The Columban, 1975 1976

3

THE COLUMBAN

Salvete GLEN Hilary, 1976

Michaelmas, 1975

G. BALKAN.

D. E. BENNET. G. M. BUCHANAN. S. M. D. DEMPSTER. J. W. DOONER. F. J. M. GREER. C. W. A. G. HALL. R. M. OKUNO. N. J. TURNER. I. D. M. WILSON.

GRANGE Trinity, 1976

Michaelmas, 1975

G. R. LALOR (mi).

J. I. MASSY. R. MORGAN.

K. P. BIELENBERG (mi).

M. H. DANIELS. C. D. HASKINS. T. H. MACDOUGALD (mi).

W. R. McKINNEY. G. N. OULTON (mi).

T. J. PETCH. B. G. SOLOMONS. T. P. TRAILL (mm).

GWYNN Michaelmas, 1975 G. C. M. BOYD. J. A. DALGETY (ma).

H. J. FURNEY (mi).

M. J. PARKER. STACKALLAN Michaelmas, 1975 B. 0. AKINDELE. N. H. BRADFORD (mi).

S. E. A. G. FOGARTY. D. C. GOODBODY. E. F. O'DONNELL. D. G. PATTERSON. N. F. SADEK. R. D. C. SPENCE. J. J. WATSON.

4

THE COLUMBAN

HOLLYPARK Michaelmas, 1975

Hilary, 1976

J. N. STEWART. S. J. BEARD. C. M. PARKER. A. BISHOP. K. C. C. STOKES. J. D. BURKITT. B. F. DAGG. J. M. GLENN. C. S. GROGAN. V. J. HADDEN. H. M. HAYTHORNTHWAITE. T. A. M. JUDD. E. R. KENNY. S. H. LALOR. E. E. P. LOANE. A. H. LUCE. C. McLERIE. B. A. NIELSON. C. A. STOKES. M. E. C. TILSON.

Trinity, 1976 S. C. MAHON.

TIBRADDEN Michaelmas, 1975 H. C. DALGETY (mi).

P. S. FITZGIBBON. D. E. HANNA. A. G. N. LOBO. E. 0. MacLACHLAN. P. A. MICHAEL. G. A. MILLER. M. P. MURPHY. M. H. OKUNO (mi).

M. T. PETTIGREW (mi).

T. A. PRICE. G. M. PULLMAN. C. B. REID, P. J. SOMERF1ELD (mi).

K. C. TOH (mi).

H. J. TRAYER.

Hilary, 1976 T. G. BAYLIS.

Valete Michaelmas, 1975 GLEN F. J. M. GREER. Second Form.

J. C. L. SMITH, Fifth Form. Member of Choir.

Trinity, 1976 B. KING.

•rHE COLUMBAN

GRANGE B. J. S. HERMON. Sixth Form. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1974-75. 1st XI Cricket Colours 1974 and 1975. Cross Country Colours 1974-75.

Athletics Colours 1974 and 1975. Canoeing Team 1974.

C. R. McBRIDE, Fifth Form. 2nd XV 1975. Swimming Team 1975.

C. W. MACDOUGALD. Fifth Form. House Captain. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1973-74, 1974-75. 1st XI Cricket Colours 1975. Senior Athletics Colours 1973-74, 1974-75. Gold Medal in the Hall-Cooper Trophy 1975, for the javelin. Stage manager 1974-75. N. H. S. Committee Member, 1972-73.

GWYNN P. M. W. NEWENHAM. Fourth Form. 2nd XV Rugby.

G. L. PETHERBRIDGE (mi). Fourth Form. Junior Rugby XV, 1975.

STACKALLAN M. PARSONS (ma). Fifth Form. 1st XI Hockey Colours 1973-74, 1974-75.

T. C. PARSONS (mi). Fourth Form. Junior Rugby and Junior Hockey, 1975.

M. SCHRAMM. Fourth Form.

Hilary, 1976 GLEN D. E. BENNET. First Form, D. G. M. MALONE. Third Form.

T. J. POYNTZ. Fifth Form. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1974-75, 1975-76. Cross Country Colours 1974-75, 1975-76; Captain 1975-76. Athletics Colours 1974-75, 1975-76; Captain 1975-76. Swimming Team 1974-75.

Committee of Senior Debating Society 1974-75, 1975-76. Victor Ludorum 1975.

GRANGE S. A. du PLESSIS. Third Form.

C. E. WHITLEY, Fifth Form. Assistant Librarian 1975-76. Member of Senior Dramatic Society. Cross Country Colours 1975-76.

STACKALLAN P. M. BUCHANAN. Fifth Form.

Trinity, 1976 GLEN A. C. CLAYTON. Fourth Form.

A. T. CRAIG. Lower Sixth. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1974-75. 1975-76. Athletics Colours 1974-75, 1975-76; All-Ireland Finals 1976. Tennis Team 1974-75, 1975-76. Senior Music Prize 1973. Member of the Senior Dramatic Society.

A. L. M. CURRAN. Lower Sixth. House Captain. Captain of 1st XV Rugby 1975-76, Secretary of the Senior Debating Society 1975-76. Secretary of the Fire Squad 1974-75, 1975-76. Secretary of Rock Climbing 1974-75.

THE COLUMBAN

G.W. J. Davies. Fifth Form.

N. C. GOOD. Lower Sixth. House Captain.

J. P. HYLAND. Lower Sixth. House Captain. Secretary of Rock Climbing 1975-76. Basketball Badge 1975-76.

H. M. OKUNO. Third Form.

0. A. OLUMIDE. Lower Sixth. House Captain. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1974-75, 1975-76. Athletics Colours 1975-76; All-Ireland Finalist 1976.

Victor Ludorum 1976. Member of Choir.

N. P. PERRY. Upper Sixth. Second Prefect. Head of Glen. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1975-76. 1st XI Cricket Colours 1975, 1976. Arthur Barton Prize for History, 1976.

J. K. PETTIGREW. Fifth Form. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1974-75, 1975-76.

Athletics Colours 1975 and 1976; Captain 1976; West Leinster Championship 1976.

P. C. S. SAMUEL. Lower Sixth. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1975-76. Athletics Colours 1976. Captain of Swimming 1976. Canoeing Team 1975 and 1976. 2nd XI Cricket Team 1976. Member of the Fire Squad. Committee Member of the Debating Society 1975-76. Member of Senior Dramatic Society 1974-75.

A. I. YATES. Fourth Form. Senior Debating Team. Committee of the Y.F.C. GRANGE M. H. BEAMISH. Upper Sixth. Chapel Prefect. Head of Grange. 1st XI Cricket Colours 1974, 1975 and 1976; Secretary of Cricket 1974; Captain 1976. Leinster Cricket XI 1975 and 1976. Secretary of the Cricket Society 1974-75. Food Committee Member 1974. Head of the Weather Station 1974-75. Secretary of the Geographical Society 1975-76. Secretary of Badminton 1974-75, 1975-76; Badminton Team 1975-76. Member of the Senior Dramatic Society.

W. F. BLACKLEY. Lower Sixth. House Captain. 2nd XV Rugby 1975-76.

1st XI Cricket 1976.

J. H. H. ELLIS. Lower Sixth. House Captain. Secretary of Woodwork 1975-76. Woodwork Prize 1976. Senior Basketball Team 1975-76.

Scorer to 1st XI Cricket 1975 and 1976.

W. B. GALE. Fourth Form. Junior Rugby XV 1974-75, 1975-76. Junior Cricket XI 1974-75, 1975-76. Junior Hockey XI 1975-76.

N. H. PADDLE. Fifth Form. House Captain. Fifth Form Special Prize 1976.

Cross Country Colours 1974-75, 1975-76; Secretary 1975-76. 2nd XV Rugby 1975-76. Secretary of the Chess Club.

N. C. TAYLOR. Lower Sixth. Seventh Prefect. 1st XI Hockey Colours 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76; Captain 1974-75, 1975-76; Leinster Trial 1975; Leinster XI 1976; Irish Trial 1976. 1st XI Cricket Colours 1974, 1975, 1976; Leinster Trial 1974; Leinster XI 1975 and 1976; Irish Schoolboys XI 1976, D. S. TRAILL. Lower Sixth. 2nd XV Rugby 1974-75, 1975-76. Member of the Senior Dramatic Society. Member of the Fire Squad 1974-76.

THE COLUMBAN

GWYNN J. F. BREWITT. Lower Sixth. 1st XI Hockey Colours 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975.76; Leinster Trial 1976. Captain of Canoeing 1974-75, 1975-76; All-Ireland Canoeing Championships 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976; Winner in 1974. Committee of the Senior Debating Society 1975-76.

Member of the Swimming Team. Athletics Colours 1974 and 1975.

P. R. DINANDT. Third Form.

T. S. A. FOLLIS. Upper Sixth. Head of Gwynn. Chapel Prefect. Secretary of Senior Dramatic Society 1975-76. 2nd Rugby XV 1975-76, 2nd XI Cricket 1975.

R. N. MATHER. Fifth Form. 1st XI Hockey Colours 1974-75, 1975-76. 1st XI Cricket Colours 1976. Member of Choir.

K. N. O'MORCHOE. Lower Sixth. House Captain. Cross Country Colours 1974-75, 1975-76. Secretary of Squash 1975-76. Secretary of Pottery 1975-76; Pottery Prize 1976.

G. C. ROWE. Lower Sixth. Member of Choir. Member of the Food Committee 1975-76. Member of Senior Dramatic Society. Member of Madrigal Group. Secretary of the Electronics Club.

E. H. SIN. Lower Sixth. House Captain. Member of Badminton Team.

Member of Basketball Team.

C. C. YEONG. Lower Sixth. House Captain. Fifth Form Prize 1975.

Science Prize and Mathematics Prize 1976. Secretary of Photography 1975-76. Badminton Team 1975-76.

STACKALLAN B. 0. AKINDELE. Fourth Form. Junior Rugby XV 1975-76. Basketball Badge 1975-76.

P. B. BROWNE. Fourth Form. Canoeing Team 1975-76. Junior Librarian 1975-76.

J. W. GIBSON-BRABAZON. Fifth Form. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1974-75, 1975-76. Cross Country Colours 1974-75.

J. L. HACKETT. Lower Sixth. Sixth Prefect. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1975-76. Member of the Fire Squad 1975-76.

C. R. JOHNS. Fifth Form. 1st XI Hockey Colours 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76; Leinster Trialist 1976. 2nd XI Cricket 1975 and 1976.

G. V. LAIRD. Lower Sixth. Senior Prefect. Head of Stackallan. 1st XI Cricket Colours 1974, 1975 and 1976; Secretary 1975; Leinster Trial 1975. 1st XI Hockey Colours 1974-75, 1975-76; Leinster Trial 1975 and 1976. 1st XV Rugby Colours 1975-76.

D. W. McCORMICK. Lower Sixth. House Captain. 1st XI Hockey Colours 1974-75, 1975-76; Secretary 1974-75; Leinster Trial 1975 and 1976.

1st XV Rugby Colours 1975-76, 1st XI Cricket Colours 1975 and 1976; Leinster Cricket XI 1976; Secretary of Cricket Society 1975-76.

Secretary of Basketball 1974-75. Secretary of the Bible Society 1975-76.

Committee of the Debating Society 1973-76.

S. C. W. MARQUART. Lower Sixth. House Captain, 1st XV Rugby Colours 1974-75, 1975-76. Athletics Colours 1975. Cross Country Colours 1973-74, 1974-75. Member of the Fire Squad.

THE COLUMBAN

A. D. MATHEWS. Lower Sixth. House Captain. 1st XI Cricket Colours 1975 and 1976; Secretary 1976; Leinster XI 1976. Senior Tennis Team 1974-75, 1975-76. Badminton Team 1975-76, 2nd XV Rugby 1974-75, 1975-76.

HOLLYPARK J. D. BURKITT. Fifth Form. Girls' Hockey XI 1975-76.

F. J. CROSLAND. Lower Sixth. Girls' Hockey XI 1974-75. Member of Choir.

S. A. GRAHAM. Lower Sixth. House Captain. Member of the Senior Dramatic Society. Secretary of the Madrigal Group. Member of Choir.

A. M. HOLLWEY. Lower Sixth. Girls' Hockey XI 1974-75, 1975-76. Tennis Team 1975-76.

C. V. MacILWAINE, Lower Sixth. Girls' Hockey XI 1974-75. Tennis Team 1976. Member of Choir.

S. S. G. MITCHELL. Lower Sixth. Girls' Hockey XI 1974-75. Member of Choir.

C. H. STRONACH. Lower Sixth. Head of Hollypark. Fifth Prefect. Girl's Hockey XI 1974-75, 1975-76. Captain of Girl's Tennis 1975 and 1976.

Secretary of Pottery 1974'75. Secretary of Choir 1975-76. Member of the Madrigal Group. Geography Prize 1976.

H. M. W. WILSON. Lower Sixth. Secretary of Voluntary Service 1976.

Secretary of Sailing 1975-76. Girls' Hockey XI 1975-76.

TIBRADDEN E. K. DINANDT. Form One. B. KING. Form One. M. H. OKUNO. Form One. K. C. TOH. Form One.

Notes on News We record with sadness the death in August of Dr. S. J. Willis, former Sub-Warden; also of the Rev. H. G. Love, Rector of Whitechurch; and of Fred Farmer, who for many years worked in the College.

We congratulate Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Heaney on the birth of a son; and Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Jackson on the birth of a daughter.

In March, Mr. M. R. Heaney was ordained a deacon in the College Chapel.

We welcomed to the teaching staff Mr. P. J. Jackson and Mr. H. M. Dockrell (O.C.). During the year we were fortunate to have Mr. B. Harvey, Mrs. L. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. J. O'Keefe and Miss G. Kiely on the staff.

At the end of the Trinity Term we were sad to lose Miss E. O'Higgins, the College Matron; Mrs. Byrne, who had looked after the catering; Mrs. M. Leeson, the Bursar's secretary; and Mr. F. J. McC. Leach, Senior Hockey Coach.

We congratulate the College Cricket XI on winning the Leinster Cup; N. C. Taylor on playing for the Irish Schoolboys XI; and Mr. N. H. Lush on being elected a member of the M.C.C. We congratulate Clare Stronach on being the first girl to be appointed a College Prefect.

In the course of the year Dr. C. H. King has kindly spoken with both small and large groups of more senior pupils.

THE COLUMBAN

S. J. Willis To Warden Armstrong, and perhaps to the guardian angel who seems to work overtime in looking after the College, is owed the fact that in January 1925, at a time when there were poor material prospects for teachers at St. Columba's or indeed anywhere in Ireland, a young man of great intellectual distinction came to teach Mathematics. From Mountjoy School he had gone with a Mathematical Sizarship to T.C.D., where he had studied Philosophy as well as Mathematics, had been elected a Foundation Scholar, and had ended with a 1st Class Moderatorship. To this he later added a Ph.D., being one of the minority who have been awarded this degree actually for philosophic work.

To S. J. W. himself is owed the fact that he remained on the staff till July 1966, having given longer service than anyone else in the College's history.

He stayed because he was completely free from common-place ambition, having no desire for wealth, position or power; because the life he had chosen gave him the opportunity for the activities which he most enjoyed and believed in—learning, and helping and encouraging others to learn; and because he came to have a love for St. Columba's greater even than his love for Trinity. So for over 41 years Dr. Willis was an element in the life of the College so dominating that for many generations of Columbans it is difficult to conceive of the place without him.

He was Senior Mathematics Master from, I imagine, the beginning of his time on the staff. In 1934, when houses in the present sense were instituted, he became the first Housemaster of Glen and in that capacity continued to rule the inhabitants of the Cadogan, as he had done for some years previously, from his room on the upper floor of that building. In 1935 he was appointed Sub-Warden, an office which had not been filled for a considerable period before that date. These three offices he held till 1964, when he reached retiring age. Yielding to pressure he continued on the teaching staff, but with characteristic self-effacement he took a back seat, metaphorically and literally, regarding himself as just a junior teacher of Mathematics. Two years later he decided that he was not pulling his weight and refused to stay at the College any longer. In the same spirit he resigned in 1972 from his position as a Fellow of the College, to which he had been elected in 1953.

This was not the unusually long and devoted service of an ordinary schoolmaster. He was a man of extraordinary intellectual power. While his mind was not notably creative he was a wonderful absorber and transmitter of ideas and knowledge. The evidence of his pupils makes it plain that he was a superb teacher of Mathematics, and this teaching was to him always, I believe, the most important and congenial part of his work. But outside this also, in meetings of the Debating Society and other societies, above all in talk with boys and colleagues, he stimulated and enlarged the minds of any who potentially had any minds at all. He did this by constantly exercising his critical intelligence, by demanding intellectual honesty and clarity, by a species of Socratic irony, and by being himself, as he remained till his death, an insatiable and indefatigable learner. His chief interests were philosophy and mathematics, which spilled over into a fascinated delight in mechanisms of all sorts, but his mind reached out in several other directions. His knowledge of music, listening to which was one of his greatest pleasures, was far greater than is common among non-performers. He read prodigiously

10

THE COLUMBAN

over a wide range of English literature, and he was an avid student of history, especially English history, and of theology and Biblical studies. In all these areas his knowledge was enormous, aided by an astonishing memory: often he put me to shame by remembering details that I had forgotten in books which I had read a month before and he had not looked at for years.

He had a passionate interest in games, especially cricket and rugby football. In his younger days, when his short but heavy figure was packed with physical energy, he took part in these himself without noteable skill but with terrific vigour. "We must put a bit of sport back into the game," he would say in a football practice, as he savagely kicked some wretch lying on the ball. He refereed football games and matches as long as his agility was adequate, and up to the end of his time on the staff he was a keen and efficient cricket umpire. At all times he enjoyed watching games, in school or elsewhere, and he never gave up following them in newspapers and on radio.

S. J. W. knew that he was a good teacher, but with regard to his quality as a schoolmaster he displayed a diffidence which I found strange, since I (like, I imagine, most of his colleagues) learnt more from him than from anyone else how to set about the job. Like every good schoolmaster, every good housemaster, he did the job in his own individual way and that way was not perfect. At least in his early and middle years it could be said that, while liberal in principle, he was authoritarian in practice; that his respect for strength of intellect and robustness of character made him sometimes impatient and even roughly contemptous of stupid, silly and feeble boys; and that some found him rather frightening. His deep personal reserve helped to create a barrier which not all boys could penetrate. But he had a wide, deep and sensitive knowledge and understanding of boys, and he looked after the boys in his charge carefully and justly. While he insisted on discipline and conformity in their outward life he left them free to grow up as themselves. Too large-minded for jealousy, he did not think of the boys in his house as his exclusive property, and boys in other houses were as likely as boys in Glen to be the objects of his friendly concern. Boys of many different kinds had reason to appreciate and be grateful for his wisdom, a wisdom rooted in the sense of humour which he regarded as an essential element in the Christian character.

An old member of his house writes of S. J. W. "in his prime, still rudely vigorous and dominating us all by sheer force of personality". He also says that he learnt from him "how to take on responsibility and how to exercise it without doing too much harm, and without taking oneself too seriously"; and "he knew how to give encouragement in the right way at the right time".

In all these ways Willis served well the College and his pupils and colleagues. But it is not these services, not even his wisdom in counsel, which was for so long at the disposal of the College, that gives him a unique place in the history of St. Columba's. Later generations may find it difficult to appreciate how important it was that such a man was for so long at the centre of the College's life. Till about 30 years ago the salary scale made it almost impossible for an assistant master to be married and therefore it was seldom that any man stayed on the staff for more than a few years. Among the few who did so no man, I believe was a central rock to the same degree as Willis was. For all those years, under three Wardens, he was a constant factor, deeply involved in the life of the place at every point. For most of the time that I knew him he dominated the Common Room as Sub-Warden, as a man

11

THE COLUMBAN

a good deal senior to the rest of us, above all as himself. He used his ĂŠxceptional position and his dominant personality to promote peace and harmony and the smooth running of the school machine, in fact to hold the place together; achieving this by determined loyalty to the College and his colleagues, by dependability, and sometimes by resolute silence. Very few of us know fully just how much this meant to the College, and we cannot tell the whole story.

Something of his splendid character will, I hope, come through to readers from what I have written. But the picture is not complete without some account of the much more splendid person he became. His critical intelligence made it impossible for him to accept Christian doctrine easily, and when I first knew him he was, though always concerned about religion, even combatively sceptical. His beliefs indeed never became quite orthodox, but in his later years on the staff his recognition of Christ's unique power and glory, of the unique splendour of the Christian way of life, triumphed over his intellectual hesitations. He became in fact a holy man, a man of God. All his thinking came to be dominated by his Christian convictions. This inner change was reflected in his behaviour and his attitude to other people.

He became much gentler, much more tolerant of the unintelligent, much kindlier in his judgments. While his perception of other people's defects remained as clear as ever his judgements on them became very charitable, and he judged them by different standards from those that he formerly applied. He valued goodness above everything else, and for him goodness meant being Christ-like. Intellect and manly courage still won his admiration, but far above them he set humility, warmth of heart, loving-kindness, unselfish consideration for others; and these were the qualities which people found in him.

Those who remembered him as a tough disciplinarian and the scourge of loose thought might well have been surprised to learn that in the first years of his retirement he spent a large part of his days in visiting old people in hospitals and nursing homes, talking with them and helping them in practical ways. Later, when life became for him an increasingly distressing struggle for breath, he showed how these conditions can be made part of the good life. He enjoyed life as much as he could, tried to make it enjoyable for others, and faced with dispassionate realism the prospect of death, which eventually brought him release on August 13th, 1976. And up to the end his love of St. Columba's remained intense: he enjoyed chat about the past, especially in its comic aspects, but his real concern was with the present and future, and his comments on the news that he eagerly gathered were wise and incisive. When he was very ill in hospital he said to me "I have been lying here thinking about the College". To him it was always "the College".

