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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

After a too-long gap (since The Comedy of Errors in 2011), Shakespeare returns to the Big Schoolroom for this year’s Senior Play production, with a cast of 22 pupils. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed on Thursday 13th, Friday 14th and Saturday 15th November, starting at 7.00pm each day. All parents and their guests are welcome to attend. If you have a choice, seating on Thursday or Friday is likely to be easier than on Saturday.

Mr Clarke and Mr Girdham have directed, assisted by many staff, and outside choreographer Ben Sullivan. Below, a summary of the plot. It’s a classic story of love, misunderstandings, fairy potions and, in this production, disco music.

The story:

We start in the court of Athens, ruled by Duke Theseus (Darren Ulogwara) alongside Queen Hippolyta (Philomena Schneider). Soon they will be married.

Hermia (Alice McCarthy) desperately wants to marry Lysander (Daniel Passmore), but her harsh father Egeus (Johann Diemert) forbids her to, since he wants her to marry Demetrius (Ferdia Murray) instead, and asks Duke Theseus to stop the marriage. Theseus agrees, and tells Hermia that if she will not marry Demetrius she must either become a nun or die. So the two young lovers decide to escape to the wood, away from the laws of the court. 

To complicate matters further, Hermia’s old friend Helena (Anna-Cecilia Corti) loves Demetrius. She tells him about Hermia’s plan; he decides to follow Hermia into the wood; Helena decides to follow him. Now all 4 young lovers are ‘wooing’ in the wood.

Meanwhile, a group of workers (the ‘mechanicals’) led by Peter Quince (Grace Koch) assisted by the super-keen Bottom (Jason Otolorin) propose to put on a play to celebrate the upcoming wedding. They are not very good. They choose an entirely inappropriate tragedy about the young lovers Pyramus and Thisbe. Surely the Duke will not choose this as entertainment for his big day? Optimistically, they head into the wood to start preparations and rehearsals.

And meanwhile (again) there is another group in the wood: it is a place of fairies, led by King Oberon (Jack-Francis McKeon). He is angry with Queen Titania (Rebecca Flanagan) because she stole a boy from him to be her attendant. So he tells his fairy servant Puck (Daniel Moran) to play a trick on her – to get some magic juice which Oberon can put on her eyes while asleep so that she will fall in love with the first figure she sees when she wakes up.

With all those characters in the wood at the same time, what could possibly go wrong?

Of course, this is a comedy. So everything turns out well in the end. And of course, it ends in a dance.

Shakespeare Society productions at the College were initiated by former English teacher Mr John Fanagan in 1996. We are delighted to return to the tradition almost 30 years later, after a 14-year break.

 

Previous productions:

2011               The Comedy of Errors (directors Mr Julian Girdham & Mr Ronan Swift)

2006             Twelfth Night (Mr John Fanagan & Mr Julian Girdham)

2004             As You Like It (Mr John Fanagan & Mr Julian Girdham)

2002              A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mr John Fanagan)

2000              The Comedy of Errors (Mr John Fanagan & Warden Tim Macey)

1998              The Merchant of Venice (Mr John Fanagan & Warden Tim Macey)

1996              Twelfth Night (Mr John Fanagan & Warden Tim Macey)

Music:

Felix Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Mama Cass: Dream a Little Dream of Me.

Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).

The Bee Gees: Night Fever.

Earth, Wind and Fire: Boogie Wonderland.

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Visit from Norway

From September 23rd to 25th we were visited by 30 final-year members of a school in Norway, Nadderud vgs on the outskirts of Oslo, along with two of their teachers. Each day they went to Chapel, attended classes with our Sixth Formers, experienced Dining Hall and much else, culminating in a joint supper in Whispering House on the final evening, where a group made a presentation on life in Norway.

Here are three accounts; many thanks to the writers, and their teacher Elaine, for permission to publish these. It was lovely to host this group in Dublin.

 

Our Visit to St. Columba’s College – An Experience We’ll Never Forget
From Jacob

In September our English class travelled to Dublin, and one of the real highlights of the trip was visiting St. Columba’s College. It’s hard to describe how special the experience was. The school was unlike anything we had seen before, and the people we met made us feel incredibly welcome from the moment we arrived.

Driving up the long, tree-lined road towards the campus, we could already see this was a special place. The historic stone buildings, the green lawns, and students in uniforms and robes made it feel like stepping into a Harry Potter film. It was both surreal and fascinating, and we were immediately struck by the strong sense of tradition and pride that filled the school.

