St. Patricks College - Luceat 2011 by Ailish Larkin

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College T h u r l e s

Luceat 2011 St. Patrick’s College T h u r l e s

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

Year One Business

Top Row: Second Row: Third Row: Fourth Row: Fifth Row: Bottom Row:

Sarah Hennessey, Carmel Corcoran, Andrea Doyle, Catriona Kennedy, Celine Reilly, Conor O’Neill, Deirde Fitzpatrick, Emer Lyne, Laura Moloney, Patrick Brady John Treacy, Keith O’Sullivan, Kieran Foxe, Lauren King, Lisa Brennan, Marian Ryan, Michael Cleary, Peter Queally, Jason Corcoran, Kate Fallon Stephen Furlong, Tara Healy, Yvonne O’Rourke, Aine Burke, Aoife Ryan, Brian Kennedy, Bronagh Monaghan, Danielle Downey, Elaine Coffey, Grainne Kimmins Elizabeth Breen, Emma Foley, John Hassett, Karen Kenny, Katrina Dowry, Kelly-Anne Whelan, Laura Barrett, Lisa O’Shea, Ellis Clancy, Elaine Byrne Maeve Tierney, Maryrose O’Brien, Michelle Murray, Nicole Smith, Paula O’Dwyer, Peter Mernagh, Rebecca Foott, Sarah Kennedy, Claire Stenson, Dan Doheny Shauna O’Reilly, Ailbe Power, Aisling O’Hara, Cathal McNamara, Catherine Nolan, Ciaran O’Neill

T h u r l e s

Year Two Business

Top Row: Second Row: Third Row: Fourth Row: Bottom Row:

Aimee Kelly, Barry Grennan, Cathal McCarthy, Catriona Fleming, Catriona Fox, Danielle Simpson, Darren Carew, Emma Dwyer, Zowie Baldwin, Nicola O’Sullivan Faye McCloone, Fergal Mackey, Garry Butler, Heather O’Toole, Liam Cullen, Liam Fleming, Liam Flynn, Linda Stapleton, Patrick O’Donovan, Stephanie Horan Lisa Connolly, Mairead Power, Marie Harte, Marie O’Connor, Mark Ryan, Michael O’Meara, Michelle O’Neill, Robert Barron, Margaret Whelan, Nicola Barry Shaun Bray, Sinead Dooney, Theresa Buckley, Aidan Hackett, Barry McLoughlin, Diarmuid Carr, Eimear Walsh, Grace O’Sullivan, Leah Collins, Liam Connolly John Cullinane, John Prendergast, Julie O’Keefe, Laura Gallen, Oisín Heavey

Year TWO IRISH

Year One IRISH

Top Row: Bottom Row:

Top Row: Middle Row: Bottom Row:

Aoife Hayes, Brian Stakelum, Conchubhar Lucey, James McPartland, James Power, Katie Walsh, Mark Gleeson, Mary Coughlan, Pauline Frewen, Ray Willis Aoife O’Neill, Caroline Sheehan, Cian Ryan, Ciara Shea, Deniece Tuohy, Elaine Parker, Gillian Molloy, Hannah McCarthy, Laura Coffey, Patricia McElgunn-Treacy Roisin Walsh, Shauna Donegan

Aisling Parker, Anna Marie Quigley, Ciara Nolan, Donal Tallon, Emer O’Meara, Heather Keane, Jonathan O Ceallaigh, Katja Moone, Kenneth Dwyer, Liam Lacey, Neelu O’Sullivan, Niamh Creane, Paul Keegan, Paul Ryan, Paula Malone, Pauric Hanlon, Ruth McCormack

For Year three and Year four, see Inside Back Cover

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

Acknowledgements:

Donations:

Luceat 2011 would not have been possible without the following people:

Special thanks are also due to the following donors, without whom, Luceat would certainly not be possible:

Our Alumni, whose generous feedback, contact and contributions are the lifeblood of this yearly publication. The Student Council and various other student groups in the college for their support, activities and material. Bernie Bergin for source material we could not possibly have come up with. Pauric Hanlon (came up trumps again), Jody Neville and Rebecca Purcell for excellent photos.

Kevin Mullaney for a significant amount of the typing. Every contributor not listed already. Hugh and John of Snap UL Printing - who have been great to work with again and who inspired us to launch ‘Luceat 2011’ as an ‘e-book’ for the first time (see www.stpats.ie for details. And last but not least, Fr. Tom Fogarty, a President worthy of the ‘Moneygall treatment’ for his wideranging, hands-on approach to College life and its fine achievements this year.

Rev. Stephen Baillie

Paisley

Rev. Bernard Morgan

Menevia

Rev. Phil Barry

S.C.A.

Rev. Pat Moroney

Southwark

Rev. Tim Bourke

Birmingham

Rev. Francis Mulvey

Cardiff

Rev. Raymond Brennan

Southwark

Rev. Martin Murphy

Cashel & Emly

Rev. John Buckley

Kerry

Rev. James Murphy

Paisley

Rev. Harry Bugler

New Orleans

Rev. James Naughton

Motherwell

Rev. Michael Campbell

Cloyne

Rev. Nelius O’Connor

Hexham & Newcastle

Rev. John Cantwell

Sacramento

Rev. David O’Connor

Jackson

Rev. Edmund P. Carey

Lancaster

Rev. Frank O’Dea

Limerick

Rev. Anthony Conlon

Wheeling Charleston

Rev. Pat O’Donovan

Clifton

Rev. Joseph Cussen

Limerick

Rev. Gabriel O’Dowd

Dublin

Rev. Colin Doocey

Cork & Ross

Rev. Christy O’Dwyer

Cashel & Emly

Rev. Joe Egan

Cashel & Emly

Rev. John M. O’Flynn

Pueblo

Most Rev. Thomas Flanagan San Antonio

Rev. Mike O’Gorman

San Antonio

Rev. Michael Flannery

Jackson

Rev. Michael O’Hanlon

Great Falls

Rev. Michael Gleeson

Los Angeles

Rev. Richard O’Keeffe

Tuscon

Rev. John Hannan

Sacramento

Rev. Donough O’Malley

Limerick

Rev. James Harney

Great Falls

Rev. Anthony O’Reilly

Kerry

Rev. Martin Hayes

Cashel & Emly

Rev. James Ryan

Cashel & Emly

Rev. Larry Joy

Los Angeles

Rev. James Semple

Salt Lake City

Rev. Michael Lenihan

Corpus Christi

Rev. Dan Spaight

Middlesbrough

Rev. Donal McCarthy

S.C.A.

Rev. Noel Spring

Kerry

Rev. Seamus McGowan

Corpus Christi

Rev. Celsus Tierney

Cashel & Emly

Rev. John McGrath

Brentwood

Rev. Edmund Whelan

Birmingham

Rev. Peter McGuinness

Clogher

Rev. Tim Wehn

S.C.A.

Rev. Jack McKeever

Middlesbrough

Rev. Dan Woods

Cashel & Emly

Rev. John McKeon

Brentwood

Rev. William McNamara

San Antonio

St. Patrick’s College, Thurles

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

CONTENTS 8

Note from the President – Fr. Tom Fogarty

SECTION C: ALUMNI

11 Editors’ Forewords – Seamus Lynch & Ailish Larkin

SECTION A: THE COLLEGE YEAR 2010-11: KEY EVENTS

100 International Reunion August 2010 104 Silver Jubilee Of The Episcopal Ordination of

Most Rev. Dermot Clifford, DD

12 Academic Linkage with University of Limerick

111 Jubilarians

16 Double All-Ireland Success for St. Patrick’s

114 Correspondence and Reflections

117 Obituaries

College Hurling Team

23 Extra Photos of Hurling Team 2011

SECTION D: STAFF

36 Silver Jubilee Of The Episcopal Ordination of Most

Rev. Dermot Clifford, DD

37 College Diary 2010/’11

SECTION B: STUDENTS

Luceat 2011 St. Patrick’s College T h u r l e s

119 Kay – Reeling in the Years 119 New Staff in Focus 120 Máire Ní Riordáin 122 Mary Roche

39 Student Profiles

124 Marie Gorham

52 Scholarship Awards

124 Karen Ni Chlochasaigh

59 Reading Survey

125 Tony Ó’Floinn

66 Student Book Club

126 Ailsh Larkin

67 Training Course in Youth Retreat Facilitation

127 Jody Neville

70 Enterprise Awards

127 Mary Mullaney

72 Economics Awards and Guest Speaker

127 Dr. Michael Reynolds

73 Year 3 at Teaching and Learning Festival

128 Other Staff

74 Seachtain na Gaeilge

128 Willie Stankard

75 Student Testimonials

128 Mary Shanahan

78 Student Survey

129 Work Experience

80 College Chaplaincy Groups

130 Catherine McCormack –

81 Ladies’ Football

83 Thorn of Thurles

134 Staff Book Club

86 Extra Photos of Thorn of Thurles

SECTION E: MISCELLANEOUS

The Beauty Queen of Leenane

87 Thorn of Thurles (Extra Review) 88 End of Year Ball Photos 95 Graduates Where are they now? 98 Graduation 2010

135 Something about Mary

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

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FROM THE PRESIDENT: I am always glad of the Editor’s invitation to write these few lines for Luceat. It is an annual opportunity to reciprocate the many gestures of good will for the college which I receive and deeply appreciate. It also provides me with an opportunity to send greetings and good wishes to all our alumni. In particular, I greet alumni who are ill, retired or hampered by the weight of years. May the days ahead bring you fresh hope and new life. Luceat stirs the memory and recalls the days of your youth. It is very much a student magazine and I am glad to be able to acknowledge the generosity and hard work of generations of students who have kept it going, often in difficult times. I am grateful to them. I am grateful, too, to our past student readers, not least for your financial support. But for that support, Luceat would not be possible.

GREETINGS: I send kind greetings and congratulations to all our diamond, golden and silver jubilarians. Your generous fidelity is a source of inspiration as well as a cause for gratitude. May you enjoy many more years of happy and fruitful ministry in the Lord’s vineyard. On March 7th the college was happy to host a reception to mark the silver jubilee of Archbishop Dermot Clifford’s Episcopal Ordination. Fr Christy O’Dwyer thanked the archbishop for his twenty five years of ministry in the archdiocese and wished him well for the future.

at the Concelebrated Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption. All alumni were deeply inspired by Fr. Eugene’s well chosen and inspiring words. Many thanks to those who came; thanks to those who sent their regrets that they could not come; thanks to those who wrote afterwards to express their appreciation; thanks to the organisers and thanks to my colleagues who contributed so much to the planning and smooth running of the entire event.

ACADEMIC COURSES: I’m happy to assure you that the year that is now drawing to a close has been a very good one for the college. We have 220 full-time students studying for our two programmes: BA (Honours) in Education, Business Studies and Religious Studies; BA (Honours) in Education, Irish and Religious Studies.

wishing to prepare for the priesthood as well as careers in business and other professions. On May 4th last, history was made when the college signed a new academic linkage agreement with the University of Limerick. This agreement means that the University of Limerick will accredit our two teacher training programmes from September 2011 and students from the college will graduate with University of Limerick degrees from October 2012. The University of Limerick enjoys an excellent reputation nationally and internationally. It is an honour and a wonderful privilege to be aligned with such a famous and highly respected academic institution. This new partnership brings University education to St Patrick’s College. This academic linkage marks the beginning of a new era for the College and we are very proud to be playing a pivotal role in the extension of University education beyond our major cities. The offer of University level degrees

strengthens our identity and will attract a wide crosssection of students to enrich our culture further. We provide a welcoming, inclusive and quality learning environment for students and strongly believe in a ‘values-led’ education. We recognise these qualities in the University of Limerick. We see the University of Limerick as an ideal partner whose ambitions for education in Ireland mirror our own.