The deep reserve of Sandham John Willis made him shrink from showing the great affection that he felt for countless other people, and it repelled demonstrations from others. A modesty, which perhaps was born in pride but certainly grew into humility, prevented him from even guessing how strong and how widespread was the love which he inspired. He would have been astonished, probably a bit embarrassed, at the evidence of this after his death, notably in the large number of people who joined in giving thanks for his life in the College Chapel a week later.

G.K.W.

12

THE COLUMBAN

Fred Farmer Fred Farmer was born in Blanchardstown in 1914. He went to Castleknock National School where he was taught by Mr. Brooks, the father of Mr. J. A. Brooks who used to teach Irish at the College.

Fred was trained as a gardener, first in Lord Hoimpatrick's gardens, and then at Lyons Estate near Newcastle. During the war he went to work in England.

In 1944 Fred came to work on the College farm and for a short time he lived up in Stackstown with his wife in a cottage at the foot of the mountain. Later that year the Farmers moved to the Gate Lodge at the front gate of the College. When Warden Sowby left the College for Canada in 1949 his chauffer went with him and it was then that Fred left the farm to become one of the two boiler men in the College and took on some of the jobs which had previously been performed by the chauffeur. In 1965 Fred had his first serious illness and had several spells in the Adelaide. He did come back to work in the College after April 1974; he finally retired on March 1st, 1975 and it was with great regret that on the 13th November 1975 we heard that Fred had died at his home in Pearse Park, Whitechurch. He was greatly missed.

Fred loved St. Columba's, the boys and the big occasions. He took great delight in meeting Old Columbans when they returned, and he got great pleasure from College successes in sporting events. Fred was a keen and knowledgeable gardener and to this day his everlasting sweet pea and daisies bloom by the Lodge at the front gate. Bee-keeping was another of his hobbies.

Fred served the College faithfully and well and he established a particular understanding with College boys who were interested in horse-racing.

To Mrs. Farmer, and her family, we send our sympathy and best wishes.

N.H.L.

Confirmation The Confirmation Service took place as usual on Ascension Day. As a result of a motoring accident, His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Dublin could not be with us. His place was taken by one of our Fellows, the Right Rev. Donald Caird, the Lord Bishop of Limerick. Thirty-two boys were confirmed: B. 0. Akindele, J. F. W. Bolton, J. A. Bonham, P. R. Browne, J. K. Cooper, C. M. F. Clements, S. M. D. Dempster, A. J. Fullerton, H. J. Furney, J. M. Girdham, C. A. Hackett, N. S. Hill, P. T. B. Hudson, W. M. M. Jackson, G. V. E. Judge, T. W. S. Kee, S. G. B. Kirker, B. M. F. Lalor, A. J. Lyttle, J. A. Lyttle, D. J. W. McLerie, E. D. Nicholson, N. B. Odium, G. J. W. Oulton, M. J. Parker, K. G. Perdue, W. J. R. M. Scott, D. F. Shannon, A. J. Sharman, D. C. S. Skrine, C. McK. Spence, P. G. Stronach;

St. Columba's Day 1976 The chairman of the Fellows, Mr. Frank Eustace, welcomed the guest of honour, His Excellency Cearbhall O'Dรกlaigh, President of Ireland, and emphasized the great honour done to the College by his visit. The Warden then made his address: Your Excellency, My Lord Bishop, Ladies and Gentlemen,

THE COLUMBAN

13

Although we have in our Visitors Book the signature of Mr. de Valera, and although Mr. Erskine Childers gave away our prizes in 1970 when he was An TĂĄnaiste, this is the first occasion on which the President has presided at our St. Columba's Day Celebrations. We thank you, Sir, for giving us the honour of receiving you. I hope you may be able to find some relaxation in the short time you can be with us. It is a great day for our College.

And may I on behalf of the College bid a warm welcome to all our guests today.

Last year, Dr. Lyons emphasised the importance of our roots in society and went on to stress the duty of offering one's talents to the country that bred one. His exhortation did not fall upon deaf ears. Our education is firmly rooted in the cultural heritage of Ireland and although we are definitely glad to have a somewhat international tradition, more and more of our boys and girls do continue their education in this country and intend to settle down here. In this way I believe we are rendering a national service out of all proportion to our size.

Not all of our leavers go to Trinity College of course, but it struck me that it might be of interest to link this year's report with Trinity and in particular with the performance of recent Old Columbans now at the College.

I can start with the lighter side of school life by enumerating the parts played by Old Columbans in the games clubs of Trinity. In this last year three of the noteable Rugby XV which beat all comers were Old Columbans; so was the Captain of Cricket; the Captain of Hockey, the Treasurer of the Hockey Club and the Secretary of the Hockey Club; the Secretary of the Central Athletics Club; the Secretary of the Harriers and Athletics Club; the Captain of the Climbing Club; and now the Captain of Boats. Old Columbans have also won the Inter-School Old Boys' Golf Tournament. It is good to see Old Columbans keeping up their athletic interests and helping to run these clubs. Their success may have something to do with the freedom of choice (and good coaching of course.) which they enjoyed in their games here at school. There are now twenty-two organised activities from which a boy or girl may arrange a personal pattern of weekly exercise. It is almost too many for control. Newcomers to the list are Fencing, Gymnastics and Dancing which has enlarged the scope for girls. Mr. Leach our doughty Hockey and Badminton coach unfortunately left us for an administrative post at Sandford Park, but not before he had seen our Badminton team reach the semi-final of the Leinster Competition. And Miss Kiely who has infused new life into the Gymnasium will be leaving this term to embark upon married life in North Dublin. To both I express our gratitude and at the same time acknowledge with thanks the help given to our Cricketers by Peter Kerr and Michael Moriarty and welcome Miss Callaghan and Professor Duffy who have come to give coaching in Tennis and Fencing.

The Rugby XV enthusiastically captained by Andrew Curran fought three exciting cup battles before going out of the competition, and the Hockey XI met their destiny (Newpark) too soon to do themselves full justice, for they were an exceptionally strong side. Neil Taylor, their Captain, went on to play for Leinster Schools. So it was left to Michael Beamish's Cricket XI to win their Leinster Cup—which they obligingly did yesterday, thus illustrating the importance in Cricket of perfect timing. It has been a pleasure to see

14

THE COLUMBAN

senior boys coaching the younger ones and, generally, the augury for games is good. Of the other activities it is worth mentioning that on a recent weekend over 60 boys decided to go camping in small parties at sites ranging from Ireland's Eye to Enniskerry, and very efficiently they did it too. And in the under-18 All Ireland Canoe Race John Brewitt came third.

Coming in from the cold I would like to select for comment three or four of the 26 clubs and societies which give so much extra-curricular value to our community life. The quality of the lectures arranged by the Modern Languages Society is made possible by our position on the edge of a University city. Our thanks are due to Professor Higman, Professor Bliss, Mr. Dolan, Mr. White, the Director of the Spanish Institute and to Mr. Caird himself for intellectually delightful evenings in the Winter Terms. And Dr. Cecil King has kindly come to talk to groups large and small and to stimulate with his vast fund of personal anecdote and knowledge an interest in current affairs. From our Debating Society Crampton and Yates got through to the semi-final of the schools debating competition, organised by Trinity College Historical Society. Apart from lectures and other field trips the Geographical Society was taken by Mr. Lush on a very successful 4-day field trip to Sligo at the beginning of the Easter holidays and Mr. McMullen's party of boys and girls has just returned from a study of the Burren. The Voluntary Service Group has given opportunities for boys and girls to help with flag collections, to visit Simpson's Hospital and to help run their fete, to look after children from the Battered Wives Home on a Saturday afternoon and to tend the garden of the two ladies living nearby.

The Natural History Club has split into two sections: one general and the other concerned with keeping pets at school. Both thrive under the patronage of Mr. Jackson whom we warmly welcome to the staff and who has ciuickly made himself indispensible. Fondness for animals is very evident. In our last evening of Inter-House Speeches, several speakers showed an expert interest in animals and a knowledgeable concern for conservation. A few boys have become really adept at watching badgers and deer. I hope you will have time to see the remarkable exhibition of their work.

The Junior. and Senior Drama Societies staged Johnny Salter and The Happiest Days of your Life respectively. The producers Mr. Polden and Mr. Fanagan must have found their efforts fully justified by the delightful results. The strange thing about school plays is the strong effect that the parts seem to have upon the actors. The Junior Play was about gangs and the consequences were astonishingly prompt: the next one needs to be about angels. And after the Senior Play, the leading lady who had so successfully impersonated the head mistress earnestly applied to join the choir—to sing bass.

The five House Entertainments and the Language Plays did not have this effect, perhaps partly because they were shorter and partly because the French, Latin, Irish and German may (I regret to say) have not been fully understood. One good feature of our so-called language plays is the need for obvious mime and slow deliberate diction. This was well illustrated in the German sketch specially written for us by the well-known popular playwright, Carl Portabier.

THE COLUMBAN

15

At this point I should pay tribute to the ladies who came and helped with our plays; Lady Ainsworth, Mrs. Molony, Mrs. Rowe, Mrs. Guinness and many others; and to the Friends of St. Columba's who amongst various kindnesses have provided a sewing machine for Hoilypark, the girls' House.

Great work on programmes and invitations has been done by Odium and the Printing Club.

Some of the other clubs and societies have exhibitions this afternoon. That they do give lasting interest may again be gauged by the fact that Old Columbans this year fulfilled these functions at Trinity.

Education Officer of the Students' Union; Librarian of the Philosophical Society; Publicity Officer of Amnesty International; Secretary, Correspondence Secretary, and Librarian of the Biological Association; Chairman of the Labour Party Branch, Secretary of the Labour Party Branch; Secretary of the Knights of the Campanile; And Peter White, becoming President of the Union of Students after being President of the Philosophical Society is a notable and unusual sequence.

Surely Old Columbans are seen to be public spirited.

If the relationship between us and Trinity is not so often traced with respect to out-of-class activities, the continuity of academic study is obvious.

Neil Stronach's, Entrance Exhibition and Marjorie Stokes' Special Prize; and the John Isaac Beare Prize, the John Henry Bernard Prize and the Vice Chancellor's Prize in English Verse which were won by Old Columbans gave us as much pleasure as our own "A" level results which were no failures, 1 E grade, 1 C grade, 2 B grades and 7 A grades. We are confirmed in our view that the seventh year is tremendously valuable.

In the Leaving Certificate, individual results were generally gratifying and nearly every boy and girl succeeded in getting to the University for which he or she applied.

'0' level results were rather better thari the previous year indicating that the pxesent Vth form could make a very good showing at the Leaving Certificate next year. The Art results (5As, 3Bs, 2Cs, and no failures) were specially good for a new venture. What the VIth form will do in this year's Leaving Certificate is hard to say: they were unlucky to have had last term vitiated by flu. But their performance this term in Matric has again been very encouraging, Yeong's 3 DistizIctions and a P1 being a particularly fine result.

Work dbne by boys and girls which is of special merit in relation to their own standard or the standard of their set is sometimes recommended by their teacher for the award of a DistinctiOn. This gives me the pleasure of seeing promising work; often from rare sources, and recording it in a roll of merit. Although there is no competitive element about the system I am pleased to congratulate Hudson and Girdham for having been awarded by far the greatest number of these distinctions this year.

16

THE COLUMBAN

Slight changes to the curriculum have enabled some boys in form IV to reduce their number of subjects and to take special remedial work in weak subjects.

In form V the number of taught periods per subject has been increased without restricting too much the choice of subjects. It is too early to gauge the merits of these changes.

A very successful course was held last term in computing which is likely to become included in the curriculum.

I must own up to the fact that if I have indicated a strong and happy connection with Trinity it is partly because before leaving the subject of academic curriculum I would like to make a suggestion to which I hope they would be sympathetic. In common with many schools we find the Matric Exam as presently arranged has educational drawbacks. Our Senior School curriculum is based on the requirements of Leaving Certificate and with two full years we need not be too much bound by syllabus: we can both prepare for an exam and educate. Matric interrupts this with a different syllabus and a different type of paper. It may be a good exam but it is held at the wrong time. Also it processes a small sample and cannot possibly be as reliable a guide as the national exam. Yet who should deny a candidate his wish to take it, one can only try to dissuade. Thus we can have had three quarters of our Leaving Certificate form spending the first part of the term doing Matric and many of them as a result now working with an entirely different aim in view. Without meaning to, Trinity may thus be affecting adversely the preparation of its own candidates, and, with them, the education of those who are not due for Trinity or for any other University College. The undesirable features of the exam would vanish if it were held in the September following the Leaving Certificate, as a make-up exam for only those candidates who are borderline or who have not taken Leaving Certificate at all. The number of candidates could then be kept conveniently small.

I am all for exams because they give something definite to attempt and they are a means of manipulating the curriculum to raise or to preserve academic standards. They are usually attacked by those who have not got these standards, but being dominated by exams not only is restrictive but stifles educational experiment.

Our boys who are budding ornithologists, apiarists, farmers, carpenters, stage designers, printers, solar heating engineers and so on may later thank us for features of our education which had nothing whatever to do with exam syllabuses.

I expect many of us suffered from the 'flu this year. "Bring out your dead" was the dreadful cry during the plague and we must occasionally reflect upon our good fortune to be living in the days of modern medicines, good nursing .and anaesthetics. In an earlier age what might have been these entries for the 5th March, which I have taken from the College log book.

"Prayers in Chapel will be at 9.15. First Lesson at 9.30. The Warden, SubWarden, Mr. McMullen, Dr. Somerfield, The Chaplain, Mr. Gray, Mr. Falkiner, The Precentor, Mr. Jackson and Mrs. O'Keeffe are sick today.

Also Mr. Kennedy. Over 60 boys and girls are still sick. No afternoon school.

Mr. Heaney has gone home sick." It is not hard to work out by elimination who were the stalwarts able to write those entries. It was a disruptive

THE COLUMBAN

17

epidemic and I can only say that we are greatly in debt to Dr. Benson, Dr. Thomas and Sister O'Higgins for their thorough care. Two boys were really ill and one has particular reason to be grateful for Dr. Benson's immediate diagnosis and treatment. Mrs. Stewart who had taken Mrs. Cody's place as assistant in our Sanatorium was unfortunately having a bad bout of sickness herself but Miss Phibbs did the work of two, Mrs. Byrne and her kitchen staff rallied round nobly, our dailies were wonderful, and the boys who were well, looked after those who were ill. Glen & Gwynn Common Rooms supervised a temporary hospital and the Senior Girls worked away unselfishly. It was all good education!

And through all our ups and downs we were always able to count upon one department keeping the noiseless tenor of its way; Miss Bridie Thornton's linen room. It was also helpful at that time to have Mrs. McNair join us to teach almost any subject at any level as required.

At the end of this term we shall be sorry to say goodbye to Mrs. Leeson who has so efficiently looked after the Bursar's Office and the Bursar and to Mrs. O'Keeffe and to Mrs. Fitzpatrick who came to us just for the year that Mr. Fettes has been away. It is not easy to teach with full satisfaction for only one year but they have brought new ideas and a freshness of approach that has been greatly appreciated. Mr. Harvey has been with us for his Diploma Year and in thanking him for the high standards he set in the classroom I wish him all the success he deserves in his exams. I am glad to say Mr. Dockrell will remain with us next year when we expect, one by one, to be sent up in his satirical verses. Our music staff has trebled with Mrs. Stevens teaching flute, Miss O'Leary strings, Mr. Carmody Bass, and Mr. Booth, guitar. By next year we will indeed have heard the results and meanwhile I can only express our pleasure at the increased activity and progress in this department of the College.

There are two sad items of news. The first is that Fred Farmer died during the year. He had been a valued member of the indoor staff for 25 years, and will be missed by generations of Columbans.

The second is the death of the Revered Robert Love, Rector, and a much loved Rector, of our Parish, Whitechurch. Some of the boys and girls may not have been to Whitechurch but Mr Love preached up here not so long ago and if I remind them that his sermon was about Sermons they may readily recall him.

In welcoming back Mr. Fettes from his sabbatical year during which he visited and lectured at many schools and colleges both in New Zealand and America, I am somewhat nervous of what he may have in store for us. But schemes or no schemes it is grand to have his vitality amongst us once again.

He will find, as we have all found, that Mr. Polden with his excellent helpers has kept Tibradden House in good heart.

This year the number of girls in Hollypark rose to over thirty with the conversion of part of the main house to girls' dormitories. This conversion was a major work which the Bursar did quickly with the expert workmanship of Mr. Macdonald. Without large capital expenditure we cannot now take many more girls and we have anyhow reached the proportion of girls to boys which at present we think to be best.

18.

THE COLUMBAN

Capital expenditure cannot of course be avoided. We do still badly need certain amenities and I cannot keep secret the nice surprise which we will all soon receive. The second stage of our Development Appeal is on its way, and with it the opportunity to part with money before it loses its last vestige of value.

St. Columba's has a tradition of scholarship. Our small classes help this as they also help the less academically gifted to develop to the full their various abilities. We are glad to be small and would not wish to be larger at the sacrifice of quality. But inflation waits for no man and with the warnings of the Minister for Education in our ears it behoves us to take careful stock of the future. And what do we see? Society is moving inexorably towards us both metaphorically and literally; and should we not be moving towards this society? We are essentially a boarding school and almost every section of this report reflects the opportunities and style of a boarding school. But these can be shared and should be shared with day pupils so long as this can be done with full integration and with no loss of quality. In return we would gain from day pupils those personal links with the locality which would relate the College to its ever changing environment. This may have sounded a little like jargon but its meaning is sincere.

The Fellows are agreed that new boys and girls may and should be admitted as day boarders who stay the full day or as day-pupils who leave before supper and at fees which make this possible. Details are immediately available from the College though it may be some weeks before a new edition of the Prospectus is published.

In conclusion I would like to thank my colleagues on the staff for their unstinted service to the College; and to congratulate Gary Laird, the Senior Prefect, Nicholas Perry the Second Prefect, the Chapel Prefects and the College Prefects for the way they have, with the help of House Captains, taken more and more responsibility for the ordinary discipline and organisation of the College. This is all as it should be.

The Presideti単 Speech After presenting the prizes, the President expressed his gratitude for being invited to partake in the celebrations of St. Columba's Day. He found himself to be discovering things about the College, and was especially impressed both by the wide programme of activities in the College and by the emphasis on the arts. Only that morning he had been in the county of St. Columba himself, in Donegal, and in presenting the prizes had been struck by the suitability of the, presentation of books for prizes in a College named after a man who himself himself had been a considerable scholar- and' poet.

Indeed his very scholarship had sent Columba into exile as the first great missionary to Dal Riada, had established the imperishability of the arts, and the impermanence of wealth. St Columba was- the founder of monas tries at Derry, Durrow and Irma. This heritage of St. Columba the man was now left in part in the College of St. Columba.

Finally, the President exercised his prerogative in granting, with the consent of the Warden and Fellows, a free day to the members of the College.

THE COLUMBAN

19

Form Prizes 1st lind Ilird IVth Vth Vth Special Prizes

J.D.E, Wilson & P. J. Somerfield C. B Reid & T. H. Macdougald K. G. Perdue N. E. Somerfield Alice Luce D. J. F. Dalrymple G. W. J. Davies B. J. P. Earls C. R. Johns Nicola Lush M. G. Nelson N. H. Paddle

Special Prizes Senior English Prize Junior English Prize Old Columban Mathematics Prize The Science Prize Arthur Barton Prize for History Richard Hayes Crofton Prize for Geography Christopher Cos grave Memorial Prize: French German Common Room Prize for Irish Instrumental Music Prizes: Piano Strings Wind Junior Earl of Meath's Art Prize Junior Art Prize Pottery Prize Woodwork Prize

M. D. Archer J. M. Girdham C. C. Yeong C. C. Yeong N. P. Perry Clare Stronach M. D. Archer Catherine Stokes Alice Luce Alice Luce A. L. M. Curran Sheena Graham 0. R. E. Merton M. G. Nelson E. K. Dinandt K. N. O'Morchoe J. R. H. Ellis

Examination Results (1975) TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN ENTRANCE AWARDS Entrance Exhibition N. R. H. Stronach (Natural Sciences) Walter Wormser Harris Prize Majorie Stokes LEAVING CERTIFICATE The following gained 3 or more High Grade passes: Daphne Barrow, E. A. Brooks, D. A. Browne, C. J. Cairns, Pamela Dix, P. W. Edmondson, Nicola Figgis, T. S. A. Folliss, Sarah Griffiths, F. C. Guy, J. A. E. Haythornthwaite, Judy Larmour, Madeline McKeever, Sandra Morrison, Rachel O'Grady, N. P. Perry, R. H. Phipps, W. P. M. Prentice, Jane Somerfield, J. W. M. Wilson, R. G. G. Wood-Martin.

20

THE COLUMBAN

TODD PRIZES [awarded on the above examination]: Senior Jane Somerfield Junior Madeline McKeever GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (Oxford and Cambridge Board) The following passed at Advanced Level M. R. Lidwill (Latin, Maths), Rosannagh Lucas-Clements (German, English, French), J. C. Somerville-Large (English, Geography, Art), Betsy van der Lee (French, English, History).

At Ordinary Level 25 candidates passed in 5 or more subjects.