Before the trip, we had done some research about the school and its routines but seeing it in person gave us a whole new perspective. The students live on campus, start each day with a Chapel Service, and have shorter but more frequent lessons. It creates a good rhythm and keeps things varied. The morning Chapel service was especially memorable – calm, reflective, and clearly an important part of the school’s sense of community.

One of the things that impressed us most was how well-organised everything was. From classes to meals, everything ran smoothly. The fact that they have a hot lunch every day definitely caught our attention – and our envy. Sharing meals together gave the school a warm, family-like atmosphere. After lessons, most students take part in sports and activities, which are an essential part of daily life. It was inspiring to see how much energy and enthusiasm they put into it.

The students at St. Columba’s were genuinely friendly and curious. They asked about our school in Norway, what we study, and even about the weather at home. They included us right away, and we quickly felt like part of the group. We laughed a lot, had great conversations, and learned about what it’s like to live at a boarding school. Many said it can be challenging to be away from family, but it was clear that the friendships and sense of belonging made it worthwhile.

What made the biggest impression on me was how St. Columba’s combines tradition with a modern and open-minded way of teaching. There’s a clear structure and respect for rules, but also room for individuality, creativity, and humour. The teachers we met were passionate and proud of their students, and the atmosphere felt supportive and full of trust.

After the visit, we talked a lot about how different schools can be from country to country. In Norway, our school days are less formal and more flexible, while life at St. Columba’s is structured and community-based. Both approaches have their strengths, but seeing theirs in action made us reflect on what really makes a school a great place to learn. It’s not just about lessons and exams – it’s about belonging, shared values, and the people you’re surrounded by.
Our visit to St. Columba’s College was truly unforgettable. We came home with new insights, new friendships, and a deeper appreciation for what school life can look like in another part of the world. The visit was inspiring, eye-opening, and a lot of fun. Most of all, it reminded us how powerful it is to connect across cultures and to learn from one another.

Thank you to all teachers, staff and students for an inspiring and unforgettable experience

 

From Klara:

Visiting St Columba’s was a great experience, and we all had a terrific time. Upon arrival we were led into their stunning chapel where we got to see their morning Chapel Service. One thing that stood out during the service was the way the students entered and exited the chapel. The students all knew when it was their turn to walk out, and they had a symmetrical routine that was quite mesmerising to watch. We were then matched up with two students each whom we followed to class, and were shown around the school by. All the students I encountered were kind and welcoming.

I didn’t know what to expect when visiting the school. Would we have similar interests with the students, what did their daily routine work and schedule look like? Those were some of the questions my classmates and I discussed.
They have a very different school schedule than we do, but it actually seems to work very well. At most schools here in Norway we start our day around 8 am and we have 4 periods in a day, where all the classes are 90 minutes long with a 5-minute break after 45 minutes of the class. But at St Columba’s they have 6 classes a day where each class is 45 minutes long, then they had mandatory sport and designated time to study in their library. After spending the day with the students and getting to spend hours having pleasant conversations with some of the girls, some of us admitted that we could have considered attending the school ourselves.

We had quite different expectations before we learned what it is really like attending this school. Even though they spend a lot of time working on their studies, which can be challenging, they had a really nice community there. I didn’t get the impression that there were any “cliques”, and it seemed like all of the students were close friends. This is quite different from our school where there is a lot more pressure put on status and being “popular”. It’s nice seeing how the girls live together in dormitories, and all are friendly with each other.
A unique part of the school is the uniforms, and I was frequently asked questions about what I thought of it. And to be honest, I quite like it. The cape is very unique and not common in Irish schools. Having a uniform makes the students more equal, it doesn’t create competition or other issues with wearing your own clothes to school. It creates a community, and I think that’s quite nice.

Overall, I had a great time at St Columba’s, and we are so grateful that we got the opportunity to come and visit. I also hope the school enjoyed having us. St Columba’s is a unique school with a lot of history. We had a lovely time, and I hope we can meet the staff and students again.

From Linnea:

Before our visit to St. Columba’s College in Ireland, our class spent time preparing for the trip. We researched traditions and the school’s academics to better understand what to expect. In addition, we studied Irish Culture, Geography, and even explored the country’s political system to gain insight into how it’s different from Norway’s. These preparations made us more confident and curious about experiencing St. Columba´s.

