from the South East – from Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny.
Parliamentarians
Two visits have recently taken place to Dublin; one at the invitation of John McGuinness for a tour of the Dail and subsequently a visit to the Four Courts to the Law Society where students will be instructed in process by a barrister. Further afield the annual five day trip to the European Parliament will take place at the end of term by invitation of Avril Doyle and will include visits to the cities of Heidelberg (University), Baden-Baden, Strasbourg, Frankfurt, and Freiburg. The party will consist of 20 students and two staff.
KILKENNY PRIZE DAY
Kilkenny College Annual Prize Day was back to its original Friday afternoon slot on 1st October. The school orchestra began the proceedings in lively form with Richard Strauss’s Zarathustra. Bishop Barrett took the chair and complimented the school on it all-round achievements - academically as well as on the arts, music and sports arenas. He thanks not only the academic staff but all the ancillary staff, and especially the guidance and nursing departments during this difficult year with the passing of Conor O’Brien who had been in Form Six. Bishop Peter then introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Jack Kyle, O.B.E., whose natural God-given ability on the sport’s field had given him, in his day, the strength of a Brian O’Driscoll and the guile of a D.J. Carey to be the best rugby out-half in the world. In the 1950s Jack had been the a member of the Irish Grand Slam team and played the six test matches with the Lions’ Tour of Australia and New Zealand. Dr Kyle had also made a medical profession in Queen’s University and had spent many years out in Zambia as a surgeon.
Dr. Kyle, speaking to the assembled parents and pupils initially explained the confusion his name had with that of Maeve Kyle, daughter of the former Headmaster of Kilkenny College, Mr. Shankey. He was not related to her although his sister, Vicki, did play on the same Irish ladies Hockey team as Maeve. The only other connection was that all rugby administrators, and now including himself, are termed "alecadoos", a name coined by Jonathan Swift in his Gulliver’s Travels.
He went on to say that school gave one an education and, as well as examinations, enriched lives and encouraged people to develop decent reasonable values, and a sense of recreation, both physically and mentally, to help them avoid isolation in life.
He concluded with a few things he would like to have accomplished better in his own lifetime: to have been able to sing or play music, but by not being able to do so increased appreciation, to have read more of the great authors to enhance the imagination, to have talked more to his parents to have learnt of their era, to have kept a diary, especially to have a record of his trip to Australasia when it took a month to get there and finally a story of his own son who on having played rugby on tour as a young man and in Paris and having spent all his father’s allowance, Jack was bewailing the fact to a friend and that he had probably spent it on some beautiful Parisian blonde, his friend comforted him by commenting that at least he didn’t waste it!
Dr. Kyle then presented the awards with the President of the Past Pupils’ Association, Ms Valerie Twomey presenting the Mayne Cup and Ms. Georgina Poole, the President of the Parent’s Association presenting the Corrigan Cup.
The school Choir gave a rendition of "Blue Suede Shoes" conducted by Ms. Nicola O’Mahoney and Mr. David Milne at the piano.
In his address the Headmaster, Canon Black congratulated all the award winners and encouraging all others that their "time will come". He thanked Dr. Kyle who was as he termed it a "legend in his lifetime" and was also a renowned doctor.
Canon Black emphasised the importance of achievement in more than one area: sport music etc., as well as academic as the statistics for the Irish 18-24 year old showed many suffering from isolation and alienation. Kilkenny College is there to cultivate interests and hobbies to identify with groups who hold similar interests later with in life.
He thanked Ms. Mary Corrigan and the Past Pupils’ Association for the barbecue run in the Summer and from which proceeds the school is now equipped with a defibrulator. He congratulated the Junior and Leaving Certificate candidates on their results, overtaking the national averages and also referred to the support given by the Leaving Year to the O’Brien family in their loss. Although the College appears in the top eight in the league Tables, he suggested that a preferable yardstick would be the number of those who gain their first or second choice for third level. Although some points have levelled up, medicine continues to rise, needing more training facilities. Ireland still spends 2% less on education than all the other Western European countries.
The maturity of the College pupils is to be commended, this borne out by those French people managing the Saumur exchange remarking on the manners and maturity of the Irish KCK students. Such confidence and inter-personal skills keeps the future bright for Kilkenny College.
The Ceremony concluded with the orchestra and Choir playing the school Anthem and Captain of the rugby first XV, Robert Connor making a presentation to Dr. Kyle.
ACHIEVEMENT AND EFFORT AWARDS 03/04
Form One: Megan Patterson, Stephen Willis Ciara Harris, Stephen Brennan, David Moynan, Gary Chadwick, Elise Doyle, Rebecca Mulholland, Wendy O’Morchoe, David Wilson, Roger Holmes, Serena Hatton.
Form Two: Andrew Yates, Moss Hamilton, Edwina Handbidge Rachel Dudley, Wendy Hodgins, Chloe Deverell, Fiona Rothwell, Stephen Yates, Edwina Handbidge, Frances O’Morchoe, Jeremy Sterling, Katelyn Beattie.