ALL IRELAND AND LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Sport has always been an integral part of student life in the college. Last February, history was created at the Waterford Institute of Technology Sports Campus when St. Patrick’s College were crowned All-Ireland Hurling champions for the first time. Competing in the prestigious Fergal Maher competition as part of the ‘Fitzgibbon Cup’ weekend, the college overcame a stiff challenge from Cork Colleges of Further Education in the final on a score line of 2 – 11 to 1

November 19th 2010 was a special day in the life of St. Patrick’s College. Thirty-seven students graduated from our BA (Honours) in Education, Business Studies and Religious Studies programme and two from our part-time BA degree course in theology. Later this year, ten more students will graduate from the BA Theology evening course which was inaugurated in May 2003. Great credit is due to them for the manner in which they persevered with their studies over a period of three years. A special thanks to all our dedicated staff for the wonderful contribution they made to this course.

INTERNATIONAL REUNION: The ninth International Reunion held in the college last August was a magnificent success. Many thanks to all who made the journey back to Thurles. These were days of great life and joy, camaraderie and fun as upwards of one hundred past students from across the world mingled and renewed friendships in the relaxed and familiar surroundings of early autumnal Thurles. My special thanks to Archbishop Clifford for his presence and also to Bishop William Lee and Bishop Tom Flanagan. I would like to extend special thanks to Fr. Eugene Baker, homilist

The college also organised a number of very successful community learning courses for the 2010/2011 academic year. They were well attended by people from local parishes.

ACADEMIC LINKAGE WITH UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: St. Patrick’s College has been synonymous with the education of young people since 1837, offering second level education in the humanities, with a limited contribution from the sciences, to students

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

FROM THE PRESIDENT: – 04. One month later they recorded a historic double when they defeated University College Dublin in the League Final. The final score was 0-17 to 0-10. The double victory created great jubilation among staff and students. I would like to pay tribute to an excellent group of players who prepared meticulously for both competitions under the watchful eye of their very accomplished coach Paddy McCormack. Paddy was ably assisted by Mark Ryan and Ciarán O’Neill. The Ladies Football team had a very good season also. They acquitted themselves well in a number of games. Unfortunately they did not make it to the final as they were missing some key players in the penultimate round.

NEW STAFF: Last summer a number of new staff members were appointed to the College. Dr. Máire Nì Riordáin is the new Head of the Education Department. Dr. Mary Roche and Dr. Michael Reynolds also joined the department as lecturers. Ailish Larkin succeeded Mary Murphy as Head Librarian. Mary was held in very high esteem by staff and students. Her gentle smile, deep sincerity and unassuming personality made a deep and lasting impression on all those who were fortunate enough to meet her. The college is extremely fortunate to have such a dedicated and highly qualified staff. They are highly respected by all the students. Personally I must add that I feel blessed and privileged to be working with such a supportive group of people.

OBITUARY LIST: The obituary section of this edition of Luceat again reveals how the Lord has been active in our midst during the last year. Many good friends and familiar faces have been called home. The list is a poignant reminder of the brevity of life and the inescapable forward march towards the eternal homeland. We prayerfully remember those who answered the final call during the past year. May they rest in peace.

TO THE EDITORS AND THEIR TEAM; Sincere thanks to Séamus Lynch and Ailish Larkin our present Editors for their painstaking work. 10

Editors’ Foreword Congratulations and thanks to all the students who cooperated with them in the production of this impressive and worthy edition of Luceat. We are indebted to all concerned for their generous expenditure of time and effort in ensuring that this valuable chronicle of the life of St. Patrick’s College has once more seen the light of day.

CONCLUSION: As another academic year draws to a close I wish to express my sincere thanks to all who helped to ensure its success – all staff and students, friends and helpers, alumni and benefactors. May one and all be richly rewarded in time and eternity for such goodness. May the good Lord lead St. Patrick’s College, its students, staff and alumni to higher heights and nobler things in the coming year. Beannacht Dé libh go léir.

You are now reading the first ever e-book version of Luceat. St. Patrick’s College has been ‘ahead of the curve’ for many things over its 174 year history, and this development is fitting as we prepare to celebrate year 175. It is an honour to co-edit Luceat in such a momentous year for the college. St. Patrick’s College has been the venue of many momentous events from The Synod of Thurles to the President’s visit – but the International Reunion of 2010, the University of Limerick Accreditation, Fergal Maher Cup and League double of 2011 will be remembered as significant milestones in its history, as will the Silver Jubilee of the Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Dermot Clifford, DD. Here, we pay tribute to these remarkable occurrences with a special opening section. The Reunion was a wonderful way to start the academic year and remind us of the enormous contribution made by previous students of the college. It was a unique opportunity for all of us – old and young, past and present to mingle and share a common affection for this institution. Contained herein are several media reports and testimonies of the event. Several new staff members attended the closing banquet – and several others appeared thereafter; my co-Editor, Ailish Larkin was among the former group. It has been fantastic working on this publication with her: her positive outlook, creativity and passion for her work were really refreshing. This extends to the Staff Book club, the staffroom and the library, of course. We were also blessed to begin the year with a new Head of Education (Máire Ní Riordáin) who has a similarly positive, creative and passionate approach to her craft and an IT specialist (Jody Neville) who is as accommodating and considerate as he is good company. These appointments – and others – have copper fastened the sense that the college is moving in a very good direction. New staff is featured in the Staff Section of Luceat as usual. As for the students – we were once again blessed with a talented and charismatic 1st Year group, and

I very much look forward to teaching them again this year. I want to thank all students who provided material for Luceat this year – be that directly or indirectly by virtue of their contributions to college life. I am fortunate to be entering a third year here in St. Patricks – it is a wonderful place to work and I hope that impression is conveyed adequately in the pages that follow. Le gach dea-ghuí

Séamus Lynch Co-Editor

I want, very simply, to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to this year’s Luceat. We are blessed here at St. Patrick’s College with a community that is hardworking, helpful, creative and kind and all of these features were clearly evident as I worked on co-editing the magazine. Staff and students, already busy and working to deadlines, made time to write articles, to send in photos and to suggest ideas to us, while alumni of the college were more than willing to send in articles. Reflecting on all of this work I am reminded of the seanfhocal ‘Ní neart go cur le cheile’. This magazine simply couldn’t have been published without all of these kindnesses. All of this work was very much appreciated. A special word of thanks goes to my co-editor, Seamus, who was a pleasure to work with. The wide range of articles that we have in Luceat this year bears testimony to all of the activity taking place in the college and to the talent, hard work, commitment and enthusiasm that such activity requires. It makes you feel proud, and I certainly am, to be part of such a vibrant and caring college as St. Patrick’s College.

Ailish Larkin Co-Editor

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

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SECTION A: THE COLLEGE 2010-11: KEY EVENTS

Academic Linkage with University of Limerick by Shane Dempsey A Meeting of Minds Since I began working in St. Patrick’s College in the Autumn of 2008 I have heard reference made many times to the laying of the foundation stone of the college in 1829 - an event made all the more noteworthy by the fact that the stone was laid in the presence of Daniel O’Connell. This year we witnessed the laying of a new foundation stone with the signing of an Academic Linkage Agreement with the University of Limerick. On 4th May 2011 we welcomed Professor Don Barry (President of the University of Limerick) and many of his colleagues to the college to herald the beginning of a new era for both institutions. The event was attended by close to 200 people, 12

who received a very warm welcome to the college, accompanied by a backdrop of classical music, played beautifully by students of the neighbouring Presentation School. Amongst the many attending the signing ceremony were Prof. Paul McCutcheon (Vice President Academic & Registrar, UL); Dr. Pat Phelan (Associate Registrar, UL); Prof. Peadar Cremin (President of Mary Immaculate College); Fr. Mark Noonan (President of All Hallows College); Mr. Robbie Kelleher (Chairman of Governing Board of St. Patrick’s College); Dr. Bernadette Flanagan (Governing Board member and Head of Research in All Hallows College); and Archbishop Dermot Clifford. The concept of linking with another third level institution really began in early 2009. The idea of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) collaborating was becoming more and more topical and the decision of St. Patrick’s College to find a strategic partner was reinforced by a Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) recommendation, following a routine review of the college. At this time a list of potential partners, including the University of Limerick, was decided on and negotiations began in earnest. Coincidentally it was on a return trip from another institution that Fr. Fogarty received a fateful call from Professor Don Barry inviting us to meet with him in the University of Limerick’s renowned “White House” to discuss our proposal. This was the first of a series of meetings which culminated in the signing of the Academic Linkage Agreement. Staff of both institutions instantly recognised strong potential in linking. Geographically, the college and university are in close proximity to each other and are joined by a quality train service. The recent opening of the M7 motorway means that travelling time between the institutions is approximately one hour by car. More importantly, the University of Limerick has a very strong and highly regarded tradition in the area of post-primary teacher education which is complimentary to St. Patrick’s College’s long-standing tradition of education and its emerging tradition as a College of Education. This was recognised by Professor Don Barry in a press statement regarding the academic linkage when he commented on the shared passion of both institutions for education and teacher education. He said, “the

and internationally.’ He welcomed the signing of the agreement as a “giant leap forward for the College.” Under the terms of the agreement, degree programmes at St. Patrick’s College will be accredited by the University of Limerick and from 2012 students of the College will graduate with University of Limerick degrees. Steps towards a bright collaborative future had already begun prior to the formal signing of the agreement. Staff of the University of Limerick hosted two workshops for St. Patrick’s College staff during the last academic year (2010/11). Dr. Mary Fitzpatrick and Maura Murphy, who work out of the University of Limerick’s Centre for Teaching and Learning, delivered an extremely well received workshop entitled “Active Learning in Large Groups” and the eminent Prof. Sarah Moore (Associate Vice President, Academic) hosted a very impactful and thought-provoking workshop on the area of Problem-Based Learning. Currently, the College is examining the possibility of hosting a University of Limerick outreach certificate programme starting in September 2011.

University of Limerick is the largest provider of postprimary teacher education in the State. We put a great deal of time and energy into pedagogy at UL and we have recognised a similar commitment in the programmes in St. Patrick’s College.”

The signing ceremony was concluded with the symbolic and fitting presentation of a gift from the staff of St. Patrick’s College to the staff of the University of Limerick. Catherine McCormack (Head of Teaching Practice, St. Patrick’s College) presented a beautifully sculpted piece of bog oak entitled – “The Meeting of Minds.”

Fr. Fogarty commented that the alliance “truly marks the beginning of a new era for the College and the extension of university education beyond the major cities. This partnership brings huge value to St. Patrick’s College. The offer of university-level degrees strengthens our identity and will attract a wide cross-section of students to enrich our culture further.” On the evening of the signing ceremony, Fr. Fogarty delivered a very emotive speech in which he spoke of the esteemed role that St. Patrick’s College has played in education and in the community, since its foundation in 1837. He acknowledged the immense benefit to our students arising from an association with such a ‘prestigious third-level institution with an excellent reputation both nationally 13

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

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THE COLLEGE 2010-11: KEY EVENTS Academic Linkage with University of Limerick, May 4th 2011

Fr. Tom Fogarty, President of St. Patrick’s College, and Professor Don Barry, President of UL

Fr. Tom addresses the assembled Crowd

Dr. Rebecca Purcell, Laoise Ní Cheallaigh, Dr. Máire Ní Ríordáin, Catriona Spooner and Diane Corkery

Music was provided by local secondary school students and enhanced the occasion.