University Entrants TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN Economic & Social Studies D. A. Browne, C. J. Cairns, F. C. Guy General Studies Daphne Barrow, Nicola Figgis History Judy Larmour Legal Science W. P. M. Prentice Medicine Marjorie Stokes, Madeline McKeever Natural Sciences Sara Griffiths, W. R. M. Kilroy, Rachel O'Grady, Jane Somerfield, N. B. H. Stronach, J. W. M. Wilson Veterinary Science P. W. Edmondson UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN Commerce E. A. Brooks ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE Architecture J. C. Somerville-Large

The Masterman Library The Library still benefits from the generous gifts of books made by Dr. and Mrs. J. G. Kirker and Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Sanders. These books are being put on the shelves at the rate of about six each term. Mrs. Gibbs and Dr. Cecil King have also given us many valuable books and magazines, including "The Uncrowned Queen of Ireland" by Joyce Marlowe, "To be a Pilgrim"

by Robert Collis, "The Past Masters" by Harold Macmillan, "Lessons of Ulster" by R. Uttley, "Arthur Young and his Times" ed. Mingay, "The Uses of Literacy" by R. Hoggart, "John Kennedy" by U. Schwarz. Two distinguished Old Columbans have kindly sent us the latest editions of their books: "The Irish Question, 1840-1921" by Professor Nicholas Mansergh and "The Origins of the Second World War" ed. by Dr. Esmonde M. Robertson. We also gratefully acknowledge "The Irish Convention" by R. B. McDowell and "The Life of Oscar Wilde" by Hesketh Pearson both presented by Mr. J. M. Fanagan.

We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following contemporaries: Portora, C.A.I. (Coleraine Academical Institution), the Armachian, the Glenalmond Chronicle, the Radleian, the St. Edward's School Chronicle.

The Library now has a paperback section.

D.J.C.

THE COLUMBAN

21

We gratefully acknowledge the gift to the Junior Library of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (14th edition), donated by Lady Mayhew, of Norwich.

C.D.F.

Voluntary Service During the Trinity Term about twenty-two boys and girls from the College took part in Voluntary Service activities. Some of these activities were:— visiting patients in Simpson's Hospital, Dundrum—the boys found this particularly rewarding; helping to look after children of the Battered Wives Association in Harcourt Street, on Saturday afternoons; gardening for two old ladies, whose family has had long connections with the College, at Kilmashogue Bridge; on flag days collecting for The Irish Wheel Chair Association and Camphill Community of Ireland.

I am very grateful to Secretary E. F. O'Donnell for helping to look after the Voluntary Service Group; I think that he has learnt a lot. P. A. Roy, R. A. S. Fry, F. D. A. Bertram, P. A. B. Thursby and J. F. G. Robb have given their time and energy particularly generously to the work of the group.

The boys and girls who have taken part in these activities have become aware of the needs of others and have learnt many useful lessons in human experience.

N.H.L.

The Minibus Among the numerous innovations made recently has been the provision of a Volkswagen minibus which was bought second-hand from Aravon at the beginning of the summer term 1975. The bus seats nine, though it is not unknown for it to carry more, and has a roof rack so that canoes, dinghies, and similar gear can be carried. A garage has been renovated for it near the old dairy, and there is also space there for the storage of canoes and other equipment for outdoor expeditions. Getting the bus into or out of the garage is a test of nerve and skill; if a driver can do this, he should be able to go anywhere.

The bus is not primarily used for the major sports although it has been used for rugby, hockey and cricket when not otherwise needed. Rather it is used for smaller expeditions such as to Greystones for sailing, Leixlip or Seapoint for canoeing, Dalkey and Glendalough for climbing, Dundrum for swimming, and Rathgar for squash. It has paid several visits to Trinity College and to Belfield for lectures and exhibitions, and has conveyed parties to concerts as well as to parties and dances, debates and matches. Altogether it has been a most useful asset, making many excursions and activities accessible which had been difficult or impossible before.

Apart from extra curricular use, the bus is also used for direct school activities, such as a trip to the Burren, geology and geography field trips, art lectures and the like. The bus is driven by the master or mistress in charge of the expedition, or perhaps by their wives, and if the journey is not for

22

THE COLUMBAN

specifically school use a charge is made to the student's account so that the bus largely pays for itself. Most of those who have driven it find it surprisingly easy for so large a vehicle; it feels somewhat heavier than does a private car (especially with a full complement and a boat on top), and one changes to lower gears more often. But a little practice at a quiet time soon reveals the machines capabilities and idiosyncracies, and the good visibility and great height from the ground are of help in traffic.

That the bus is useful can be judged from the fact that in the course of its first year it has been out on College business about 200 times and has covered 5,000 miles.

A.E.S.

Senior Drama Society As I wiped off the last remnants of make-up I thought back over the last two hours I had spent on stage. The laughter and applauding had been very exhilerating and it was with a certain amount of sadness that I saw the final act draw to a close. Immediately after the finish of our Saturday night performance I felt very empty. We had spent nearly one and a half terms rehearsing and in two nights the whole thing was over.

The dress rehearsal was the funniest part for one or two members of the cast as we tripped from scene to scene, leaving massive gaps here and there.

Mr. Fanagan came up and congratulated us but it was rather hollow, as I heard from one in the audience that our producer was nearly in tears. Three days to go and still Pond, Billings and Tassell didn't know their lines.

On Wednesday there were gaps but a better performance and everybody came onto that stage a nervous wreck.. . not least Mr. Fanagan. He bellowed instructions from the wings—"Si down"... "Telephone!"... "Where is Billings?" Still on Saturday we were not nervous. Some of us even started adding lines. .. And as for Mr. Fanagan... he slapped his knee and caused more noise behind stage than anyone else. Laughing at the same cracks for one and a half terms does deserve a mention.

T.S.A.F. THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF YOUR LIFE

by John Dighton CAST (in order of their appearance) Dick Tassell, Assistant Master at Hilary Hall D. S. Traill Rainbow, School Porter and Groundsman M. R. Beamish Rupert Billings, Senior Assistant Master at Hilary Hall G. C. Rowe Godfrey Pond, Headmaster of Hilary Hall T. S. A. Folliss Miss Evelyn Whitchurch, Principal of St. Swithin's T. A. M. Judd Miss Gossage, Senior Assistant Mistress at St. Swithin's B. A. Nielsen Hoperoft, vii, Pupil at Hilary Hall R. A. S. Fry Barbara Cahoun, Pupil at St. Swithin's S. A. Graham Joyce Harper, Assistant Mistress at St. Swithin's C. L. Reynolds

THE COLUMBAN

The Reverend Edward Peck Mrs. Peck, his wife Edgar Sowter Mrs. Sowter, his wife

23

C. E. Whitley N. M. Lush A. L. M. Curran E. E. P. Loane

The really scary thing about looking-glasses is that they so often reveal to us real pieces of gruesome we'd rather forget. I mean, it was the jolly old Bard of Avon himself who talked about the theatre holding a mirror up to nature, wasn't it, and a school watching a play about a school could be just too ghastly, you know.

Happily Miss Gossage's putative thoughts proved incorrect, for in witnessing John Fanagan's production of "The Happiest Days of Your Life" we were whirled into a never-never-land where the Ministry of Education was incommunicado for weeks on end, where the only problems were spiffing pranks perpetrated on the beaks and hags, who spent their time either in pursuit or retreat of each other; there was no need to note in the programme that the characters on stage bore no resemblance to any character living or dead. It was all good clean fun.

The setting was superb, the bric-a-brac filled common room of Hilary Hall showed us through its open doors glimpses of cavernous passages within the school where might lurk frightful horrors as yet unhatched, contrasted with a sun-blessed scene of the rolling country-side where the alumni might roam at will, plotting further mischief. In the room itself one could almost smell the characteristic mixture of stale pipe smoke, chalk dust and slightly decaying fruit; it was a most suitable setting for what followed.

The staff were a motley group: Tarquin Folliss's headmaster was perfectly at ease, physically very convincing though sometimes mystifying his audience as much as his staff as to what he was actually thinking about; his opposite number, Miss Whitchurch (Tania Judd), was at times chillingly severe and had obviously spent her youth practising deportment rather than cricket which could not be said for Beverley Nielsen's magnificiently lumpy portrayal of Miss Gossage, all hockey sticks and netters, with a terrifying predatory eye to boot. She moved with consummate awkwardness, creating havoc throughout. Her more feminine colleague, Miss Harper (Charlotte Reynolds), was played demurely and was a fitting target for Mr. Tassell's (David Trail!) wandering eyes. Despite his wizzard-prang type moustache he had a lot to learn in the art of amorous pursuit from the star-struck Barbara Cahoun (Sheena Graham), whose vigorous and supple performance brought a quickening of pace every time she appeared. Her fellow pupil, Hoperoft mi (Robert Fry), had the best rapport with the audience and his malicious impish grin was a delight to behold. Gary Rowe as Billings was suitably cynical; Rainbow (Michael Beamish), with several decades' more practice, produced a most consistent and convincing performance; his rheumatism grew visibly worse at the thought of the imminent transportation of hundreds of tuck boxes and his cantankerousness became very understandable as he received a flood of conflicting instructions about the netball posts, "contraptions" he didn't understand at the best of times. The visiting parents were well contrasted, the blustering Edgar Sowter (Andrew

24

THE COLUMBAN

Curran) with his tight-lipped wife (Erica Loane), and the other-worldly ecclesiastic, the Rev. Edward Peck (Chris Whitley), whose reaction to "The Purple Passion" would have gladdened Mrs. Whitehouse's heart, with his spouse (Nicola Lush) on whom multitudes of jumble sales and parish fetes had left their indelible mark.

Hoperoft told us that there were "women with hats" to be seen, and the full terror of that image was borne out by the arrival of the staff of St. Swithin's on stage, each suitably bedecked. Such attention to detail was characteristic of Lady Ainsworth's carefully chosen costumes, which very successfully helped to give identity to the various characteristics of their wearers.

The cast had obviously enjoyed working together, and if sometimes they played to each other rather than to the audience we did share their sense of enjoyment of an amusing play. We must thank Mr. Fanagan for two highly entertaining evenings.

C.B.K.P.

Junior Drama JOHNNY SALTER

by Aidan Chambers.

Johnny Salter Sparkler Brown Puff Nylon Wriggles Carrots Mr. Moggs Bouncer Barton Buff Smig Policeman Joe Sally Grimshaw Herbert Grimshaw Milly Grimshaw Bella Chunter Cot. Hector Chunter Penelope Chunter Stage designed and built by Assisted by Costumes Make-up Sound Lighting Prompter Photographer Producer

Julian Girdham Peter Hudson Patrick Jackson Richard Okuno John Bonham Tessa Lush Barry Lalor Nigel Rooney Daniel Curran Stephen Kee Gordon Judge Alastair Sharman Jennifer O'Reilly David Wilson Timothy Petch David Malone Oliver Merton Deirdre Monaghan Gordon Petherbridge Adam Clayton, Anthony Lyttle, John Lyttle, Roderick Samuel, Douglas Shannon, Mark Jackson Beverley Nielsen Miss O'Higgins, Clare Macllwaine Jeremy Watson Tony Traill David Stewart Toh Kiat Hong Cohn Polden

THE COLUMBAN

25

This is a pleasant' little play. There is an uncomplicated story of good against evil, there are immediately recognisablĂŠ characters, and there is the familiar theme of the difficulty of growing up. Unpretentious and undemanding. Serious points are touched on but we are not to consider them too deeply. There is about the play that inescapable flavour of middle-class England that pursues us from "Just William" to "Listen with Mother". A mass of clichĂŠs perhaps but a most suitable vehicle for young actors and actresses. Boys acting boys, girls acting girls was a refreshing sight: young people playing adults is always grotesque,, and boys playing girls incongruous.

None of the characters was complicated and good casting was half the battle. Mr. Polden's casting here was superb. There was no poor performance and everyone seemed at ease in his part. I cannot remember many school plays so genuinely enjoyable, with so few uncomfortable moments for the audience. After a slowish start those on stage warmed to their business; they had fun and so had we. Hudson is an example of what I mean. He appeared quite relaxed and at home on the stage and he communicated his enjoyment to us. Bonham made a similar impression, though he must avoid conspiratorial glances at the audience.

The accents were a problem. Lalor slid- happily between London and Tipperary. He acts with a nicely ironic gusto. I would like to see him in a straight part. Rooney mastered the accent really well and kept it up without faltering, a remarkable feat. He and Curran were startingly convincing as a pair of thugs, with Kee a shadowy hanger-on. Some of the biggest laughs of the evening were won by Curran's exquisite sycophancy. Jackson looked fine as Puff, and he moved well. He managed to seem fat and greedy, which he is not, but his lines were spoken too stiffly, perhaps because of nerves.

The Second Act was the highlight of the play. Afternoon-tea in Mt. Grimshaw's garden gives the opportunity for broad and uproarious comedy.

This went fast and furiously, without a pause, without a hitch. Such smoothness is not attained without a vast amount of rehearsal. In other scenes too the slapstick was most convincing. As Mr. Grimshaw, Wilson was properly stiff-backed and peppery. His voice was tiring to listen to because he was all the time straining it to the right pitch of heartiness. Merton was a good contrast, shambling about in his tweeds. A splendid pair. Petch hobbling back and forth like a winged pigeon added to the fun. For me, though, the outstanding performance in this scene was that of Malone as Penelope Chunter. This was an eerily accurate portrait of the stately county lady, all sophistication and sweetness but merciless towards her chosen victim "Formidable" it is called. The victim here was her daughter. Deirdre Monaghan played the part very well; her excruciating song is an abiding memory.

Jennifer O'Reilly looked very pretty and spoke pleasantly. She seemed at ease On the stage and she and Girdham made some hazardous dialogue easy to listen to. Girdham's whole performance was relaxed and convincing.

Maybe he was a shade too lugubrious at times but then these fictional adolescents do take life seriously.

There were no bad performances and, more unusual, all the players were completely audible. Tessa Lush, and Okuno made up the Kaestner-like gang very harmoniously and Sharman was a cheery and sharply-enunciating Joe. Sets and costumes were effective with economy. So many bouquets are

26

THE COLUMBAN

deserved. It was altogether a refreshing evening. Often I have doubts about school plays and the time and effort needed to put them on, but if the principal rule is to please, then this enterprise was totally successful.

D.J.C.

House Activities Michaelmas and Hiliary Terms House Exhibitions.

The house exhibitions of both terms were most entertaining. In the Michaelmas Term the schoolroom was packed with class projects and club exhibits.

The Art Club produced a large amount of work of a fine standard.

Candles had been made, and there was some embroidery and crochet work from the girls.

Toh ma, Yeong, Marquart and Good had splendid photographs on show. In the Hilary Term Display, Good produced some interesting ones of handgliding.

The Carpentry Club had plenty of expertly made coffee tables and wooden work. Ellis is the most skilled amongst them, having made a beautiful diningroom suite.

Some Tibradden historians constructed great fortresses and castles, painstakingly made and these were exciting to look at.

The Pottery Club created marvellous objets d'art from door plates to dinosaurs. There were some pots, too. O'Morochoe, Gibbs and Large are adept at the wheel, contrasting with Tibbraden and Hollypark who, although keen, are still mastering the basics. The Hilary Term Exhibition showed a vast improvement from these two houses.

H.M.H. HOUSE SPEECHES (Trinity Term) This House Speeches Competition was of a particularly high standard and, for a change, there were no bad speeches. Glen started the competition with Davies giving an informative lecture on badgers. Petherbridge, in his own inimitable style, then spoke on shopping in Pakistan. O'Morochoe succeeded in speaking an infinite deal of nothing extremely well, to which the audience reacted admirably. Ruddock, in his Republican uniform, contemptuously spoke out against the British—for which he got a fairly cold reception.

Moynan and Buchanan spoke on animal life and conservation. Earls in his sou'wester spoke about fishing.

In the final analysis O'Morochoe took the individual honours and Gwynn the house prize.

A.I.Y. GLEN HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT Once again, Glen provided the school with an hour's entertainment, consisting of a number of original, very funny sketches, and plenty of music.

Due congratulations should be given to J. P. Hyland who undertook the monstrous task of arranging and producing the show, especially in a very limited amount of time.

THE COLUMBAN

27

The show went well, with no intervals or stage delays. Especially popular were the Dracula scenes which J. Girdham played with great ease.

The singers who entertained the audience during scene changes did a great job and were enjoyed by all, and congratulations should be given to R. Samuel, J. Leslie, W. Jackson, D. Wilson, and D. Curran.

N.C.G. GWYNN HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT The curtain opened to reveal two very ugly sisters who ad-libbed their way through a Dublin performance of "Cinderella". An illegal musical organisation with an unmentionable name held the audience captive in the senior entertainment. A versatile confession box was the scene of much hilarity during the performance, as was a board meeting attended by Gwynn seniors later seen to be trouserless. After a song about the attributes of the Gwynn Common Room the curtain fell, amidst a virtuous clapping of hands.

S.S.G.M. STACKALLAN ENTERTAINMENTS—Michaelmas 175.

This was the first house entertainment of the year and consisted primarily for a play; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern by W. S. Gilbert and as the name implies the characters were recognisable as those in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Mr. Fanagan—besides directing the play also played Claudius by which he both held the play together and displayed great talent.

Buchanan mi should be mentioned—he did well in the role of Hamlet despite the "assistance" from the audience that he had to put up with.

Some Stackallan juniors also sang heartily to us—some of them heavily disguised!

L.B.E.W.W. GRANGE AND HOLLYPARK ENTERTAINMENT The Grange entertainment came first with twenty minutes of The Shadow of a Gunman. In this several young actors played extremely well. The male Grange temperance choir also had a good night; Bielenberg ma and Whitley mi sang "Delany's Donkey".

The Hollypark girls started by singing an extract from "Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Socks", aided by Tibradden House singers. A. Luce, C. Stronach and S. Graham then sang and played. They were followed by some very good sketches the highlight of which was S. Mitchell and Clare Macliwaine in a sleazy strip joint.

A.C.C.

Language Plays The sketches, "Le petit hold-up" and "Chez Dupont" were performed by members of Tibradden House.

The Latin play, entitled "A Roman Wedding" followed. This was produced

by Mr. Fanagan and was particularly instructive in demonstrating Roman customs. J. D. E. Wilson and M. B. W. Jackson played the roles of the bride and bridegroom.

28

THE COLUMBAN

The Irish play commenced with P. N. W. Jackson, as a teacher, explaining the difficulties of making porridge to three small boys. "Ar Eagla na hEagla" is the story he tells the audience about a family who had great difficulty in putting the right amount of salt in the porridge to please everyone, and the drastic result when too much is put in Donncha Pheig's (K. G. Perdue) porridge.

The final play was a comedy put on by the Vth form German set, and produced by Mr. Guinness (The latter also acted the role of Stage Manager in the play). The title, "The Lieutenant Sells a Horse" explains what happens, but it was not that easy for P. K. Cooper, the lieutenant, and he ended up having to marry the ugly daughter (B. Neilson) of the amorous landlord (M. D. Archer). His wife (C. Stokes) and his lovely serving-wench (E. Loane) played with great aplomb.

The plays were enjoyed by the members of the College and visitors, and the various languages caused little diminution of their pleasure.

S.R.L.

Music Last year's music reports in "The Columban" both concluded with hopes that the musical side of College life would continue to flourish; and indeed these expectations have been amply justified by our wide and varied programme of musical activities this year. Not only have we been able to put on our own concerts during each term, but it has also been possible for groups to attend other concerts in town, throughout the year, and these expeditions have been a great success since a small party went to Trinity at the end of the Michaelmas Term, to hear the Choral Society sing "Judas Macabeas" there have been eight organised trips altogether.

The first of these, if not highly educational, was nonetheless, very unusual, being probably the first 'mogg synthesizer' concert to be held in Trinity!

However, on our next visit to the Exam Hall, the Choral Society provided us with a more tuneful evening, with their performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor. On January 29th, we went out to the R.D.S. where we heard a very impressive two-piano recital by Dezsö Ránki and Zoltán Kocsis, both Hungarians, who played Mozart, Sonata in D Minor; Brahms, Ravell's Mother Goose Suite; 2 Nocturnes by Debussy; and 4 pieces by Bartok.

The next concert we attended was also at the R.D.S. and was also highly successful: the E.E.C. Choir from Brussels, who sang the 'Carmina Burana'. The Hilary Term ended with a very lively and entertaining concert in Trinity by the Concert of St. Sepulchre, who, as well as singing and playing, also performed several Medieval dances, in costume, inviting the audience to join in!

The first concert we went to in the Trinity Term was also a St. Sepulchre's concert, only this time they were joined by the Camerata Singers. They sang mostly 14th and 15th century songs. (Dufray, Dunstable, Obrecht, Isaac and Josquin Des Prèz), but the highlight of the evening was their performance of Machaut's "Messe de Notre Dame"; the earliest's surviving complete polyphonic setting of the Mass (c.1360).

Another visit to the Exam, Hall, enabled us to hear the Choral Society again, this time during Trinity Week. They sang two works of C. H. Parry; and two of Handel, 'Zadok the Priest' and 'Acis and Galatea'.

THE COLUMBAN

29

Rather suitably, our last concert of the year was provided by the Consort of St. Sepulchre again, who did a repeat of their song and dance performance, only this time it was held in the delightful setting of Castletown House, Co. Kildare.

Our concerts at school have been on a much smaller scale, yet each one has meant experience and practice for the performers themselves, and entertainment for our audiences who have been most helpful and appreciative. Thanks are due to 0. Merton, A. Craig, N. Somerfield, Miss A. Luce and Miss S. Mahon (piano), Miss S. Graham, W. Sadek (flute), A. Curran (guitar), and to Mrs. Mime who sang and also joined in a small Madrigal Group for one of our concerts, with Mr. Polden, B. Earls, R. Mather, Miss S. Graham, Miss N. Lush, Miss E. Kenny, Miss C. Stronach, and Miss A. Luce. This new group was started by the Precentor in the Hilary Term, and we meet about once a week to sing Madrigals together.

During the year, apart from our own productions, we have also had 3 visits to the College; the Consort of St. Sepulchre (who are now very popular among Columbans!), the Dublin Orchestral Players, who were preparing for their summer concert, and Mr. John Mime, who sang works of Schubert, and John Ireland in our end of term concert, June 20th. This concert also included performances on piano, flute and guitar, by the Music Prize Winners, and a small contribution from the Madrigal Group. We are very grateful to the Warden for letting us hold this final concert in the cosy atmosphere of his own drawing-room, which made all the difference to our last gathering.

