Autumn Clonkeen Chronicle 2007

Principal’s Foreword standing Leaving Certificate results. The Parents Council 2007 awards will be presented on November 26th November 2007. Clonkeen College will be in Trinity College. presenting the 200th anni- The new school year is well under way and versary production of “Jack the level of enthusiasm and commitment and the Beanstalk”. from all sections of the school community th th th is not only at its usual intensity but seems 0n the 6 7 & 8 Decem- to be at an even higher pitch! Thanks to ber. First created in 1807 by Who wants to be a millionaire table quiz everyone for what has been a fantastic Benjamin Tabart , but it As you are already aware, Clonkeen Col- was Joseph Jacobs who start. lege is holding a charity quiz in order to popularized it in English The fine weather has facilitated a tremen- raise funds for our Ethiopian projects. The Fairy Tales (1890).(ref: dous amount of sporting activity with the quiz will take place on the 22nd of Novem- WIKIPEDIA). Ciara Phelan pitches and the gym crowded every lunch ber at 7.30 in Cuala GAA Club. Clonkeen will be producing and there time. It’s wonderful to see so many mem- College has over the years played a major will be cast & crew of bers of the teaching staff giving of their role in raising funds for Ethiopia and this 100‟s. Come and join us on time and so many of our boys enthusiasti- would be an impossible task without the the night to watch history in cally enjoying the opportunities offered. support of our school community. As part the making by the boys and of our school community I would ask once girls of Clonkeen and Examinations. again for your support to help us raise Cluny. You will not be dis- Congratulations to our Junior and Leaving these funds! appointed. Certificate students on their excellent re- Tickets are Talking about climbing. sults. The latter, looking suitably dashing €15 each, €60 Careers Night will be also and accompanied by glamorous young la- per table of be organised by the Par- dies, thoroughly enjoyed their Debs on four. It will ent‟s Council after the th Thursday, November 15 last in the Old be a great Christmas festivities on Darnley Hotel, Athboy, following a recep- night out Wednesday, February 6th tion in the school hosted, as ever by the and there 2008, which will give our Parent Council Social Committee. Several are fantastic students an insight into as- teachers attended the dinner and we would prizes to be cending the social ladder. like to thank the students’ organising com- won. So A BIG thanks to all those mittee for their kind invitations. come on eve- parents who contributed to rybody and Two students, Michael O’Sullivan and the Parent‟s Council fund Joshua Lernihan, deserve particular con- buy a ticket!! for 2007/2008. We need all gratulations on being awarded Trinity En- the help we can get trance Exhibition Awards for their out- Thanks,Mrs McEvoy I must mention our sincere thanks to Suzanne O‟Toole who stood down from Par- Panto news out of the poverty-trap! Lurk- tea. This year's Panto is a (not ent‟s Council this year after Tuesday nights are proving to ing in the background is the so) traditional affair, with many loyal years of service. be very interesting here in ubiquitous Count Olive, mas- loads of action, boys dressed And a warm welcome to the Clonkeen as our 60-strong ter of disguise and all-round as girls…..and bears….and new members of the Par- cast of boys and girls (yes, baddy (or is cows……and even as ent‟s Council; Ciara Phelan, real girls!) immerse them- he?) Join our beanstalks, and of course, Bernadette Hussey, Bridgit selves in rehearsals for this heroes and with REAL GIRLS!!!! Coughlan, Bryan Clery, year's Panto, Jack and the heroines for a What more could you Donna Hogan, Lesley Sulli- Beanstalk. Our hapless Princi- madcap adven- want?? The Panto is on in van, Mary Spain, Raul La- pal, Cornelius O Fool (played ture, which the school hall on Thurs- bastida and John Kelly. by Barry Lenihan) has landed takes us up and day 6th, Friday 7th & Satur- If you are interested in himself a plum role in the down the bean- day 8th December at 8pm sponsoring a raffle prize or show this year, and will over- stalk, into RTE for the and there is a matinee on Sat- advertising in the Panto- see the proceedings as Auntie `Lovely Girls Pageant', up to urday 8th Dec. at 3pm. Don't mime promo please call Freeze and Auntie Septic, and the Ogre's Castle