Karen O'Shea of the charity Goal visited the school on Tuesday to meet in person the senior prefects who raised 2,500 euro for the Goal Haiti appeal by holding the 'Good Counsel's got Talent ' show earlier in the year. Met by head prefect, Sam Harte, Karen got a look around the school and had a cup of tea with all the prefects as she outlined the nature of some of Goal's work in the island left in such ruin by the huge earthquake. She also paid thanks to Mr McGinley who had raised a further 500 euro for the charity through another initiative.


On Thursday, 1st,2nd and 5th years took part in the school sports day. on a beautiful day, the playing fields and astro turf pitches were a hive of activity as a huge range of events, both competitive and novelty, to suit all interests and abilities took place. a particular favourite was the inter class tug of war competition. With bragging rights at stake every sinew was stretched in the pursuit of glory. 

2CN, winners odf the 2nd year tug of war, taking the strain.
Many thanks to the P.E./Games teachers, Messrs Kehoe,Walsh,O'Brien and Wall, who put enormous time and effort into organising the event and to all teachers who helped out. Thanks also to the TY students who co ordinated many of the activities and recorded times and scores. (more pictures in 'Sports Gallery') 
Mention must also be made of the post school soccer game which saw the teachers retain a long unbeaten record against the TY students who despite putting up an excellent performance themselves, had to give best ultimately to a superior side. Although the game was eventually decided on penalties, the teachers were always in control and when it came to the shoot out the extra quality of their finishing proved decisive.
 Indeed, were it not for a series of highly questionable refereeing decisions going against the teachers, this game could well have been over as a contest early in the second half as wave after wave of attack was denied reward. The contrast in styles was marked as the teachers passed and moved, committed to entertaining, attacking football while the students 'parked the bus' in front of their goalmouth, but given the gulf in class, this was probobly their best and only means of thwarting their more gifted opponents.
In fairness, the TY students lost little in defeat and in fact surprised many by giving the teachers as significant a challenge as they did. In truth, however, it was a case of men against boys and there was only ever going to be one winner.

The Dream Team.

Two 5th year students, Thomas Aylward and Jeff Barry, are this week in Lourdes as helpers with the Ferns diocesean pilgrimage. We have no doubt they will enjoy the experience and do the school proud also.

On Wednesday night next we celebrate the annual Graduation mass and as ever a huge amount of work has been put into this by the R.E. teachers and many of the 6th year students themselves. One group of boys have been devoting much of their breaktime to practising the music for the evening and by all accounts it will be well worth hearing.

The annual Parents' Council 6th year students barbeque takes place next Friday. This is an annual event which is always much anticipated by the 6th year boys as they are treated to a wonderful 'spread' by the parents who not only fund the event but provide all the culinary manpower on the day. Lets hope the weather is as good next Friday as this. Continue Reading...

The past few weeks have been particularly busy for the 'exam' classes as deadlines for projects and reports close in addition to oral examinations taking place. The 6th year Agricultural Science students had their interviews on Friday last and so another small piece of the assessment jigsaw is in place. The LCA group also completed their Active Leisure Studies practical examination and can look forward to Spanish orals in the coming week. Buena Suerte!
The Art and Technology rooms are laden with artefacts currently, testimony to the industry of both departments. One eyecatching piece, modelled from clay is pictured below.



On the subject of art, congratulations to Stephen Barry, 3rd year, who was awarded a Certificate of Commendation for his entry to the Texaco Childrens' Art competition, a very noteworthy achievement given the extraordinary number of entries for that famous, annual event.

Gathered for the photograph below are 5 students who not only represented their school in sport during the past year, but also had the distinction of representing their country. All very modest young men, they each compete in a different discipline and of course it is a source of great pride for the school to be associated with them and their achievements. continued success to all of them.

 
The internationals: Jack Murphy, Showjumping; Nicholas Murphy, Badminton; Tadhg Furlong, Rugby; Jack Allen, Gymnastics; Luke Fitzgibbom, Swimming.

After a brave performance, the U-14 hurlers lost out by a single point, after extra time, to great rivals St. Kierans College in the Power Cup on Wednesday last. In a thrilling encounter it might be fair to say that home advantage probably shaded it for the Kilkenny side. With the progress this team have made under coaches, Messrs Wall, O'Brien and Moore,  they have much to look forward to in the coming years. Continue Reading...