Form Three: Sarah Gethings, Zaki Mahfoud Tim Dukelow, Gillian Grant, Andrea Jacob, Emma Rothwell, Shelia Malone, Alison Cobbe, Alyssa Kidd, Danielle Downes, Rachel Broomfield, Emma Rothwell. Ben Braithwaite
Form Four: Julie Starrett, Cora Deacon, Alan Heron, Tracey Walsh, Susan Carpenter, Megan Tyner, Andrew Candler, Rachel Kearney, Alan Heron, David Brennan.
Form Five: Mark McDowell, Clare Moynan, John Brennan, Megan Kogleman, Damian Browne, Miriam Brennan, Kathryn Simpson, Lee Marshall, Tara Horan, Laura Young.
Subject Prizewinners: First Year Scripture: Roger Holmes; Chemistry: Ailbhe Booth LC 2004; Physics: Mark Denham LC 2004; Religious Education Scripture: Emma Rothwell; The Dorothy Fulcher Prize for French: Jamie Harte LC 2004; Irish: Gillian Hobson LC 2004; The Helen Batwell Prize for Art: Cormac Nolan LC 2004; Construction Studies: Leonard Fennell LC 2004; The Naylor-Horan Cup and Replica Junior Music for a wind instrument: Frances O’Morchoe/Fiona Rothwell; Music: Laura O’Connor LC 2004; Engineering: Michael Donoghue LC 2004; The Chamney Prize for German: Melissa Liekens LC 2004; Business: Gillian Hobson LC 2004; C.S.P.E: Katie Condren; Accounting: Gillian Hobson LC 2004; Maths: Laura Phelan L.C. 2004; The Sherwood Cup for Computers: Graham Harper; Faulkner Prize Technical Drawing: Craig Thackeberry LC 2004; English: Erica Dowling; The Sam McClure Prize for Geography: John Jenkinson LC 2004; Applied Maths: Nigel Alley LC 2004.
THOSE WHO ACHIEVED OVER 500 POINTS IN L/C 2004:
Gillian Hobson, Laura Phelan, Ailbhe Booth, Tim Bergin, Nigel Alley, James Harte, Ciara Haytes, Eoin O’Connor, Jeremy Starrett, Olivia Hanbidge, Leonard Fennell, Claire James, Billy Fogg, Philip Hemmingway, Owen Ashmore, Omar Mahfoud.
SPECIAL AWARDS:
Mayne Cup & Past Pupils’ Prize – "The Diligence Cup" is awarded to the pupil who has made best use of their time in the school. Olivia Handbidge
Guinness Trophy – (formerly "The Deportment Prize") is awarded to the girl who would best have represented the school e.g. in speech, manner and deportment: Laura Stotesbury
Bishops Prize is awarded to the pupil who has most exemplified the Christian
spirit throughout their time in Kilkenny College; Omar Mahfoud
Bill Corrigan Memorial Award is awarded to the student from the Junior Certificate year who made an outstanding effort and showed great endeavour
during the year: Tim Dukelow
Lipsett Library Prize is awarded to the student who has contributed most to the running of the library and has encouraged others to use and enjoy the library: Laura Phelan
Music Cup – "Bishop Foy Cup" is awarded to the person who has excelled in music: Jeremy Starrett
KALEIDOSCOPE
Kilkenny College was the venue for the much-heralded Kaleidoscope Diocesan get-together day on Saturday 25th September and organised by the Diocesan Mothers Union. Teams of families with the various age components travelled from every corner of the five dioceses. Numbers were hard to gauge but were in the 300-500 range and the event was claimed by the organisers to have been an outstanding success. The official opening was by Bishop Peter and there was a great "buzz" around the campus as adults and children undertook the various activities offered.
Many people connected with the College were involved: pupils, parents and past pupils. Among those who were returning to the school were Linda Wharton, née Ryan, heading up the members of SOLAS with their entertaining ministry of puppets. Cecily Jones, née Jolly, on the Mothers Union Shopping Mall, and others visiting were Ivan Jestin, Mervyn Agar, Olive Thorpe, née Walshe, Nicola Rowan, now a parish reader, was on the keyboard with the CREDIF Band.
Condolences
Our sympathies also go to the Shiel family from Wexford on the death of former pupil (1985-1991) Darren following a long-term illness and to the Horan family, especially Tara on the sudden passing of her stepmother.
The New Academic Year
The College commenced the academic year fully on the 1st September initiating the new five-day week with the timetable converting from 11 day to that of 10. Ms Mora Cliffe was welcomed as Head of Celbridge House taking over from Ms. Frances Bradley and the Art Department welcomed Ms. Ruth Kennington as part its staff. Ruth coming from Kilkenny was a pupil in the College.
The statistics on the Leaving Certificate were as ever encouraging and well above the national average. Almost 60% got over 400 points, the national average being just 30%. The majority of pupils were very pleased with their results and many had more points than they needed for their first choice in third level.
The IT arena in the College continues to expand and pupils found a whole new refurbishment of the original computer on their return. All the Apples have now been replaced by PCs; the redundant machines will be distributed throughout the classroom and departments of the school.
The fund-raising continues and the computer expansion was possible through this finance. Other plans include upgrading the girls’ dormitory area and replacing the prefab classrooms. The final fund-raising appeal will go out during the Autumn.
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