Luceat 2011

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DOUBLE ALL-IRELAND SUCCESS FOR ST. PATrick’S College HURLING TEAM

St. Patrick’s College, Thurles

2 – 11

Cork Colleges of Further Education

1 -4

When the exam results came out last year, Fr. Tom called Paddy McCormack with the idea of St. Patrick’s fielding a serious hurling team. There were some ‘serious’ players here already, but with the addition of two Kilkenny All-Ireland winning minors and with other 1st years boosting numbers, the college was able to field an independent team for the first time in GAA competitions.

History was created at the Waterford Institute of Technology Sports Campus last Saturday when St. Patrick’s College, Thurles were crowned All-Ireland Hurling champions for the first time. Competing in the Fergal Maher competition as part of the ‘Fitzgibbon Cup’ weekend, the Thurles third-level college overcame the challenge of Cork Colleges of Further Education in the final on a score line of 2–11 to 1–04. This was a fantastic victory for ‘Pat’s’ who on Friday afternoon had overcome the Southern Regional Colleges in the semi-final. Despite picking up some injuries in this game the Thurles side travelled to the Carriganore venue with high hopes on Saturday, in this their very first year competing in the championship.

A committee, with Paddy, Barry and Mark as ‘volunteers’ – alongside Ciarán O’Neill – organised training in early October. From then to December a series of league games were played. The league final was reached before Christmas and when the Championship draw – which took place in Croke Park in early December - was made, we enjoyed a ‘bye’ as finalists.

Cork Colleges of Further Education (final), Southern Regional Colleges from Northern Ireland (Semi-final) and Blanchardstown IT (q-Final) was the path to glory on Fitzgibbon weekend. In a sign of things to come, UL were victorious in the Fitzgibbon Cup an hour later! A couple of weeks later came the long-awaited league final against UCD in Portlaoise, who had defeated St. Patrick’s in an earlier league match. Staff and students attended a special evening of prize-giving to mark the momentous occasion.

St. Patrick’s opted to play with the assistance of a strong wind in the first half. Both sides started the game with great intensity and commitment and after a quarter of an hour the Bertie-Og Murphy coached Cork side were much the happier when only trailing by two points. However, it was at this stage that Brian Kennedy, All-Ireland minor hurling medallist with Kilkenny, came into his own and an excellent solo effort saw the Freshford club man drive the ball to the Cork net. This was the inspirational score that the St. Patrick’s side needed and from there to the interval break they added points from Michael Lawlor, Paul Ryan and Brian Stakelum to leave them eight points to the good. The character and skill level that saw the St. Patrick’s side through to the final stages of this championship were never more evident than in the second half. Despite facing the very strong breeze they battled all the way in a very absorbing second period. Some great scores and an outstanding individual goal by Michael Lawlor sealed the Cork side’s fate and ensured a famous victory for this historic college. The final whistle was greeted with scenes of unprecedented joy and jubilation by players, mentors and supporters alike.

assisted by the resolute Barry McLoughlin and the dynamic Ailbe Power. The all-Kilkenny half-back line of John Cullinane, Shane Prendergast (son of the legendary Paddy of Kilkenny hurling fame) and Brian Kennedy (man of the match) laid the foundations for this success with outstanding displays. The midfield pairing of Jason Corcoran (All-Ireland minor winner with Kilkenny) and Windgap clubman Cian Ryan were very dominant at midfield and never more so than in the crucial second period. The attack was superbly led by the excellent Michael Lawlor, who received outstanding assistance from the hard-working duo of Justin Dermody and John Treacy. The inside line of attack was well served throughout the two days of the competition through the prolific scoring of Paul Ryan, Brian Stakelum and Liam Cullen. The substitutes on this historic and famous occasion have to be complimented for their roles throughout the championship and these included Dan Doheny, Mark Kavanagh, Diarmiud Carr, James McPartland, Rob Barron, Cathal McCarthy and Kevin Purcell. In addition the contributions of the injured trio of James Power, Peter Mernagh and Diarmuid McMahon were crucial in ensuring St. Patrick’s passage to the final date. The management team of Paddy McCormack, Mark Ryan, Ciaran O’ Neill and Fr. Tom Fogarty had the team well prepared for the event and can take great pride in the commitment of this very skilful and talented side.

St. Patrick’s Team: L. Lacey, B. McLoughlin, C. McNamara, A. Power, J. Cullinane, S. Prendergast, B. Kennedy, J. Corcoran, C. Ryan, J. Treacy, M. Lawlor, J. Dermody, L. Cullen, B. Stakelum, P. Ryan. Subs: D. Doheny, M. Kavanagh, J. McPartland, R. Barron, K. Purcell, P. Mernagh, J. Power, C. McCarthy, D. Carr, S. Furlong, D. McMahon.

On a day when many players’ reputations were enhanced, goalkeeper Liam Lacey was coolness personified all through. In front of him, the excellent Cathal McNamara was a tower of strength, ably 16

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College T h u r l e s

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College T h u r l e s

DOUBLE ALL-IRELAND SUCCESS FOR ST. PATrick’s College HURLING TEAM (IN PICTURES)

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College T h u r l e s

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College T h u r l e s

ST. PATrick’s College HURLING TEAM

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

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Presentation of awards by all-ireland winning captain, eoin kelly

Extra Photos of Hurling Team 2011

Paddy McCormack with Eoin Kelly

Cathal McCarthy with Eoin Kelly

Michael Lawlor (team captain) with Eoin Kelly

Diarmuid McMahon with Eoin Kelly

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St. Patrick’s College

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Extra Photos of Hurling Team 2011

James Maloughney with Eoin Kelly

Kevin Purcell with Eoin Kelly

James McPartland with Eoin Kelly

Peter Mernagh with Eoin Kelly

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Extra Photos of Hurling Team 2011

Rob Barron with Eoin Kelly

Brian Stakelum with Eoin Kelly

Stephen Furlong with Eoin Kelly

Cian Ryan with Eoin Kelly

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Extra Photos of Hurling Team 2011

Dan Doheny with Eoin Kelly

John Treacy with Eoin Kelly

Jason Corcoran with Eoin Kelly

Justin Dermody with Eoin Kelly

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Extra Photos of Hurling Team 2011

Liam Cullen with Eoin Kelly

with Eoin Kelly

Paul Ryan with Eoin Kelly

Ailbe Power with Eoin Kelly

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

Extra Photos of Hurling Team 2011

Barry McLoughlin with Eoin Kelly

Cathal McNamara with Eoin Kelly

Brian Kennedy with Eoin Kelly

Liam Lacey with Eoin Kelly

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

Extra Photos of Hurling Team 2011

Mark Ryan with Eoin Kelly

Shane Prendergast with Eoin Kelly

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

EPISCOPAL JUBILEE CELEBRATION

COLLEGE DIARY 2010/11

Ash Wednesday, 9 March 2011, marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Dr Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly. In deference to the penitential nature of Ash Wednesday, it was decided to commemorate the Archbishop’s Episcopal Jubilee on Monday evening, 7 March. The result was a most joyful and memorable celebration which will live in the memory of all those who were present on that evening in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles.

Solidarity and Joy

AUGUST 2010

28th

The Mass of Thanksgiving was an expression of diocesan solidarity and joy. Faithful from throughout the archdiocese were actively involved in the impressive liturgy. The Jubilee Celebration served to uplift the spirit of all present. Such was a timely boost for morale in a period of exceptional challenge for both Church and country.

7th

MARCH 2011

The large congregation which gathered for the Jubilee Celebration was representative of the archdiocese and the wider Irish Church. Archbishop Clifford was chief concelebrant at the Mass and also homilist. Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, lifetime friend and colleague of Dr Clifford, presided at the ceremony. The attendance also included the Papal Nuncio, Dr Giuseppe Leanza; four other bishops, among them the Bishop of Waterford & Lismore, Dr William Lee, former President of St Patrick’s College, Thurles; as well as most of the priests of the archdiocese. The diocese of Cloyne, where Dr Clifford has been serving as Apostolic Administrator since March 2008, was also represented by four priests.

Congratulations

Celebration for 1969 Ordination class

10th-12th

International Reunion of Clergy

10 -13

Autumn Examinations

7th

First year students Teaching Practice in schools

31st

Autumn Examinations Board Meeting

9th

Ash Wednesday Ritual

SEPTEMBER 2010

Division 3 College League Hurling Final v UCD – The Double is Completed!

9th & 10th

Induction Days for 1st Year Students

APRIL 2011

College Reopens for all students

27th

‘Bond and Bowl’ in Kilkenny attended by 1st Years and members of staff

At the conclusion of the Mass, the Papal Nuncio read a message of congratulations from Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Brady then addressed the congregation, warmly congratulating Archbishop Clifford while recalling their years of friendship since their initial meeting as first year students in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, in September 1957. See the Alumni Section for a personal reflection by Archbishop Clifford and a Homily by Fr. Christy O’Dwyer.

5th

CPD workshop on Problem Based Learning with Prof. Sarah Moore, UL

OCTOBER 2010

6th

Filming of Promotional DVD for St Patrick’s College begins

13th

12th

Guest Lecture by Eamon O’Shea (NUIG/Tipp Hurling Team 2010): The Economics of Ageing

15th

3rd Year Entrepreneurship Exhibition 2011 and the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award

20th

Ritual for Holy Week in the Chapel

2nd Year Economics Presentations/Films

Eucharist for the opening of the college year

NOVEMBER 2010 13th

Open Day for Prospective Third-Level Students

GRADUATION DAY

DECEMBER 2010

MAY 2011

6th–10th

Examinations

Christmas Holidays until January 5th 2011

4th

The Academic Linkage with UL officially signed and launched at special event

JANUARY 2011

26th

Last Day of Exams and End of Year College Ball at The Anner Hotel

10th

JUNE 2011

Teaching Practice begins for Years 2, 3 and 4

FEBRUARY 2011 21st

Catherine McCormack’s Play, ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ opens in The Source Theatre

Post-Teaching Practice Meetings held in the college

26th

Fergal Maher Cup Final is won by St. Patricks’s College in Waterford

First year students shadowing in schools

16th

H.E.T.A.C. Exam Board Meeting

AUGUST 2011 11th

Open Day for Alumni

15th

Autumn Examinations

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

SECTION B: STUDENTS

T h u r l e s

STUDENT PROFILES Caroline Sheehan From (nearest town, County): Ballymacarbry, via Clonmel, Co. Waterford My Secondary school: Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel Favourite Film(s): The Truman Show Favourite Music: i) Song(s): Billy Joel, We Didn’t Start the Fire ii) Music Artist(s): R.E.M, Damien Rice. If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …Travelled the world My best moment in St. Pat’s: Has yet to come. If I had three wishes they would be: i) To wish for more wishes? Ha…Health ii) Happiness iii) Love The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Changing. How can you teach for a future you know nothing about? My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Be relatable!

ii) Music Artist(s) Eminem, Rhianna, Black-Eyed Peas, Dr Dre If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done beauty therapy or legal studies or business. My best moment in St. Pat’s: Meeting new people and making new friends. If I had three wishes they would be: i) To do well in college ii) To win the lotto!! iii) To pass my exams The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Dealing with challenging behaviour and motivating students My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: To get the class involved, if you’re passionate about it, they may follow your lead and become more interested.