Finally, I would like to thank the Precentor, for all the hard work and effort he has put into this school year, which has been a profitable and rewarding one for musicians here.

A.H.L. MUSIC IN CHAPEL Anthems and Settings sung in the Chapel during the year have included: W. Davies God be in my head H. Purcell Rejoice in the Lord, Aiway L. J. White Prayer of S. Richard of Chichester W. A. Mozart Ave veruni corpus J. S. Bach Flocks in pastures green abiding H. Purcell Thou knowest, Lord K. Turner God that madest earth and heaven R. Farrant Lord, for thy tender mercies' sake A. Milner o praise God in his Holiness V. Williams o taste and see S. S. Wesley Lead me Lord K. Turner Stand up and bless the Lord V. Williams o how amiable are thy dwellings G. Dyson Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in C Minor E. Bunnett Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in B Flat (sung by the whole College) Some twenty boys were admitted as trebles into the choir in September.

The choir is now very well represented in each of the four parts. An extensive repertoire was built up this year due to the enthusiasm and hard work put in by the whole choir.

30

THE COLUMBAN

The singing in Chapel throughout the year has been of a high standard; a reasonable number of chants to the psalms are now known, and a large number of new hymns have been introduced; Throughout the year the responses have been sung to the setting by Talus; the whole College also joined with enthusiasm in the singing of a setting of the evensong canticles

by E. l3unnett and the setting by T. Jose of St. Patrick's Breastplate.

There was quality to match the volume in the singing at the annual carol service and as well as the traditional hymns and carols, the whole College joined in the singing of a carol, in Latin, from Piae Cantiones—Personent Hodie; carols sung by the choir alone included Torches by J. Joubert, Gabriel's Message by S. B. Gould, a modern arrangement of Unto us is Born a Son, and In the Bleak Mid-Winter by H. Darke.

On occasional Sundays after evensong, the Precentor gave a short recital on the organ embracing a wide range of the repertoire of music for that instrument. There was a recital of organ and guitar. music given by Mr. Mime and Mr. Booth during the Trinity Term, which was interesting for the contrasts displayed by the two instruments in their tone and volume. At evensong one Sunday in the Trinity Term, the Rev. Declan Smith (O.C. ) with his guitar led the congregation in the singing of hymns and songs which illustrated his sermon. Later in the same term, after evensong, there was a concert given by a group who sang and played a group of contemporary songs and hymns.

In all, music in Chapel has been varied and rewarding: a happy reflection on an aspect of the life of the College which is surely important to all.

I should like to add my thanks to Clare Stronach who was particularly helpful with the running of the choir, and to all those who contributed to making the music in Chapel something of which we can be justly proud.

D.W.E.M.

Gramophone Society This year we did not enjoy the patronage of Mr. Fettes who was on sabbatical leave. Instead, Mr. Mime came up to the College on various Monday evenings and played us some of his own records. These included 'The Planets' (Hoist), 'Autumn' (from Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons'), 'War Requiem' (Britten) and some Synthesizer music.

The attendance was generally smaller at these meetings than last year, but I think that those who came along enjoyed it. We thank Mr. Mime very much for his encouragement during the year.

M.G.N.

Art has generally been progressing in leaps and bounds this year. We have now taken over the whole of the Roost in which the upstairs is the main art room. The three downstairs rooms have had new doors put in, and at the moment one is being used for silk screen printing and the other two for storage.

During the Michaelmas Term there were many club expeditions. A party went nearly every Wednesday during the term to the National Art Gallery

THE COLUMBAN

31

to hear a lecture given by a member of the staff. Other expeditions went to various other galleries in Dublin. Two other lectures were attended, one on the Louvre in the R.D.S. and the other an introduction to painting. This was held in U.C.D. During the same term we acquired a huge load of paper from a paper warehouse which had been burnt down. The paper had been burnt only at the edges; this has greatly helped to reduce costs.

There was one lecture in the Hilary Term, on Roman Art at Muckross Park Convent. The 'flu epidemic towards the end of term seriously reduced output of work.

The Trinity Term saw the start of silk screen printing, posters for a disco and College singlets for the athletes. The fine weather made easy various sketching expeditions.

The Art '0' level results were very encouraging-4As, 2Bs, and 2Cs. 21 people took the same exam this term and we hope that they can match the high standard set by their forerunners. Three people have taken the Leaving Certificate Art exam, and two people, Jenny Burkitt and Sarah Mitchell, are going to art college. J. Sommerville-Large got a B in his 'A' level Art exam last Trinity Term.

There are many good artists in the club. A. J. Lyttle, R. Fry and C. Hackett continue to develop their own particular styles. H. Haythornthwaite, A. Luce, A. Petherbridge and P. Stronach also set a high standard in the club.

We are very thankful to Mr. Vis who has made so much of this achievement possible. His hard work and great encouragement to everyone has caused so much valuable work to be produced.

M.G.N.

Pottery Club Unfortunately the kiln was out of action for a great deal of the year. As you can imagine, this rather dampened the enthusiasm and hampered the output. However a lot of good stuff was produced, both on and off the wheel.

K. O'Morchoe handed over the secretarial duties to H. Haythornthwaite at the end of the Hilary Term due to pressing academic commitments. His skill and patience were sorely missed. He won the Pottery Prize.

A. Gibbs is very skilled at the wheel and a most competent assistant.

Without his infallible memory the building would have blown up! His help in the firing was greatly appreciated.

Many girls enthusiastically joined the club in September. Both K. O'Morchoe and Miss Mills were excellent teachers and so the girls' standard improved generally over the year despite the repeated disruptions caused by an epidemic and the kiln. P. Michael of Tibradden made magnificent villages and vehicles of all descriptions.

Much to the delight of all concerned a new wheel was bought during the Trinity Term.

Many thanks to Miss Mills for all the time, effort and patience she has poured into the club over the year. Without her the Pottery Club would have degenerated into a mud club.

H.M.H.

32

THE COLUMBAN

The Food Committee No matter what people may say, the food committee is essential and it does its job. There must be a link between producer and consumer, and the committee fills the gap, telling the producer what will keep the hungry rodents quiet. We do our job as best we can as there is really very little we can do other than point out things that go wrong—after they have happened.

Food Committee meetings follow an even pattern: Mrs. Byrne fends off grumbles; the Bursar remarks that there is nothing he likes better than a good sausage; a caustic tinge is added by an anonymous resident master.

Mrs. Byrne is leaving us at the end of this year. We wish her well and thank her for all her work. Next September we are getting a general, livingin housekeeper, the contract with the outside caterers having been ended.

So we'll be starting afresh with a new housekeeper, a new committee, the same resident cynic, and our hardworking Bursar.

J.F.G.R.

Senior Debating Society This was a quiet year with only three debates. By the time the third one came round, it was clear that the standard of debating was low. It was decided therefore to restrict the society only to those who chose to be members; about fifteen people joined. From these a team of two was sent to the Trinity InterSchools Debating Competition. We entered P. Crampton and I. Yates who successfully got through the first round and were then eliminated. We also received invitations from Newpark and from Wesley for inter-schools debates. 'Flu made it impossible to take up the Newpark invitation; however Mr. Kennedy brought a party to Wesley where a successful debate was held.

A.L.M.C.

Junior Debating Society This year the Junior Debating Society has fulfilled its purpose well. We have had five debates in all, the latest being a light-hearted balloon debate which was a new idea enjoyed by everyone.

Only one thing was out of place and that was the election of the committee.

Although it was carried out on a voting basis, I think it would have been a more valuable body if the floor had concentrated on a good committee rather than their own enjoyment.

We have some very good speakers in the Junior School and the Junior Debating Society plays a very important part for them. I know it will continue to function properly under the guiding hand of the Chairman, Mr. Falkiner.

J.A.T.

Geographical Society As is normal, about 60% of the College are members of the Geographical Society, and all of these people turn up for the first meeting of term. And so we had about 125 people in the Big Schoolroom to watch two films. The first was the story of a crew of Britons charging down the Amazon waving

THE COLUMBAN

33

the British flag furiously. Our members were also fortunate enough to see how the London-Sydney telephone cable was laid: this was in about 1956.

Nonetheless the two films were very interesting and were enjoyed.

We were then very lucky to have Mr. Sean D. Dublin Bay Loftus talk to us about the proposed oil refinery for Dublin Bay. For the past six or seven years Mr. Loftus has been fighting against the idea of having it built. He told us in one evening why he thought the refinery in Dublin Bay was a bad idea. His main point was the large-scale pollution that would be caused. He wasn't against a refinery, it was the site at Dublin Bay that worried him. This was a very convincing talk by Mr. Loftus and most people who heard him had made up their minds before the evening was out that a refinery in Dublin Bay would be a bad thing.

Peter Murtagh, T.C.D., was the next to keep us quiet for a Saturday evening.

He was telling us about how he practised the illegal trade of street-vending in London in order to get enough money to go to Portugal.

There, he wandered around Lisbon, meeting all the Irish people in the city. He then started moving North, photographing riots, interviewing archbishops and arguing with German tourists, and eventually returned home.

The interesting thing about Mr. Murtagh's visit to Portugal, though, was not what he did but how he got by on an extremely small budget and not knowing a word of the language.

Perhaps our most peculiar meeting of the term was when the Society saw two films at the beginning of January.

The "Blue Peter" Royal Safari film unfortunately turned out to be an interview with Princess Anne, and because it was in Africa, they called it a safari. There was one ridiculous scene when Princess Anne was filmed riding along on her horse in slow motion silhouetted against the sun setting behind Kilimanjaro, with Beethoven's 'Pastral' symphony playing in the background! Everyone thought it was rather soppy, except Mr. Fanagan who could be seen to have tears in his eyes at this sight of his pin-up.

Our final meeting of the year was perhaps the bravest. Mr. Caird, acting Warden, gallantly helped us out by being our speaker at a time when half of the College and a third of the country was bedridden with 'flu. Mr. Caird himself was not well, and the fact he still went ahead and spoke merely underlines the fact that Grange men are unsinkable. With the epidemic at its height, we were small enough in numbers to use the Geology room. In here Mr. Caird gave us a very informative lecture on Brittany, Normandy and the industrial North of France.

It was a particularly useful lecture as France is on the Leaving Certificate Geography syllabus.

And so ended a year of the Geographical Society. Our numbers and the standard of lectures were as high as ever before.

M.R.B.

Cricket Society Report Generally this was a good year for the Society, both due to high attendances and good speakers.

34

THE COLUMBAN

In our first meeting the Captain of Cricket, M. Beamish, spoke on what was then the forthcoming tour of Australia by the West Indies. He spoke with remarkable depth of knowledge on the advantages each team had and although some of his views turned out to be wrong he did correctly forecast the result, an Australian victory.

In our second meeting we had a film on Lords which gave remarkable insights into cricket of old, most of which was new to many of the Society.

In the third meeting, Mr. M. Dockrell gave a very good talk on Cowdry and as usual he baffled us with his incredible store of facts and figures.

In our last meeting, Mr. A. Stewart, a recent Old Columban, gave a very interesting talk on 'Cricket after St. Columba's'.

I feel it a pity that cricketers don't take more interest in the game rather than restricting their interest to their own attempts at playing.

D.W.McC.

The Modern Languages Society This year we held ten meetings, all of which attracted a good audience.

We are truly indebted to our visiting lecturers who are prepared to sacrifice their Saturday evening in order to come up and talk to us. As well as the lectures we also showed two lots of films, both well attended. The success of these is due entirely to the efficiency of the projectionist, R. T. G. Odlum.

At this point I would also like to thank the members of the Art Room who were able to produce posters for me at very short notice.

The lectures were on numerous very different subjects. Professor Bliss from U.C.D. talked about the English Language in Ireland, Mr. G. K. White (former Sub-Warden) discussed the works of Sir Walter Scott, while Se単or Sierra showed a film about Spain, talked for a short while and then tried to answer the numerous political questions which were fired at him. Mr. Caird gave a few lectures on such topics as Romanesque Art and the Palace of Versailles while our very first lecture was by Mr. Fettes on his experiences behind the Iron Curtain.

All in all, then it was a good year's work. It is also significant that this year, 1976, the Modern Languages Society celebrates its tenth anniversary since it was founded in September, 1966. My thanks are also due to our Chairman, Mr. Caird, and the Committee Members, M. D. Archer, P. K. Cooper and Alice Luce, for all the work which they have done, and for their regular support.

A.S.D.R.

Young Farmers Club Now under new direction, it is hoped that the Y.F.C. shall be able to be more active than it has been during previous years. Unfortunately the new committee have only been settling in this year and so have not been able to meet the present demands.

However, we have managed to go on 6 expeditions. On 12th November we visited the Pig Fair at the R.D.S. The R.D.S. kindly supplied us with complimentary tickets. On 24th February we visited Powers Distillery where Mr. Haile very kindly gave up an afternoon to put up with our questions and to show us around the distillery. Again the R.D.S. were very helpful,

THE COLUMBAN

35

this time on 5th May, when they very kindly provided us with tickets at a reduced rate, for the Spring Show, which was very much appreciated by all who went. Ballyfree Farms were also very interesting. Unfortunately, the morning was not long enough for us to see all around them. We did however see their chicken-rearing, their laying, and their turkey fattening facilities.

Thanks to Mr. Dobbs, who answered all our questions We were shown around Goulding Fertilizers by Mr. Casey after an introduction by Dr. Conolan. On 11th June, Harry Hamilton, although very busy at silage, kindly tolerated and answered all our questions, while working, and later while relaxing over a cup of tea.

We have also been very fortunate in being able to have four film shows, and a most interesting lecture on sheep, their time system, feeding system, and internal systems, by Mr. Brennan. Unfortunately, however, we were unable to find other lecturers.

There are many people to be thanked: Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Leeson, Mrs. Hill, Mr. Pullman, and all others who helped us, including Mr.Heaney, our patron, who we hope will not cease to help us, as we would be lost without him.

R.J.H.

Farming This year seven boys farmed regularily: N. Furney, I. Yates, T. Bradford, B. Hill, N. Bradford and H. Furney.

During the Hilary Term 1975 it had been discovered that Mr. Pullman's tractor insurance did not cover those without a licence, so at that time no one was allowed to drive tractors. However, this term N. Furney had a licence and so was allowed to drive. T. Bradford should get his licence during the summer holidays.

During the Michaelmas Term 1975 a slurry ramp was built at Mr. Lambert's farm near Rockbrook. The main jobs during that term were feeding cattle since no crops are now grown. A few loads of hay and straw bought by Mr. Pullman were collected from places as far away as Tallaght.

Some rocks were dug out of the fields. There were also the routine jobs of dehorning, tagging and castrating calves. Also during this term Mrs. Pullman's turkeys were killed, plucked and gutted.

The main work during this last term has been spreading dung and fertilizer, and of course making silage. The milking is done by boys every second Sunday at Mr. Lambert's farm.

Mr. Pullman has bought a second-hand Magee six-tonner and is trying to get a second-hand Ford 5000.

The first silage cut has nearly been finished, and fertilizer is being spread for the second cut.

Unfortunately, I. Yates is leaving this term and is going to Gurteen, so we will not have his help next term.

N.F.F.

36

THE COLUMBAN

Natural History Society At the beginning of the year, when I was appointed Secretary of the N.H.S., I had mixed feelings about whether or not it would work out better than in previous years. It has worked out well, I think, but too much emphasis has been put on birds, mainly due to a lack of available material and suggestions from members on other subjects.

During the Michaelmas Term, the subscription was twenty pence and this enabled us to hire only a very poor standard of film; still, we had 120 members. We had two film shows that term in which five films were shown, mainly on the themes of pollution and conservation. We also had a very successful expedition to the North Bull Island where a large number of waders and wildfowl were seen.

In the Hilary Term, we took a major step forward by increasing the subscription to ÂŁ1 per year (put on the bill). This enabled us to have much better films and to put aside money for Society equipment. During this Term we had several R.S.P.B. films, including "Isles of the Summer Dim", "Kites are Flying" and "The Living Forest"; the latter was shown to a limited audience, due to the 'flu epidemic. We had a lecture on Deer by Mr. Ian Booth of the Forestry and Wildlife Service and an expedition to a deer farm at Glendalough and a wild fowl centre at Broad Lough. After the increase in subscription, membership dropped slightly, but has now stabilised at 120 again.

This Trinity Term we have had several more films, including "Birds of Teesmouth", "Sea Swallows", "After the Torrey Canyon" and "Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust"; there was also a special film show for a few members on Seabird Ecology. We have had a botanical expedition to Malahide Island and an expedition to look at breeding terns at a colony in Wicklow. We hope to have at least one more expedition to a tern colony in Co. Dublin.

Next year there should be a much more varied programme, so don't despair if you're not a bird fanatic. My thanks and that of the Society, are due to Mr. Jackson and Mr. McMullen for all their help and for accompanying us on our expeditions.

D.P.

Woodwork Another year of hard work for the members has ended again. Among the pieces made are hall tables, which are new to the list of articles. Two types have been made; one is rectangular in shape and the other is semi-circular.

During the week, classes have been used by the lower forms to do woodwork. These have been quite successful as many people have been introduced to the subject, which they would never even attempt to do.

A dining room suite was made by Ellis, who was given support and encouragement by the members and by Mr. O'Neill. Odlum (ma) has been making a very interesting book-case. I thank him and Parker for their help in the club.

Finally, as I hand over the club to Odlum I wish him all the best for the future. I would also like to thank Mr. O'Neill for all his help and interest he has in his club which without him would die a very quick death.

J.R.H.E.

THE COLUMBAN

37

Electronics Club During the course of the winter terms we received many lectures from Dr. Somerfield for which we are very grateful. We did not do much practical work during these lectures. Instead we used them to answer some questions which our members had. These talks were illustrated as much as possible.

Our main project of the year was a Wienbridge oscillator. This was finished in the Trinity Term and went on display on St. Columba's Day. Other projects on display included a metal locator and short wave radio by N. Somerfield, a demonstration of heterodyning by C. Clements and an amplifier by M. Jackson and J. Spring.

Also during the Trinity Term Dr. Somerfield arranged an outing to the Faraday Lecture at the R.D.S. which was greatly enjoyed by those who went.

This included many non-members.

Next year we look forward with interest to another series of talks and demonstrations.

R.T.G.O. and C.M.F.C.

Photography The year started with great expectations. We had two darkrooms in our new premises under the Big Schoolroom. Perhaps output would double and standards be improved. The exhibition on St. Columba's Day was less successful than we had hoped. We relied heavily on K. H. Toh, N. C. Good and C. C. Yeong, whose work was of a high standard indeed. Mr. Falkiner, who has been collecting photographs of school life for the College archives, put up an exhibition in the History Room which rivalled our own upstairs!

I'm glad that photography is so much part of school activities and hope that the Photography Club may be in charge of the team photographs next year.

The Club is very grateful to Mr. Gray for his enthusiam and help. My best wishes to Barrington who takes over as head of the Club next year.

C.C.Y.

Bridge Club This term saw the beginning of a new Bridge Club under the patronage of Mr. Lush. We started off the term quite successfully, playing on Saturday evenings during first activities, but due to the 'flu epidemic we have had to stop the Club until next term.

We hope that next term there will be time for arranging new ventures like playing other schools. New members will be very welcome T.G.G. 7

Chess Club During the course of the season, there were two knock-out competitions won by I. Yates and J. Girdham respectively and a total of six matches were played against other schools. The results were that the club won two, drew one and lost three matches. One important lesson was learnt from playing

38

THE COLUMBAN

other schools and that was, the only way to win games is by constant practising and competition. I feel that there could be more participation at Senior level, as chess is a game which requires a high degree of skill and concentration rather than luck.

The club is indebted to Mr. Kennedy who gave up much of his free time in supervising and transporting the team to away matches.

Wesley (A) 3-2 High School (A) 1-5 St. Andrew's (A) 112 Wesley (H) 3y'-212 High School (H) 3-3 St. Andrew's (H) N.H.P.

The Fire Squad To see the denim-clad and suspicious-looking gangsters of the Fire Squad battling to put out each other on Chapel Square on a mid-winter afternoon makes many a Columban heart beat prouder. The squad tries to drown a tree, a stone, a fence, or even a Warden.

J. Boiler-Suit Hyland; the worthy Come-on-You Marquart; the steely I-dohave-a-Bucket Hackett; the large C. I'm-a-Second-Row-Man Samuel; Where'sthat-Hose Traill; and the Noise Curran: such is your squad.

I'd like to thank the Warden for all the fire practices he has helped us with and hope that next year's firefighters will continue in the same efficient tradition.

A.L.M.C.

The Printing Club This year we have, as usual, had a large number of orders, including the customary letter-headings, invitations, and programmes for school activities, and some more unusual things such as bird census forms for the N.H.S. and a wedding invitation to be printed in both English and German. Most of this work was done by the secretary, assisted sometimes by Barrington, Browne and Girdham.

We are very grateful to Mr. Falkiner who, as our patron during Mr. Fettes' absence on sabbatical leave, was a great help in keeping us supplied with paper, ink and so on, and in looking after our outside orders; our only regret is that, because of his full timetable he did not have time to learn to print himself. Mr. Fettes returned a week before St. Columba's Day, just in time to do the programme, which he undertook almost as a solo effort.

R.T.G.O.

Cookery Club Through the combined efforts of Sarah-Jane Beard and Mrs. Lush, the Cookery Club got under way in January of this year.

Without the generosity of Mrs. Lush, this Club would not even exist, as she kindly sacrificed two evenings a week, and her kitchen.

A mouth-watering selection of delightful delicacies were made including rum fudge, chocolate mousse and meat loaf.

Club membership was totally female as the boys when asked laughed nervously and declined. Maybe this will change next year.

J.N.S.