When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by both teachers and students. Each of us was paired with two or three students from the school who guided us throughout the day, making us feel comfortable and included from the very beginning. The visit started with a Chapel service early in the morning, which was memorable. We watched all the year groups enter in an orderly procession, accompanied by beautiful church music. Singing together in the chapel was a special experience that gave us a glimpse into one of the school’s traditions.

Throughout the day, we noticed how disciplined and engaged the students were. It was clear that they took pride in their school, studies and traditions. We were particularly impressed by their academic level and how organised their routines were. During the lessons we attended, we noticed that teaching methods were quite similar to those in Norway, but the classes were smaller. This allowed for closer follow-up between teachers and students, creating a more personal and interactive learning environment. Many of the lessons felt like open discussions, where students were encouraged to express their opinions and think critically, something we found interesting. Later, we had the chance to watch a field hockey session after school. St. Columba’s has its own school teams, and it was fun to see the students’ team spirit and enthusiasm.

The food served at the school was simple but nutritious. We appreciated how each meal was offering healthy options that suited many. The dining hall had a warm and friendly atmosphere with long wooden tables. Sharing meals with the Irish students gave us another opportunity to talk, laugh, and learn more about their daily routines.

Surrounded by green fields and old stone buildings, the school had an atmosphere that felt historic and peaceful. The dorms were organized into different houses, each with its own spirit. The gardens were beautiful, full of colourful flowers, and trimmed lawns. It was easy to see that much care went into maintaining the school’s beautiful surroundings.

What stood out most, however, was how friendly and welcoming everyone was. The students made sure we felt included and part of their school community, even for just a short time. Overall, our visit to St. Columba’s was an unforgettable experience. We left Ireland with great memories, new friendships, and an appreciation for both our similarities and our differences. Thank you for an unforgettable exchange. We hope to welcome you to Norway in the near future.

 

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Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal 2025

It’s that time of year again – the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal is underway, collecting and delivering wrapped shoeboxes filled with toys and essential items for some of the world’s poorest children. To date, over two million boxes have been given directly to children across the globe, and the College is proud to maintain its long-standing partnership with this remarkable charity.

Last year, our Transition Year pupils, guided by Mr Paul Cron, filled over 200 boxes and also volunteered at the Team Hope warehouse, helping to pack additional boxes and load lorries bound for Eastern Europe and beyond. This year, we hope to surpass that total — but we need your support.

Over the half term, we would be most grateful if you could put together a box (or more), collect items suitable for filling the boxes, or even donate empty shoeboxes, and bring them back to school after the break. Completed boxes or fillers may be left at the collection point in Gwynn or in the staff common room.

Alternatively, you can build you can donate online (€25) and Team Hope will build a shoebox for you, full of essential school supplies, toys, clothes and hygiene products. 

Five simple steps to follow:

Get a shoebox, wrap the box and lid separately with Christmas paper (we have already wrapped 150 boxes, so if if this is too much hassle fill one of our boxes)

Decide to whom you want to give your gift (boy or girl) and what age: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14.

Fill the box = use our 4 W’s as a guide (Wash, Write, Wear, Wow – more details below)

Close the box with an elastic band – please don’t seal with tape as the contents of each box have to be checked to comply with regulations.

Please include the €5 for transport in your leaflet envelope either on top of the gifts or taped to the inside of the lid.

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Annual Admissions Notice for 2026 / 2027 Entry

Notice concerning the admission process to St. Columba’s College, for entry in 2025. Please be advised that, according to the admissions policy of the College, drawn up according to Department of  Education guidelines, the timeline is as follows:

  • The school will accept applications for day places on October 1st 2025.
  • The school will allow three weeks for applications to be received, the last date being October 22th 2025 .
  • Parents will be notified of the result of their application, in writing, by November 8th 2025.
  • Parents of children who have received offers will have three weeks to accept the place. Full details on the admissions process & current admission status can be found here. Please find the College’s Admissions Policy here.

A digital copy of the Annual Admissions Statement can be downloaded here.

Application Form.

 
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Open Morning 2025 – Saturday September 27th

Prospective pupils and their parents are warmly invited to attend our Open Morning on Saturday, September 27th 202 with an opportunity to explore the College’s wonderful campus and facilities. Visitors will receive a pupil-led tour through the College and will have the opportunity to speak with teaching staff along the way. The tours will visit the Chapel, the College Library and Science Block, and see activities taking place like choir practice, House speech practice, artwork, science experiments and sports sessions.

The Open Morning begins at 10.00am and ends at 1.00pm, and visitors are welcome at any time, though we advise not arriving after 12pm, since there is not then enough time for a tour.