Darren Carew From (nearest town, County): Tipperary Town My Secondary school: Abbey C.B.S. Favourite Film(s): Godfather

Aoife Ryan From (nearest town, County): Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary

Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Not sure ii) Music Artist(s) Bob Dylan

My Secondary school: Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir Favourite Film(s): Smile, Pearl Harbour, Mean Girls Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Party Rock Anthem, Loose Yourself, Still Dre 38

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done game development. My best moment in St. Pat’s Everyday. If I had three wishes they would be: i) Lotto ii) Good teacher 39

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Keeping children interested in R.E. My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Make it fun.

T h u r l e s

Shawshank Redemption, Hangover

iii) Holiday to Florida with Family

Patrician College, Ballyfin

Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Price Tag, Avé Maria, Take a Bow, Rude Boy, If I Were a Boy. ii) Music Artist(s) Beyonce & Rihanna

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Making the subject Irish interesting for students

Favourite Film(s): The Butterfly Effect

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: To address issues that concern them

Favourite Music: i) Song(s) “Fast Car” Tracy Chapman ii) Music Artist(s) Pink

Diarmuid McMahon From (nearest town, County): Limerick My Secondary school: Munchens Favourite Film(s): Brokeback Mountain

Áine Burke

My best moment in St. Pat’s: When I won escort of the Year! ☺

From (nearest town, County): Liscannor, Co. Clare

If I had three wishes they would be: i) Win The Lotto ii) Meet Boyonce iii) Pass all my exams

My Secondary school: Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon

Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Flying Without Wings ii) Music Artist(s) Westlife

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Trying to teach students that don’t want to learn

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …been a male hat model

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Make it Fun!

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Hosting Thorn of Thurles

Patricia McElgunn

If I had three wishes they would be: i) Play Rugby with Leinster ii) Become a Pilot iii) Own a Fiat Punto The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Wondering what to do during my 3 months summer holidays My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Always look on the bright side of life

Emma Dwyer From (nearest town, County) Enniscorthy, Wexford My Secondary school: Coláiste Bríde Favourite Film(s): 40

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have …become a Guard

From (nearest town, County): Thurles My Secondary school: Presentation Sec. School, Thurles Favourite Film(s): Pretty Woman

Favourite Film(s): Hangover, Lion King, Yogi Bear Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Bruno Marz – The Lazy Song ii) Music Artist(s) Script, Bruno Marz, Michael Buble, Take That

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Weekend spent in Gaeltacht with an Rang Nua-Ghaeilge If I had three wishes they would be: i) To win the lotto ii) Have the opportunity to travel the world iii) To graduate with a 1.1!! The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Ireland’s changing cultural and economic society.

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …Business

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Relate the class to their own experience and lives.

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Trip to the Leprechaun Farm and Devils Bit with Fott, Fitzy and Byrne

Ciara Shea

If I had three wishes they would be: i) Pass the four years ii) Win an All Ireland with Clare Seniors iii) To have AOH’s figure!

Favourite Music: i) Song(s) From Musicals ii) Music Artist(s) Colm Wilkinson

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Finding a Job

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …been a professional dancer

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Make it interesting!

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Philosophy lectures

Ciara Nolan

If I had three wishes they would be: i) I was finished my 4 year in St Pat’s ii) Teaching in the Pres. Sec. School Thurles

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …joined the army.

From (nearest town, County): Portlaoise, Laois My Secondary school:

From (nearest town, County): Castletowenbere, Cork My Secondary school: Scoil Phobail Bhéarra Favourite Music: ii) Music Artist(s) Adele, Bruno Marz, Rihanna If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …don’t know what I would have done, this was always what I wanted to do – possibility of nursing. My best moment in St. Pat’s: Getting the scholarship If I had three wishes they would be: i) To succeed in life ii) To be happy in life 41

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: The curriculum My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Enjoy it, bring it down to earth, more interesting, more engaging.

Claire Stenson From (nearest town, County) Swinford, Co. Mayo My Secondary school: Scoil Muire agus Padraig, Swinford, Co Mayo Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Traditional Irish Music ii) Music Artist(s) If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …studied Theology and Music (Arts) My best moment in St. Pat’s: Meeting new friends If I had three wishes they would be: i) Travel ii) Win the lotto iii) Finish my four years in Pat’s The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: For students to behave and to get a job afterwards. My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Try to make it interesting for the students

Deirdre Fitzpatrick From (nearest town, County): South Kilkenny, Mullinavat My Secondary school: Scoil Aireagail, Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny Favourite Film(s): Hangover, Anything with Owen Wilson, Musicals Favourite Music: 42

T h u r l e s

i) Song(s) Bohemian Rhapsody ii) Music Artist(s) Trad, Kings of Leon, Queen, Guns n Roses If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …Ag Science My best moment in St. Pat’s: Passing accounting!! And a trip to the Leprechaun Farm in Borrisoleigh (Never a dull moment!!)

If I had three wishes they would be: i) No more money worries (would be nice) ii) Get through college without any repeats iii) No tests or assignments (just give me the degree) The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Managing the troublemakers. My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Don’t give them food!

If I had three wishes they would be: i) New Car ii) Good Health iii) Ireland would get out of the Recession

Elaine Byrne

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Actually getting a job at the end

My Secondary school: Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Focus on really different customs and rituals in different religions.

Favourite Film(s): Hangover

Dónal O’ Neill From (nearest town, County): Kildare Town My Secondary school: C.B.S. Naas Favourite Film(s): Lord of the Rings, Comedy Favourite Music: Anything at all e.g. Metal, Rock, Rap i) Song(s) Fast Car (Tracy Chapman), Dying in Your Arms (Trivium) ii) Music Artist(s) Metalica, Katy Perry, Tiesto, and many more. If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …stayed in T.I. My best moment in St. Pat’s: Meeting Ailish Larkin and getting my head put in an oven has to be the funniest, and mystery tour to Waterford.

From (nearest town, County): Sligo

Favourite Music: i) Song(s) The Lazy Song ii) Music Artist(s) Bruno Marz, Katy Perry, Script If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done Business.

My Secondary school: St Brendan’s Community School Favourite Film(s): Mama Mia Favourite Music: ii) Music Artist(s) Rihanna If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done something to do with sports My best moment in St. Pat’s: Meeting new friends/Mystery tour If I had three wishes they would be: i) To win the lotto ii) To be happy and healthy iii) To pursue a good life The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: You have to really want it. It takes a lot of dedication, time and preparation. My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Allow them to have an opinion and question why they develop this opinion.

John Cullinane My best moment in St. Pat’s: Trip to the Leprechaun Farm in Borrisoleigh If I had three wishes they would be: i) To pass the 4 years ii) To have AOH’s lovely legs. iii) To travel for the Summer around Europe The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Keeping students interested and also finding a job after the 4 years My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Keep it simple and involve the students in activities

From (nearest town, County): Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny My Secondary school: Grennan College, Thomastown Favourite Film(s): Braveheart, Any Given Sunday, Shawshank Redemption, The Hangover Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Mr Brightside, Chasing Cars

Gillian Molloy

ii) Music Artist(s) The Script, The Killers, Snow Patrol

From (nearest town, County): Birr, Offaly

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done something to do with sport and recreation 43

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Winning the All-Ireland Championship with Pats (Hurling)

Kelly-Ann Whelan

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …been a fitness instructor.

My Secondary school: Callan CBS, and Ballingarry Pres. Convent

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Winning the all Ireland and the league

Favourite Film(s): The Colour of Money If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …been an actor.

Favourite Film(s): Any comedy

If I had three wishes they would be: i) Win an All Ireland with Laois i) Katy Perry as a girlfriend iii) Train the Laois team to an All-Ireland

Favourite Music: Gareth Brooks, older stuff really.

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: The amount of lesson plans you have to do.

James McPortland

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …studied Advertising

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Make it interesting for them, if that’s possible.

From (nearest town, County): Doon, Co Limerick

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Making new friends

Laura Coffey

If I had three wishes they would be: i) Become a Millionaire ii) Live in Australia iii) Be Famous for a Day The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Trying to keep students motivated My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Try to make it relevant and interesting

My Secondary school: St Peter’s C.B.S, Doon Favourite Film(s): Any Given Sunday Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Born to Run, All These Things That I’ve Done ii) Music Artist(s) The Killers

From (nearest town, County): Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny My Secondary school: Duiske College, Graiguenamanagh

If I had three wishes they would be: i) To win Euromillions ii) Drive a Lexus iii) To be qualified The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Trying to get a job. My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Be open-minded and remember everyone is entitled to their own opinions!

From (nearest town, County) Dungarvan, Co. Waterford My Secondary school: St Augustine’s College

If I had three wishes they would be: i) Cure Cancer and all other life-threatening illnesses My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Open-mind, and respect for different Religions

Leah Collins From (nearest town, County): Kilkenny My Secondary school: Loreto College Favourite Film(s): Wonderful Events of Winnie and Tigger

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …studied either Social Care or Computing

Favourite Music: Music Artist(s) Lonely Island

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Yet to come.

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …drawn the dole, probably. My best moment in St. Pat’s: When I received awards. It makes me feel recognised as a member of the St. Patricks community

John Treacy

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Winning the Fergal Maher Cup

From (nearest town, County): Laois

If I had three wishes they would be: I) Be a good teacher ii) Do well in College iii) Win the Ryan Cup

My Secondary school: St Fergal’s Rathdowney

If I had three wishes they would be: i) To wish for more wishes. ii) To get a new car. iii) To travel the world.

Favourite Film(s): Green Street

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Having to deal with students that have problems at home.

Favourite Music: ii) Music Artist(s) Black Eyed Peas, Dance, Tiesto, everything and anything

Kieran Foxe

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Know the different Religions

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Too Many

Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Adele ‘Someone Like You’ ii) Music Artist(s) Adele, The Script

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …been a Docter

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Getting students to listen to you.

T h u r l e s

From (nearest town, County) Kilkenny/Thurles

If I had three wishes they would be: i) To only have 1 repeat this year ii) To stay in contact with all my friends especially Zowie iii) To make a successful career for myself The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Bold children

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

My tip for teaching Religion to young people Make it fun

Laura Gallen From (nearest town, County): Donegal My Secondary school: St Columbus College Favourite Film(s): The Hangover Favourite Music: i) Song(s) JCB Song ii) Music Artist(s) Eminem If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done childcare If I had three wishes they would be: To have a car The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Relating the topic to students own experience

If I had three wishes they would be: i) Wish for Super Powers! ii) To be healthy forever iii) New ford focus. The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Trying to get students interested in some sections of the course My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Make it fun and interesting

Lisa Brennan From (nearest town, County): Killorglin, Co Kerry My Secondary school: Intermediate School Killorglin Favourite Film(s): Marley and Me Favourite Music: Music Artist(s) Adele, Lady Gaga

Liam Fleming

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done childcare

From (nearest town, County): Macroom, Co. Cork

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Would be the new friends I’ve made and the craic I had.

My Secondary school: De La Salle Macroom

If I had three wishes they would be: i) That I would pass my course ii) That I could travel the world iii) That I would be a successful teacher and get a job

Favourite Film(s): Inception, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Favourite Music: i) Song(s) All These Things That I’ve Done ii) Music Artist(s) Kings of Leon / Killers

T h u r l e s

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: The students and how they behave My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: To make it fun and interesting

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …become a pilot or a Garda

Maeve Tierney

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Every moment is great.

