With the State exams coming to an end last Friday, a temporary calm has descended on the campus in advance of the various summer schools and sports camps due to take place in the school grounds. The sense of relief was palpaple as students left the exam halls for the last time last week. They can now enjoy a well earned rest and will hopefully relax before the results are issued in the Autumn. For Leaving Cert students the day is Wednesday, August, 18th and until then there is nothing to be done but to leave it behind and enjoy the break.

on Saturday night last, the Leinster U-14 A Football champions were presented with their medals at a function held in the college dining hall. Fr. Hennebry welcomed all the boys and their parents while team mentors Kevin Kehoe, Leigh O'Brien and Declan Wall introduced each player as he collected his medal. The team's feats were recalled anecdotally and through a photographic slide show.
5 students who each achieved international caps during the course of the year were also presented with awards in recognition of their outstanding achievement. Tadhg Furlong, Jack Allen, Nicholas Murphy, Jack Murphy and Luke Fitzgibbon represented Ireland in Rugby, Gymnastics, Badminton, Showjumping and Swimming respectively. To have 5 international athletes in 5 different disciplines attending the school at the same time is an incredible honour. We wish them all continued success.

Stop press! Make that 6, 6 internationals!  Eoin Power, 3CN, having won gold in the under 15, 100m hurdles in the Tailteann Games on Saturday last was today confirmed on the Irish Schools' team to compete in an international event in Scotland on July 17th. Well done to Eoin on his national title, achieved in a time of 13.7 seconds, a personal best, and best wishes to him in the Scottish event.

The Schools' Inspectorate at The Department of Education and Skills has  recently published its subject report into the provision of Physical Education in Good Counsel College and this can be accessed on the Department's website, 
http://www.education.ie/insreports/school_inspection_report_listing.htm.
The report is very complimentary of the work being done in the school and its findings and recommendations are very much welcomed.

And finally, as occasional mention has been made here during the year of Fr. Michael's horticultural enterprise in conjunction with the Transition Year students, we bring you evidence of fruits of those labours. The potato crop promises a bumper yield, while the lettuce, onions and cabbage have already met with the approval of several culinary experts. There will be no need for the famine ship, the Dunbrody, to set sail from the quay of New Ross for some time yet -  the harvest is plenty.


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School's out for summer! For some at least. While for the majority of students the schoolbag  gets flung under the stairs and the uniform gets buried at the back of the hot press, those sitting the state exams have a few intense weeks ahead when all that knowledge stuffed into tired brains over the past months will be drained onto the pages of the exam answer booklets. The very best of luck to all of them.

During the past week, the non exam classes sat their summer exams -  forgive the paradox - finishing on Friday before slouching sadly down the avenue to near 3 months of abstinence from school, homework and study. It isn't easy; the withdrawal symptoms can be excruciating, but you won't feel it until September comes.

It has been, as ever, a year packed with activities, educational, cultural and sporting. A trawl back through the archived newsletters on this site provides a reminder of all that took place. There were Australian visitors, Good Counsel's got Talent, an Augustinian schools' Rugby tournament, a wonderful production of Les Miserables, a Christmas reunion, an U-14 Leinster A football title, a visit from the Minister, YSI success, hosting the Hunter Trials, parents' council barbeque to name only a few. This in addition to the classroom work taking place every day, It is easy to forget just how much takes place in the school over the course of the year and our thans go to all who put in so much effort.

Congratulations to Mark Kent who won an art competition to design a new logo for the Wexford Meitheal Alliance. His design will now be used on Meitheal Alliance materials and stationery and for his trouble receives the very nice prize of an ipod touch.

Last week we mentioned that the 1st year hurlers travelled to St Flannans College in Ennis for a hurling tournament which they won. Pictured below are twins Adam and Aaron Diskin, stars of the team, receiving the cup from Clare legend and St Flannans teacher, Jamsie O'Connor.


And finally, congratulations to Leigh O'Brien and his wife Annette on the birth of their son , Liam , over the weekend. Long years of health and happiness.

Enjoy the holidays! Continue Reading...

On Wednesday night last the annual 6th year Graduation Mass took place in the school sports hall which had been beautifully decorated for the occassion by the R.E. teachers with help from the 6th year students.
A crowd of over 500 attended the ceremony with Fr Hennebry celebrating mass with input from students, parents and teachers.  A particular highlight was the music povided by the boys under the guidance of Ms. O'Reilly.
Before the final blessing, all 148 students were called forward to individually receive a certificate of completion, a token of recognition of the contribution each student made to the life of the school.
The annual Bob Quinn Memorial Cup for student of the year was presented to Eoghan Curran by the late Mr. Quinn's wife Bridget. Other awards presented on the night were Sportsman of the Year to Matthew O'Hanlon, Footballer of the year to David Crowdle, Hurler of the Year to Alan Nolan and the Ryan Family Cup for Rugby player of the year to Fionn Healy - Magwa.
Refreshments were served in the school dining hall after the event. 


Group of Parents cooking up barbeque on Friday last.

On Friday last the parents' council served up a hefty barbeque for all 6th year students and college staff. It is always a hugely popular event and the aromas wafting across the college campus tempted other non 6th year students to 'chance their arm'. Security was tight however and there were no reported breaches despite some creative efforts. The time put into this and other initiatives is greatly appreciated by the school and adds a very positive dimension to the life of the school.

6th years enjoying the barbeque.

On Thursday night colleagues, past and present, friends and family of the late Tom Walsh gathered in the school church to remember a man who made such a huge contribution to Good Counsel in his many years of teaching. It was a poignant occassion as coming to the end of the school year we recalled the many memories of Tom the educator, coach and all round gentleman who at the beginning of this year was a member of staff. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Continue Reading...