Just drive into the school, and you will be met at the car parks by Transition Year pupils, who will greet you and then guide you to the reception point, Whispering House.

No booking is required, but any advance queries about admissions to the College should go to our Admissions Officer, Sonia Young.

Please note: If you can’t make this event, a second open event – our Open Evening – takes place in May so look out for details of this event on our website and social media accounts.

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Culture Night 2025

The College is once again delighted to take part in Culture Night, on the evening of Friday 19th September. No booking is required.

Come for an hour-long architectural and historical tour of our fascinating campus. The school has been on this site since 1849, and a series of interesting buildings includes the Butterfield-designed Chapel (1880), the original Georgian Hollypark House, the 1994 Library and the Robin Walker-designed Science Building (1971, completely refurbished in 2016), as well as lovely grounds.

The guide is the Sub-Warden, Julian Girdham, and the meeting place is Chapel from 6.30 to 7.00pm. Talk & tour start at 7.00pm, and the talk will cover the interesting history of the College. Pupils will guide visitors from the carparks to the Chapel.

Please note that since this is a working boarding school, and pupils are on the premises, access is only via the tour and until 8.30pm.

See our entry on the Culture Night website.

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Trips Week 2025

Last week, the College’s traditional ‘Trips Week’ to place with pupils in non-examination years participating in a series of international and national trips. Forty eight pupils from Forms I and II spend six days in southern Spain, soaking up the culture, food and  language of the region. They took part in a guided tour of Malaga, Malaga Cathedral, explored Seville and El Alcácar, visited the Butterfly Park at Mariposario, a visit to the Alhambra Palace, the Museo Picasso, the Alcazaba, Málaga stadium and much more. It was a fantastic trip and many thanks to the Modern Language department for their organisation. The remaining Form I and II pupils, who remained in Ireland, had a series of day trips including a visit to Dublin Zoo, Emerald Park, Dublinia & Christchurch Cathedral and walked up Bray Head.

Pupils in Form IV (Transition Year) travelled west to Achill Island for some outdoor adventures while Form V also headed to the west coast, visiting the unique landscape of the Burren, carrying out some geography and biology fieldwork.

Many thanks to all the staff who organised the trips. Below is a photo gallery from all the trips last week.

Trips Week 2025
Trips Week 2025
130 photos

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Form V Art Trip

Form V pupils Alice McClintock Bunbury, Dairbhre Murray and Maxx White Anderson report on the recent art trip to the National Gallery and The Hugh Lane.

On Friday 16th May we went to see various exhibitions and artworks around Dublin. We started the day by visiting the National Gallery of Ireland. Firstly, we saw several paintings from the permanent collection, including ‘A Convent Garden’ by William John Leech. He  attended St Columba’s College too so it made seeing his work especially meaningful.
After exploring the permanent collection, we visited the exhibition ‘Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone: The Art of Friendship’. We saw amazing paintings and stained glass works here. One of the highlights was seeing Evie Hone’s stained glass pieces, which are also housed at our own school: one in the library and also a painting in the chapel Evie Hone.

After the National Gallery, we enjoyed lunch sitting in the Pav in Trinity College Park, soaking up the atmosphere before heading to our next activity. We then took a street art tour around Temple Bar, led by Ms Cullen and Ms Murphy. My favourite piece was ‘Love Lane’ by Anna Doran. The laneway is aesthetically pleasing and interactive, with stencilled hearts and hand-painted tiles featuring quotes and dedications. We even signed our names there and took some brilliant photos. Another remarkable work was the Blooms Hotel Mural by James Earley, which is based on the novel Ulysses by James Joyce, cleverly integrating literary themes with vibrant street art.
Our final stop was the Hugh Lane Gallery, where a tour guide introduced us to the stunning stained glass works of Harry Clarke. I was fascinated by the intricate details and vivid colours. We also saw Francis Bacon’s preserved studio, which, despite being messy, offered a vivid glimpse into the artist’s creative process. The highlight was the ‘La Grande Illusion’ exhibition by Brian Maguire. One powerful painting depicted the Amazon rainforest, capturing global issues such as deforestation with bold brushstrokes and abstract forms.Overall, it was a fantastic day that allowed us to see art in a whole new way.

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Transition Year End of Term Report

One might assume Transition Year slows down in the final term but, if anything, our TY pupils seem busier than ever and more eager to “end on a high”. There have been plenty for pupils to engage with this term in sport, academics, physical challenges, career exploration, skill development and more.