THE COLUMBAN

39

Rugby Report Year after year, most schools produce much the same sort of 1st XV; the teams may be more or less good in any particular year but their approach to the game and pattern of play is suprisingly consistent. This cannot be entirely attributable to the pervasive influence of the games master for these patterns seem to survive a change of games master intact. For instance, St. Mary's seldom have big forwards but always have extremely talented backs, all Masonic boys are prepared to die for their school (yet, in such a small school, they must be forced to play the occasional boy who, as they say in Munster, is "just a small bit shy"),... Terenure teams tend to be physically very big and strong but without the flair of St. Mary's, despite both schools drawing their boys from Dublin postal district 6.

In the same sort of way, a games master talking to his team before a match against St Columba's might say, "Their pack is probably quite good, bigger and better than you would expect from a relatively small school but if you can contain the pack, you will win—their forwards are always better than their backs." For the past ten or fifteen years this assessment would have been generally correct. Why do we have so few good backs? (Nasty-minded people will say "because he coaches the flair out of them", an observation I refute with righteous indignation!). The answer, I believe, is simply this.

Almost any hulking great youth, provided he is enthusiastic and prepared to train, can be made into a tolerably good forward, even a very good forward; if he has talent and courage, too, he can become great. No amount of coaching can make a very good back—he must be born with a certain amount of natural footballing. ability.

But why over the past fifteen years have we had, say, ten very good backs out of a minimum possible of 105? Surely one expects more than one talented back to arrive on the 1st XV per year? Not only must a back be born with good balance, coordination and speed, but he must develop these attributes and develop them when young. I do not mean to infer that young boys should be absorbed into some high-powered coaching scheme, but they should simply be encouraged to mess around with a ball more, the way, indeed that some Leps and Tibradden boys are now doing on Sunday mornings. Soccer, basketball, rounders— it does not matter, all will develop skills which are more difficult to-acquire as one gets older. When watching new boys practices at the beginning of a season, it always strikes me how few of them have any real facility in, say, kicking or judging the way the ball will bounce. I once asked a famous Welsh school coach how he taught his whole XV the basic skills of catching, kicking and passing, which they did with great assurance.

He did. not really understand the problem—all his boys had been catching, kicking and passing since they were toddlers.

You may think this preamble heralds a slating of this year's backs but in fact they were rather better than we have had for some time. Lloyd takes up the ration of real talent for this year. Only he could dictate the pattern of play and he has the cheeky self-confidence to make openings from seemingly impossible situations. He must eradicate curious lapses of concentration from his play, a fault which, happily, never appeared in the magnificent work he did as secretary. Both Laird and McCormick, big, strong and competent, were capable of capitalisiflg on gaps created by Lloyd, though less likely to engineer ones on their own account. Petherbridge is at

40

THE COLUMBAN

last beginning to believe in himself and, towards the end of the season was tearing great holes in the opposition's defence with his most effective plunging runs. At the beginning of the season, I must confess, I had Perry firmly in my mind as a pillar of strength on the 2nd XV but by dint of tremendous dedication and courage, he forced his way onto the 1 sts and never did he let us down. His gritty determination made up for his lack of real pace and he won the admiration of all. Craig, at his best on the big occasion, did some of the fiercest tackling I have seen for some time, preventing many certain scores.

The forwards (and I include here Moynan and Earls who, though not Colours, played in a large number of games) divide themselves into two groups—the full-term oldies of Curran, Pettigrew, Hackett, Samuel, Olumide and Poyntz and those who came straight up from last year's Junior XV, Earls, Moynan, Robinson and Bielenberg. The difference in sheer physical strength and stamina between these two groups grew ever wider as the year went on. For instance, Robinson and Bielenberg, two very talented and enthusiastic players, bright prospects for the future, had given their all by Christmas; Curran, Hackett and especially Samuel grew stronger and stronger, rucking with great efficiency and wresting the ball from opponents in mauls with ever increasing skill. Against packs with a similar age distribution to our own, we were definitely superior but against packs composed mostly of eighteen year olds, we were simply not physically strong enough to dominate, even though we often had better jumpers and always a better hooker. Pettigrew deserves the highest praise. By assiduous private practice he mastered the technique of throwing the ball in from touch thus allowing Olumide, Robinson and Bielenberg to impress all with their clean catching. Troubled by injury early in the season and preoccupied with work later on, Olumide was available for only a few matches and for even fewer trainings. This was unfortunate for he has a great talent waiting to unfold.

Poyntz, too, was bedevilled by injury and we missed his tenacious spirit.

Curran has no specialist skill which catches the eye of the spectator, apart, that is, from the most important skill of all, the ability to weld fifteen individuals into a team. This he did with sound judgement, tact and never failing enthusiasm.

I am grateful to Mr. Harper and Mr. John O'Leary for much help in refereeing.

R.M.McM. 1st XV v. TERENURE at Bird Avenue.

Cup Match. Score: 9-9 9/2/1976.

This being the first time in five years that the 1st XV had got into the second round, the team were determined to play their best and beat Terenure.

There was a strong wind blowing down the pitch. Terenure won the toss and decided to play with the wind. Straight from the kick-off, Terenure were on the attack. They were running the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and came very close to scoring a few times. Only for the tackling of Perry, Petherbridge and Craig they would have scored.

Then from a line-out on the half-way line we got possession and the ball was run to McCormick who made a good break to their twenty-five and then passed to Laird who. was tackled just in front of the line. We had quite a few chances to score but could never get over the line.

THE COLUMBAN

41

Then the first score came. Terenure were awarded a penalty about 35 yards out from which they kicked 3 points. A few minutes later they scored a try from a very good back movement after winning a scrum. They got the conversion and so they were 9-0 up.

We were determined not to give up and came very close to scoring just before the end of the first half.

In the second half we had the wind behind us. Winning possession from the kick-off we booted our way into the Terenure twenty-five and stayed there for most of the second half. The pressure was now on them. We were winning most of the line-outs with Olumide, Robinson, Bielenberg and Moynan jumping very effectively. In the loose play Curran and Samuel worked hard and won plenty of good ball. In the set scrums Pettigrew did some steady hooking. He won all our own ball and a few against the head.

Behind the scrum the backs played well. Gibson-Brabazon's passing was always quick and accurate, Laird and McCormick made good breaks in the centre. Peterbridge and Perry didn't get too much to do on the wings, but when they did get the ball they ran well and played safe when under pressure.

Craig had a good game at full back, catching and kicking well and coming into the back line occasionally.

About twenty minutes from the end we were awarded a penalty ten yards from the Terenure line and right in front of the posts. The backs lined up as usual for a penalty. The ball was tapped and passed to Lloyd. The Terenure team all ran to tackle McCormick leaving a gap for Lloyd to slip through.

The conversion was successful. We now knew that there was a good chance of beating them. We continued to run at them, but just could not score.

Three minutes from the end we were awarded a penalty from about thirtyfive yards out. This was kicked by Lloyd and so the game ended a draw at nine all.

It was a fine match in which everyone contributed splendidly.

The team: A. Craig, A. Petherbridge, G. Laird, D. McCormick, N. Perry, M. Lloyd, J. Gibson-Brabazon, A. Curran (capt.), J. Pettigrew, B. Earls, C. Samuel, I. Robinson, A. Bielenberg, 0. Olumide, P. Moynan.

A.L.M.C. 2nd XV v. St. ANDREWS Won 7-4.

This was one of the team's best matches of the season. This was because we had a full 2nd XV team, instead of being weakened by the 1st XV who usually had need of some of our great players.

Even so, from the start we found it difficult to get into the run of things.

There was a lot of loose ball and the handling of the ball wasn't great. However things improved and we soon got the upper hand with a penalty which was converted by A. Mathews, putting us ahead.

Throughout the match D. Dalrymple was hooking well and S. Robb was gaining useful ball in the line out. Even so there were one or two scores that we should have got. A lot of tidying up was needed. When the half-tim whistle blew the score was 3-0.

42

THE COLUMBAN

The second half was very similar to the first half, but once or twice we slackened off a bit too much, so much that they broke through our back line to get a score which was not converted. They became too confident and soon we were over their line to make the score 7-4. This try came from A. Mathews. From then on we had the drive and the upper hand, and twice we nearly broke through, but before we could make it a third time, the final whistle blew, leaving the score at 7-4.

Even though we were weakened throughout the season, with the loss of players to the 1st XV everyone played hard and well.

The team: P. K. Cooper (ma), S. W. Marquart, A. D. Mathews, R. W. Irwin, T. S. A. Folliss, G. W. J. Davies, J. L. Hackett (ma) (capt.), D. J. F. Dalrymple, N. H. Paddle, J. W. Brittain, W. F. Blackley, A. L. Burke, J. F. G. Robb, B. P. Pickering.

J.L.H. JUNIOR XV v. THE KING'S HOSPITAL Away: Won 12-4.

St. Columba's won the toss and decided to play into the wind. King's Hospital started strongly, sitting inside our twenty-five for the first ten minutes of the match. Eventually they scored, but failed to convert.

This set-back brought us back into the game. A surge of strength from the St. Columba's forwards gave us possession for a time, but this we soon lost.

And then it rained: one of this year's Junior XV's points of strength. We gained more and more possession. We were unlucky not to score before halftime.

With continued possession in the second half, our chances came. Dagg made a spectacular break, a scissors movement and Stronach scored in the corner. This score was not converted.

St. Columba's was now really on top and had no difficulty in remaining in their half. Another scissors movement involving Nicholson and Stronach resulted in Stronach again crossing in the corner. Soon Nicholson had scored a third try.

The team played very well as a whole. Nicholson and Dagg were outstanding in the backs and Gale in particular played well in the forwards.

The team: J. K. Cooper, J. F. W. Bolton (ma), E. D. Nicholson, T. C. Parsons, S. A. E. G. Fogarty, G. H. Dagg, H. C. N. Rooney, C. A. Hackett, K. P. Bielenberg (mi), S. R. D. Coe, W. B. Gale, N. R. Odlum (mi) I. D. M. Wilson (mi), G. L. Petherbridge (mi), P. G. Stronach (capt.).

On behalf of the team I should like to thank Mr. Jackson for coaching us and for all the active support he has given us this year.

P.G.S. LEPS XV v. GLENSTALL. Home: Won 22-0.

Our match had to start at 1 . 30, to allow us to see the second half of the Ireland v. France International. We won the toss and played with the slight breeze that there was.

THE COLUMBAN

43

We got off to a good start and were pressing hard near their line before we got our first try. It came from a scrum near their line after about ten minutes of play had gone. The ball was heeled back, and serum-half J. Cheatley crossed over for a good try. He also converted this.

We had some good three-quarter movements going, but could not get over their line. But eventually we did and it was C. Hall who did so with a good run from the half-way. M. Daniels failed to convert.

Soon after this J. Cooper crossed the line with a good try, which resulted from an overlap in the line.

At half-time it was 14-0 to us. At the beginning of the second half, they came back hard against us and very nearly crossed. But soon we settled down again, and T. Petch crossed over the line, again from an overlap in the line.

In the last few minutes, G. Buchanan had a try, which came from a scrum on their line. When the final whistle blew we had won 22-0.

The team: P. T. B. Hudson (capt.), G. M. Buchanan, J. K. Cooper, S. M. D. Dempster, T. J. Petch, M. H. Daniels, J. W. D. Cheatley, D. G. Patterson, A. D. Gibbs, G. V. E. Judge, K. P. Bielenberg (mi), C. W. A. G. Hall, T. G. Solomons, S. A. du Plessis, B. D. Pullman (ma).

P.T.B.H. 1st XV Wesley (H) lost 18-4.

King's Hospital (A) won 12-0.

Masonic (A) lost 16-0.

Mount Temple (H) won 34-0.

St. Andrew's (A) won 19-10.

Templeogue (A) lost 12-10.

C.U.S. (H) won 22-0.

High School (H) lost 6-4.

Wesley (A) lost 4-3.

Gonzaga (H) lost 22-14.

St. Mary's (A) lost 31-18.

Glenstall (A) won 4-0.

Garbally College (H) won 10-0.

Gurteen College (H) won 36-16.

Masonic (H) lost 18-6.

St. Andrews (Cup match) won 19-0.

Terenure (Cup match) draw 9-9.

Terenure (Cup match) re-play lost 12-4.

Played: 18; Won: 9; Lost: 8; Drawn:1.

Points Against 164.

Points For: 228; JUNIOR XV Wesley (H) won 14-4.

Masonic (A) won 36-0.

Mount Temple (A) won 14-0.

C.U.S. (A) lost 11-4.

St. Andrew's (H) won 18-0.

Gonzaga (H) lost 18-12.

High School (H) won 18-11.

St. Gerard's (H) lost 12-4.

St. Mary's (H) lost 28-8.

44

THE COLUMBAN

King's Hospital (H) won 4-3.

Wesley (A) lost 18-12.

Mount Temple (H) won 28-4.

Templeogue (A) lost 26-0.

St. Andrew's (A) draw 4-4.

C.U.S. (H) won 10-8.

Masonic (H) draw 12-12.

King's Hospital (H) lost 24-4.

Belvedere (Cup match) lost 14-3.

Played: 18; Won: 8; Lost: 8; Drawn: 2.

Points For: 205; Points Against: 197, Played 1st XV 18 2nd XV 14 Junior XV 18 Leps XV 14

Won

Lost

9

8

3

10

1

8

2

8 4

_-

Drawn 11 -

10

_

Points For

Points Against

288

164

131

_285

205

197

94

252

Hockey The Senior XI this season, with two exceptions (B. Scott and J. Grant) was similar to last season, (G. H. Dagg and A. S. D. Ruddock were the newcomers). Yet we did not win any trophies: though we finished runners-up in the League.

We met the holders, Newpark, in the first round of the Cup, and after a very fast, exciting, and evenly matched game we lost 2-1. We could have won this match easily—we missed two glorious opportunities, another shot hit the upright (as well as scoring the only goal before half-time).

The Junior XI, with only two of last season's team remaining were teambuilding and played reasonably well in their League matches.

In their Cup match, against the holders, Newpark, the team played brilliantly, scoring three excellent goals from open play. Newpark replied with three penalty corners (two should have been saved).

Six of the Senior XI—G. Rowe, J. Brewitt, G. Laird, N. Taylor, C. Johns, D. McCormick were nominated for the Leinster Schoolboys Trials; later M. Archer was invited to join the squad, but only six (G. Rowe was, unfortunately, the exception) were picked for the final 16 squad.

N. Taylor (twice) and D. McCormick (once) played for the Leinster Interprovincial team.

We are delighted to record in this edition that N. Taylor has been selected to play in the Final Irish Schoolboys Trial, to pick the Irish XI for the forthcoming Internationals to be played in Edinburgh, Scotland in April '76. We wish him the very best of luck.

THE COLUMBAN

45

The future may not look too bright as, at the time of writing, we will be losing seven of the Senior XI, and we take this opportunity of sincerely thanking them for their contribution to hockey whilst in the College. We will continue to train and practice hard and enjoy our hockey.

F.J.McC.L, ST. COLUMBA'S 1st XI v. NEWPARK (Home) CUP The match, like most for St. Columba's, started well and N. C. Taylor the Captain slotted in a penalty stroke only minutes after the start. Basking in the glory of this early lead, we were stunned by a similar effort by Newpark after the ball had been kicked off the line from a penalty corner.

Although fighting hard both up front and in defence, St. Columba's couldn't stop Newpark breaking through again, this time from a goal-mouth scramble following a penalty corner. The rest of the half was fought evenly with no further score. For most of the second half St. Columba's were striving for the equaliser, but time and time again were frustated by their own ineptness and the solidness of the Newpark defence. We kept the narrow margin intact through the second half, ourselves defending with considerable skill and determination. The condition of the pitch did not make for fluid play and although fast, the game could have been far more enjoyable had the surface been firmer. Numerous chances went amiss in the second half and though the final score stood at 2-1, it can only be said that St. Columba's went down fighting.

Final score: Lost 1-2.

Colours Team: G. Rowe, J. Brewitt, G. Dagg, I. Larmour, M. Archer, R. Mather, G. Laird, D. McCormick, N. Taylor (Capt.), C. Johns, A. Ruddock.

CUP MATCH JUNIOR XI v. NEWPARK The match was played at Newpark on an all-weather pitch. The game started with both sides desperate to score the first goal. The frenzy however was briefly interrupted when Newpark were awarded a penalty stroke from which they scored.

The St. Columba's forwards pressed hard on the Newpark goal in search of the equaliser: Ruddock found his chance to shoot and score. It was now one-all and the pressure was on again.

Davies, spurred on by the previous goal went through and drove the ball into the corner well out of the goal-keeper's reach. Newpark were back again hard and the ball went to the roof of the goal from the edge of the circle just before half time.

Early on in the second half we made the score 3-2 from a short corner, but this lead was quickly taken from us by a Newpark goal. The goal was attained within a very short space of time giving Newpark a 4-3 lead. And indeed a win, for the game carried on in a goal-less struggle to the final whistle, but we had the compensation of having played a good match.

Team: J. A. Traill, W. B. Gale, G. H. Dagg, K. P. Archer, I. H. Larmour, H. N. Rooney, J. E. Leslie, A. S. Ruddock, G. W. Davies, J. W. Cheatley, J. A. Lyttle.

46

THE COLUMBAN

CUP MATCH LEPS XI v. DROGHEDA GRAMMAR SCHOOL at Drogheda. 4.2.76.

Team: D. Stewart, W. Scott, B. Ruilman, P. Hudson, J. Lyttle (Capt.), J. Smith, T. Petch, S. Dempster, J. Cheatley, K. Perdue, J. Dalgety.

This was our second cup match. We had previously beaten Mount Temple 6-0.

There was a very strong wind blowing against us in the first half. During the first ten minutes Drogheda attacked hard, but they never came near to scoring. Gradually we got more of the ball and began to control play. After about fifteen minutes a ball was cleared to T. Petch on the right wing. He beat the half and drew the defence so that when he shot and the ball was deflected J. Cheatley was able to score.

Drogheda attacked occasionally during the rest of the half but we controlled most of the play. However just on half time. D. Stewart miss-timed a shot and they scored the equalizer. The score at half-time was 1-1.

During the second half we had a strong wind behind us. Early in the second half Petch scored. S. Dempster received the ball on the half way line and passed to T. Petch who was able to beat their back and goalie. They soon equalized when their centre forward made a break. He passed to the inner who succeeded in beating D. Stewart.

We attacked several times before we got a short corner. T. Petch hit out to J. Lyttle who quickly passed to J. Cheatley who scored. The score was now 3-2.

The backs and halfs defended well for the rest of the half and gave the Drogheda forwards little chance. The forwards also played well and although they attacked several times they failed to score.

The final score was 3-2 to S,C.C. J.A.L. HOCKEY SEASON 1975/76. v. King's Hospital (Away) v. Sandford Park (Away) v. Sandford Park (Home) v. Mount Temple (Away) v. Drogheda Grammar School (Home) v. Newpark (Away) v. Drogheda Grammar School (Away) v. King's Hospital (Home) Leinster Senior Cup: v. Newpark (Home) lstXl won 5; Drew 1; Lost 3.

1st XI

Junior XI v. Sandford Park (Away) v. Drogheda Grammar School (Home) v. King's Hospital (Away) v. Newpark (Away) v. King's Hospital (Home) Junior Cup: v. Newpark (Away) Junior XI won 2; Lost 4.

Result won 4-3. drew 2-2. lost 3-4. won 6-2. won 5-1. lost 4-0. won 7-1. won 3-0. lost 2-1.

Result lost 2-1. won 11-0. lost 5-3. lost 9-0. won 3-2. lost 4-3.

47

THE COLTJMBAN

Minor XI v. King's Hospital v. Sandford Park v. Newpark v. Mount Temple Minor Cup: v. Mount Temple Minor Cup: v. Drogheda Grammar School Drew 1.

Lost 2; Minor XI won 3;

Result drew 3-3. lost 3-0. lost 5-0. won 6-0. won 4-2. won 4-2.

GIRLS' HOCKEY With the increase in numbers this year, it should have been possible to have two full teams for hockey practices. However, attendance figures, and often enthusiasm, dropped gradually throughout the season and thus we did not have as good a year as was expected at first. Our first match, against a selection of 'Old Girls' from St. Columba's last year, went very well, ending with a victory for our team, which was hard fought for, but well deserved.

We entered for the Dublin Schools 'Plate', as we were too late to go in for the League, and our first match, played here against Manor House, was a successful and convincing win. However, in the next round we were beaten on the all-weather pitch at Killiney, by the Holy Child Convent. Although we put up a good fight, and the defence, B. Dagg and T. Judd (goalkeeper) especially, did their utmost, the game was rather too fast, and we could have done with more practice on an all-weather pitch.

We played one more match, this time at Glengara. Again it was an all-weather pitch, and again we were beaten, this time quite considerably, by a competent team.

Our forward line, A. Luce, C. Stronach, E. Kenny, S. Lalor (our main scorer) and J. Glenn played well together, although they needed more confidence in attacking during matches.

This year, we have been managed by Mrs. Caird and our captain E. Kenny; but next year Mr. Falkiner will be taking us in hand again, and doubtless we can look forward to a more rigorous training programme and energetic schedule!

Team: T. Judd, M. Holiway, B. Dagg, C. Stokes, C. McLerie, E. Loone, J. Burkitt, A. Luce, C. Stronach, E. Kenny, S. Lalor, J. Glenn, MATCHES Old Girls (H) won 5-3.

Manor House (H) won 9-1.

Killiney Holy Child (A) lost 4-2.

Glengara (A) lost 5-2.

A.H.L.

Cross Country Report The sport of cross-country running in schools seems to be at a low ebb at present. It is very difficult to get matches. Here in St. Columba's it is left to a few of the boys who do their best to put all they have into the sport.

Trinity C.C. team each year gives us the opportunity to run against proper competition. St. Columba's team were K. O'Morchoe, B. Lalor, N. Paddle.

