Despite the difficulties, the sports programme in the College continues at full pace, with additional coaching and measures in place to ensure safe participation. The school timetable is adjusted over the winter months to maximise the opportunity for afternoon sport. There have been plenty of rugby, hockey and basketball fixtures over the past few weeks while pupils were also able to play golf, tennis, cross-country running, archery and attend the gym in the afternoons.

Form V pupil Tom Larke returned from representing the Irish under-18 Clubs Rugby squad in an international fixture against Italy, over half-term, to help the Senior boys continue their solid season to date. While unfortunately they were eliminated from the cup by a strong Gorey side, the Seniors are now building for their league campaign in the new year. It has been great to see 35 players representing the 1st XV this term, showing the depth they are building. The Juniors were very unlucky in the quarterfinal of the Duff Cup losing a very tight game against St. Conleth’s (their first loss of the season). They will now concentrate on their league quarter-final after Christmas. The Form I boys have continued to grow in confidence and have had some great performances and results including beating De La Salle and Newpark in a blitz just before the end of term. They’re pictured above after defeating their “arch-rivals” Headfort School. Many thanks to Mr. O’Herlihy, the Head of Rugby, and all the teachers and coaches who help ensure our teams are enjoying the sport while also being competitive in their respective leagues.

The hockey seasons continues at an extraordinary pace, with weekly fixtures for both boys and girls, across the age range. The girls’ squads have had great success with notable wins for Senior XI against Kilkenny College and the Minor A’s against Mount Sackville, courtesy of a goal from Clara Seeling. The boys’ squads have also been playing well. The Minor XI had some great performances of late, including a great win against Wesley Bs. The Junior boys’ had some tight matches, unfortunately finishing on the losing side in recent matches. The Senior XI secured second place in their league after two excellent play-off wins against Mount Temple (1-0, goal by Andrew Maguire) and Wesley B (2-1, goals from Antonius Kruse, Johannes Pabsch).

In basketball, the Senior boys continued their league campaign with matches against Blackrock, Temple Carrig, Woodlands College and Avondale, with mixed fortunes. They are a young team and improving all the time. The girls’ squads have been playing well in their respective leagues. The Cadettes (under-16) had good wins over Loreto Dalkey, Coláiste Ráithín and Temple Carrig in recent weeks while the Seniors fell to the same opposition in tight matches.

Yesterday afternoon, two Carol Services took place for the pupils and staff. While there was no congregational singing this year, those in attendance were treated to some wonderful performances from the various College choirs and musicians. A musical ensemble, Joshua Chan, Monty Walsh and Liam Campbell, played two beautiful instrumental pieces to open up the services which were followed by the Chamber Choir performing the haunting Irish carol Suantraí. The Sine Nomine choir sang a beautiful arrangement of the Coventry Carol along with a more traditional rendition of Joy to the World, while the Chapel Choir sang Three Kings. Finally, there was an organ solo (Il Dulci Jubilo) from Harry Powell, Form III.

You can watch the recording of the service below. Merry Christmas!

The last weekend of term featured another welcome artistic moment (following Matchbox Theatre on Friday evening). Mrs Malone-Brady put together a 40-minute concert which was shown twice, to keep audience sizes down, and it was a delight.

The evening opened with an instrumental group (Monty Walsh, Liam Campbell, and Joshua Chan), who performed ‘Legends of the Fall’ and the ‘Toreador Song’. Another instrumentalist, Kamilla Murphy, took over at the piano for ‘Novelette; following which Joshua returned on the violin with ‘Salut d’Amor’.

Tyrone Shi performed a guitar solo, and Marcus O’Connor sang ‘It’s beginning to look like Christmas’ in an appropriate garish jumper, with Emily McCarthy singing ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (all three had also been in Matchbox Theatre).

Antonius Kruse performed ‘Nocturne’ on the piano, and the evening was rounded off with ‘Last Christmas’ from Hugo Dunlop (guitar and voice), Tadgh Rane O Cianáin (piano) and Marcus on drums.

Many thanks to all. Photos of the evening by the Chaplain follow.

The latest edition of the pupil magazine, The Submarine, has now been published, and can be read online via Issuu here. The new editors are Isabella Treacy, Elizabeth Hart and Phoebe Landseer.

Elena O’Dowd reviews this year’s book club choice, All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue, there is poetry by Marianne Lee and Delia Brady, essays on Grades by Alexia Fantacc, on Victorian London by James Breatnach and on BDD by Isabella Treacy and a rugby report on First Form by Ethan Robertson, as well as a selection of the best Young Adult fiction this year.

Art work is by Felicitas Boecking,  Max Kinsky, Paul Schilling, Calvin She, Zining Wang, Antonia Ladanyi, Ellen Bevan, Helma Worringen and Alice Letort.

Last night in the Big Schoolroom there was a welcome return to the stage of Senior Drama, with a production of five of Michael Frayn’s (very) short plays in his book Matchbox Theatre. The production ran three times (for 30 minutes), to allow smallish audiences to see it, and they flanked the central performance space to watch 13 actors entertain them in works linked by themes of miscommunication.

Solomon Babajide was the Master of Ceremonies, introducing the plays: on the irritation of other people finishing your sentences, on constantly getting driving directions wrong, on two couples interacting spikily in a café, on the meaningless of most phone conversations, and on a couple trying to say goodbye to each other at an airport but being thwarted by the PA system.

Well done to all: it was a tonic to see pupils performing again. The directors were Mr Swift and Mr Girdham. See pre-performance photos below, taken by the Chaplain.

 

Finishing Touches

Her:   Emily McCarthy

Him:   Tyrone Shi

 

We Have Been Here Before

Driver:   Róisín Northcote

Passenger:   Phoebe Landseer

 

Prompts

Mrs Hazey:   Anna-Nibha Rospatt

Mr Hazey:   Nikolai Foster

Mrs Sharpe:   Gloria Rose

Mr Sharpe:   Florian Zitzmann

 

Between Cheese and Jam

Him:   Kim Guinness

Her:   Ebah Assebian

 

Bing Bong!

Announcer:   Iona Chavasse

Her:   Isabel Warnock

Him:   Marcus O’Connor

 

Crew: Alice Letort

 

 

The members of the Pupils’ Council are organising a Christmas Jumper Day in aid of the homelessness charity Focus Ireland. Pupils and staff are asked to wear Christmas attire on Saturday, December 11th. So, get that Christmas jumper, Santa hat or whatever cheerful yuletide attire you own and show your support for Focus Ireland. Pupils, parents, staff and friends of the College can donate using the widget below.