in the miss it!! Mick Dolan @ their unfortunate nephew Jack clouds, and home in time for a Ciara Phelan (Producer di- 0872314549. We need your and niece Goldilocks try to get bowl of porridge and a cup of rector) support. Music U-14 Student Council. The Transition Year music We almost made it to the quarter-finals of the Champion- course is well under way. The ship with an improbable victory in our last league game. With first term saw the mammoth task of having to defeat St.Colmcille’s C.S. by 22 The Council has been working hard through the school year. New topics students learn a variety of points our 5-11 to 4-1 victory was still pretty heroic, especially are hitting our agenda every week. skills including Music since our final opponents had beaten Oatlands by 5, a team that From our first major project, the Theory, Writing Song we had lost to by 13 points in our first outing! Even that per- First Year Social, through to our lyrics and Vocal lessons. The formance showed great character and progress, as did our most recent success of purchasing main aim of this year's course unlucky 7 point loss to champions Coláiste Éanna – a match we new jerseys for the Gaelic football, is to produce could easily have won. Did the ref cost us the match? (Ask the soccer, and teams an album on CD which will lads, they‟ll explain...). Despite elimination, the panel can take we‟ve been very busy. reflect a variety of musical great pride from their efforts and near-miss. This year saw the first ever policy styles. The 'real' Our results: to be drawn up by the Student work begins next term when Oatlands C.B.S., 4-9; Clonkeen College, 1-5. Council, the lost property policy. students return from work Coláiste Éanna, 4-9; Clonkeen College, 2-8. Behind the scenes the Council has experience. Groups, Clonkeen College, 5-11; St. Colmcille’s C.S., 4-1. consulted the staff and Parent Coun- individuals and combos in As usual we started our campaign on the first Monday in Sep- cil on issues of uniform, discipline, between will begin the more tember, going all the way to the last school day of the term with 5th Year subject change policy and serious task of a 1st Year challenge versus Johnstown N.S. The latter played the format of new school journals. writing and recording demos. manfully against their older opponents, gaining good match More news in the next issue. practice for their upcoming Cumann na mBunscoil semi-final. It Looking forward the prefects will be working even harder on the foot- J Clarke (music man) was a good way to end our season and kick-start the 1st Year ball pitch next Monday when we campaign. Lots of those in action that day will be playing to- take on the teachers in a charity * Guitar Lessons * gether next year for the U-14s! match. Hopefully as many students Weekly Guitar Lessons begin We had 18 lunch-time sessions including a highly successful nd as possible will all show their sup- Thursday November 15th. league, which included over-age 2 years to aid our training. All port. Also the Council will be in- They will be held from students were offered 5 matches. In the last round Munster were volved in the production of this 1o'clock - 1.40 in Room 18. finally eliminated, but their most dedicated players were distrib- year‟s Christmas Panto. These lessons are for both uted amongst the 4 semi-finalists. beat league winners, beginners and New York-London, Ulster defeated Connacht. After Hal- improvers. lowe‟en, Leinster came out on top. Winners and runners-up Finally, as our term comes to an end See Mr Clarke for further medals to be presented in May.With the excellent weather it was we would like to thank Mr Noonan details. great to see most lunch-times a hive of activity. We always and all the staff for their support encourage 1st Years to make the trip out to us as it can be an and guidance and to wish the in- Third World Fundraising ideal way to start off their tenure in their new school. Over 60 coming Council the best of luck. players made an effort – a healthy number being 1st Years. With Fancy doing a sponsored Eoghan Shanky-Smith the success of the U-14 League we have continued straight into camel ride in Egypt? That‟s the 1st Year season. Competition starts in February, but we say just what Stephen Byrne did Past Pupils Golf Classic. to ALL 1st Years to come out and join us for our Monday ses- this summer and raised The tenth annual golf classic took sions before Christmas. Last