ST. KIERAN’S COLLEGE RECORD A Message from the President t is with a sense of optimism that I centre for Adult Religious Education welcome this edition of the St. and Faith Formation for the Diocese, IKieran’s College Record. In keeping under the Chairmanship of Mr. Declan with the many changes which have Murphy and a newly appointed Steering taken place at St. Kieran’s over the past Committee – In the N.U.I.M.(National few years this edition mirrors these University of Ireland, Maynooth) changes and it will strive, in future Outreach Campus, where at present 220 editions, to publish a chronicle of the adult students avail of a range of main events in the life of the College courses at undergraduate and post since 2002, the 219th Academic Year, graduate level under the managership when a new-look Record was first of Mr. Chris Reid and his team. With presented. these concrete expressions of Education St. Kieran’s College was founded, as you and Formation, St. Kieran’s maintains a know, in 1782, the first Catholic school central role in the academic and faith Fr. Kieron J. Kennedy. after the repeal of the Penal Laws. Over life of Kilkenny, both city and county August 2004 I have been inspired the decades St. Kieran’s has had to face and the Diocese of Ossory. personally by the levels of commitment serious challenges and much change Over the past few years St. Kieran’s has shown and energy expended by all but in all this time two pillars have been very fortunate in managing all the involved in the mission of St. Kieran’s- remained constant and solid – our changes facing it and related demands. some now no longer with us, especially mission of (1) Education and (2) The new services, new facilities and Mr. Micheál Ó Diarmada, who retired in Formation based on Gospel Values. refurbishment programmes which you 2005 after eleven years as principal. In these days, the twin pillars of see or have experienced are the result With such obvious commitment we can Education and Formation are found on of much hard work, dedication and face the future with confidence and a campus – In our Secondary Day School support from many people, especially great sense of optimism – all the more under the stewardship of our newly staff, students, parents’ council, Board reason to welcome this and future editions of The Record. appointed Principal Mr. John Curtis and of Management, Trustees and our the Chaplaincy team headed by Fr. Sean patron, Bishop Forristal. Fr. Kieron J. Kennedy. O’Connor – In the Creidim Centre, a Since being appointed President in President. St. Kieran’s Staff Photo 1 ST. KIERAN’S COLLEGE RECORD Principal’s Address t is an honour for me to be writing this this nature will be undertaken. Schools as Principal of St. Kieran’s College, continually need to evolve to meet the IKilkenny. Prior to September, I was changing needs of the time and the privileged to be similarly engaged in intention is to build on the proud tradition Knockbeg College Carlow, like St. Kieran’s and past of St. Kieran’s to ensure that an all-boys’ diocesan school, and it is the present and future requirements are met. experience gained in my ten years as The Record is a celebration of the year and Principal there that I bring with me to my should give us occasion to reflect on and present position. Since taking up the post I enjoy the achievements and creativity of have been struck by the courtesy and our pupils. Not everything can be covered generosity of my colleagues on staff, the pupils and the parents; I have found the here, but we hope you can see that the core year enjoyable and fruitful and I look teaching and learning process with which forward to further engaging with everyone we are engaged is augmented by a wide range of activity, academic and otherwise, in the school community in the years to Mr. Curtis come. that is indicative of our aim to provide a broad, holistic education for our pupils. Be As the year ends, I wish all of the students This is a period of change in the school. I it in poetry or hurling, it is great to see the well in the summer tests, they mark the would like to thank my predecessor Micheál culmination of a hard year’s work and will Ó Diarmada for all the help he has afforded students participating and the Record aims testify to the academic progress made since me and to wish him well in his retirement – to present the breadth of school life; it is a last September. On behalf of all of us on I can only hope to build on the rich legacy credit to my colleagues on staff that so staff I would especially like to extend best he has left the school. It is very gratifying to much extra-curricular work takes place become Principal at a time when, through here. I would like to thank Ms. Keyes who wishes to all of those taking the Leaving and the offices of the President Fr. Kennedy, the took on the project of producing the Record Junior Certificate examinations and to hope Trustees and the Board of Management, and has worked tirelessly on it: I know, too, that those crucial few weeks in June go well substantial work is being undertaken to that she would like me to thank all the staff for them. As the Sixth Years leave us, we upgrade infrastructure and facilities in St. and students who so ably assisted her. We know that happy and productive years lie Kieran’s. Improvements are now evident hope that you will enjoy it now as giving a ahead of them as they take pride in around the grounds and in the areas such flavour of this school year and in time to themselves, their school, and each proceeds as the Glasshall and through the summer come, perhaps, as it serves as a reminder of on his own way. and in the coming years more projects of days past. Mr. John Curtis Denis Philpott n September 1970 Mr. Denis Philpott came to St. Kieran’s College as a Iteacher of History and Geography. From that day until he retired in August 2005 his contribution to life in the College was immense. People quickly realised that he wasn’t simply a teacher but a man of many parts and varied interests. Most obvious was his interest in and dedication to Gaelic games both hurling and football. In the early 1970s teams from St Kieran’s competed in Leinster football championships with a border and also took part in ground Kilkenny has been considerable whether considerable degree of success with Denis breaking trips to Europe, pioneering with Kilkenny minors, Dicksboro or at the helm. Twenty years on he steered Gowran . the team in black and white to two all European Studies in Secondary Schools. Ireland senior hurling titles. Contacts were kept up using electronic Those who taught with Denis miss him. mail before the internet or email was His dedication to his students was second For me there is still a space in the fashionable. His considerable to none and he counts many of his former staffroom, I often look expecting to see understanding of History has always been students as friends. As educationalists the smile. Then I know he is probably out Denis and the Geography Department a great help to students and colleagues on the golf course working on his were very progressive and their alike. handicap and realise that any sadness Geography students were involved in He had and indeed still has a great love would be misplaced. exchange visits with schools north of the for his native Cork, but his contribution to Tomás Ó Murchú 2 ST. KIERAN’S COLLEGE RECORD Mícheál Ó Diarmada Left to Right: Mary Ní Dhiarmada, Tomás Ó Murchú, Fr. Kieron Kennedy, Micheál O’Diarmada and Bernie Dowling. icheál O’ Diarmada retired as result of being taught by him. His love of sean nós singing is known far principal of St. Kieran’s College He involved himself in preparing Irish and wide particularly at Daonscoil na MSecondary School in 2005. His debating teams with many successes in Mumhan in his beloved Rinn Ó departure from the staff marked the inter schools competitions. If you gCuanach but also in Kerry and further end of a distinguished career in the needed help when preparing a class on afield. college spanning thirty seven years. Seán Ó’ Ríordáin, Máirtín Ó Direáin or Later on, in the late Eighties, Mícheál Mícheál is a native of Crobally in south Michael Davitt, file, - Mícheál was turned from history teacher to history Kilkenny. If Shamrocks are playing in always willing to help with background maker when he became one of the Nowlan Park, Mícheál is there. His knowledge. teachers who introduced German to St. knowledge of the people and history of His interest in hurling saw him follow Kieran’s. the south is extensive. If you go to a St. Kieran’s the length and breadth of When John Collins retired as vice lecture at Eigse Sliabh Rua, the lecture the country encouraging the college principal Mícheál succeeded him in that could very likely be delivered by team as they played against St. job and brought to it his usual energy Mícheál. His knowledge of local history Flannan’s, St. Colman’s Fermoy, St. and enthusiasm. But he only stayed in is extensive, usually showing sympathy Peter’s Wexford or many local jousts that position for a short while.