48

THE COLUMBAN

The race was immensely enjoyed; the fact that you are against older boys makes you want to run well and maybe achieve a win.

The toughness of running up and then down hills, across streams and fields, gives the athlete great satisfaction when the race is finished. The Columban accepting the challenge is disatisfied at the time it always seems to take. He takes due advantage of his surroundings, thus, does pretty well.

Over the years we have had the privilege to run freely over the mountain behind the College. Now this has been taken away, and numerous courses have been forbidden. I hope soon negotiations will take place with the owners for us to run on their lands once again.. Nevertheless, this season has gone pretty well, in what running we have been able to do.

The talent is there, in many of our athletes: starting from minor we have a young very talented runner in J. Curran who always ran particularly well, With P. Stronach in Junior running reasonably. In the Intermediate section our talent lay with A. Traill and B. Lalor running extremely well. S. Liciwill, T. Whitley and N. Paddle completed our successful Intermediate Team. In the Senior section K. O'Morchoe, C. Whitley and T. Poyntz were left to run, and sometimes achieved noteabie successes.

I would like to thank Eddie MacDonagh for training us, and the Chaplain for helping us with matches. To conclude I would hope, that the coming season's Cross-Country Teams will gain strength, by picking up new members for the sport and that the athletes will enjoy it as much as I have, winning or losing.

MATCHES Dundrum C.C.: Won. Sutton Park: Won. Trinity'B': Won. Blackrock: Won. Templeogue: Won. - . .

ACHIEVEMENTS The Intermediate Team came 2nd in West Leinster Competition.

RECORDS T. Poyntz, Marathon, 23:50; I. Larmour, Marathon, 25:47; B. Lalor, Marathon, 26:27.

Senior Colours: T. Poyntz, C. Whitley, S. Lidwill, K. O'Morchoe.

President's Cup: Gwynn House.

Senior Cross-country Cup: I. Larmour.

Junior Cross-country Cup: P. Stronach.

T.J.P.

Rock Climbing Most of the climbing was done at Dalkey. There were two expeditions to Glendalough. One of the Field Day, the 18th of May, the other a Sixth Form expedition after the exams.

The second expedition after the exams was mainly spent sitting around a campfire eating or down on the lake fishing. Some climbing was done. Five

THE COLUMBAN

49

climbs were completed with the loss of two chocs and a harabiner on the last one.

We would like to express our thanks to the Warden for the time he has spent taking us to Dalkey and Glendalough and to the Sub-Warden and Dr. Somerfield for driving us to Glendalough in their spare time.

J.P.H.

1st. XI Cricket The Trinity Term began on Monday, April 26th; on the following Wednesday we played Trinity Ramblers in College Park and we managed to draw the match, with N. C. Taylor scoring 50 runs. Our next game was against The High School in Rathgar which we won by ten wickets, and again N. C. Taylor got 52 n.o. and D. W. McCormick 30 n.o. On May 8th we took on Belvedere College at Cabra Oval in our first Cup match. Belvedere batted first and scored 116; A. D. Mathews bowled well, getting 6 wickets for 33 runs, but our bowling was still wild and the fielding uncertain. However, our batting did not do well against the Belvedere attack and with forty-five minutes of play left our score was 28 for 7; but two batsmen rose to the occasion magnificently, W. F. Blackley and N. P. Perry, who defied with rare skill and patience the varied, and at times hostile, Belvedere attack. The match was a draw; were we relieved!

On May 15th we drew the match with The King's Hospital XI at the College and the following Wednesday, between showers, we beat Wesley College. Again A. D. Mathews proved that, on his day, he is a formidable bowler; he collected six wickets for 16 runs against Wesley on a rather wet wicket. By now we were showing signs that our limited talents were being channelled and that we had a right to approach the game with some confidence.

Sandford Park School, with a strong reputation, came up to play us on May 22nd in a Cup match. We batted first and made 133 for 8 declared; this time M. J. Lloyd made the highest score of 40 n.o. Then Sandford's turn to bat came, after tea, and they had a reputation of being a strong batting side.

Things did not go well for them and they lost wickets early. However, their star batsman, with an average of 283, plus or minus, a run or two, came in and we felt that the battle was now well and truly on. Goliath was at the wicket and he turned his first ball high to a wide fine leg... surely it would clear the fence; but G. V. Laird made a considerable effort and threw a hand high at the heavens—the ball stuck to it. Columbans on the bank cheered with wild delight and I must say that I felt rather relieved myself. We won that match, and A. D. Mathews got 4 wickets for 32 runs; the captain M. B. Beamish collected 3 wickets for a modest 14 runs.

So we now had to meet Belvedere College again in a play-off to decide the winner of our section. This game was played at the College on Wednesday May 26th; we won by 6 wickets, which meant that we were in the final of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup; A. D. Mathews got 5 Belvedere wickets for 37 runs. N. C. Taylor made a delightful 64 runs; he played with great confidence, hitting the ball hard and stylishly.

The Cup Final was played at Rathmines, against St. Mary's College, on the Leinster Cricket Club ground which was in beautiful condition. It was a most enjoyable match, played over three days in a very friendly spirit, with some excellent cricket. D. W. McCormick scored a patient, workmanlike

50

THE COLTJMBAN

95 n.o. in our first innings, which gave us a wonderful start and A. D. Mathews was our most successful bowler, collecting six wickets in each innings. So, we had won the Cup for the fifth time in the last eight years.

The Old Columban match on June 5th was a jolly but rather pointless affair, and we were delighted to have Portora down with us on June 12th.

They brought a Colts XI and their First XI. Our First XI won this game and this time N. C. Taylor scored 84 n.o. and G. V. Laird, for 22 runs took eight wickets.

The last match of the season, at the College, against the Leprechauns Cricket Club, was a real thriller. The Leprechauns batted first and made 138 all out, G. V. Laird accounting for four of their batsmen for 38 runs. Now we had to bat and the task was 139 runs in ninety-five minutes. With two overs of play left, we needed eighteen runs to win. Fortunately a wicket fell and G. V. Laird, with a long handle came in and took guard. This was the right man in the right place at the right time; he carved some delightful fours, but the last ball was coming up and we needed three runs to win. The last ball was short and swung late across the batsman to the off, but Laird got his bat to it and sent it on its way to the leg boundary for a four. It was real Boys'Own Paper stuff: the Senior Prefect, to the delight of about three score people on the bank and in front of the pavillion, scored the winning stroke of the last match of the season off the last ball. That was a fitting end to a most enjoyable season. I really must congratulate the captain, M. R. Beamish, and thank the First XI for making the cricket so enjoyable. I forget the tedium of rolling, the annoyance when catches are dropped, the frustration when nets begin late, when I reflect on the Leprechauns game and the all-out endeavour of the team to do well and to win, all season.

I wish to congratulate M. R. Beamish, M. J. Lloyd, A. D. Mathews and N. C. Taylor on playing for the Leinster Schoolboy XI against Ulster. N. C. Taylor was selected to play for the Irish Schoolboys XI against Wales—we Jil done. I am delighted to read in the papers that six of this season's eleven continue to play cricket in the holidays for Phoenix, Y.M.C.A., North Leinster and South Leinster—that is good, for not enough Columbans play cricket during the holidays or when they leave the College (but this attitude is changing, which is all to the good).

We have changed the boundary this season; a batsman scores six if he hits the ball over the wire fence, on three sides, and, on the south side, if the ball clears the stones in the bank. This has worked well. Unfortunately our game against Mullingar C. C. had to be cancelled as the game coincided with the Schools Cup Final.

Again, I must thank Mr. M. Moriarty of Pembroke C.C., for coming up to help with coaching and congratulate our groundsman P. Kielty for keeping the ground in such fine condition; the wicket for the Leprechauns match was a real beauty. The cricket teas were up to their usual high standard.

Cricket in the College is flourishing; we can produce five elevens, there is much enthusiasm for, and great interest in the game, but we do need more coaching and more time in which to play.

N.H.L. 1st XI: M. R. Beamish, N. C. Taylor, G. V. Laird, M. J. Lloyd, D. W. McCormick, A. D. Mathews, N. P. Perry, P. A. G. Moynan, W. F. Blackley, R. N. Mather, A. L. Burke.

51

THE COLUMBAN

Date Ven 28 April A A 5May A 8May H 15 May H 19 May H 22 May H 26 May 2,3, A 4 June 5 June H 12 June H 24 June H Played 11;

SUMMARY OF FIRST XI MATCHES Score 120-9 d. Trinity Ramblers S.C.C. S.C.C. 90 High School S.C.C. 116 Belvedere King's Hospital 121 S.C.C. S.C.C. 51 Wesley 133-8 d. Sandford Park S.C.C. 122 S.C.C. Belvedere 203-4.

St. Mary's College 172 S.C.C. Old Columbans 98-6d. S.C.C. 154-5. Portora S.C.C. S.C.C. 138 Leprechauns Lost 0.

Drew 3; Won 8;

Score 113-1.

91-0.

35-7.

71-8.

52-2.

92 124-4.

98 171 99-4.

43 139-4.

Result Drew Won Drew Drew Won Won Won Won Won Won Won

1st XI BATTING AVERAGES—TRINITY 1976 1'vl

Not Outs HS

I

11 12 3 84* N. C. Taylor 11 11 3 52* M. J. Lloyd 11 8 6 17* G. V. Laird 9 10 2 95* D. W. McCormick 11 11 1 31 M. R. Beamish 9 11 5 2 N. P. Perry 10 8 2 23 A. D. Mathews 11 6 0 26 W. F. Blackley 11 5 0 13 A. L. Burke 11 9 1 10 P. A. G. Moynan 10 2 1 4* R. N. Mather 1 1 0 1 C. R. Johns 0* 1 1 1 T. S. A. Folli.c 1 0 -- -.

J. W. Brittain Fifties:— Taylor (4); v. Trinity Ramblers v. High School v. Belvedere College v. Portora Royal McCormick (1); v. St. Mary's College Lloyd (1); v. Leprechauns

Runs

471 223 55 194 204 27 44 41 30 39 4 1 0

Mins. Runs!

Ave. Batting Mins.

5233 2787 2750 2425 204 90 7.3 683 600 487 40 10

-

739 063 489 045 72 076 392 0-49 308 066 98 027 151 0-29 119 034 101 029 120 032 14 028 20 005 4 000 50 52* 64 84* 95* 52*

1st XI BOWLING AVERAGES-1976.

0

M

R

W

Ave.

152-4 46 313 39 8025 A. D. Mathews 10-3 1 27 3 9-0 D. W. McCormick 24 275 22 12-5 110 G. V. Laird 20 153 11 13-9 68 M. J. Lloyd 392 5 140 10 140 N. P. Perry 6 189 13 145 46 M. R. Beamish Wides 35 (Lloyd 12, Mathews 14, Laird 8, Perry 1).

No Balls 3 (Lloyd 3).

Best

6-16 2-26 8-22 3-12 3-42 4-28

Balls

Balls /Wkt.

916 63 660 408 236 276

233 210 300 370 23-6 212

52

THE COLUMBAN

Five wickets:— Laird (1); v.

Mathews (5); v. v. v. v. v.

Portora Belvedere Wesley Belvedere St. Mary's St. Mary's

8-22 6-33 6-16 5-37 6-31 6-68

ST. COLUMBA's v. PORTORA S.C.C. won by 111 runs.

Portora put us in, on what can only be called a spiteful wicket. The ball was getting up sharply and was difficult to keep down.

McCormick went in the second over at 9. Taylor and Lloyd then weathered a storm and saw us through the worst patch, and when Lloyd was out at 31, the pitch had quietened down considerably.

Taylor and Beamish then put on 81 in 46 minutes. Taylor went on with Moynan, Mathews and finally Laird. We declared at 154-5 with Taylor unbeaten at 84.

Portora were, without doubt, the weakest batting side we had come across this season, and instead of Mathews, it was Laird whom they just could not play.

Laird took a wicket every over and Portora slumped to 22-8. It was purely bad batting on their part.

After tea, Portora decided to throw the bat, realizing they were beaten.

The eighth wicket brought the score to 43 before Laird finished it all off with a double wicket maiden.

We finished with a victory by 111 runs, and Laird, with the best bowling figures for a long long time which were 8- 22.

M.R.B. ST. COLUMBA'S v. BELVEDERE Section Play-off St. Columbas won by 6 wickets.

Having been so completely out-played in our first meeting, we were looking for a considerably improved performance to get us through to the final, and that was exactly what we found.

It was a 40-overs match, and Belvedere, having won the toss, elected to bat. Mathews and Laird opened the bowling. However, when Laird came off after two overs, it was Lloyd and Mathews who bowled very tightly and accurately and contained Belvedere at 29 for 3 after their first 20 overs.

Belvedere had the wickets in hand though to make an assault in the second half of their innings. This is what they did, much to the delight of the many Belvedere old boys and parents who were in the pavilion enclosure.

They scored their runs at about San over from then on, Lloyd losing a little bit of his former accuracy. Mathews, though, could not be hit and bowled unchanged throughout the innings and took 5-37. Economic indeed.

Our fielding had been good in the beginning, the best we had seen it, but as the innings went on it grew scrappy; that is with the exception of Taylor, who kept wicket almost perfectly.

THE COLUMBAN

53

Belvedere managed 122 in their 40 overs. We were less than happy with it having had them in such a tight hold at one stage. Belvedere and their supporters seemed happy as well they might have been, and had their tea in peace.

A rude awakening was waiting for them as we went out to bat. Having lost McCormick at 12, Taylor cut the Belvedere attack to pieces. Lloyd supported him well, playing the "anchor role". The pair of them put on 56 in 43 minutes.

Lloyd was out at 68, and the Belvedere parents began to sing again. Not for long though. Taylor went on and on, and he and Beamish put the match beyond doubt with a stand of 47 in only 23 minutes. Taylor went after McDevitt, the Belvedere, Leinster and Ireland bowler, with great success, and he and Beamish took 15, off his final over. Taylor was out three runs later playing a lazy shot. He had clone his job by this stage, and it was left to Moynan to finish the match with a drive through the covers.

Mathews's great bowling set us up for victory, but despite this, this was Taylor's match.

M.R.B. LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP FINAL Played at Rathmines St. Columba's College v. St. Mary's College S.C.C. 203-4 and 172.

St. Mary's 98 and 171.

St. Columba's won by 106 runs.

We won the toss and elected to bat on a very hard wicket. The outfield was extremely fast and as a result batting conditions were perfect.

We could not have asked for a better start. McCormick and Taylor put on 66 in the first hour's play in even time before Taylor was out, l.b.w. swinging across the line, for 39. Neither he or McCormick had been in any trouble up to that point, batting was so easy.

McCormick and Lloyd then added 78 in only 57 minutes in what was probably the best stand of the match. Lloyd was eventually caught at midwicket for 33.

The first innings for both teams may only go on for 50 overs and we had by this stage used 35. During the next 15 overs both Moynan and Beamish lost their wickets going for the runs. McCormick, though, played the innings of the match and was unbeaten at the end with 95, the highest score by a Columban since 1953. In our 50 overs we scored 203-4, which is the largest score S.C.C. have made since the 1971 Final on the same ground when we scored 244 all out.

Tired and no doubt depressed St. Mary's went into bat and promptly collapsed. There were no attacking shots and they slumped to 35-4. At this point, though, they almost recovered, but we had a stroke of luck and gained a fortunate run-Out which started a second collapse. By close of play they were 96-9, 107 behind. Mathews had taken 6-31 by this time in an unchanged spell of 182 overs which lasted more than 2 hours: a show of great stamina, as he was bowling just as fast and as accurately at the end as he had been at the beginning.

54

THE COLTJMBAN

The next day we quickly finished their innings off at 98 leaving us an enormous lead of 105. We must have thought that we were in an unbeatable position.

McCormick went early in our second innings, and then after a 50 partnership in which both Taylor and Lloyd batted well, we collapsed to 91-5 and later to 105-6. The bowling was not the cause. It was our own batting and some great fielding which St. Mary's had also shown in the first innings.

However after tea Blackley and Mathews set about the bowling, made 26 and 23 respectively in a show of some very hard hitting indeed.

"The tail wagged" is what they say when this happens, and the last four wickets added 67 priceless runs, including a gigantic 6 from Laird.

We weren't to know that these runs would not be needed, but it made us take the task of bowling out St. Mary's more easily.

St. Mary's survived the remaining hour or so intact, building up a solid beginning from which they could attack the 278 they needed to win the next day.

We were given a fright by their batting next day. They kept up with the clock and were not losing wickets. All our bowlers suffered. Their first wicket went down at 60 and their second at 74. They then went on to 118-2 and we began to wonder what was going wrong.

We were soon aliright. Two wickets went down quickly and their best batsmen were out. We went into tea firmly in command.

Perry and Mathews continued their collapse after tea until they were 132-8.

At this point St. Mary's realized that they were beaten and the last two wickets produced 39 runs in next to no time as they threw the bat. It Was all very entertaining for the spectators, but perhaps not quite so much for the bowlers.

171 was what they made. And despite McCormick's 95*, Mathews made this his match by taking 6- 68, this time in an unchanged spell of 363 overs.

Again he showed terrific stamina not wavering in line or length and not losing speed as be went on. He ended up with the remarkable match figures of 12- 99. A worthy man-of-the-match.

But if the success in the final had been the efforts of four men, Mathews, McCormick, Lloyd and Taylor, the previous Cup matches had been all team efforts. Everyone played his part in some match or other to see us through.

The highlights were Taylor's 64 against Belvedere, probably the innings of the season; and probably the most enjoyable partnership of the year to watch was Perry and Blackley's long vigil against Belvedere in the first match to earn a draw having been 19-6 at one stage!

I think in the last two years we have been unlucky not to reach the final.

This year I think luck was on our side, and it has helped us in the achievements of this season.

M.R.B. THE 2nd XI, 1976.

I do not hesitate to say that this year's 2nd XI must rank among the finest in the College's history. I say this not only because our results were good, if not quite good enough, but because more than ever the 2nd XI found themselves with the sheath of the 1st XI's sword.

THE COLUMBAN

55

There was a sparkle in Mr. Fanagan's eyes as he obviously perceived the solid basic talent of the 16-strong 2nds squad during that first practice, and born of this was a reassuring confidence on his part which inspired the team more than any of the encouragement we got from outside.

We lost our first match against St. Andrew's. This was, however, because we had only been back for a matter of days and had yet to polish up on our various skills. Once this had been done we went on to beat Clongowes Wood College, Stratford College, St. Mary's College and Castleknock College by decisive scores. We then found ourselves in the semi-final of the Cup, with Sandford Park. The game was treated with feverish seriousness by every member of the team. The 2nd XI might almost have been mistaken for the First XI that day, so clean was their gear, so earnest were their faces.

Perhaps, however, the team had a slight overdose of the "big time," for the match was lost and the defeat was indeed too decisive to be attributed to lack of skill.

For is the season was then over, and it was a season of cricket enjoyed by every member of the team. The 2nd XI took great pride in achieving such good results without the usual help of First XI players as many of our opponents had done窶馬otably Sandford Park, whose team was based on their First XI opening bowlers.

2nd XI team: M. D. Archer (Capt.), D. J. F. Dalrymple, G. A. Armstrong, B. P. Pickering, A. S. D. Ruddock, R. W. Irwin, J. W. Brittain, T. P. Whitley, C. R. Johns, G. C. Rowe, P. C. S. Samuel.

M.D.A. JUNIOR CRICKET REPORT This season was the second of the new Junior Square. The turf had settled well and although there are benefits to be had from more rolling, it played true. The well kept outfield and the relatively short boundary allowed for resonable scores.

There were some newcomers to the game in Fogarty and Dinandt ma who entered enthusiastically into the practices.

The weather although cold and often wet, only rained off one game against another school. There was a lot of cricket for everyone.

Having come back later than the other schools our XI had to be produced for the first Wednesday of term. Then the League was upon us. Belvedere won the first round, but the Junior XI went on to win its other two games of the section against Masonic and Sandford Park. Belvedere won three games (6, points) to our two games (4 points) so they went on into the Final. This they lost to High School.

As the term went on and play settled down, Turner showed great energy and speed in his bowling. Balls on the wicket usually succeeded in bowling out the batsman. Wilson mi partnered him at the other end and showed good style and stamina.

Oulton ma and Nicholson usually opened the Junior XI innings. Oulton ma only in the Sandford Park game showed what he can do when he swings the bat. Nicholson was always willing to run hard and have a good try.

In the field Nicholson had the edge on Girdham behind the stumps. Bonham was quick McLerie really impressed with his reflex movement and well-judged returns to the stumps. Gale fielded well in the slips and Rooney had one or two catches and stops.

56

THE COLUMBAN

As Captain, Dagg kept a cool head. Bowling a little too infrequently, he never really reached any standard, although he managed to take a good number of wickets. He was not at ease when batting. At the same time he will do well as both a batsman and bowler as he practices and matures.

It is difficult to be more than general in such a report as this but everyone enjoyed their cricket and put their best into it. That is the main object in any case.

M.R.H. JUNIOR XI v. MASONIC Our most exciting match this season was probably the Cup match against Masonic at Richview, their home ground.

Masonic won the toss and decided to bat first. After six overs they were one for one and after eighteen overs they were twenty-four for three. Their final score was fourty-seven for seven after thirty overs, which was all we were allowed each.

Oulton and Wilson opened for St. Columba's. Oulton was bowled in the fourth over with one run made. Dagg, Hudson, Gale, and McLerie were the only other players to bat. Wilson was top scorer with twenty-five. Our final score was fifty-one for four.

Rain interrupted play for only short spells and didn't do much damage to the wicket.

The Junior XI have had a very enjoyable and worthwhile season this year.

G.H.D. LEPS XI v. SANDFORD PARK S.C.C. won by 83 runs.