From (nearest town, County): Castlebar, Mayo

My Secondary school: St. Joseph’s Secondary School Favourite Film(s): Shrek Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Single Ladies, Romans Revenge, Radio ii) Music Artist(s) Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Trad music. If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …travelling and gigging or Applied Languages or Irish Music and Dance My best moment in St. Pat’s: Making new Friends If I had three wishes they would be: i) Win the Lotto ii) Pass the four years and come out as a SAVAGE teacher iii) Get a job! The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Dealing with students My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: If it’s not an exam subject, have a laid-back environment

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Dating Ailbe Power If I had three wishes they would be: i) Pass my Exams ii) Pass my Exams iii) Pass my Exams The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Passing my exams My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Pass your Exams

Mark Kavanagh From (nearest town, County): Portlaoise, Co. Laois My Secondary school: St Mary’s C.B.S. Portlaoise Favourite Film(s): Braveheart, Gladiator Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Like all types of music

Maggie Whelan

My best moment in St. Pat’s: First day / winning the league and cup with St Patrick’s and all the moments and memories

From (nearest town, County): Durlavin, Wicklow

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: The work load and the pressure of the curriculum

My Secondary school: St Kevin’s C.C.

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Try and make it relevant and interesting for students and help them understand religion

Favourite Film(s): Cheaper by the Dozen Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Friends Theme Tune ii) Music Artist(s) Rod Stewert If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …Nursing

Marie O’ Connor From (nearest town, County): Limerick My Secondary school: St Joseph’s Secondary School, Abbeyfeale 47

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

Favourite Film(s): The Hangover Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Good girl ii) Music Artist(s) If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done a business degree. My best moment in St. Pat’s: Winning the management project!! My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Relate the topic back to their own experiences in life.

Nicole Smith From (nearest town, County): Carrick – On – Suir, Co. Tipperary My Secondary school: Scoil Mhuire, Greenhill Favourite Film(s): Beauty and the Beast Favourite Music: i) Song(s) All music ii) Music Artist(s) Beyonce, Rihanna

Mary Coughlan

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …voice and dance.

From (nearest town, County): Oola, Limerick

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Metting new people

My Secondary school: St. Joseph’s, Doon, Limerick

If I had three wishes they would be: i) Be a Singer ii) Win the lotto

Favourite Film(s): Hangover Favourite Music: ii) Music Artist(s) Rihanna / Script If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done veterinary nursing. My best moment in St. Pat’s: Going home on fridays

T h u r l e s

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Behaviour in classrooms. My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Relate it to their everyday lives.

If I had three wishes they would be: i) I wish that I could have an unlimited amount of wishes ii) I wish for world peace iii) An end to the hard times The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Monday Mornings My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Keep it country

Pauline Frewen From (nearest town, County): Kilmalloch, Co. Limerick My Secondary school: Scoil Pól

Favourite Music: i) Music Artist(s) David Guetta If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …continued dedicating time to coaching and fighting My best moment in St. Pat’s: Passing my exams! If I had three wishes they would be: i) Win the lotto! ii) Get a UFC contract! iii) Get American Citizenship! The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Getting a job

Ruth McCormack Favourite Film(s): The Notebook Favourite Music: i) Music Artist(s) Black Eyed Peas If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …been a nurse. My best moment in St. Pat’s: Primary school teaching placement

Paul Ryan From (nearest town, County): Dundrume

Favourite Film(s): The Shining

If I had three wishes they would be: To win the lotto

From (nearest town, County): Thurles, Co. Tipperary My Secondary school: Presentation, Thurles Favourite Film(s) Marley and Me, Sweeney Todd, King Kong… anything musical or about animals really! Favourite Music: i) Song(s) There’s too many to pick from!

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Finding a Job

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... Been a volunteer in a rainforest somewhere working with endangered wildlife

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Apply real life situations to the topic.

My best moment in St. Pat’s: The trip to the Gaeltacht last year

Peter Queally

If I had three wishes they would be: i) To explore the world with friends and family every summer when I’m not teaching. ii) That animal cruelty would end. iii) That all Pat’s graduates would get teaching jobs in Ireland.

If I had three wishes they would be: To be qualified as a teacher

My Secondary school: Thurles C.B.S.

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: To engage students in class lessons and the wanting to learn new knowledge.

Favourite Music: i) Song(s) “Friday” Rebecca Black ii) Music Artist(s) Macey South

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: To be creative.

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …become a Doctor

From (nearest town, County): Waterford

My best moment in St. Pat’s: The night we won the All-Ireland

My Secondary school: St Augustine’s College

Luceat 2011

St. Patrick’s College

T h u r l e s

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Finding a job!

Favourite Film(s): Marlyey and Me, 50 First Dates

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Be creative!

Rebecca Foott From (nearest town, County): Kinsale, Co. Cork My Secondary school: Kinsale Community School Favourite Film(s): Hangover, Lion King, Remember Me Favourite Music: i) Song(s) The Lazy Song ii) Music Artist(s) Coronas, BellX1, Katy Perry

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Allow them to form their own opinions and keep an open mind

Favourite Film(s): The Hangover, Due Date, Gladiator, The Time Travellers Wife

Favourite Music: i) Music Artist(s) Adele, Beyonce, The Script, etc

Yvonne O’ Rourke

Favourite Music: i) Music Artist(s) Script, Adele

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Every moment

From (nearest town, County) Roscrea

If I had three wishes they would be: New Car

My Secondary school: RVS Roscrea

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Getting the pupils thinking rather than just reading and listening

Favourite Film(s): Gone with the Wind/ Francis of Assisi

My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: To make it fun (through discussion, debates, ect)

Shauna Donegan

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done Business and German

From (nearest town, County): Wexford

My best moment in St. Pat’s: Sr. Mary writing on the interactive whiteboard with permanent marker

My Secondary school: Yates College

If I had three wishes they would be: i) To pass the 4 years ii) Unlimited supply of drink iii) To have AOH’s figure The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Trying to keep students interested My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Keep it fun.

Favourite Film(s): P.S. I Love You, or The Notebook Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Mr. Brightside from the Killers ii) Music Artist(s) Rihanna If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done nursing. My best moment in St. Pat’s: Meeting my friends

Sarah Hennessy From (nearest town, County): Kilkenny My Secondary school: Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny

If I had three wishes they would be: i) To win the lotto ii) Happy iii) Healthy

Favourite Music: i) Song(s) Wonder of You ii) Music Artist(s) Elvis 6If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …done nursing My best moment in St. Pat’s: Meeting lovely new people.

If I hadn’t done teaching I would have... …physiotherapy My best moment in St. Pat’s: Meeting new friends. If I had three wishes they would be: i) Win the Lotto ii) Travel the world iii) To be qualified The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Dealing with the complexities of teaching. My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: Try to make it as interesting as possible for the students.

If I had three wishes they would be: i) To complete the course successfully ii) To become a brilliant teacher iii) To be happy, healthy and honest in life (for myself and my family) The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: Control of Class My tip for teaching Religion to young people is: To give them a great understanding of Jesus and His love for them. (love, sharing)

Tara Healy From (nearest town, County): Loughrea, Co. Galway My Secondary school: St. Raphael’s College

The biggest challenge to being a teacher today is: It takes a lot of dedication and work. 51

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SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS On Monday, 4th October St. Patrick’s College was proud to host its inaugural scholarship awards in the college. A host of GAA greats - Tipperary hurling legend Jimmy Doyle, 2010 All-Ireland hurling heroes Eoin Kelly, Padraic Maher and Brendan Cummins, victorious All-Ireland U/21 manager Ken Hogan and Richie Mulrooney, manager of the 2010 All-Ireland winning Kilkenny minor team – were all present to launch the first annual Scholarship Awards. The awards recognise both academic and sporting achievements. Two entrance scholarships, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, were presented to first-year students based on their results in the Leaving Certificate. Ciara Shea from Beara, Co. Cork was awarded the scholarship for BA (Honours) in Education, Irish and Religious Studies. Sarah Hennessy, from Ballycallen, Co. Kilkenny received the scholarship for the BA (Honours) in Education, Business and Religious Studies. The GAA scholarships were presented to two players from the All-Ireland winning Kilkenny minor squad – Brian Kennedy and Jason Corcoran. The 1st year Academic Award winner for Business Studies was Shaun Bray and the Academic Award winner for Irish was Ruth McCormack. The 2nd year Academic Award winner was Victoria Ryan and the 3rd year winner was Edward Dudley.

Ciara Shea

Sarah Hennessy

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Brain Kennedy

Shaun Bray

Jason Corcoran

Victoria Ryan

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Who’s Reading What in St. Patrick’s College? An Informal Reading Survey conducted amongst Staff and Students in St Patrick’s College during Term Two 2011 by Ailish Larkin and Mary Roche.

Edward Dudley

Ailish and Mary are bookworms. Serious bookworms. Serious bookworms who panic if they haven’t a book (or three) on the go. So who better to carry out a reading survey in the College? They wanted to see what St Patrick’s College students and staff are reading; who influenced them as readers; who their favourite authors are, and other such fascinating questions. A survey like this will, no doubt, always have the potential to be interesting, but when you consider that our students are located in a college of education and that they will likely influence their pupils’ reading for better or worse, then the survey begins to take on a slightly different tone. Worries have been expressed about reading engagement here in Ireland and elsewhere. There are concerns worldwide about a decline in professional reading amongst primary and secondary teachers, and amongst third-level faculty also. Add to that mix the current anxiety in all educational contexts about falling literacy attainment scores and we see that perhaps even an informal survey like ours can yield some food for thought. The 2009 OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Report ranks Irish students 21st (out of 65 participating countries) in Literacy Attainment. When Maths Attainment was added to the equation Ireland was ranked 17th. An article in the Irish Times in December 2010 stated that ...the ranking of Irish students in literacy and maths has fallen dramatically in the latest OECD survey... On reading levels, Ireland has slipped from 5th place in 2000 to 17th place, the sharpest decline among 39 countries surveyed. The study says almost onequarter of Irish 15-year-olds are below the level of literacy needed to participate effectively in society. (S Flynn, 2010)

Ruth McCormack

A major cause for concern in PISA 2009 is the decline in engagement in reading amongst teenagers in Ireland. In 2000 just 33% of students reported

never reading for enjoyment. By 2009 this figure had grown to 42%. This is worse than the OECD average of 37%. Significantly, the students (16%) who did read for enjoyment, for more than one hour per day, had an average score that was higher by almost 100 scale points than those who did not read for enjoyment (LaRoche & Cartwright, 2010). We wondered if these trends are reflected amongst our students here in St Patrick’s College. We were curious about the reading habits of staff too, in light of several studies showing that teachers’ reading habits are also giving rise to some concern. Cremin’s et al (2009) study on UK primary teachers’ reading habits showed that many teachers of literacy are themselves keen readers of fiction. But the study also revealed that many teachers draw from a very narrow range of literatures: Teachers surely need to be able to recommend books to individual learners, suggesting named authors and actual books which will excite their imaginations, foster their desire and enhance their pleasure in reading… Lamentably however, evidence suggests that few children perceive that their teachers help them choose books… (Cremin et al 2009: 458) In terms of professional reading (the reading that teachers do for professional development), research suggests that the story is equally disquieting. Studies carried out in different countries show that teachers in general are reluctant readers of professional (educational) literatures. For example, Rudland and Kemp’s (2004) study of Australian teachers shows that ...teachers engage in relatively little professional reading, especially when compared to the reading habits of other professionals. Further, the reading that is undertaken is principally from periodicals that are largely pragmatic in nature. (Rudland and Kemp, 2004: 4)