year we inaugurated our All-Star €150.00 for EPEC. An place this year in Druid‟s Glen Awards rewarding our Top Trainers for the season. Special equally risqué adventure and was a resounding success mention to Ciarán McCarthy [R.2], Conor Lehane [R.3], occurred in june when Mr with all the available team slots Michael Curtin [R.6] and Ciarán McDermott [S2] who Daly and 14 students took filled and a contribution to the missed 2 sessions between them due to illness! This was Mi- part in the “womens mini school building fund of chael’s 3rd year involved with th U-14‟s. It‟ll be strange next marathon” great fun was had €12,500.00. The group of past September to have a training session without him! Good luck to by all and €554 was raised. In pupils who organise the day has him and the other 2nd Years in the U-16 grade. October the prefects raised remained virtually unchanged

€656.38 through a non over the years and their commit- U-14 ALL-STARS 2007/08 uniform day. A big thanks to ment to the school is a source Aidan Quinn [S2] all the prefects for their help. both of inspiration and gratifica- Aaron McDonnell [S2]Jack Butler[R.2]Shane Sexton [S2] Our bicycle raffle raised tion to us all. The monies raised Daniel Hussey [S1]Ciarán McDermott [S2]Tom Toner [S2] €699.88 also. through their efforts have often Ryan Matthews[R.1]Cormac McDermott[R.1] been vital to facilitating projects Still to come is our piece de MichaelCurtin[R.6]StephenMoroney[R.1]CianTaylor[R.1] in the school. On all our behalves resistance, namely the “Who ConorLehane[R.3]CiaránMcCarthy[R.2]Sean Gibney[S3] I‟d like to say a huge “thank you” wants to be a millionaire” The following were amongst the Top Trainers too: Dáibhéid to Peter Fry, Paul Conalty, Ray table quiz on Thursday the Corish, Adam Mooney [R.1], Scott Curtis, Aaron Murphy, O‟Connor, Barry Morgan, Greg 22nd November in Cuala Corry Nicholls, Aaron O‟Flaherty, Carl Wallace [S2], Emmet Clarke. GAA Club, Dalkey. This has Deeney, Gavin Nolan, Alex O‟Neill [S3], Luke Foy, Denis Paula Fry (coordinator) been organized by Ms Vavasour [R.1], Scott Mahony, Paul Moffatt, Dean O‟Donnell, McEvoy and we still have Cian O‟Hara [R.2], Brian Allen, Jamie Keenan and Conor ...The puzzle master…. plenty of tickets left. These McLoughlin [R.3]. can be purchased through the All the above, plus a few others, will get Certs in May. Well See if you can find the hidden school or you can just show done to all! country in the following sentence. up on the night. J Lynch, P Murray (managers) “In December mud and slush Finally thanks for all your are a peril on the roads.” E.C.D.L.Reminder. support it is much th th appreciated. students in 5 and 6 year who have passed 6 modules and have not taken or repeated the 7th test. You must complete all 7 mod- C McGauley (third world ules within a three-year time frame to be awarded the ECDL coordinator) Cert. G.Monnelly. MANCHESTER UNITED TOUR 2007 Under 18 Gaelic Football. On Friday, 5th October, 49 students and 5 teachers met at the Following on from a highly successfull inter school Gaelic league school at 6.30 a.m. to start the annual trip to Manchester. We took this years senior gaelic team are very well prepared for the challenge the ferry from Dublin Port and arrived at the „Theatre of Dreams‟- of Oatlands in the first round on november 16. We have played one Old Trafford at 3 p.m. We had a limited tour of the stadium due to challenge game against Colaiste Eanna which ended in a narrow one the early kick-off the following day. The Trafford Centre was our point defeat 1-16 to 3-9. Great performances came from David venue for evening meal and shopping and plenty of bargains were Greene who kicked an impressive 6 points, Daragh Lyons 2 points, found. Eoin Gallagher, David Treacy and Eoghan Shankey-Smith. This Saturday was the highlight of our trip. We headed straight to Old team has plenty of experience and great character with a great team Trafford to soak up the pre-match atmosphere and for some shop- spirit. We are very hopeful that some sliverware will arrive in Clon- ping in the Megastore. Wigan were the opponents and even keen this year. We still have Pres Bray and Old Bawn to play in though their supporters were in form on the day, Manchester preparation for Oatlands. United won the match 4-0. We were treated to a fantastic display E.Sheehy, M. Brennan of footwork and skill from Ronaldo, Rooney, and Anderson. After the match we visited the Science & Industry museum where the Golf lads had the opportunity to experience science „hands on‟ and to A number of competitions were held in the first term and the number catch a glimpse of Coronation Street. We then travelled to the of golfers is increasing all the time. Trafford Centre for dinner and more shopping. On Monday the 17th October we had the qualifying round of the Irish We returned home on Sunday stopping off en route in the Welsh Schools Strokeplay Championship in Baltinglass Golf Club. This village with the longest name! was a difficult start to othe season with two teams to qualify from Looking forward to next year already! 