A 6th Year group travelled to Limerick on Tuesday for the U.L. open day and thanks to Guidance Counsellors, Ms Byrne and Ms Carroll, who organised and accompanied the students to the event.
Thanks also to Mr Fanning for taking a group of 6th year Maths students to the W.I.T. Mathematics week seminar which provides a valuable insight into the practical applications of Maths in many areas of life.

An information night was held for the parents of current first years on Thursday night in the school church with refreshments afterwards in the dining room. A large crowd attended and heard presentations from the Principal, Deputy Principal, Year Head and Guidance Counsellor in addition to a talk on a Homework Club initiative by Mr Walker. Mr Michael Byrne, chairperson of the Parents' Council also addressed the gathering. 

Seamus Sutton, 6th, will represent Good Counsel in a Poetry Aloud recital in Kilkenny on Thursday next. At the event which is being held as part of Poetry Week, Seamus will recite two poems, 'Le Sacre du Printemps (Concert Interpretation)', by Siegfried Sassoon, the great British war poet, a poem which deals with the reaction of an aristocratic audience to hearing a Stravinsky symphony for the first time, and a poem by  W.B. Yeats,' Cuchulainn Comforted', which considers the death of the mythical Irish figure while reflecting on the conflict between cowardice and heroism, life and death, this world and the next. We wish Seamus well.

John Walsh, 3rd Year, Leinster 60 x 30 Handball champion.

A very busy week on the sports front where pride of place must go this week to John Walsh from Mullinavat who claimed the Leinster U-16 Handball title in 60 x 30 on Wednesday last. In the game played in Carlow, John defeated Brendan Hyland of St. Kierans College. He now goes on to play in the All Ireland Semi Final this Saturday in Roscommon where he will face the Ulster champion. Many thanks to John's parents for their help with geeting John to the venues and to Mr Leigh O'Brien for his work with all the handballers in the school.Congratulations to John on his achievement and best wishes for further success.



Luke O'Hanlon presents the Keevan's Cup for 1st Years to Captain, Mikey Dwyer and Vice-Captain, Darragh Joyce.

Another significant event which took place this week was the annual 1st Year Keevans Cup football blitz which took place in Pairc Carman, Wexford. An annual highlight on the schools' calendar Good Counsel were as ever represented by 2 teams and remarkably they both qualified to meet each other in the final. With bragging rights at stake, the game turned out to be a highly competitive affair with a lot of quality young players on show. Well done to all the boys involved and many thanks to Mr Kehoe and Mr Bates for their work with the squads.
(A more detailed report and further pictures can be accessed on the 'P.E./Games - Sports Reports' section of this website.) 

The U-16 hurlers bowed out of the Fr. Cosgrave Cup on Thursday at the semi final stage when they went down to St. Peters College in a game played in Enniscorthy. In a game of good quality, the superior team on the day won through. Thanks to Mr Walsh and Mr O'Brien for their work with the team through the campaign.


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The 6th year students had their annual retreat this week, hosted by The Mustard Seed Retreat Group, using the church and pastoral care centre for the various elements of the programme.
6th years are reminded that open days for universities and third level institutes are taking place around this time and if interested should seek further information from career guidance counsellors.

The college U-16 hurlers had a reasonably comfortable win against Castlecomer C.S. in their second championship outing
on Monday last, the game played in Good Counsel. This means they remain very much in contention for the Fr. John Cosgrave memorial cup, a trophy named in memory of our former rector.

Kieran Butler and Kevin Burke lined out for Leinster Youths in their 3rd and final Inter Provincial clash against Connaughtin Donnybrook on Saturday last which the home side lost by 2 points. The two New Ross boys acquitted themselves very well over the series and must be in with chances of being considered for the National side.
 
Kieran Butler and Kevin Burke after the game in Donnybrook.

Also on Saturday last a number of 1st years from the school were involved with the New Ross Rugby club under 12's who played at  the half time interval of the Munter v Leinster match in the Aviva stadium. Their opponents were a team from the Old Belvedere club in Dublin.

Well done to Ben Curran, 1st year, who was a member of the successful Leinster swim team who won the Inter provincials in Lisburn last weekend Continue Reading...

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...

The new school year is under way with a staff planning day held on Friday. The students return from Monday when the new 1st year group will start life in second level education. Hopefully a successful and productive year lies ahead for all in the college.

Quite a lot of work has taken place over the summer months, and continues, with new lockers, I.T. facilities and shelving being installed while much of the main school building has been given a fresh coat of paint. The building of the new toilet block will begin next week but will cause little disruption to the daily life of the school.
 
The Leaving Cert. class of 2010 held their 'Debs' in the Ferrycarrig Hotel on Wednesday night. Well done to those prefects, who with plenty of help from Mr. Younger, organised the event so efficiently. The long held aversion to the wearing of a tie has clearly been overcome as the boys were all very dashing, matched only by the elegance of their partners for the evening.
 Good luck to all of them. Continue Reading...

The Leaving Certificate results dominated the educational headlines this week and our 6th year students of 2010 collected their results on Wednesday morning from 10am. Emotions of relief and joy dominated while there were the few inevitable disappointments where perhaps a few extra points were needed. There were a great many outstanding results, up to and including 600 points, but rather than trumpet those let us instead wish all the boys who made up the 2010 leaving Cert. class the very best for the future. 

We have added an extra dimension to the school website with a link to a Flickr page dedicated to Good Counsel College pictures. We hope this will allow us to upload more images of events around the school and indeed some images from the past also. A big debt of thanks to Richard O'Neill of Mr. Pixel for all his help with this development and indeed with designing and constructing this website.  
 
Congratulations to local girl Grainne Murphy on her outstanding achievement in winning silver at the European Swimming championships. Her father, Brendan, is a past pupil of the school as are her uncles while first cousins, Coughlans and Bardens are current students.

Soccer legends, Packie Bonner and John Aldridge, along with FAI chief, John Delaney, were on the school campus on Wednesday evening as guests of the New Ross Town soccer club who use of the college's facilities of which the visitors were highly complimentary. They took a particular interest also in the signed Kevin Doyle jersey on display and were also interested to learn that the chief advisor on the playing surface in the new Aviva Stadium, Richard Hayden, is a past pupil.

Next Friday, the new year kicks off once again with a staff planning day. On Monday, 30th, the new cohort of first years will begin the journey through second level education here in GCC. We wish them well. Continue Reading...

Only a few weeks to the start of the new school year. Before that, of course, is the important matter of Leaving Certificate results which will be issued on Wednesday next, August 18th. Students can access these online on the SEC website  using their PIN numbers or, and we encourage them to do so, they may collect them in person here at the school from 10am. There will be members of staff present to offer advice, support, encouragement as required. Hopefully the day will bring good news for all of the Leaving Certificate class, 2010.

Registration days for all students take place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of next week as parents will already have beeen notified. Timetables, class lists and student journals can be collected on these days when registering.

August is always a time for some running repairs to the school fabric and as usual there are tradesmen busy painting, installing, rewiring etc. all in an effort to get the work done before the students return on August, 30th.

I might bring to your attention a brief article about a past pupil of the school, Dr. William P. Howlett which is included in the Past Pupils News section of this website. Continue Reading...