Many of the TY pupils took part in a 50km hike over 3 days, along the Wicklow Way, completing their physical challenge for their Gaisce President’s Award. There were visiting speakers, including Conor Harris who spoke to them honestly about his battle with drug addiction. Parents and Old Columbans took part in the annual Careers Evening, allowing TY pupils speak with professionals from a range of career areas; there was a focus this year on speakers who have taken unconventional career paths (many thanks to the Parents’ Association for their support). Some TY pupils visiting Maynooth University’s impressive TV studio and experienced producing, recording and editing their own talk show. There was a trip to Dun Laoghaire for water sports before touring Dublin with the Viking Splash tour. Back on campus, pupils learned how to make (and savour) Italian style pizza, develop their circus skills, practice driving cars and even learned how to safely ride e-scooters and Segways.

The final term is also an opportunity to showcase and reflect on their academic endeavours. The Transition Year Academic Prize saw seven TY pupils present on a topic of their choice. Daniel Moran was crowned the winner by guest judge and former teacher Mr Peter McCarthy for his presentation on …. . The Transition Year Modern Language evening took place in Trinity College; congratulations to Johann Diemert who took home the Alyn-Stacey Cup for Modern Languages after his fantastic presentation on the artist Banksy. Their accomplishments in English were celebrated during the Transition Year English Evening, held earlier this week, with eight pupils reading their work; congratulations to the pupils who achieved premier grades in English this year.

Last night, the final Transition Year presentation evening took place with a series of awards distributed, including the coveted ‘Spirit of Transition Year Award’, which went to Henry Clements. Next week, some TY pupils will head west to Achill Island for a few days of adventure and, after that, a small crew will finish off the year with Drama Week, where the ambition is to write, direct, build a set and perform an original play or musical in just five days.

Many thanks to Ms Lisa Lynch and her team of helpers for building a phenomenal Transition Year programme. Ms Lynch moves onto a new challenge next year, as Housemistress of Hollypark, with Mr Keith Ryan taking over as Transition Year Co-ordinator.

Transition Year 2024-2025
Transition Year 2024-2025
77 photos

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Transition Year Awards 2025

Last night, the final Transition Year Presentation Evening took place in Whispering House. It’s always a lovely evening as this year’s Transition Year pupils get a chance to reflect on their achievements, experiences and growth since last September. Congratulations to the following pupils who were presented with subject awards, recognising their academic excellence (main photo). Two additional awards were also presented: the ‘College Values Award‘ goes to the pupil who best represents the College values in TY while the ‘Spirit of Transition Year Award‘ is awarded to the pupil who best embraced the philosophy and objectives of TY.

Art – Harry Bowles

Geography and Chemistry – Lexi Hunter

Mathematics, Physics and Computer Studies – Jason Wong

French – Johann Diemert

Spanish – Giulia Soddu

Biology, Classical Studies and College Values Award for Determination – Hugo Russell Connolly

English – Anna Hart

Business – David Cron

Economics – Violeta Mykhalova

Irish – Daniel Passmore

History – Arthur Morphew

Design – Amelie Loehr

Music – Alice McCarthy

Spirit of Transition Year – Henry Clements

Those award winners are pictures above. Ms Lynch, the Transition Year Co-ordinator, acknowledged the pupils who took Early University Entrance courses in DCU throughout the year- Hugo Russell Connolly, Daniel Passmore, Jack-Francis McKeon, William Dai, Harry Hone, Alice Castagna, Ethan Robertson, Zach Kelly, Issac Fang, Sam Germaine, Lexi Hunter. Congratulations also to to Anna Hart and Charlie Clements for their week at the Royal College of Surgeons, and to Ferdia Murray for completing the Look Into Law programme.

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Leadership Awards 2025

Leadership Awards were presented to 14 pupils in chapel this morning, recognising their exemplary leadership shown across various aspects of College life – in sport, music, drama, in house and around the campus. Over 150 nominations were received, from both pupils and staff, with the Warden finally deciding on those pupils who have exemplified the College values (Kindness, Inclusion, Compassion, Determination and Responsibility) in all they do.

This year’s recipients were: Joshua Cron, Archie Moffett, Daniela Casasus-Benetiz, Ciara Roets, Zoe Houlihan, Harry Casey, Alice McCarthy, Kae Ren Ng, Naoise Bradley-Brady, Philomena Schneider, Melina Paulsen, Alison Wang, Shannon Walker-Kinsella and Elliot Warnock.