The Team: P. T. B. Hudson (Captain), M. H. Daniels, J. W. D. Cheatley, D. H. Stewart, T. G. Solomons, M. B. W. Jackson, B. D. Pullman, K. P. Bielenberg, J. R. C. Curran, J. A. Dalgety, G. B. Lalor. Scorer: K. G. S. Perdue.

This was a Cup match, played at home. We won the toss and chose to bat first. The opening pair, Hudson and Solomons, made a partnership of 59, until Hudson was run out for 20. Solomons was the highest scorer with 38 runs. Daniels made 15 runs. At the end of the innings we were 114-7 wickets, declared.

We got them all out for 31. Hudson took 4-9, Daniels 4-13 and Cheatley 2-6.

P.T.B.H. CRICKET SEASON 1976 Team

1st XI 2nd XI Junior XI Under-14 XI Tibradden XI TOTAL

Played

.,

11 6 9 7

6 39

Drew

Lost

8

3

4

0

6 3 2 23

1 2 3 9

0 2 2 2 1

Won

7

THE COLUMBAN

57

THE LEPS OF 1971 The 1971 season was a remarkable one for Leps cricket. In our first match, against he t High School, we proved vulnerable against fast bowling. Our openers, Smith and Folliss, scored two runs each, Tuke at number nin e and Parsons at ten each scored one run. The other seven batsmen failed to score.

We lost this game. For the match against Brook House, Matson, a future Captain of Cricket, was picked. He added solidity to the middle of the order, scoring sixteen runs. Beamish scored seven. The other batsmen scored seven.

Brook House won by nine wickets. The first match in the League competition was against Masonic. Our Junior XI had no fixture that day so O'Morchoe and Rayment were free to play. Rayment took seven wickets, O'Morchoe three. Since Rayment scored twelve of our thirty-five runs, a lot of credit for our narrow victory must go to him. The next round of the League was played at home against a highly-fancied St. Mary's College XI on a wicket whose treacherous bounce failed to amuse Father Moloney. We had first use of this wicket and Rayment carried his bat having scored thirty-one runs.

Parsons was our next highest scorer with seven and Harte added an invaluable four. St. Mary's were within seven runs of our total with four wickets to fall when Beamish put himself on to bowl his slow spinners.

Perhaps his main hope was to cut down the byes which totalled ten out of the thirty runs scored. He took three wickets in two overs and then held a catch off Rayment's bowling to give us victory by two runs. We underrated Headfort, omitted some key players, and were beaten by six wickets. We travelled to Kells in a van lent to us by Mr. Beamish. Somewhere near Navan, Thompson mi fell out through the back door; probably he was pushed. We had to reverse a long way to pick him up. Thompson was a regular member of the side but scored only one run all season. He did not bowl and was a poorish fielder, so from a cricketing point of view he would not have been greatly missed.

In the semi-final of the League we met once again our old rivals. High School. This time we called up all our available forces. We had Robinson, Rayment, Armstrong and O'Morchoe from the Junior XI and Anderson mi was borrowed from the 1st XI, of which he was a regular and successful member. Anderson took five wickets, Rayment took five and we passed their total for the loss of two wickets. The High School players were impressed by our improvement between April and June.

The Final was against Belvedere College. It was played at Masonic during one of the dry afternoons in a very wet week. We batted first and scored 101.

Rayment played a fine innings and was well supported right down to Earls at number eleven. At one point Belvedere were eight runs for five wickets.

They rallied bravely but were all out for 32. A report on this match, written

by Beamish, is in 'The Columban' for the Trinity Term 1971. Beamish captained the team throughout the season. He received the Cup and he made the speech. (Mrs. Beamish looked perplexed and asked me: "Why is Michael captaining all those big boys?"). Anderson thus won a medal with the Leps and some days later won another with the Firsts when they beat St. Andrew's in the Senior Cup Final. This could be a record. My reason, though for writing all this stuff is to show in what peculiar circumstances the 1976 Captain of Cricket, M. R. Beamish, came to be captain of not one but two cup-winning teams, a feat accomplished by few other Columbans.

D.J.C.

58

THE COLUMBAN

Field Day This is the second year we have had a Field Day. The weather on both occasions was dismal. Fortunately it did not stop the planned activities. The field day took place on 18th May. Those activities include canoeing, climbing, sailing, orienteering, YFC and NHS outings, voluntary service and an art expedition to Cruagh Wood.

The canoeing expedition started at Ceibridge on the Liffey. From here they worked their way down past Lucan Weir, the Wren's Nest, and ended up at Palmerstown Weir.

The climbing expedition left the night before and camped near the cliffs in Glendalough. The following morning they got to the cliffs as early as possible.

The day was overcast and it eventually started to rain increasing the standard of the climbs and decreasing the enthusiasm to climb.

The Warden who hurt himself when falling decided to return after lunch.

The rest managed to get a lift off a Wesley coach.

The Field Day is a good idea, it makes a break in the pattern of the summer term. It has however been unfortunate that bad weather should have affected these first two Field Days. Also the prospect of getting up at 7.40 a.m. the following morning weakens the strongest.

J.P.H.

Athletics 1976 The season started with a quadrilateral match against Wesley, High School, and Dundrum. We won this due to our dominance in the field events. Our next matches were against King's Hospital and the High School. In both of these we proved ourselves the slightly better team.

Within a few weeks the West Leinster Championships commenced. We once again proved our talent in the field events. We had two firsts: A. Craig in the Long Jump and J. Pettigrew in the Javelin. J. Feenstra, A. Bielenberg, P. Stronach and M. Jackson also qualified for the Leinster Championships.

Unfortunately nobody qualified in the track events, A. Craig was the only qualifier for the All-Ireland in which he came 4th. J. Feenstra received a medal but did not qualify. He was later rewarded by being picked to represent Leinster in an Inter-Provincial match.

Our next match was the Hall and Cooper Company Educational Trophy Match. Ten schools partook in this. We came 4th in the boys and 6th in the girls.

Unfortunately our team was not at full strength and we only obtained one medal: J. Pettigrew won in the Javelin.

For the rest of term the Leaving Certificate prevented us from arranging any more matches. The season ended with our Annual Sports Day. 0. Olumide displayed his talent by winning the Long Jump, Shot, 100 m. and 200 m. J. Feenstra won the Discus with a throw of 111 feet, and J. Pettigrew won the Javelin with 163 feet. A Bielenberg won the High Jump and the Triple Jump and S. Marquart came 1st in both the 800 m. and the 400 m. J. GibsonBrabazon won the 1,500 m. In the Juniors', P. Cooper, K. Archer, P.

THE COLUMBAN

59

Stronach, and M. Jackson won their events. I think the most exciting event of the day was the tug-o-war which Stackallan won, but were beaten by the Masters' team.

The final result was 1st Glen, 2nd Grange, 3rd Stackailan, 4th Gwynn.

I think Sports Day was a success and was enjoyed by most, Lastly I would like to thank Mr. Jackson, Mr. Harper and Miss Kiei.y for assisting with training and helping to run matches.

Victor Ludorum: O.Olumide.

O'Sullivan Cup (800 m.): S. Marquart.

Armstrong Tankard (400 m.): S. Marquart.

Liddle Cup (1,500 m.): J. Gibson-Brabazon.

Millar Cup (Relay): Stackallan.

Lefroy Cup (Overall House Winner): Glen.

J.K.P.

Swimming Looking back to when I first came to St. Columba's, swimming was rather like boxing—we had the equipment but no organisation. True, the pool is not the best example of what a pool should look like, but it serves its purpose and it would be a lot pleasanter if the College would put forward more money to buy chlorine.

Although swimming started early in this Trinity Term, until half-way through the term the pool was really only occupied by a few hardened enthusiasts who could stand the low temperature. This is rather disappointing as it means that swimming really only starts three or four weeks from the end of term. The only solution is to heat the pool.

This year it was a pity that there were no swimming matches. This was not due to slackness on our part, but to the unwillingness of other schools to compete against us.

I hope that swimming in St. Côlumba's is now going to take on a more definite role in College sport. Improvements and modifications that are not very noticabie will' come together to form an efficient wellLrun sport. Next year there will be such things as swimming standards, swimming tests taken by a- qualified instructor and swimming matches, albng with cups for swimming. We hope that there will be a new diving board, which was promised! for this year.

The Swimming Club had fewer members this year than in most years.

Although there were plenty of Juniors wanting to join, there were not too many Seniors. This is because a lot of Seniors could not be bothered, or thought that the test of eight lengths in five minutes was too hard. I think that the Club Committee this year deserves-. a mention. They: were: Alice Luce, M. Lloyd, I. Larmour, A. Petherbridge, A. Clayton and C. Samuel. They run the pool, take swims, check the chlorine and generally clean- the place which irresponsible people seemed quickly to mess up- again: Our thanks are also due to Mr. Gray for his help during the year.

P.C.S.S. -

60

THE COLUMBAN

Swimming Sports 1976 The Swimming Sports turned out to be very successful, with a large crowd watching on a lovely afternoon. The winning House in the Miller Cup was Glen with 73 points, followed by Grange. The results of the Sandbach Cup, for the best individual swimmer, were as follows: 1st Robb, 19 points; 2nd Samuel ma, 18 points; 3rd Lloyd, 15 points; 4th Gale, 11 points.

P.C.S.S.

Sailing This year's season started with removing the cobwebs and repairing the school boat, which had not seemed to have recovered from last year's rough handling. We had it repainted and varnished by the first Saturday which was a great achievement.

We sailed on most Saturdays but on the whole there were fewer people this year than last year. This was due to weekend camping and exam revision.

We had excellent sailing on the Field Day. We were treated to an enormous meal when we came in, for which I thank Mrs. Roy. Although there were fewer people sailing this year we all enjoyed ourselves and we all owe our thanks to our patron, Mr. Polden, who drove us to Greystones and back each week.

F.J.G.M.

Squash We have had another pretty successful year of squash. About twenty people played regularly throughout the Michaelmas and Hilary Terms. Ten stalwarts continued amid the heat and examinations of the Trinity Term.

Prominent among senior players have been K. O'Morchoe, M. Lloyd, R. Hermon, R. Mather, W. Blackley, N. Taylor and M. Beamish. We have not yet started playing representative matches owing largely to the demands of other sports of longer standing.

Among the more junior members there has also been considerable enthusiasm and much improvement; Bertram, Kirker, Perdue, Curran mm, Boyd and Morgan all show promise for the future.

N.F.D.F.

Golf Unfortunately, this season saw the further decline of Golf in the College.

This was partly due to the dominance of other school sports and the limited number of days that the Grange let us play.

Mr. Jackson and the Chaplain have taken over as joint heads of Golf from the Bursar. Best of luck to L. Yarrow as Secretary next season: golf will yet achieve its former eminence.

N.J.W.

THE COLUMBAN

61

Badminton This year, for the first time ever, we have had two Badminton teams, such is the greatness of the growth of the game in the College in the last two years.

There was a time, not all that long ago, when to play Badminton you had to fight to get the gym, strain your eyes to see the lines and rely on your own judgement to decide whether or not the shuttlecock (broken) passed over or under the piece of string which passed for a net.

Now there is a special period of time when the gym may only be used for Badminton, the lines have been repainted, there is a new net and we have a huge stock of new Grade 'A' Canton shuttlecocks. But the most important improvement in badminton this year has been the introduction of a coach— Mr. Leach.

The Standard of Badminton has improved so much since he came that our Senior team had a great run of success in the Leinster Badminton Championships. We started off badly, losing to the Church of Ireland Training College, 2-4. However, we then beat Wesley twice, 5-1 and 4-2 and beat the Church of Ireland in the return match 5-1. Our team was Yeong, Sin, Mathews and Beamish. Sin and Yeong were the backbone of the team, while Mathews and Beamish proved to be not quite so consistent. We were eventually beaten in the semi-finals by Sandford Park.

The Junior team—Dagg, Judge, Hill and McKinney, however, drew their match when they played Sandford and they look promising for the future.

The man responsible for the growth of Badminton from being a game that you played when you scratched around the gym to a game that you can now play properly, is Mr. Leach (ably appointed by the Editor of this Magazine).

He has shown a lot of patience and put in a lot of hard work and if it weren't for him we would not have a team and would not play any matches at all. For his effort we are grateful.

Finally I would like to thank the Warden and Mr. Falkiner who helped us out with transport. Mr. Falkiner, master in charge of Badminton, has shown throughout the year what a useful man he is to have in the background. We have enjoyed a good year.

M.R.B.

Canoeing The enthusiasm for canoeing, after a very good start, has dwindled. We now have only half a dozen members who have any great interest in the sport. For the All-Ireland School's Race, we originally had eight entries, but three of these forgot to send in their entry forms. Those that competed, did very reasonably and gained a good deal of experience by doing so. We have had two slalom competitions against High School this year, winning one and losing one, but these are very good results, when one considers that only one member of the Club has had any experience in this field. Our Field Day expedition was highly successful also. Four of us paddled on the Liffey from Ceibridge to Palmerstown, a distance of about eight miles, and successfully encountered two major sets of rapids, an E.S.B. dam at Leixlip and five weirs.

62

THE COLUMBAN

To those who have gained sufficient interest to buy their own canoes, I wish the best of luck, but I would like to remind them, that without Mr. Falkiner's constant sacrifices of his Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, they would never have got anywhere. I would like to thank him sincerely for all his help and support during this last year.

J.F.B.

Basketball Serious basketball has only been played in the College during the last year; before that it had only been a minor sport. The main incentives for serious basketball were supplied by Mr. Fanagan who urged us on and so created a serious feeling for basketball. The non-playing- Captain, A. P. Buchanan, gave relentless training and the playing Captain, J. P. Hyland, formed team spirit and led the way by showing how to play skillfully determined basketball for the full forty minutes. His energy and fervour never faltered and he was a great example to us all.

Our match record is not good, in that we have not yet won, but the side is young and inexperienced and shows great promise for the future. The match results were: Hilary Term: St. Mary's (H) 26-30; St. Andrew's (A) 33-38; Trinity Term: St. Mary's (A) 20-28; St Mary's (A) 36-44; Clongowes (A-) 18-34; St. Paul's (H) 25-30.

Of all- our matches, the one against St.- Paul's was probably oUr best and most memorable. With Akindele and Sadek. showing great shooting' skill up front, Robb; McCormick and Robinson defended ably under g'eat pressure from St. Paul's. Hyland, in mid-field played his usual controlled game linking backs and forwards.

Team Badges were awarded to: J. P. Hylahd, R. W. Irwin, J. F. G. Robb, N. F. Sadek and I. A. Robinson.

A.P.B.

Fencing Fencing classes began in the College this Trinity Term. Every Wednesday afternoon Professor Duffy of Sàllë Ditify, who is also the Irish Olympic Fencing Coach, came up to take an hour and a half session. The foils and jackets- were'a•lo' provided by him.

FOr the- first few Weeks the class was quite large, but it gradually thinned out and now'therere' about twelve fencers, who have managedto survive the foot-work and lungeing exercises. Small competitions were held each week and' everyone fought each other. Every time a "hit" is scored on the trunk of the body, the fencer gets a point. The first fences of the two to get four points wins.

It is hoped that the standard of - fencing will continue to improve next year and that people will continue to-enjoy this rather- unusual sport.

9,11.

THE COLUMBAN

63

Sligo Expedition We left S.C.C. at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25th and caught the train to Sligo at 6.15 p.m. After 3 hours of peanuts, Paddy McGinty's goat and embarrassing quizzes from "Over 21" we arrived in Sligo. Within and hour we were sitting down to a large dinner which was followed by bed for all.

The next morning, armed with hats, scarves, clipboards, cameras and wellies, we jogged energetically down to the Glen, a solution fault. The floor, covered with equatorial-type plants is about 20 yards wide between sheer walls of limestone about 50 feet high. We had been greeted with snow before breakfast and here we had our only rain in the whole weekend.. When we got onto the road again the sun was blazing down. We walked a mile down the hill to see the oysterbeds but the tide had conveniently come in and covered them all!

After lunch at Primrose Grange (our guest farm), we were whisked off to Snia Nylon Factory, outside Sligo, where we were given a short talk, a guided tour and some very useful booklets about the factory. Then back to Sligo where we went to the Art Gallery (where we found a picture of the Hell Fire Club), the museum, the abbey and the harbour-master's office. We will always affectionately remember how the harbour-master kept us for nearly an hour, our stomachs rumbling harmoniously in spite of O'Morchoe's jelly-tots and shifting from one foot to the other, trying not to stand on the squeaky boards, while he told us exactly how many lumps of coal left Sligo in 1922 or something to that effect. That evening we were shown a film on Yeat's Country and then we all went for a long refreshing walk.

We bombed up and down Knocknarea on Saturday morning, religiously leaving our stones on Maeve's tomb. We spent the rest of the day looking at megalithic tombs. We were joined by Mr. Taylor and offspring in the evening.

We all went to a hoolie in a nearby establishment (the aches and pains of the day's exercise seemed to vanish miraculously here).

Our first port of call on Sunday morning was a church. We walked around Drumcliffe church itself (incidentally it is the Church of St. Columba), paid our respects to Yeat's grave with its famous epitaph: "Cast a cold eye on life, on death. Horseman, pass by." And we saw a very well preserved stone high cross. Then on to Lissadell Goose Field where we were shown two hundred or more barnacle geese and some seals were spotted further away on the rocks. We drove round Lissadell House—a rather gloomy, grey lump of a house and then to Streedagh Strand. This was one of the most breath-taking places on the trip as the gale produced enormous breakers about 20 feet high. The millions of fossils implanted in the limestone rock were very impressive.

Then we went to see Creevykeel, another megalithic tomb (by now certain members of the party were beginning to get rather disillusioned with the fascination of megalithic tombs—"if you've seen one, you've seen them all" became a catch phrase of the weekend) and then on to St. Brigid's Holy Well. Here we suffered our only injury of the weekend where Fiona Crosland, attempting to jump gracefully over a rather wide ditch, landed not too gracefully and twisted her ankle quite badly.

On the way back to Primrose Grange we stopped at Strandhill to look at the spectacular waves. Here Hyland managed to part company with his glasses. Spirits were high that evening, Bev Neilson presented our Sub. Warden in mufti with a little token of our esteem and later, on we gave

64

THE COLUMBAN

various members of the neighbouring countryside a fine example of Columban singing. We also discovered that it was Hyland's 18th birthday so we celebrated the occasion in fine style.

Breakfast was at 7 a.m. on the Monday morning and the train left (nearly leaving our leader marooned in Sligo) at 8.15 a.m. No Paddy McGinty or peanuts on the way back—just C.I.E. coffee at iSp a cup. We arrived in Dublin at 11.45 a.m., tired but happy, after a very enjoyable and beneficial weekend. Many thanks to Mr. Lush for all his efficient organisation.

N.M.L.

The Burren Expedition We left school at 7.45 on Friday 18th May for The Burren, that sanctuary of rare wild plants.

Near Ballyvaughan we stopped for lunch at a turlough. A turlough is a lake which comes and goes according to the rain. Rare plants are meant to be found by turloughs. Mr. McMullen showed us exotic plants with Toh and Yeong taking pictures all the time. Then we drove around Black Head which we proceeded to climb in search of rare plants in the limestone crevices. We came across a Celtic stronghold. Although we got soaked, we had hoped to get a good view, but it was misty. We drove on to Lisdoonvarna and checked in to Keane's Hotel and had some supper. We went to the cliffs of Moher where bird spotters like Balkan saw choughs, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars and puffins. We each had a room to ourselves with a hot water bottle in the bed.

Next morning we went went to Mullaghmore which we climbed to the top.

We came across many plants, a skylark's and a kestrel's nest. We had lunch and pushed on to Lough Burry, where there was a black-headed gull colony.

We were the first people on The Burren trip to dare to get to the small island. Each year before people had been unsuccessful in getting there.

Most people waded out and examined the nests. It was a colony of about two hundred pairs of gulls (estimated by David Parks). We then went to Fannore beach and found a ring plover's nest and saw some stoats. After supper we went to Doolin Strand and its famous pub.

Sunday, we checked out after breakfast with our packed lunch; we went to Liscannor Bay and saw the seaside flora and fauna. We then made our way back to school. The trip was great fun and everybody learned some gems of wisdom. Everybody would recommend people to go on it next year.

G.W.J.D.

The Art Trip This was an Art Trip organised by Mr. Vis for nine days after the end of Trinity Term to the West of Ireland. The group of artists was divided in half; some people went to Westport by train and the rest in the minibus after Assembly at the end of term. The minibus was crammed full with bodies, baggage, food and a hive of bees on the roof rack.

Going through Athlone, Mr. Vis to his horror spotted some people whom he thought were Columbans. True enough. Their explanation was that they had missed the train to Westport so they got the Galway train to Athlone, and were going to get a mail train to Westport.

THE COLUMBAN

65

We arrived at the Cottage in pouring rain true to Irish weather.

The next day, it took a long time to get organised. But we had a good breakfast-lunch, all 15 of us. The weather seemed to have cleared so the artists decided to explore this new terrain. We went to some lakes in the Partry mountains called dirks. A total of 22 trout were caught before the rain descended and Mr. Vis did drawings of wet people in the minibus. After a supper of trout back at Derrendaffderg Cottage, we went down to a thatched pub to raise our spirits.

On Saturday as it was pouring with rain, the 15 artists were cooped up in this cottage on the side of the Partry mountains. A lot of Art was done.

People painted the view, painted the fireplace and each other. Mr. Vis baked bread all afternoon. That night we went down to Tourmakeady to the Apollo discotheque. Everybody enjoyed it and we had our own sing-song at the cottage again, John Griffith and Charlie Hackett's raucous voices attempting to sing the Dubliners.

Sunday, we were up slightly early to try to make it to the Anglican Service in Ballinrobe. Needless to say we were slightly late. But we increased the congregation by over half. The rest of the day was spent at. the cottage: some painting, some fishing. Artists turned into enthusiastic fishermen after Patrick Stronach caught a massive pike in the lake to the left of the cottage.