In the U.S.A. ... [a] study of 224 teachers pursuing graduate degrees showed they read few or no professional journals that included research. ... More than half said they had read only one or two professional books in the 57

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Who’s Reading What in St. Patrick’s? previous year, and an additional 20 percent said they had read nothing in the last six months or one year... in a national survey of 666 academic high school teachers ... almost half reported not reading one professional journal or magazine. (Trelease, 2007 n/p)

In Ireland Delaney (2005) states that ... Irish teachers, however, have a low level of professional reading ... the lowest of any participating country. (Delaney, 2005: 6) In fact research would seem to suggest that many teachers are not interested in reading - either for leisure or for professional development. There are even suggestions that teachers are becoming ‘aliterate’ - people who can read but won’t - and that student teachers are actually displaying the characteristics of ‘struggling’ readers - that is readers who cannot read with comprehension and engagement. Research reveals that while teachers say they value reading as a leisure activity, many do not make personal pleasure reading a priority. Many are a part of a growing group of people classified as alliterates. Scott (1996) defined aliteracy as a “lack of reading habit especially in capable readers who choose not to read.” … Researchers expressed concern not just over the reading habits of pre-service teachers … [but also over the fact that] their behaviours were more characteristic of “struggling” readers. (Rasey and Koppenhaver 2009: 2) As future teachers, students in this college have the potential to encourage a love of reading among their pupils. Research shows that one of the most powerful ways of doing this is by being a ‘model’ reader to pupils (Benevides & Peterson, 2010). Pupils at all levels of schooling know when someone is being sincere or not. Anyone can list off the benefits of reading and why you should read. However, when a teacher starts to describe the latest book they are engrossed in, why it has affected them so much, perhaps knows a little about the author’s life and has a real passion for reading, that excitement and genuine love of reading shines through and can be contagious and inspiring. 58

…teachers who are engaged and enthusiastic readers present a more positive example to their students than teachers who read very little. They make recommendations to their students based on a sincere appreciation of texts they have read. Teachers who have read widely can elaborate on their own experiences in selecting texts that either suit their reading tastes or expand their reading interests. They can explain how and what they learn and gain in other ways from reading …Pre-service teachers who do not bring an enthusiasm for reading and engage in free-choice reading on a regular basis may find it difficult to model a love of reading. (Benevides & Peterson 2010: 291) In her previous job Ailish worked as a librarian in a secondary school. She therefore had to collaborate with teachers on literacy initiatives. What was particularly striking was that many second-level teachers felt that literacy was not their responsibility but that it should be completely covered in primary school. They didn’t see it as their concern. However, every teacher is a teacher of literacy. Every subject has a specific vocabulary that students need to learn. Every subject will have both fiction and non-fiction titles that will greatly enhance the teaching experience and students’ enjoyment and understanding of the subject. Often when teachers think of reading they think solely of novels. However, newspapers and magazine articles, blogs, song lyrics, biographies, graphic novels, poetry and rap lyrics could all also be used to encourage reading. BUT before we get all worked up we ought to bear in mind the fact that worries about literacy levels have been a cause for concern for quite a while. For example, Williams (2007: 178) wrote: Fashion trends and politicians come and go, but one thing that never seems to go out of style is a good oldfashioned literacy crisis. Don’t believe me? Then tell me the year of each of the following quotations: 1. Those of us who have been doomed to read manuscripts written in an examination room—whether at a grammar school, a high school, or a college— have found the work of even good scholars disfigured by bad spelling, confusing punctuation, ungrammatical,

READING SURVEY obscure, ambiguous, or inelegant expressions. 2. If your children are attending college, chances are when they graduate they will be unable to write ordinary, expository English with any degree of structure and lucidity. If they are in high school and planning to attend college, the chances are less than even that they will be able to write English at the minimal college level when they get there. 3. The young people enrolled in middle and high school who lack the broad literacy skills to comprehend and learn advanced academic subjects will suffer serious social, emotional, and economic consequences. As a country, the repercussions of a national literacy crisis will seriously hinder this nation’s ability to sustain its social, political, and economic well-being in this century.

The answers are 1.—1879 (Hill 1995: 45); 2.—1975 (Sheils 1975: 58) and 3.—2006 (National Association of State Boards of Education 2005: 4).

NOTE: Responses were received from 14 staff and 63 students. What was the last book you read? Staff (mostly female): ‘recently read’ authors included Jane Green, John McGahern, Malcolm Gladwell, Lori Lansens, Lisa Moore, Sebastian Faulks, John Updike, Hilary Mantel, Barbara Kingsolver and ‘The Fitzpatrick Tapes’- Tom Lyons and Brian Carey. Students’ recent reads included: ‘The Flounder’ by Gunther Grass, ‘Yes Taoiseach’, ‘The Shack’, ‘Somewhere in between’,’The Help’, ‘The Roy Keane Biography’ (two readers), ‘Mr Nice: Howard Marks autobiography’ ‘The Unseen’ by Katherine Webb, Dan Shanahan’s autobiography, ‘Missing: Ireland’s Missing Women’, ‘Dreams’, ‘No Logo’ by Naomi Klein, ‘The Mighty 8th: the 8th Airforce in Europe’, ‘Left to Tell’, ‘Twilight’, ‘Ross O’Carroll Kelly’, Mickey Hartes’s ‘Presence is the Only Thing’, Brian Cody’s autobiography, ‘Lies of Silence’, Bill Cullen’s autobiography ‘It’s a Long Way from Penny Apples’, Roberto Duran’s biography ‘Hands of Stone’. ..

What is your favourite book or author? Staff members’ favourite books/authors included: John McGahern, John Fante, Carol Shields, Anne Tyler, Colm Toibin, Claire Keegan, William Trevor, Margaret Atwood, Anne Enright, Charles Dickens, Kate Atkinson, Jodi Picoult, Karen Rose, Lisa Gardner, Nora Roberts, JD Robb, Dan Brown, Garth Stein, T E White, JRR Tolkien, Lisa Moore and Alain de Botton. Students listed the following books and authors as favourites: Mickey Harte, Daire O Sé, Roddy Doyle, ‘Twilight’, Steven Ambros, Martina Cole, Dan Brown, ‘Across the Barricades’ by Joan Lingard, JK Rowling, Lesley Pearse, Paolo Coelho, ‘The Road Less Travelled’ by M. Scott Peck, Cecelia Ahern, ‘Marley and Me’, Lance Armstrong’s autobiography ‘It’s not about the Bike’ and Muhammed Ali’s ‘Soul of a Butterfly’.

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Which of the following do you read?

Genre Staff Reluctant student Students readers Newspapers All 2 Graphic Novels 2 0 Websites 10 3 Blogs 6 0 Magazines 10 6 Books All 2 e-books 3 0 I never read 0 1 Other 0 0

47 3 26 26 17 32 2 0 2 (supplements such as Sunday Times Culture or Style)

What type of book do you most enjoy reading? Staff members prefer biography, crime, realistic fiction, short stories, historical fiction and cookery. Surprisingly, 5 of the ‘reluctant reader’ student group state that they read travel, sport, romance and DIY. The rest of the student group read a wide selection of genres: several students are eclectic in their tastes and ticked a variety of genres as preferred reading. The results are contained in the pie chart on the next page:

The legend opposite reads from ‘least read’ to ‘most often read’. It would appear that Romance and Comedy account for nearly a quarter of all books read, with Music, Poetry, Religion and Science books scoring only 4% between them. Biography, Sport, Crime and Realistic Fiction account for 35% of all books read. History, Fantasy, Drama, Mystery and Cookery garner almost another quarter of all readers. Students in St Patrick’s College certainly display wonderfully diverse literary tastes.

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What type of book do you most enjoy reading? students’ Favorite Books

Music 1% Historical Fiction 1% cookery 1% Realistic Fiction 7% Romanace 13% Poetry 2% Travel 1% Mystery 4% Crime 9% Religion 3% Myths & legends 2% drama 5% Sport 9% Science 3% Horror 3% Fantasy 5% Biography 10% DIY 9% short Story 3% History 6% comedy 12% 62

What do you read in relation to your work? Two of the reluctant readers said they only read for assignments or ‘what I have to’. Unsurprisingly the majority of the other students also read prescribed education, business and religious literatures and the business sections of some newspapers (also prescribed). Students also read Entrepreneurs’ autobiographies and websites.

book that she enjoyed. Most students claim that their homes/parents were responsible for cultivating the reading habit. Having been read to as a child was a strong factor in encouraging a love of reading.

Any other comments on reading: Comments from staff include: ‘My life would be much poorer without reading’ ‘It’s a great pastime and can be educational’

Staff read newspapers, websites, journal articles, books, blogs, Church documents, policy documents and educational material. One staff member doesn’t read work-related material.

Do you think it is important for teachers to be readers?

‘A good book can be as good as shopping, a meal out or a day at the beach’ Many students who are readers wish they had more time for leisure reading. ‘I read a lot before college took over my life!’

All staff members feel that reading is important. (One member of staff points out, however, that an ability to absorb and communicate information in other ways is also important.)

Two students would like it if a comfy corner with a sofa could be supplied in the library!

Reluctant readers agree, and some even qualify their answer by saying that reading is vital for acquiring knowledge of one’s subject. It appears that they think teachers must read, but not perhaps student teachers! Two students feel that it is not important. All of the other students see reading as ‘essential’, ‘vital’, and ‘absolutely necessary’ for informing one’s knowledge. One student however thinks that reading is only important for ‘grammer’ (sic) but not generally.

If you are an avid reader - who encouraged or influenced you in this? All respondents claim that either parents or teachers were inspiring. Staff members attribute their love of reading to parents and primary teachers mostly, although one person also says that sisters and friends were influential. One reluctant reader said a primary teacher encouraged her. Another noted that she caught the reading ‘bug’ after she read a 63

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Discussion on data The results of the survey are extremely interesting. Above all else, the fact that so much reading is taking place in the college by both staff and students is encouraging and positive. There is a wide range of reading material being enjoyed, from realistic fiction such as ‘The Poisonwood Bible’ to biographies of sports stars, from blogs to magazines, and from crime - ‘Missing: Ireland’s Missing Women’ to comedy ‘Adrian Mole diaries’. It is great to see an interest in and love of reading among any third-level community but it is particularly encouraging for a teacher-training college.

teacher to be a reader. Again ‘being a reader’ is a very wide-ranging statement and can describe, for example, people as diverse as someone who reads a horse-racing newspaper every day, someone who reads blogs on fashion and make-up, and someone who loves Jane Austen novels. Whatever you are reading, what will shine through is your enthusiasm for it, and your classroom and your life will be the richer for it.

The data plainly show that along with parents, teachers have a fundamental role in shaping a person’s attitude to reading. Ailish clearly remembers her Economics teacher in 5th year encouraging the class to read the paper, to discover what was going on in the world and to expand their horizons beyond the self-obsession of teenage years - very healthy advice. As a small child, Mary remembers being read to and being told stories by her parents and was already reading before going to school. Her nextdoor neighbour, who was in Senior Infants, used to read aloud from her English book: ‘Fatty the Pig ran over the bog and he ran and he ran and he ran’ and showed Mary how the words matched the sounds and she was reading! In secondary school, she recalls how, in 5th year, the late and much-missed Sr Alice challenged the class to read beyond low-level fiction and provided them with a range of wonderful novels like Dostoyevsky’s ‘The Idiot’ and works by Steinbeck and Hemingway.