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Voices of Poetry 2025

As happens annually, and has done for about 40 years since former Head of English Mr John Fanagan initiated the event, Voices of Poetry took place on Sunday evening, the last major event in the BSR of the school year.

And as happens annually, many pupils and a handful of staff read or recited short poems in a variety of languages under a single spotlight in a darkened hall. It is a moment for attention and listening, a pause in the busy-ness of school life, and a celebration of our diversity. Mr Girdham presented the evening and introduced the speakers.

Violeta Mykhalova opened confidently with a Ukrainian poem about summer, appropriately as the holidays get close. An utterly different language is Akrikaans: Kasimir zu Bentheim used to live in South Africa and so read a piece in that language.

The first English poem of the evening was in ‘American’, in the extraordinary style of the great Emily Dickinson, ‘Hope is the thing with feathers’. Moving much further South, Spanish as spoken in Mexico was represented by Eleazar Reygadas Lopez, who read a piece by the 1990 Mexican winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Octavio Paz.

That variety continued in the first poem of the evening in Mandarin Chinese, recited vividly by Rachel Jiang, and it was further emphasised in Polish by Marianna O’Shaughnessy in a piece by another Nobel Prize-winner, Wisława Szymborska.

As Mr Girdham pointed out, it takes some courage to compose and then read out in such an arena your own words, and Nia Jessup was the first of the pupils to do so, with her poem ‘The Wish I Regret‘.

European languages came next, starting with Anna McGrath (French), Allegra Caccia (Montale in Italian), Otto Dalwigk (Bavarian dialect) and Carola Moreno (Spanish). The second composer-reader was Delia Brady, with ‘The Green Island‘, about her family’s relationship to the Irish Famine of the 1840s. Irish was represented by Fleur Green. Then the third composer-reader was Finn Woolsey, who read an affecting personal poem about a friend, ‘Petals in the Wind’.

Four First Formers read short poems: Daniela Casasus Benitez (Spanish), Ella Girdham (German: ‘Wir’ by Irmela Brender), Fiona Zhong and Ada Yang (both Mandarin). Jason Otolorin returned us to English, with Ian Duhig’s ‘From the Irish’.

The Junior Poetry Prize was this year won by Suvi-Helene Cully, and Mr Kirwan read out her winning poem ‘When the Storm Comes’. As usual, the Warden recited a poem from the store of works he has learned off by heart, this time Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’. Then Mr Canning announced the winner of this year’s Peter Dix Memorial Prize for Poetry, Stella Borrowdale, whose prize-winning poem ‘Penelope‘ (one of a portfolio) he read out.

Finally, Senior Prefect Harry Smith Huskinson closed proceedings with Sylvia Plath’s ‘Song for a Summer’s Day’, which he had read at his mother’s wedding. This echoed the opening poem of the night: another about summer, and its lovely image ‘Sunday’s honey-air’, a perfect note on which to end.                                

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Sports Dinner & Awards 2025

Mr Canning report on the recent Sports Dinner and Awards 2025.

Last Saturday, the annual Sports Dinner celebrated the year’s sporting successes and acknowledged the Senior pupils’  contributions to the College’s traditional team sports. The guest speaker for the evening was Arul Anthoni Selvaraj. We were also joined by Gedinka Fair, who we thanked for her thirty years of coaching service to College hockey and athletics.

Mr Canning, our Head of Sport, spoke about the importance of team sport in the College and congratulated the pupils after amazing seasons across all codes. He also celebrated pupils’ successes in their more specialised individual areas.   This year has been phenomenally successful in terms of teams in a wide variety of sports in both the Junior and Senior schools. It was fantastic to see trophies and cups from successful rugby and cricket campaigns, with teams losing narrowly in five hockey finals.

Our Arul Anthoni Selvaraj talked about his experience as a Malaysian hockey international, capped 85 times, before retiring to follow his coaching vocation. Like all sportsmen, he had low points, one being dropped for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but bouncing back with a career highlight of playing in the 1998 Men’s World Cup.

His coaching career is extensive, being the South African and Irish Assistant Coach, as well as being the Malaysian Head Coach for four years until he returned to Ireland last year to be with his family; who had been growing up in Ireland when his job or vocation meant he was away for long chunks of time.

He shared his non-negotiable coaching principles with us. These included: the journey between coach and player as one of sharing, planning and understanding. He said he believed in making things happen and that talent must be harnessed to a determined and resilient attitude.