We had a late sing-song.

Monday being a slightly warmer day we went to Betra Strand below Croagh Patrick where we all courageously had a swim in the freezing Atlantic Ocean.

Views of Croagh Patrick were drawn and when we stopped in Westport, some people drew the town hail.

On Tuesday it was pouring with rain; all the same we got in the minibus and drove around Lough Carra to Ballintubber Abbey. Wherever we went Charlie Hackett and company were singing and a frequent comment to come out of the Art trip was by Mr. Vis: "Charlie stop singing, you're giving me a headache in my left ear." People drew the inside of Ballintubber Abbey.

Wednesday being a fair day, Stronach was able to borrow a boat from his boatman and we all went to an Island on Lough Carra. Some fished, others swam (scaring away the fish) and some painted.

The next day we stayed at the cottage all day painting, and, towards the end, clearing up the place. We ate supper outside around a bonfire of rubbish.

The next day was the day of departure. The Art Trip was famous for eleven miles around. Mr. Vis was the illustrious person who could paint and bake at the same time, One man said we were a great credit to our College.

The cottage was left in fantastic shape. Thanks to everyone. I am sure everybody enjoyed the trip, and would go on another. We are especially grateful to Mr. Vis. G.W.J.D.

Names and Places A number of rooms and other places within the College have had their functions and names changed or modified during the last two years. The fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult to remember what these places were like, before these changes, makes some sort of record of them the more important.

66

THE COLUMBAN

Moving along the first contour line of the College, from Chapel Square to the Barton Room, there is little external evidence of change. The attic in the Cadogan has become a four-bed dormitory for Stackallan, called The Loft. Room Seven, under the Schoolroom, is now a well-equipped and muchused Photography Club. Its neighbour, the Submarine (a little-used name, alas) is no longer used for television, and is a stage and costume room.

On the second line, from the Warden's House to the Doll's House, the Upper, Middle, Lower dormitories and Dining Hall complex has been named Argyle, after Warden Argyle. Inside the Warden's House itself, the basement /ground floor on the south side has been transformed into the headquarters of Hollypark (the new name for the Girls' House). With the introduction of self-service in Dining Hall, a second door has been added to the Buttery, opposite the first, to allow passage through. A new door has also been made in Argyle, beside the Glen Common Room and opposite the Masters' Bathroom. The lavatory thus displaced has been replaced in the washing area upstairs. Singleton now wears a more lean and hungry look than it used to—it is mainly used as a prep room for Fifth Form girls and for occasional Saturday evening discotheques. In Garden House, the downstairs rooms have less of the common room atmosphere about them and are used almost exclusively for work. It is a pity, I think, that numbers rather than names have been given to these rooms. How many people will remember, a year or two hence, that Room Three was called Tankard?

The third line, from the bottom of Kennedy Steps to the end of the Upper Yard, has changed, and is changing or about to be changed, most of all. The Meat House, beside the Girls' Common Room, now houses Cricket equipment, but retains its magnificent name. The Tunnel Room (new name) under Kennedy Steps, has ceased to be a stamp club, and is now used by Mr. Heaney as a second-hand clothes and shoes shop. Moving into the Yard itself, the Senior Bicycle Shed has become a recreation room (called by some, "Reccy Room," or is it, "Wrecky Room?") for Tibradden House. Clay Pipe, opposite the back door of the Orpen Building unfortunately lost its name when it became part of the Gymnasium facilities. A name that survives (just about) despite a change in the function of the room, is The Roost, which Mr. Vis has taken over as an Art Room. The three rooms below have been repainted and plans are afoot to bring all of the plastic arts(pottery, sculpture, fabric-dying...) to that end of the Yard. Other changes in the Yard centre round John MacDonald and his maintenance men, who are moving their headquarters from opposite The Whispering House to the top half of the barn; the bottom half has already been turned into a furniture store. The old Dairy is also used as a store now. John MacDonald's old room has become a Maths Room. It is good to hear that the slope opposite the back of the Orpen Building is scheduled for reconstruction as club rooms or studies; most of the Upper Yard is a great eyesore and one that, unfortunately, quite a few visitors to the College see, Almost any change here will be for the better.

The fourth and final line embraces the area from the Front Drive to the end of the games fields. The Gymnasium has had its floor polished and sealed and has been much used this year for basketball, badminton and gymnastics classes. The late Clay Pipe and the area underneath it has become a Visitors' Changing Room with lavatories and showers. The shed opposite the pigsty is now a garage for the minibus and also houses canoes. A. new Junior XI wicket has been made on the games field nearest to the Back

THE COLUMBAN.

67

Drive and all of the games fields have been named the Sowby Fields, after Warden Argyle's predecessor.

I hope that there are no glaring omissions in the catalogue; new fixtures take on a permanent air very quickly and sometimes one feels that the old ones were part of a nostalgic dream; let us at least acknowledge the old, as we ring in the new.

J.M.F.

A Visit to Arus an Uachtaral The group consisted of Mr. Fanagan, T. Odlum, G. Balkan, Nicola Lush, Heather Haythornthwaite, A. Ruddock, P. Moynan, C. Hackett, D. Wilson, A. Lyttle and G. Armstrong. It was not a limousine that we arrived in at Arus an TJachtaråin, but the College minibus. Large white gates barricaded our entrance; the fact that they were the gates to the President's Palace caused a rush of thoughts to gather in our minds. What would we call the President? What would we talk about? People generally comment on the weather when they meet someone superior to them; since Wimbledon was on, we decided to ask him if he had been watching Wimbledon. We arrived there at the exact time we had been invited for. It dawned on me that they should have called it The White House—it was a magnificent big house and white, as you might guess.

The President's aide-de-camp was waiting at the large doorway ready to receive us. At one time I thought he was going to salute us, but when he saw the minibus I thing he decided not to. We were shown into a large drawingroom where we waited for the President to arrive. He arrived not spectacularly dressed; in fact he wore his slippers.

We introduced ourselves and sat down. In came a large silver teapot and we had tea. During tea we talked about the Lord Lieutenants who had lived there and the dates when additions were made to the house. He told us about the assasinations which were seen from the lawn and the important State Visits. We talked about Charles de Gaulle and how his ancestors were Irish; also about the Jacobins, Sarsfield and the Williamite Wars, the Seige of Limerick and the Seige of Derry.

President O Dalaigh is very cultured in an artistic sense—he loves the world of modern art and the old artistic world as well. He brought us round the gardens and he told us how he was going to change various things. The most fascinating part of the garden was the Queen's Walk where State Visitors had planted trees to mark the occasion. Victoria had planted redwoods; kings, princes and Charles de Gaulle had planted other trees. We were brought inside again and the President showed us the fine fireplaces, paintings and other works of art.

It was then time to go, more than two hours after we had arrived. We signed the Visitors' Book under the names of ambassadors and presidents who had signed it before us.

C.A.H.

Epidemic '76 1976, a leap year, but this time many people leapt into Lent fiat on their backs in bed. Yes, the 'flu bug had hit S.C.C. again and this time it was here to stay for quite a while.

68

THE COLUMBAN

Sister soon realised that she could not cope with the sanatorium alone, so the Lower Dormitory was made into a hospital ward.

The epidemic was not confined to pupils only. Even masters who claimed that they did not get 'flu succumbed to the symptoms. Only the "Fighting Four" masters survived: Mr. Fanagan, Mr. Polden, Mr. Harper and Mr. Caird.

For a survivor, the epidemic meant getting up later in the morning, no games at all, going to bed earlier and at 8.25 a.m. walking into an almost empty Chapel. A count one morning, revealed that 110 people were present the remainder being in one of the wards or at home (invalids living in Dublin whose parents would take them went home). Of course, there were probably one or two people still in bed taking advantage of the lack of staff.

Immediately the 'flu broke out, the enthusiastic newspaper readers informed everyone about the people dying from 'flu in Britain. Had the fatal 'flu come to S.C.C.? Well, to my knowledge, nobody died of it but many people got relapses.

There was talk of the school having to close down early, but no such luck.

VIth and lVth form had their exams postponed until the beginning of the Trinity Term (ingeniously worked out to coincide with the T.C.D. Matriculation).

The play had to be postponed by a few days so that some of the cast could learn their lines properly after being ill. In fact I think the only thing that was not postponed or cancelled was Mr. Heaney's ordination!

Well in the end we did come through and the epidemic passed away. Then we were faced with another plague, this time a plague of pills and tests. We were being used as guinea-pigs to prove that one sort of pill is better than another at speeding-up full recovery after the 'flu. What all the I.Q., personality and aptitude tests had to do with it very few people know.

As I said we eventually got rid of the epidemic, but this would not have been possible without the great help of the boys of Gwynn and Glen, who gave up their dormitory, and of course Sister who did a marvellous job, and was duly awarded with a presentation at the end of term.

J.P.C.

Hell Suddenly on Sister's day off, Mrs. Stewart ill and a nurse from an agency filling the breach, the avalanche descended upon 'San'.

'San' filled, a Tibradden dormitory was taken over and still they queued for beds. Two Argyle dormitories were annexed next and girls when hit were put together in one dormitory downstairs. Those who could go home went gladly—'flu had come with a vengance. Staff also succumbed in vast numbers but somehow the stalwarts left on their feet kept the school moving from class to class and from day to day.

Everybody rallied to Sister's aid. In particular Olumide with the title of "Doctor" will be remembered. He organised the shifting of bodies and beds and together with other members of the Glen and Gwynn Common Rooms helped Mrs. Byrne get food and drink to all.

It is doubtful if the girls would have had all their needs met if Hoilypark Common Room had not come to the rescue with helping hands.

THE COLUMBAN

69

Across the garden in 'San' itself the comfort was greater, largely due to the helping hands of Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Hanna and Mrs. Hackett who never failed to arrive to clear the decks of debris.

What sticks most in my mind is the way Dr. Benson, with Sister's help, managed to cope so expertly against such odds, and the gentle kindness Mrs. Gibbs gave to all. She always was the one who found the time to pump fluids into those who needed to drink and to find fresh pyjamas and sheets when required.

The epidemic was no joke, but patients bore up bravely to what was adequate if not ideal care, and those on their feet who found their be moved to enable a victim to get treatment, moved to other dormitories and Houses with good grace.

Relief was felt by all as the sick started staggering back to school, no doubt feeling like anything but work and I am sure that nobody wishes for a repeat performance next year.

Anon.

First Chapel Service The new girls were led by a Sixth Former through a small arched door to the left of the Dining Hall, along a gravel path and up some steps! I glanced up at the Chapel. The huge bell above the door caught my eye. It was massive! We went inside.

Several large boys were lurking in the gloomy recesses, putting up hymn numbers and arranging books. They were laughing among themselves. I felt very lonely. The great bell boomed again and they left.

I tugged awkardly at my stiff gown. It did not rest on my shoulders exactly but somewhere on my back. It billowed when I walked.

Suddenly I could hear many feet on the granite path approaching the Chapel. They got louder and louder. The still air in the Chapel came alive as they all tumbled in so quickly. They were so big and there was so many of them. I was terrified. I wanted to go home. To get under the pew and hide, at least.

All through the lesson I was acutely aware of being stared at. We were all crammed together in one section of Chapel, so it was easy for everybody to focus their attention on us. I slid down as low as I could and pulled my gown up to my chin.

The hymn was phenomenal! The noise seemed to make the Chapel shake.

I couldn't even hear myself. I thought of the 250 undiluted sopranos at my old school.

At last it was all over and at least they had the kindness to let us escape from Chapel first.

H.M.H.

The Junior Day Room as seen from a Tuck Box This room is the very heart of complete and utter chaos. At seven o'clock in the morning yesterday's papers are strewn across the floor; they blow across the bare boards of the room, the wind rushes through gaping holes in

70

THE COLUMBAN

three or four smashed window panes. Tuck boxes are everywhere; in between them are found pieces of orange peel, half-eaten biscuits, bits of the Day Room wall .....

What's this? Nothing unusual, just the early morning table tennis game between two of the lower specimens of humanity in the College. This game sets the pattern for the day. The table is used non-stop, at every opportunity, up to 9 p.m. Marathon games of twenty sets are played with great ferocity and complete lack of gamesmanship. This is where the quick eye of Columban cricketers and the reflexes of rugby players are developed.

Three or four balls a day are burst.

The time is now 11 a.m.—time for the Junior masses to refuel. They stuff themselves with anything edible that comes to hand. At the moment I contain half a chicken, quarter of a tube of liver pâté, thirteen stale 'Tuc' biscuits, two ripe and three rotten bananas. This is also the time when the room is meant to be cleaned. The Day Room Head (some poor sucker asked to be head of this zoo) is boiling over because the room is looking like Dublin's Municipal rubbish tip. The culprit is found and threatened with dire reprisals. There is no broom. Who has broken it? It was only new yesterday; apparently somebody has had a jousting competition and it was irreparably damaged.

During the day the Day Room Master (Mr. Fanagan) is informed of new breakages due to the over-exuberance of the Juniors. This has little effect on him by now—he is used to the long list of destruction.

The Day Room has one advantage: it belongs solely to the Juniors and nobody else will dare to enter for fear of serious injury. So night comes and the lights have not been switched off. The Day Room Head passes by and with a strangled cry, half annoyance and half despair, switches them off.

P.A.G.M.

Resort The commercialised sun rises wearily behind the distant hills, and a mottled sky heralds yet another beautiful day. Buttercups and daisies sleep, sun-soaked, and bloated in remote meadows. Sound is coaxed from the throat of even the smallest bird in announcement of the morning.

Meanwhile, a haggard world, hunched between crisp sheets, wakens. False teeth, silent and free from bickering are forced into place, after having sat grimacing all night in plastic tooth mugs. Beds and hot pink bodies undulate slowly in wakefulness. The faint smell of stale sun tan lotion drips from between the bed clothes. Sun glasses and striped shorts, shed from the previous day, adorn the prefab chalets and hotel bedrooms.

Soon multicoloured bodies filled with hotel breakfasts cascade from their respective burrows scampering and waddling onto the already invaded sands to take up their respective places with the incongruous yet predictable flutter of towels, beach robes and sunshades.

Summer has come with an all embracing cascade of tan, sweat, flab, deck chairs, hats, noisy coach-loads of blue-haired American widows and the fleeting forgotten sound of seagulls on the rocks.

The sun is sucked greedily into hotel gardens, magnified and imitated to heat blue swimming pools which imitate the sea.

71

THE COLIJMBAN

Gulls scream and circle on the "dangerous" rocks and the sea plods slowly, frothily up to their base. There, no deck chairs pinch the sand, no dirt and filth take their toll of marine life. No music shatters the infinitely more beautiful music of the sea.

The crags point fearfully to the grayish sands writhing with pink humans and the sea foams in a more aggressive mood whilst it takes its toll of two or maybe three of the blue-haired sweaty ladies.

How simple and mercenary nature is, how vulnerable in passive acceptance, she squats and bows to the ageless man who calls for Vichy water, and the adulterous pretty face whose coy smile is decorated with dots and dabs.

Painted finger nails scrape the sands. The sea sings mute and timeless while the band strikes up the new tune called love.

We have lost our meaning, but the glossy brochure looks nice, so we waddle off to the bleached hotels which bulge out of the sand.

S.S.G.M.

St. Columba's Day 1976.

St. Columba's Day dawned sunny and clear, The weather report caused no one to fear; The Chapel was crammed with all the hot folk, Dying of heat to them seemed like a joke.

Prizes were given out by the Head of State, Starry-eyed Auntie thought Johnny looked great; Tea was held in the immense coloured tent, School-food for once didn't taste like cement.

Now it was time to see all the displays, Which showed every Mum her son's clever ways; People laughed and smiled and met their old friends, Comparing their clothes with the latest trends.

The hand-crafts and photos thrilled everyone, Using a silk-screen seemed jolly good fun!

A cricket match went on throughout the day To sit and watch when your legs gave away; The 1st cricket team had just won the cup, Their spirits this weekend really were up.

At six o'clock a bell summoned them all: Before going out there was a roll-call.

As the cars drove away, Mum said to Dad: "Once we had got here it wasn't too bad!"

Grandma replied that it was a great day, But young John was relieved to get far away.

SR. L

72

THE COLUMBAN

Sonnet Just turned a page in Forsyte's "Bogs of War", When I heard steps upon the creaking stairs.

Feeling the prickling of my neck's short hairs, In horror I believed he wanted more.

'Twas Bud, who'd come for my curs'd hundred lines, While here I labour for a bare fourteen.

He's set me lines, dear me! so many times.

My finished sonnet soon is to be seen.

And in he comes. "You're messing, Tuke, again!

And what's this here? For breakfast late as well!

See me tomorrow night you perfect bane, and you had best be there before the bell!"

By 3 a.m. my punishment was done.

I crawled to bed, and slept it through till one.

M.J.S .T.

Mrs. Margaret Thatcher From infancy she wished to be a boy, To be as good as man, that was her ploy; When come of age to Westminister she went, And here she joined the Tory Government.

But then her lust for power reached lofty heights, Her urge was rooted deep in Women's Rights.

The height of her ambition was, we know, To be the Queen of Parl'ment's puppet show.

Then Edward Heath into her talons fell, Was torn from office, Margaret tolled the bell.

Then other males winced back beneath her sabre, But mainly Harold and his Party Labour; She cut and slashed, her wounds inflicted deep, And then she stood before the world to speak.

We males stood still, expecting bras to burn, For maids to rise and us poor men intern.

But England's women are not quite so vile To idolize that vixen rank and file.

The time has come for all males to unite And throw such women out into the night.

Her homely face a vulture's mind it hides, With vicious tongue her helpless prey she chides.

Her ravaged prey is left a shattered wreck, With body gored and lies with broken neck.

With smile she comes, with vicious grin she goes, Behind her lies a trail of breathless foes.

This viciousness her kind through time collects, Unfair example of the fairer sex.

This sex first came from Adam's chosen rib To poison Politics with Women's Lib. J.F.G.R.

73

THE COLUMBAN

Talking to a Wasp You wasp, you think you are so cool, You yellow-black jacketed fighter.

You thing you are it; flying in idle circles.

And in your own way you may be.

You are the fighter-ace, the king Of your tiny domain.

Things run away from you, Big and small .....

But you have met your match.

You will soon be dead, Unmoving. Your yellow mixed with your black.

Your mandibles and proboscis stilled.

Take that, you show-off!

Make your acquaintance with my slipper, At seventy miles per hour.

Missed! Get off you one-inch devil striped shark.

I'm allergic to your sting.

A curse on your witches brew of venom.

Damn you, you human killer, damn you....

K.G.P.

Three Columban Bowlers Laird. The Shark.

He starts his long run-up at an easy pace, Leaps into the air, and turns his head upwards, Like a Shark, rising out of the sea, to bite at the meat.

Beamish. The Fox. Non-existant run-up. Just a cunning Look in his eye. And a sneaky arm-movement.

His arm goes round, not once, but twice.

Very cunning! The wickets fall.

Lloyd. The Thunderbolt.

The run-up isn't very long. But he gets up speed.

Pounding the ground with his feet, digging up earth.

A Thunderbolt dressed in white. The wickets don't fall.

They disintegrate.

K.G.P.

Grass Shreds of green, Subordinate, lean, Devoid of flesh, Lie limp. A sheen Of oil, catalyst, As we, serene, Plough through grass With mowing machine.

S.S.G.M.

74

THE COLUMBAN

Ode to Clare Stronach (First girl Prefect in the history of the College.)

"Mighty Maiden with a Mission, Paragon of common sense, Burning fount of erudition, Miracle of eloquence—" (W.S.G. ) Aided by this crutch Gilbertian, On my own feet I continue, Bravely making this assertion, That I'll strain each mental sinew To do justice, with due meekness, To a Theme of such uniqueness:— O First of Maidens Prefectorial, Queen of Columbinensiae', To hymn you with a meet memorial I feel my musty Muse now fly; For with Mankind this news I'd share, Your late promotion to declare. .0 Clare, unique among Queen Bees From Boadicea to Queen Bess, You'll end your reign in painless ease, Quite unimpaired in loveliness; Revered by males who'll wish you well Who stormed their Prefects' Citadel.

H.M.D.

Jungle Wriggler In the jungle Where the sky never sees the ground Beneath the trees, The python wriggles and writhes, Showing off its exotic colours To all who dare to feast their eye.

Sliding gracefully over its tree, Wrapping its sleek body around The stout branches of its home, Clinging loosely but firmly to its favourite branch, The serpent rests its ever-darting tongue and penetrating eyes As it ventures into the depths of sleep.

W.R.McK.

Words at Random The Warden: Get out of those trousers as quickly as possible; they upset the system.

Roy: Well, I am her sister.

Folliss: That's why they're called 'S' Levels—Spoof Levels.

Mr. Heaney: Even if you get it wrong; you've got 50% chance of getting it right.

Mr. Caird: I wish co.education wasn't so smelly.

THE COLUMBAN

75

St. Columba's College Chapel Accounts 31/12/75 Balance Fwd Special Collections Communion Collections Bank Interest

63-25 41547 4660 791

Leprosy Mission 2350 2700 Autistic Children 2650 Christian Aid D. U. Mission to Chota Nagpur 2540 2790 Christian Aid 2440 Darner Home 2602 Dublin Central Mission 3041 Los Angeles Hostel House for the Frail Elderly 4459 3738 Camphill 25-46 Gorta 2655 Earl Haig Fund 1999 N. R. & C. A. Society Mansion House Coal Fund 21-63 500 Whitechurch Parish 2500 Organ Fund 106 Expenses 1.00 Bank Charge •25 Cheque Book Balance on Hand 1/1/76 11249

53323

53323

Book Deposit Account (Organ Fund) Balance Fwd. 1/1/75 Transferred from C/Acc Interest

10072 2500 14-14 13986

Balance 1/1/76

I

13986 139•86

MICHAEL R. HEANEY, Hon. Treasurer.