Good Counsel’s Got Talent – Thurs. May 10th
Many people are probably unaware of quite how much of the Leaving Certificate examination is completed before the ‘Exams’ start in june. Already the Irish Orals (40%), European Language Orals (20%), Art Practicals (50%), Agricultural Science Project (20%), Music Practical (50%), DCG Project (20%), Technology Project (20%), History Folder (20%), and Geography Field Report (20%) are among elements of the examination that students here have completed. It underlines the importance of working on an ongoing basis and not being under the false impression that all is staked on the terminal exam. Hopefully for all our 6th year students, there are already a considerable amount of marks ‘in the bag’.
The 6th year Graduation Mass takes place on Wednesday, May 23rd in thwe college sports hall. Always a very special occasion it marks the time spent in Good Counsel College by each of the Leaving Cert. class and is an opportunity to celebrate their time here alongside their parents and teachers.
On Thursday night next, May 10th, the annual ‘Good Counsel’s Got Talent’ show takes place in the Assembly Hall and the event which has grown over the past few years promises to be of a higher standard than ever with solo artists, bands and dancers among the acts bidding to impress the judges. All proceeds raised on the night go to the charity ‘Goal’. We would be delighted to see you there.
Over the past few weeks there have been some outstanding sporting achievements from the college students:
Showjumping – the school showjumpers won the national Hoofprints League when they claimed 2nd spot in the final event of the year held in Mullingar recently. In so doing they become the first Wexford school to lift the title. In addition Jim Redmond, 1st year, won the individual award in Mullingar while in the All Ireland Inter Schools championships in Enniscorthy last weekend, Daniel Holden, 2nd year took first prize in the Senior individual event. Well done to all of them and many thanks to their parents and to teacher, Martin Molloy.
Athletics – at the South Leinster track and field event in Kilkenny on Wednesday last, Good Counsel students took gold in 3 events and bronze in another. Joe Mooney took the 1200m walk gold while Eoin Power and Shane O’Gorman won the senior and intermediate 110m hurdles respectively. Paul Manning, the defending champion, was just edged out in the tightest of finishes to the 200m final. In addition there was a vwery promising performance from J P Furlong, 1st year, in the discus event. Well done to all of them and best of luck as they go forward to compete in the Leinster finals.
Badminton – The under 16 Badminton team competed in the All Ireland Division 1 competition just before the Easter Holidays. After already having won the county and provisional titles in fine style the lads were hoping to go and claim the All Ireland crown. Over 50 teams headed to Gormanston Co. Meath to compete in various grade, the venue similiar to what you might expect in the the Olympics next September with 16 games been played at any one time.
The Good Counsel lads had a easy 6-0 victory over Munster Champions St. Flannans of Ennis in the semi finals which saw them into the final against the holders and arch rivals. Ulster Champions Royal Belfast Academic Institution (RBAI). With RBAI having 2 national squad members our lads fought hard against them but ended up losing in straight sets 5 -1. Congratulations must be given to the lads for all their hard work as this is a great achievement to hold county and provisional titles and runners up in national finals in the highest division. I am sure the lads will be back stronger than ever next year when 3 of the team will still be elegible to play at this grade.
Team consisted of: Noel Dunne, Declan Carroll, Jack Dunne, Dylan Bookle and Ian Carty while a big thank you goes to Mr Ger Murphy for working with and organising the team.
Hurling – The U-14 hurlers brought great joy to the school when on Friday last they overcame St Kierans, Kilkenny to lift the Dr Barry Leinster ‘A’ hurling trophy. The game played in Thomastown drew a large crowd of parents and friends while 1st and 2nd year students from the college also travelled in support. In an enthralling game ‘Counsel’ prevailed by a 2 point margin to win the trophy for the first time since 2005 and for only the 3rd time in the school’s history. A lot of thanks are owed to Mr Declan Wall and Mr Pauric Cullen for the work put in with the team particularly over the Christmas, Mid Term and Easter breaks. Well done to all involved.