By now most of the project work for Junior and Leaving Certifiate students is submited and on Wednesday and Thursday the Art exams took place for both groups. The deadlines for completion of projects and reports always ensures a degree of anxiety and flurry as students put the finishing touches to their work. Glad, no doubt to have them out of the way, it is now full steam ahead for the exams in June.

 Members of the Transition Year YSI group with teacher, Ms Cushen, receiving their trophy from Minister Pat Carey.

Congratulations to the students of TY1 on their recent success in the Young Social Innovators competition. They won their category which was entitled “Making Our Country More Inclusive and Poverty Free”.  They were presented their award by Minister of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, in Croke Park on May 5^th. Their project entitled “Bare Necessities” raised much needed funds for Focus Ireland and the Simon Community. They also raised awareness with their “key campaign”. They held a 1^st year hurling blitz, food drive and bake sales to raise funds to purchase care packs. Over six thousand TY students participated and over 400 teams were entered. Ten awards were presented on the day with TY1 scooping the award for combating poverty and social exclusion. Great credit must go to their teacher Ms Cushen and many thanks also to Ms Kinsella and Ms Wessley who put a lot of work into the YSI. Well done everyone! ( Other pictures in News and Events > All News Stories section)

On Thursday, Tom Walsh, a man who made such a huge contribution to Good Counsel College was fondly remembered as the school hosted a 1st year hurling blitz for  the Tom Walsh Memorial Cup. Teams from St. Peters College, Enniscorthy CBS, St Kierans, Birr CS, Thurles CBS, St Flannans, Lismore CS and our own school played a series of matches throughout he day. In the semi finals St Kierans overcame St Flannans while Lismore CS beat The Counsel. In a thrilling final which was decorated with some staggering individual performances, Lismore CS emerged the victors. The cup ws presented to the winning captain by Fr Hennebry, in the presence of representatives of Tom's family, and he noted that Tom, who was so committed to the underage hurling teams in the school,, would have thoroughly enjoyed such a tournament while he would be horrified at  being singled out for special mention. Huge thanks are due to the teachers who put so much time and engery into orgnising the event.

The senior section of the South Leinster Track and Field was held in Kilkenny on Wednesday and 2 of the college athletes qualified for the Leinster Finals.
David Stebbing, 5th year, put up an outstanding performance in the 1500m, leading for most of the race before finishing in 3rd place in a very competitive field.
In the intermediate 100m hurdle final, Eoin Power, 3rd year, succeeded in breaking the previous South Leinster record butt was unfortunately pipped for gold ion the fastest 100 m hurdles final in the history of the Sout6h Leinsters.
Congratulations to both boys and to the others, James Kavanagh, Alex McKenzie, Robert Whelan and Barry Murphy who represented the school so well on the day. Thanks also to Mr. Bates, their coach.

Colaiste Laighean, the Irish summer school which runs in Good Counsel College during the summer, have purchased a considerable amount of Archery equipment which it has kindly made available to the school for use as part of the P.E. programme. Currently Transition Year students get an opportunity to try the sport as part of their P.E. programme with the local Dunbrody Archers generously sending in coaches.
It is hoped that the local coaching expertise can be utilised to incorporate Archery into the P.E. schedule for a broad range of classes from next year.

 Continue Reading...

Good Counsel College played host to a group of visiting American students on Monday last. The group from Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania are in Dungarvan on a 2 month exchange study programme and were invited to New Ross because of close links between Good Counsel and their home university.
 
The group’s itinerary included a tour of the JFK Dundrody, followed by dinner in Good Counsel College and later a visit to the Kennedy homestead in Dunganstown. 
Among those to greet the group at the college was Clem Power who himself is a past pupil of GCC and a graduate of Mercyhurst. Also present was Junior Cert. Student Colm Doherty whose brother Ciaran is currently studying in the American University.
The group return to the States in mid May and on their own account have had a wonderful experience here in Ireland. 

The TY2 group presented a cheque for 1,046 euro to New Ross Community Hospital during the week, the proceeds of a raffle which they held held recently.
TY students presenting a cheque to Mary Murphy, Senior Nurse Houghton Hospital with parents, David Burke, Anna Furlong and teacher, Erica Wessley. 

Congratulations to Eon Power, 3rd year, who took silver in the 400m hurdles in the South Leinster Track and Field championships during the week.  He now goes forward to represent us in the Leinster finals. Best of luck to him and well done to all who competed in Kilkenny and to their coach, Mr. Ger Murphy.