21. the boys (David Green, Conor McCarthy and Shane O‟Rourke) C.McGauley, P.Murray, O.Brougham, J.Clarke, T.Ford can be proud of their achievement on the day, finishing 3rd just miss- ing out on a place but still a great start on what was a tough day with

st very windy conditions. 1 Year Basketball Celtic and one guy coaches On the 2nd November we were back in action for the Irish School‟s This year‟s new students en- Carriglea U/8 soccer team. Matchplay Championship this time played in Wicklow Golf Club. tered the school enthusiastic They play Tennis, Golf, Bad- This time 4 were to qualify out of 25 on what was a great day for and exuberant and quickly minton, Cricket and Rugby. golf. While not making the cut the boys did not disgrace themselves settled themselves down, on There are athletes and swim- finishing comfortably in the middle of the pack the sporting side of things at mers and one guy is also a life- The Interschools League (Group B) Matchplay is the next big event. least, participating in Gaelic saver in swimming. There is a The team comprises David Green and Conor McCarthy, Colm Con- Football and Cross Country, as kick-boxer and a brown belt in don and Shane O‟Rourke Fixtures are Oct 26th –vs Blackrock Col- well as everything else in be- Karate. lege, Nov 9th –vs CCB Monkstown, Nov 12 –vs Benildus. tween. But one sport that was There is a sailor who also does In the Leinster Schools Junior Golf Competition the team of Ciaran called for was Basketball. So break-dancing. Lots of them are th Feeney, James Lee and Shane Errity put in a great effort and show David Brandon in 4 year took scouts and they go to their local great promise but unfortunately didn‟t get through to the second it upon himself to coach and youth clubs. There is a member round. B. Noonan (golf coordinator) train an u14 Basketball team to of St.John‟s Ambulance. compete in an inter-schools And to finish off there are mu- TY Update league and cup in the new sicians who play guitar, drums, Transition year students have just returned to the college after a pe- year. fiddle, tin-whistle, bodhran and riod of work experience. The minister for Education and Science, To help him with his goal I the tenor(which I am reliably rd st Mary Hanafin, has asked to speak to all TY students on the 3 Dec. helped to run a 1 year basket- informed is like a giant re- She has also kindly arranged for each TY class to visit Leinster ball league to spot the fresh corder!) and one guy is a DJ House during March and April. Mr. O‟Hora has organized the an- talent, and it was clear straight waiting for his first gig! nual TY Christmas collection for the ISPCC. This takes place on the away that this year‟s first years It is great to see such involve- 29th Nov in Dublin City centre (Grafton Street area.. Tourism trips were brimming over with the ment and I hope that they can for the 2nd TY term (19Nov – 8 Feb.) will include Trinity College stuff. It‟s plain to see that the be as involved in the life of and the Book of Kells, Kilmainham Jail and Dublin Castle and the strong Clonkeen College sport- Clonkeen during their time with State Appartements. J. Byrne (TY coordinator) ing tradition will be carried on. us. Nearly three months later and Pauline Murray (Class Tutor) ECDL. the league is fast approaching This year, there has been a major change in the method of teaching the semi-finals. Let‟s hope we Art the ECDL programme. First years now have a C.D which covers the have a good final! I wish The leaves are turning to gold entire course content. This has many advantages. There is no need to David and his team the best of and russet with the advent of purchase the Microsoft Office suite of Applications as the C.D. will luck in the new year. Many Autumn. Fifth year art students work entirely