Awards

Girls’ Hockey Club Person of the Year: Cecile Mellenthin

The Cloister Dash: Boys – Archie Monaghan. Girls – Molly Mann

The Mountain Run Challenge: Boys: Daniel Moran. Girls: Alannah McCoole College sports

Sports Colours

A highlight of the evening is the awarding of “Colours” to pupils who have excelled in every measure on the sports field. Pupils who receive “Colours” have excellent ability and attitude, are committed on and off the playing field, play and practise with consistency, are reliable, resilient and courageous, are leaders or soldiers on their teams, are selfless and put others before themselves. They are true team players. The boys get ties and the girls a necklace and pendant inscribed “SCC in ludo excellentia”.

Twenty “Colours” were awarded to the following pupils for the 2024-2025 academic year:

Athletics: Archie Monaghan

Girls’ Basketball: AJ Ediale, Molly Mann, Holly Murray.

Boys’ Cricket: Sebastian Dijkstra, Harry St Leger

Girls’ Cricket: Sophie Pollock, Safia Walker

Boys’ Hockey: Harry St Leger, Elliot Warnock, Harry Smith-Huskinson.

Girls’ Hockey: Ayodeji Ediale, Molly Mann, Holly Murray.

Rugby: Pelayo Avello Caso, David Chukwueke, Gavin O’Dowd, Rory O’Dowd, Ryan Ovenden, George Priestley.

Sports Persons of the Year

do not always give this award. The reason is that we have a standard, and that standard needs to be met for it to be awarded.

This year, we were fortunate to have a real debate over our Sportspersons of the Year, with three outstanding girls in contention—Ayodeji Ediale, Molly Mann, and Holly Murray. All three have proudly represented the school across our major traditional sports, playing key roles in basketball matches, both hockey finals and the cricket final. Choosing between them was incredibly difficult. In the end, we recognised someone who has not only excelled on the field but also been a passionate ambassador for sport in the school. She’s played on every senior team, inspired her teammates with infectious enthusiasm, and never hesitates in voicing how much she cares.

When considering the boys, we had several strong candidates, but our main debate came down to last year’s joint winners: Sebastian Dijkstra and Harry St. Leger. Both are exceptional athletes—natural talents in hockey and cricket, with great enthusiasm and commitment. In the end, it was Harry St. Leger who edged ahead. After suffering a horrific injury – a severely broken jaw requiring wiring and multiple operations – he showed extraordinary determination to recover; a true example of resilience in the modern era, a core college value, truly stood out. Remarkably, Harry returned not just to play but to excel. He represented Ireland’s Men’s Development Squad at an indoor hockey tournament in Denmark and has also been selected for the Irish U21 outdoor training squad, aiming for the World Cup in India, both phenomenal achievements.

Sports Persons of the Year: Holly Murray and Harry St Leger.

Team of the Year:

The three main contenders for this award were Girls’ Cricket, Girls’ Hockey and Boys’ Rugby. The girls’ cricket team won their Cup at the highest school provincial level for the first time since 2006. Balancing that their season was very short, an eighteen-day, four-match one.

It then came down to the Boys’ Rugby Team winning their McKinley Cup League or the Girls’ hockey team, who were promoted last year and lost both their League final and Cup at that higher level this year. There is no doubt that both teams were extraordinarily committed. The girls edged it for performing so well on the back of the promotion. They played 20 fixtures, losing two finals at what is realistically the top level a school like ours can currently play at. It is no accident that almost the same group of girls carried their resolve, commitment and character into the winning cricket season.

Team of the Year: The Girls’ Hockey Team (for the first time since the 2015/16 season)

Sports Dinner 2025
Sports Dinner 2025
53 photos

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Junior Public Speaking Competition 2025

The Junior Public Speaking Competition at the end of May each year is part of a continuum of public speaking opportunities which our pupils have, and which help them build confidence and fluency. This starts in the First Form competition in front of their peers in English class, and includes the Transition Year House Speeches and House debating. ‘Oracy’ is the technical educational term: before long, reforms in the Leaving Certificate English course mean that candidates will need to talk to external examiners about literary texts.

Judging by this year’s competition, when the pupils reach that year, they will have no problems. Building on their oral Classroom Based Assessments, eight Second Formers spoke in the Big Schoolroom on the evening of Saturday 24th May on a great variety of topics, and did so very well (and several without any notes). Mr Girdham was the judge; he asked each speaker a question or two after their piece.

