Drama

A school play is produced and staged each year including students from Form 1 through to Form 6. Rehearsals happen twice a week in the McAdoo Hall.

Heritage Club

This group has members from all years in our College. We organise meetings and trips, usually on Wednesday afternoons. We have gone on day trips around Kilkenny and the southeast, organised a trip to Flanders in 2017 for members and their families, are finishing a walled garden restoration scheme beside Celbridge House, fundraised for church repairs, we worked to help provide our new library service, and have workshops with guest speakers, as well as our own meetings on Wednesday afternoons.

This year we hope to travel to the National Stud, Japanese Gardens and St Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare; Birr Castle and Demesne; Historic Ferns and Borris; Rothe House and Kilkenny Castle; Trinity College and the National Gallery, Dublin; Saint Mullins and Graiguenamanagh; and the Woodstock Estate, Inistiogue.

We aim to have our walled garden restoration scheme completed by the Spring of 2022. Many more activities and events will occur.

Our hardworking committee are assembling a list of guest speakers for the forthcoming year, and will display it on our notice-board. The Heritage Group is currently headed up by Leah Shaw.

Library Club

Our new library is available for use by students and it provides a safe environment for students to take time out in their busy school day. A keen voluntary committee of students headed up by Julia Cardenas Treacy and Sydney Sharpe work with Mr Paul Cuddihy to try and provide a wide selection of books and magazines for our students. This year we have extended our magazine section to 20 different monthly magazines. With regular competitions and guest speakers we aim to have a very busy and productive year ahead. 

All students are welcome and all suggestions will receive careful consideration as we endeavour to grow our library service for our students. Our library is open at lunchtime and after school each day and by arrangement.

Book Club

Book Club meets every month, normally the first Monday of each month. We meet at 7pm in the library. Details are announced in school of the book we are reading

Educational trips

Trips to exhibitions, shows, lectures, factories, careers exhibitions etc. are arranged for pupils taking subjects such as Geography, Science, Art, Physical Education, English, History and Agricultural Science.

School Tours

Visits usually take place during the school holidays to Northern Ireland, England and the Continent.

Team sports

Players and supporters enjoy matches played ‘home and away’. There are regular rugby and hockey competitions during the season against local schools, Dublin schools and further afield, including trips to Ulster, Munster and occasionally to England and the Continent. The senior rugby team has travelled to Canada and France.

Cultural Excursions

These also take place to various locations, more recently to mainland Europe through our involvement in European Studies and the Comenius Project.

Language Exchanges

Language exchange programmes to France and Germany have been operating for several years.

Debating and Public Speaking

Both Debating and Public Speaking enjoy high profiles in Kilkenny College. The junior and senior clubs thrive and pupils who participate are equipped with invaluable lifelong skills. We enter many International, National and Regional competitions.

Chess and Draughts

Chess and Draughts Clubs are active with pupils taking part in competitions, both inside and outside the College.

An Gaisce

Participation in the President’s Awards – Gold, Silver and Bronze – takes place each season. Some continue their involvement into Third Level.

Caving

This activity teaches pupils how to participate in an adventure activity in a safe and controlled way.

Worldwide

International adventure has brought pupils as far away as Vietnam and to Kenya. Training commences with regular hill walking in the uplands of the South East. Pupils train and prepare for two years, learning how to fund-raise for themselves and be fully fit for the rigours of trekking in difficult terrain and climate.

Community Work

Within Kilkenny, the College plays its part in raising money for charity, e.g. Bake sales, clothes and mobile phone collections to name but a few. There is also an Annual Musical Evening held every May and Carol singing at Christmas time to raise funds for local charities.

Publications

‘The Swift Review’ is a news magazine with articles and news written by volunteering pupils. It gives a flavour of life in the college and beyond.