... it’s almost impossible to catch a cold from someone who doesn’t have one. And it’s almost impossible for a child to catch the love of reading from a teacher who doesn’t have it.

What is particularly interesting from our survey is that those students who identify themselves as reluctant readers do actually read. This may be due to the fact that people often still have a very narrow view of reading – they only think of novels. However, reading any material is still reading. It could be a website, a blog, a magazine, a catalogue, a timetable, a recipe or a comic. As future teachers it is crucial that our students realise the myriad reading materials that exist so that they can utilise them to enrich their teaching experience. Perhaps the most significant finding from the survey was the fact that almost all of the participants – staff and students alike – believe that it is important for a 64

References: Alexie, S. (1997) The Joys of Reading (Online) Available from: http://whisperdownthewritealley. wordpress.com/2010/06/22/sherman-alexies-thejoys-of-reading-writing-superman-me/ [Accessed: 1 May 2011]. Benevides, T. & Peterson, S. (2010) ‘Literacy attitudes, habits and achievements of future teachers’. Journal of Education for Teaching, 36(3), pp. 291 - 302.

Trelease (2006, 2007) agrees:

Our survey would seem to indicate that the future is looking good for the pupils of teachers trained in St. Patrick’s!

Cremin, T., Mottram, M., Collins, F., Safford, K. (2009) ‘Teachers as readers: building communities of readers’. Literacy 43(9), pp.11-19.

Available from: http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/ whatsnu_morrie.html [Accessed: 27 April 2011]. Williams, B. T. (2007) ‘Why Johnny can never, ever read: the perpetual literacy crisis and student identity’. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, October 1, p.178.

AUTHORS Dr Mary Roche lectures in Education in St Patrick’s College, Thurles. Ailish Larkin is Librarian in St Patrick’s College, Thurles.

Delaney, S. (2005) ‘Mathematics professional development for primary teachers: Looking back and looking forward’ in S. Close, T. Dooley, D. Corcoran (eds.) Proceedings of First National Conference on Research in Mathematics Education. Dublin: St. Patrick’s College, pp. 235-249. Flynn, S. (2010) ‘An article on Pisa report’. The Irish Times, 8 December. LaRoche, S. & Cartwright, F. (2010) Independent review of the 2009 PISA results for Ireland: report prepared for the Educational Research Centre at the request of the Department of Education and Skills Education and Skills. Dublin: DES. (Online) Available from: http://www.erc.ie/documents/statscan_ pisa00to09_final_report.pdf [Accessed: 1 May, 2011] . Rasey, L. & Koppenhaver, D. (2009) ‘What does research say about teachers’ personal reading habits and their impact on instructional practices and student motivation?’ (Online) Available from: http:// faculty.rcoe.appstate.edu/koppenhaverd/f09/5710/ paper1/lisa.doc [Accessed 2 May 2011]. Rudland, N. and Kemp, C. (2004) ‘The professional reading habits of teachers: Implications for student learning’. Australasian Journal of Special Education, 28(1), pp. 4-17. Trelease, J. (2006, 2007) How non-reading students are related to their non-reading parents and teachers. Excerpts from The Read-Aloud Handbook. (Online) 65

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STUDENT BOOK CLUB

The Joys of Reading

By Danielle Simpson, 2nd Year

Sherman Alexie was born in October 1966. He grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington State. Alexie underwent a brain operation at the age of 6 months and doctors predicted he would live with severe mental retardation. Instead, Alexie learned to read by age three, and devoured novels, such as Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, by age five. All these things ostracised him from his peers, though, and he was often the brunt of other kids’ jokes on the reservation. In an article entitled ‘The Joys of Reading: Superman and Me’ he wrote:

Whether you’re just new to St. Patrick’s or if you just want to discuss great books with like-minded friends then book club is for you! Since starting in 2010, The Book Club is the face of a campaign to recruit more readers. The aim of the group was to let people share their love of reading and as our members will agree there is nothing better than sharing a great book. If you have a passion for reading and you have a tendency to love a book so much that you can’t help but share it then the Book Club is for you! Come along to have fun, meet new people and share your thoughts and views on any reading material, over a cup of tea or two! From our humble beginnings we would like to see book club grow in the next few years. We began last year with a few avid readers, all with different tastes and interests. We welcome all members: any reader, any taste, any gender. The Book Club is free to join and you are not obligated to buy any books, although many of our readers found they loved a book so much they ran out to buy it!! It is connected to Thurles library who post on the books to us. In recessionary times, this could not be a more enjoyable pastime. The meetings are mostly informal where we simply just chat about the book: whether you liked it or not and discuss who your favourite/ least favourite character is. No one is expected to prepare a fifteen minute PowerPoint on their feelings about the book (although if you feel like it…). The Book club was not designed to impinge on your free time; it is mainly to enhance your time off by perhaps rekindling an old passion. Many of the books we read aim to serve the higher purpose of helping you with teaching practice, providing you with great resources in the classroom. The book club was established in order to promote regular reading in the college for young professional trainee teachers, to offer you help and assistance in the classroom. The first book we read, ‘The Book Thief’ highlighted many moral issues sure to enhance any religion class.

As Indian children, we were expected to fail in the non-Indian world ... I refused to fail... I read books late into the night, until I could barely keep my eyes open. I read books at recess, then during lunch, and in the few minutes left after I had finished my classroom assignments. I read books in the car... In shopping malls, I ran to the bookstores and read bits and pieces of as many books as I could. I read the books my father brought home from the pawnshops and secondhand. I read the books I borrowed from the library. I read the backs of cereal boxes. I read the newspaper. I read the bulletins posted on the walls of the school, the clinic, the tribal offices, the post office. I read junk mail. I read auto-repair manuals. I read magazines. I read anything that had words and paragraphs. I read with equal parts joy and desperation. I loved those books, but I also knew that love had only one purpose. I was trying to save my life.

St. Patrick’s College Forever Providing Opportunities for Continuous Professional Development Shekinah: Training Course in Team Youth Retreat Facilitation By Ruth Mc Cormack As future teachers of R.E. we are constantly searching for ways of improving our skills... and C.V.s! St. Patrick’s College is fantastic for providing us with opportunities for doing this. We’ve got ‘the Liturgy Group which helps us to organise and deliver any liturgical event throughout the school year. In Folk Group and Sacred Dance we develop new skills or improve existing ones that will make us valuable assets to any choir or religious department in a school. Not only are these extra-curricular activities going to make our C.V.s more impressive, they allow us to get to know students from year groups other

than our own and they’re enjoyable to be a part of. Short courses are regularly offered to us which ensure we can bulk up our C.V.s and constantly develop as Religion teachers. These courses are great as they are run outside of college hours and don’t burden us with a heavy workload. The Shekinah course in Youth Retreat Facilitation is one such course that a number of us students completed this college year. Back in October students from second, third and fourth year along with qualified teachers were offered the opportunity to take part in a training course for youth retreat facilitation. Luckily for us there was a demand and the course went ahead. A number of students jumped at the opportunity to get involved

http://www.fallsapart.com/ http://whisperdownthewritealley.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/shermanalexies-the-joys-of-reading-writing-superman-me/

Mohandas Gandhi “You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.”

So whether you’re looking to reignite your love of books or if you have never read a book in your life and wish to start, come along to book club, where today’s stories are in tomorrow’s schools! 66

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Youth Retreat Facilitation for ensuring that St. Patrick’s College provided this course for us. I would also like to thank Jennifer Perkins, fma (Course Director), Richard Hendrick, ofm. cap. (Assistant Director) and Br. Padraig McDonald for

and I’m sure none of us regret the commitment. The aim of the course was to give participants the necessary skills for facilitating retreats with young people and this aim was more than fulfilled! The course was run over 4 weekends between October 2010 and March 2011. These weekends involved a series of experiential workshops. There were also 3 days of practical experience where participants gave team retreats to young people. In total we devoted 86 hours to our Youth Retreat Facilitation training. We covered many different modules in our workshops including preparing for a school retreat; essential skills of retreat facilitation; imparting theological content to different age groups; adolescent faith development; team work & small group sharing; personal journaling and self evaluation; dealing with sexuality and relationships; different retreat models; participative liturgy, creative liturgy & prayer; suitable materials & resources; preparation for and delivery of junior/senior retreats. The practical experience combined all the skills we had learned in the workshops. These days were the most enjoyable as we were given the opportunity to form retreat teams and deliver retreats to different age groups. This was all done on the college grounds, which meant we had access to plenty of space and great resources. It was handy for us but also for the young people who came from the local schools. They 68

leading us in Youth Retreat Facilitation and ensuring that we developed as confident, competent and reflective facilitators of team youth retreats.

got to enjoy the full experience of a retreat without having to stay on their usual school grounds. A typical retreat day starts around 8.30 and finishes at 4.00. It’s a long day for facilitators and students as it is packed with ice-breakers, involvement exercises, thought-provoking games and films, topics for discussion, mediations, reflections, drama, art, music, suitable material and resources. We were quite tired after each of the practical retreats; the energy levels required for each day equal the energy levels required for a week of Teaching Practice! But all in all it’s a very enjoyable day for facilitators and participants alike. ...A retreat should be a positive faith experience for the young participants; it should be joyful, celebratory, prayerful, reflective and meditative; it should have a suitable liturgy and, of course, be carefully planned. The Shekinah training course in Team Youth Retreat Facilitation definitely prepared us to deliver retreats that more than fulfil the above criteria. On behalf of all the participants of the course; Kenneth Dwyer, Pauric Hanlon, Ruth Mc Cormack, Amanda Butler, Sarissa Denmead, Lee-Ann Furlong, Linda Fanning, Liam Maher, Ian Walshe, Bridget Lalor, Rita Ryan, Fiona Donoghue & Deirdre Lanigan, I would like to thank Shane Dempsey and Catherine Mc Cormack 69

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ENTREPRENEURIAL FLAIR ON SHOW AT ST. PATRICK’S COLLEGE ENTERPRISE AWARDS! By Rebecca Purcell. Developing innovative business ideas was the task of third year business students taking part in the Entrepreneurship and Business Law module. Eleven teams followed the path of successful entrepreneurs and presented their new businesses to the public at the ‘Entrepreneurship Exhibition 2011’. the theme of this year’s event was ‘Religious Products and Services’.

Fess, Bless and Happiness harnessed SMS and MMS technology to offer a greeting and confessional service via mobile phones. The overall winners, Deja Vu Photography, created an unconventional postwedding photography service. Deja Vu Photography offers brides an opportunity to wear their wedding dress again, but this time, to take pictures that reflect aspects of their true personality. Congratulations to the Deja Vu Photography team Victoria Ryan, Louise Ryan, Sinead O Donovan and John Murphy.