on its own. The learning is done by means of simula- thanks to Mr. Twomey for his are busy working on turning tions. A student can go over it as many times as he needs to. A stu- help and support and to Mr. over a new leaf, in the form of dent can progress at his own pace. The software records progress, Keogh for his expertise and Jack and the beanstalk a and highlights areas of weakness. There is a test at the end of each help. forthcoming school production. section .The whole family can use the same disk. Most importantly, Barry O’Shaughnessy Conor Horgan Gaul is the artis- we have moved to automated testing. The questions on the CD mir- tic director with his creative ror those which will be given in the actual ECDL test. S2 2007/8 team of Keith Byrne, Colm Good News!!! There are 31 students in S2 Condon, Adam Hogan, Ed- We have completed our first official ECDL test under the automated and what an active group they mond and Frank Ryan, Ethan system, and the results are most encouraging. Congratulations to are! Walshe, Stephen Byrne and our Chris Campbell, Conor Hayes, Barry Lenihan and Patrick McRed- They play gaelic football for consultant from Canada Ross mond who achieved the perfect score (100%), in their Module 5 Geraldines and Cuala and Taylor.Well worth seing this (Database) test some also play hurling for production. Well done also to Matthew Murphy who is the first student in First Cuala. They play soccer for K O’Donoghue (artist) year to have successfully completed the eleven tests in the Word Park Celtic, , Processing Module. Watch this space.!! G.Monnelly. St.Joseph‟s and Wayside Rugby Heroic Hurlers Yes you did read it right. Rugby has its place in Clonkeen surprised many by reaching their first ever Senior B Hurling final th this year. Losing heavily to Oatlands in their first game, they faced Benildus the chronicle thanks to Andrew Boyle 5 year. and St. Colmcilles in the next games. They beat both with great displays. In Andrew is currently playing for the U18 Leinster the quarter-final they beat defending champions Scoil Aodháin of Whitehall Youth Team. He was selected through a series of with another much improved display. regional matches and competitions, and a sum- They defeated Coolmine in the Semi-Final at O‟Toole Park, thanks in no mer training camp. small way to a superb performance by Conor Gough at centre back and a stag- gering display by Captain David Treacy. Having lost to Oatlands earlier in The team has had a very successful season to the year 6:19 to 3:11 Clonkeen knew they would have to play exceptionally date securing second place in the U18 Inter- well to stand a chance. That they did, serving up a classic, pulsating and ulti- provincial Group stages with victories over Ul- mately heartbreaking match against their rivals at Parnell Park. ster and Munster and narrowly losing out to Con- Despite being the better of the two sides in this contest and fully deserving of naught in a highly competitive encounter. their 2-8 to 1-1 lead at half time, Oatlands were unable to shake off the challenge of their He has a call up for the Irish U18 Youths squad dogged neighbours who came back strongly which is still in the selection process. after the restart. Ross O’Carroll Kelly move over, there is a new Liam O‟Dowd scored first in the game –a kid in town. (D. Ed) beautiful point on the 30 second mark. How- ever Clonkeen found the going tough and con- ceded two quality goals before David Treacy Soccer broke through for a goal after 23 minutes. In Each to his own and not to be outdone in the the second half and playing with the strong high achievers Philip Knight also in 5th year was wind, Clonkeen really came to life. It was selected to represent the Leinster Under 18 Soc- Treacy who led the charge with a point and a cer team. Considering Philip is still under 17 he superb rocket of a goal to the top corner from 20 yards out. Treacy‟s 43rd minute penalty is more than holding his own (he captained the was well saved and Robert Walshe goaled side in a game in Monaghan). brilliantly just after Oatlands had rattled the Philip went through a rigorous process over the 9 net for a third time. A minute later Paul Butler months to be selected followed Rory Cole‟s superb point with a ground stroke to the net. Unbelievably, for the first time in the match since the very first min- Dublin Minor Hurling Triumph and Clon- ute Clonkeen were leading. However Mulli- keen gan