Zora O’Rourke was first, making a provocative argument that we should reinstate corporal punishment. As she admitted, she doesn’t really believe this, but she made the audience sit up at the start and think. Emily Su also provoked thinking, as she imagined what it would be like if we never had to speak. She pointed out that we spend about a third of our lives asleep, and this might seem a waste of time. But, of course, the benefits of sleep are considerable, and life without it would be impossible. Next was Marianna O’Shaughnessy, who gave a vivid and detailed account of her great-aunt Helena Pyz, who despite disability has achieved a huge amount in her work in India – certainly, a life well lived. ‘Dissociative Identity Disorder’ is also something which could disable a life, and Mirella Pelly explained clearly this complicated and distressing condition.

The second half of speakers was headed by Maureen Deng, whose ‘The benefits of space travel’ contained several quirky scientific facts. She was followed by Bosco Quesada Torrejon on ‘The Power of Small Habits’, those little things which make life that little bit easier, but which also can have negative effects. Then Laurence Sun gave a comprehensive and mostly positive account of the effects of Artificial Intelligence, including possible job displacement. Finally, Georgia Dobbs addressed the matter of teenage girls and sport; her clearly-delivered speech was well-structured and used her own experience effectively.

The winner was Laurence Sun for his polished and knowledgeable address; all other speakers impressed in what was a pleasing evening.

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Foundation Event, London 2025

The College Foundation hosted a wonderful event in a private members club in London last week, with Old Columbans (young and old) coming together to share their stories, celebrate their connection to St. Columba’s and find out about the Foundation’s exciting plans for school development in the years to come.

Foundation Event - London May 2025
Foundation Event – London May 2025
25 photos

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ASTI award for Mr Jones

Many congratulations to our Head of Science, Mr Jones, on his Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland Achievement Award in recognition of his exceptional contribution to education.

In the words of the ASTI:
“Humphrey Jones is a teacher of science, biology, and agricultural science, as well as a career guidance counsellor at St. Columba’s College in Dublin. As Chairperson of the Irish Science Teachers’ Association, Humphrey has established an extensive professional learning community for science teachers in Ireland using WhatsApp, enabling fellow teachers to come together and share best practices and support each other’s professional growth as well as student learning. This has been very successful and the initiative now has a membership of over 1,000 participants contributing to over 30 groups. He hopes that the professional learning communities will translate to more in-person events furthering collaboration and sharing of ideas amongst teachers.

In addition to this, Humphrey is one of the main organisers of ResearchEd Ireland. ResearchEd conferences are organised all over the world by practising teachers. Ireland has held two ResearchEd conferences, both hosted by Humphrey’s own school. These have attracted speakers that are internationally renowned educationalists from all over the world, providing opportunities for teachers in Ireland to update themselves on international best practice.

The Annual ASTI Achievement Awards recognise and celebrate teachers’ contributions both in and out of the classroom and their impact on young people’s lives.”

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Mountain Race 2025

The 2025 College Mountain Race from above the Kilmashogue car park to the Ticknock gate entrance and back attracted twenty two runners. The race was dominated by Transition Year participants. No new records were set but very respectable times were recorded on this 8 kilometre up and down race.

Daniel Moran was the winner in 31 minutes 35 seconds, pressed hard by Kae Ren Loh in 31 minutes and 55 seconds, with marathon runner Archie McKeever taking third place in 33 minutes 55 seconds. Alannah McCoole won the girls’ trophy for the second consecutive year in 37 minutes and 12 seconds (1 minute 32 seconds shy of the record she set last year).

We say goodbye to Sixth Form ‘Mountain Run’ faithfuls participating for their third time: Jamie Casey, Archie McKeever, and George Priestley.

Mountain Race 2025
Mountain Race 2025
19 photos

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Columba’s Carnival

The first ‘Columba’s Carnival’ took place in glorious sunshine on Saturday, May 17th. The event was organised by the Pupils’ Council, with support from the Parents’ Association, and saw pupils (and even some staff) taking part in a range of fun activities near the cricket pitch. There was live music, a charity raffle, face painting, novelty games, an ice-cream truck, tasty crepes and even a “slip ‘n slide”. Everyone got in the spirit of the event and the weather played its part too. Many thanks to the Pupils’ Council for their vision and organisation, and the Parents’ Association for their support too. Hopefully, the ‘Carnival’ will be an annual event.

SCC Carnival 2025
SCC Carnival 2025
31 photos

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