Many students took the opportunity to attend the National Ploughing Championships in Athy on Wednesday while staff had a planning day at the school. The ploughing event, which comes to the New Ross area in 2012, always generates great interest among the students who clearly appreciate agricultural pursuits.

One young man who certainly knows his canines from his ovines is first year student Caleb O'Keeffe from Mullinavat who will represent Ireland in the International sheep dog trials later in the year. Caleb will be the youngest competitor at the National championships which take place in advance of the international event. Those of us who remember the popular T.V,. show 'One Man and his Dog' will appreciate the highly skilled 'art' of dog handling. Best of luck to Caleb. We might have to get him out to do something about the stray dogs who regularly wander about the campus.

6th year Geography students travelled to Tramore to complete their Leaving Cert. field work assignments. This is a mandatory component of the Geography programme and thanks to the teachers who organised the outings.

There were a number of sporting activities durng the week with the Junior hurlers putting up a very commendable display in a 4 point defeat away to St. Kierans. The Senior footballers had their first get together with a South Leinster league game against St. Peters in Wexford. A satisfactory performance resulted with a one point defeat; there was plenty of promise and as ever the focus will be firmly on championship later in the year.

Congratulations to John Walsh who qualified for the Leinster Junior 30 x 60 handball final when defeating his St. Peter's opponent on Thursday. and also to Kevin Burke and Kieran Butler who helped Leinster to a 13 points to 12 victory over Munster in last weekend's youths provincial rugby game held in Waterpark. Kevin scored a vital try for Leinster after a great break by Kieran in the centre. They face Ulster this weekend in the second game in the interprovincial series. Best of luck to them again. Continue Reading...

Congratulations, first of all to all those Junior Cert. students of 2010 who got their exam results on Wednesday last. There were some outstanding individual achievements but as ever it is the realisiation of each own's potential that is most important.  Moving to senior cycle now, bigger challenges lie ahead, so good luck to all of them in that. 

Work has started on building a new toilet block at the back of the school. It is hoped that the project will be completed and ready for use within 12 weeks.  Added care is needed in and around the campus while this work is being carried out but there is no disruption whatsoever to daily school activities.
Best wishes to Kevin Burke and Kieran Butler  both of whom have been selected to play for the Leinster Youths rugby team in an inter-provincial against Munster on Saturday. A great achievement for them.selves, their families, the New Ross club and we of course in Good Counsel are very proud of them too.

Luke Fitzgibbon, 3^rd year recently took part in the  Sainsbury's UK School Games, a multi-sport event for the UK's elite young athletes of school age.
The Sainsbury's UK School Games seeks to create an inspirational and motivational setting which not only provides our elite young sports people to thrive and perform at the highest levels, but encourages more young people to take part and succeed in sport.
The sports programme in 2010 included Road Cycling Athletics, Badminton, Fencing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Swimming, Table Tennis and Volleyball a total to ten sports. There is an integrated programme of disability events (physical and learning disabilities) in Athletics, Swimming and Table Tennis which saw a total of 1600 athletes.
Each of the ten sports is combined into a four-day Games environment designed to replicate the feel of major events such as the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and Commonwealth Games
The sports programme in 2010 included Road Cycling Athletics, Badminton, Fencing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Swimming, Table Tennis and Volleyball a total to ten sports. There is an integrated programme of disability events (physical and learning disabilities) in Athletics, Swimming and Table Tennis which saw a total of 1600 athletes.
Luke was a Member of the 28 strong Ireland Team selected from the whole of Ireland, the only team in the games to have permission to use this selection policy. He competed well against extremely strong opposition from four regional English Squads, two Scottish and a Welsh team, finishing in 5th position in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. His swims were excellent considering he has just returned to training after his annual break and is a solid basis to begin his training for this coming season.

There is no school for students on Wednesday next as a scheduled staff planning day takes place. With the National Ploughing Championships on in Athy, it is also an opportunity for those students wishing to attend to do so without missing a school day.  Continue Reading...

Our thoughts this week are with the family of Michael O'Connor who lost his life earlier this week in a tragic accident. Our sympathies are extended especially to his wife and children. Son, Shane, completed his Leaving Cert. in Good Counsel College this year while younger son,Michael, is a 5th year student in the school.  

On Wednesday next the Junior Certificate results are published so no doubt there will be much anticipation in advance of, and, please God, lots of jubilation subsequent to, their receipt.

It doesn't take long for the school sports activities to kick off and on Thursday last the handballers were in Enniscorthy for a series of Leinster matches against  . Pat Mulhearn, John Walsh and Dale Flynn all progressed to the next round. Well done to all who competed.
The U-16 hurlers got their campaign off to a start with a friendly against De La Salle, Waterford on Friday. Their opening championship game comes up the week after next.

Finally, congratulations to Colm Foran, 6th year and to Ger Aylward who has completed his Leaving Cert. on winning All-Ireland minor hurling honours with Kilkenny at the weekend. While Colm didn't see any action on Sunday last, Ger certainly made his presence felt with some telling contributions in the second half especially. The Clare corner back made the very grave mistake of colliding headlong into Ger at one point despite, it must be said, Ger's best efforts to get out of his way. The St. John Of God's ambulance men escorted the hapless Clare lad to the sideline. He did not return to the fray. Continue Reading...

The weather certainly did its best to banish any 'back to school' blues as the new academic year got off to a sunshine bathed start this week. The new cohort of 150 first years were in on Monday with all year groups up and running by Wednesday. The weeks will as ever, roll on relentlessly now and it is important that all students get on board right from the start.

The Leaving Cert. Applied classes went to Dunmore East Outdoor Education centre for an action packed day of kayaking, rock climbing and other such pursuits. This will hopefully help develop a good group ethic which will help them get the most from their programme this year.

Best wishes to 3rd year student, Luke Fitzgibbon, who is representing Irish schools in the British schools swimming championships this weekend. Luke is well used to competing on the big stage now having competed at national and international level on many occasions.

With so many Kilkenny boys among the student population, the All Ireland hurling final is an obvious focus of much banter this week. No doubt our secretary Joan will be letting us hear all about the 5-in-a -row if that particular feat is achieved. There could be some sombre scenes, however,  should the curiously popular Tipp men halt the 'drive'.
We wish our own past pupl, Ger Aylward, the best of luck in the minor final. Ger lines out at corner forward from where the powerful Glenmore man was leading scorer in the semi final victory over Galway.  Continue Reading...