won the puck-out and scored an excellent It was a great year for Dublin Minor Hurling. (U point to equalise for the favourites. -18). They won the the Leinster In extra-time Oatland‟s physical strength and Championship and were unlucky losers to Cork the athleticism of their key players proved too much for tenacious Clonkeen. Despite a great in the All- semi-final. Two goal from Rory Cole in the dying minutes Oatlands won 5-15 to 5-11. Other Clonkeen students and Cuala players, David players who performed heroically for Clonkeen and need to be mentioned Treacy and Oisin Gough figured prominently were the full-back line of Eoghan Dalton, the brilliant Kevin O‟Shea and John on the the Dublin team, David at centre forward Murphy who all withstood intense pressure. Wing-backs Daniel Spillane and and Oisin at corner back. impressive youngster Adam Hudson as well as Conor O‟Brien and Conor Gough impressed also. Against Wexford at Carlow , Dublin won 1- 13 SCORERS: D.Treacy 2-7, R.Cole, R.Walshe 1-1 each, P.Butler 1-0, to 0-6, with David scoring 7 points, no L.O‟Dowd 0-2. less , and Oisin holding his man scoreless. Then TEAM & PANEL: Frank Ryan, Eoghan Dalton, Conor Gough, John Murphy, to Croke Park and the Leinster Final Daniel Spillane, Kevin O‟Shea, Adam Hudson, Conor O‟Brien, Cillian Casey, against top cats , Kilkenny . A great win for Dub- Liam O‟Dowd, Seán Lehane, Paul Butler, David Treacy, Rory Cole, Neil Kelly, Robert Walshe, Greg Clarke, Marc Campbell, Shane Errity, Conor lin with David scoring 3 points. Hearns, Eoghan Keegan, Robert Farrelly. On to the All-Ireland semi-final , on an appalling TRAINERS: C.Collins, M.Ryan, F.Hayes. evening in Portlaoise. By now a carefully marked man, David contributed 4 A big thanks to all the supporters their number and enthusiasm made all the points to the Dublin score and Oisin played difference to the team very well on a top corner forward. But Dublin lost, rather unluckily,to Cork 2 - 10 to Under 16 Soccer against Marist College. We started 0- 13. Congratulations to David and Oisin on a The under 16 season started well with fast and were 3-1 up at half time. We great year. a comfortable win at home against took the lead thanks to Jordan Wil- Donahies in the leinster Cup. This liams. This was followed by 2 goals was followed by a much tougher from Philip Knight including a crack- Downhill Mountain Biking. game at home to Chanel College. We ing overhead. In the individual sports we must pay tribute to fell behind after a minute but fought In the second half Marist College David Keenan who is into extreme sports in the back against a stiff enough breeze. At fought back. We defended well with form of downhill mountain biking. half time it was 2 all. We battled hard big performances from Paul Metcalf, In the pursuit of the sport he has this summer throughout the game and kept our Shane Cryan, Eoin Gallagher and traveled to Portugal,Scotland (where he broke his discipline. The second half perform- Philip Higgins. In the next round we ance was better, we moved the ball were drawn against St Brendans Bray ankle) and France (for a training camp). more quickly and Chanel could not at home. I a thrilling game we lost 3- In Sept he had the opportunity to compete in the live with us. We ended up winning 5- 2. St Brendan‟s took an early lead but last round of the world cup in Slovenia but a 2. In the next round we are drawn we hit back and led 2-1 at half time broken coller bone in a practice run put him out away to Selesian‟s Celebridge, an- with goals from Simon Grehan and of the competition. other tough game but there is no Philip Higgins. St Brendan‟s came doubt this squad has potential. back to win 3-2. This year we also Ever up beat he reckons his bad luck has run out The under 16 team is also in the entered the League. We‟ve played and is training hard for the next season. League Tournament with qualifica- one game –away to St. McDara‟s. It tion nearly secured from our group was a comfortable victory .Since the There are many other students involved in all after a walk over in Firhouse. beginning of the year the the U-18 kinds of sports and activities and we would like panel have a great attitude towards Under 18 Soccer. training and in matches. Best of luck to hear about them. They are an inspiration to us After a comfortable enough win in a in the coming games. all D. Ed friendly against Oatlands the under A McBride 18‟s traveled to Dundalk to play