Each group began their entrepreneurial journey in October 2010 by creating a concept statement, which outlined the business idea by describing the product or service, the potential target market and the unique selling proposition (USP). In line with the demands of ‘real-world’ entrepreneurship, the next phase of the project required students to prepare a detailed business plan evaluating their business in detail. Elements contained in the business plan included a detailed industry and market analysis, a comprehensive marketing plan outlining how the group intended to communicate with the target market, financial projections and an investigation of selling and distribution activities. The business ideas were many and varied, including Stress Free Memories, an event planning service for Communions, Confirmations and Weddings. Fashion retailing was a popular theme with Holy Fashion, a low cost online fashion retailer for Christian events and Religious Products Unlimited, an online store selling customised clothing aimed at religious groups. Social enterprise was also on the agenda, as Silver Bonds researched a charity gift bond initiative. Educational initiatives proved to be the central theme with three teams focusing on this area, CREW developed creative religious educational workshops for schools, while ‘Can You Learn?’ and Reli-Learn created innovative teaching tools for the classroom. Faithbook’s focus was to emulate the global success of Facebook but with a religious twist. RTK magazine aimed to develop a religious magazine aimed at third-level students in Ireland. 70

Enterprise Awards

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YEAR 2 ECONOMICS Last year, it was Marketing and Management Presentations – but this year, the 2nd Year Economics group was challenged to emulate icons like David McWilliams and George Lee and produce short films outlining the many ways in which Economics explains everyday life. The year culminated in a special evening where films and presentations were showcased collectively.

8 9 10 11 12

The experience proved rewarding and ultimately enjoyable for the majority of the class; Garry Butler, Theresa Buckley, Nicola Barry, Catriona Fleming and Lisa Connolly set the bar high with a highly innovative news-reel style production that saw each of the five students ‘reporting’ from venues as diverse as Fota Wildlife Park to a financial trading-floor. The opportunistic inclusion of an interview with the topical Michael Lowry was a considerable coup also!

The group award was scooped by Nicola O’Sullivan, Mairead Power, Danielle Simpson and Heather O’Toole.

Previous winners like Paddy McCormack, Shaun Bray, Faye MacLoone and their groups were in typically impressive form and there were some seriously creative ideas on display from the groups led by Oisin Heavey, Stephanie Horan and Diarmuid Carr. Most groups opted for the ‘Day in the Life’ style documentary or presentation that Michael O’Meara and his group so successfully applied in last year’s Marketing presentations. Variations on the theme included a ‘Come Dine with me’ mini-film concerning price comparisons, how Semple Stadium on match day contains price discrimination and monopolistic examples and a very compelling account of how the Census form informs so much of government policy.

Mairead Power, Danielle Simpson Heather O’Toole, Nicola O’Sullivan Linda Stapleton, Michelle O’Neill, Faye MacLoone, Caitriona Fox Cathal McCarthy, Fergal Mackey, Rob Barren Paddy McCormack, Mark Ryan, Shaun Bray Stephanie Horan, Eimear Walsh, Leah Colllins, Grace O’Sullivan

John Cullinane was awarded a special prize for ‘Best Economist’ for his exemplary display on the evening. A month earlier, the esteemed former Tipperary hurling coach, Eamon O’Shea (pictured below with Caitriona Spooner at the 2010 Graduation) was the guest lecturer for a talk on ‘Economics and Ageing’. This was a fascinating insight into the implications of Ireland’s population ‘time-bomb’, with care for the elderly now a critical economic issue for policy makers to consider. Professor O’Shea heads up NUIG’s Centre of Gerontology and students were duly impressed by his research and inimitable lecturing style.

Sinead Dooney, Emma Dwyer, Aimee Kelly, John Cullinane Theresa Buckley, Nicola Barry, Catriona Fleming, Lisa Connolly, Garry Butler Aidan Hackett, Oisin Heavey, Liam Connolly, Barry McLoughlin, Paudie O’Keeffe Margaret Whelan, Zowie Baldwin, Liam Cullen, Liam Flynn, Diarmuid Carr Marie O’Connor, Marie Harte, Laura Gallen Darren Carew, Liam Fleming, Barry Grennan

by Maria Ryan On October 15th I took a group of third year students from the ICT in Education module to day one of the first Irish Teaching and Learning Festival in the Citywest Conference Centre in Dublin. The event comprised seminars, workshops and exhibitions, and provided an opportunity for representatives from all sectors of education, as well as students and parents to come together and discuss the future of education in Ireland. On entering the event we took a tour around many of the exhibitions which were showcasing a variety of Irish and international technological equipment and services, including demonstrations of special needs supplies, handheld devices, i-Pods and mobile phone applications, interactive whiteboards, projectors and tablets. The group attended a variety of workshops and seminars throughout the day, including: Using your technology effectively in the classroom Internet safety and cyber bullying New resources for teaching Irish, Maths and Science Special needs education in mainstream education Live teaching and learning demonstrations showcasing the use of innovation in education Podcasting, animation and film making Interactive whiteboards, digital content and virtual learning environments

For the record, the groups which participated were as follows: 1 2 3 5 6 7

YEAR 3 GROUP AT IRISH TEACHING AND LEARNING FESTIVAL IN DUBLIN

Eamon O’Shea & Caitriona Spooner

The keynote speaker was Lord David Putnam, acclaimed film producer and active supporter of the raising of educational standards. His thought-provoking address was – on the one hand –

critical of the “third-world” infrastructure in many Irish schools, while hopeful that the future of education in Ireland lay in the hands of competent teachers. He endorsed the use of modern technologies in the classroom, stating that society needs teachers “that understand new technology and are able to teach students how to read and interpret images.” He added that schools need to adapt to the life beyond their gates, and engage with their students by “using the type of digital media that young people are familiar with.” Failure to do this, he added, would lead students to the conclusion that school has little or nothing to do with them and their world – and increasingly, at least emotionally, opt out.” To conclude, he stated that “it will be the skilled teacher, adept at handling the most recent technology, who will increasingly become society’s greatest asset.” Overall, the feedback from the students about the event was very positive. The group found the conference very interesting and would highly recommend the event to other students. Of particular interest were the interactive workshops, where students got the opportunity to use handheld devices to interact with the facilitators in sample lessons. The students appreciated the chance to meet with facilitators and ask questions. Similarly, the exhibitors of interactive whiteboards and tablets captured the attention and imagination of the students, particularly where ‘freebies’ were being distributed! The main criticism of the event by our students was that a majority of trade stands promoted modern technologies for primary education; however the application of the technologies to secondary education was apparent. Most of the group would have liked to attend the second day of the conference, which had additional seminars and workshops. However, the event comes highly recommended; the benefits of this event to the students have been evident throughout the module, providing them with a deeper insight into the importance and benefits of modern technologies in their teaching careers.

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SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE SA CHOLÁISTE PHÁDRAIG

STUDENTS SPEAK OUT ABOUT ST. PATrick’S college

On the 24th of March, as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge, we held a nonprofit sports day. The weather was completely on our side, we couldn’t have asked for better.

We asked students to relate their impressions of St. Patrick’s to date – here are some of the responses:

D’eagraíomar imeachtaí éagsúla chun aird a dhiriú ar Seachtain na Gaeilge agus an chúrsa Gaeilge atá ar súil sa choláiste seo.

I found that it is a quite interesting course to do as it allows you to interact with the other students. With ‘Pat’s’ being such a small college, it gives us all a chance to enhance our friendships. I enjoyed my teaching practice and it is a good way of getting familiar with the course. I feel over my next few years I will develop in every aspect of life. Thurles is a great place to make new friends. As the college is small, it allows you to interact with every single student in the college. Sport is an essential in life and I feel that the sport in the college is great!

school. It was a rewarding experience. I have made good friends here and have a good social life within the college. I drive up and down to my home in Mullinahone everyday.

Cathal McNamara 1st Year, Limerick (Business) Aoife Ryan, 1st Year, Kilkenny (Business)

Bhí cheolchoirm againn dé Domhnaigh - bhí Macey South ag seinm, banna ceoil traidisiúinta as Baile Átha Luain. Dé Máirt, bhí Tráth na gCeist i dteach Skeehans á eagrú le Kenneth Dwyer agus Pauric Hanlon. Dé Deardaoin, lá deireanach de Seachtain na Gaeilge, bhí Lá Spraoi againn i bpáirc an choláiste. Bhí go leor imeachtaí ar súil ann cosúil leis: Rás na trí chós, rás na bara rotha, rás spúnóg agus úbh, rás málaí, comórtas buatisí a chaitheamh, an puc fada agus ciceanna pionóis. Bhain gach éinne sult as an lá agus fiú go raibh atmaisféar iomaíoch ann bhí lá iontach caite le gach duine. Fuair na buaiteoirí duaiseanna iontach comh maith– uibheacha cásca. Ta súil agam go mbeidh lá comh taitneamhach againn an bhliain seo chugainn.

Kelly-Ann Whelan 1st Year, Kilkenny (Business) So far I am finding the course very good, even though there is a big work load but I had expected that considering it is a full time course. This year we were sent to primary schools for our teaching practice. I really enjoyed it and it was a nice way to be introduced to teaching. It also confirmed that teaching is what I definitely want to do. I have made some great friends here in the college, which makes life as a student a lot easier. This year, I decided to live in ‘digs’; the family are very friendly and accommodating and I can walk into college every day. Next year I hope to move into a house with some of my friends. Celine Reilly: 1st Year, Tipperary (Business)

Some of the attendees at the Irish Learning & Teaching Festival: (L-R) Maria Ryan, Michelle Burke, Louise Ryan, Liam Maher, Christine Brien, Pauric Hanlon

I really enjoy the course, I feel that it is well covered and lecturers are very helpful. I like that we had teaching experience in a primary school this year as well as observing in a secondary

I am really enjoying the course. Teaching practice really helped me as I now know it’s definitely the career that I want to pursue. I love my accommodation and have made lots of friends here and the social life is good. Maeve Tierney, 1st Year, Mayo (Business) A really good combination and equal allocation time to business, religion and education modules. Excellent material provided by lecturers and tutors. Lecturers/tutors provide excellent lectures/tutorials. The majority of lecturers/ tutors are willing to lend a helping hand in any way. I knew I always really wanted to do secondary teaching, and found that business (business, economics and accounting) combined with religion and education modules together provide an unreal course...various subjects! First-year teaching practice was really effective as we got to settle into the classroom situation in week 1 and in week two we got to experiment with our teaching ability! It reassured me that teaching was for me - otherwise I would have been clueless about teaching when on teaching practice in 2nd year. I made friends easily enough because it’s a small college and small year group. Kieran Foxe, Mature student, Year 1, Tipperary (Business) Getting to grips with all the modules over time, very good support available from Lecturers if required. I find all Lecturers very approachable which is good in my opinion. 75

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STUDENTS SPEAK OUT ABOUT ST. PATrick’S Again - only in first year but Teaching Practice went well, and I feel I was well enough equipped as could be entering school placement from modules. Great buzz round the place. Good rapport amongst other classes - all good. Ciara Nolan, 2nd Year, Laois (Gaeilge) I feel that by the end of my four years here, I will be fully competent and comfortable in my subject areas. As well as subject lectures/tutorials, we receive tuition on a range of modern and innovative teaching methodologies – so we know what to teach and how to teach it! I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, and after my first year of Teaching Practice my thoughts were absolutely confirmed. I can’t wait for next year! Teaching Practice over four years gives me the opportunity to develop my skills, as well as gain invaluable experience in a range of different types of schools. St. Patricks’s is a home from home for me. In St. Patrick’s you make friends in all years, and they become your ‘college family’. The friendliness of students, staff and management is evident the minute you walk in the door, and puts one instantly at ease. Playing Ladies Football in college allowed me to develop my football skills with first-class coaches, as well as making lots of new friends instantly. The chance to be involved at an administrative level also helped me to become involved and have a real say in my local G.A.A. Club. Aimee Kelly, Year 2nd , Kildare (Business) After my two years at St.Patrick’s, I am now comfortable and have made lots of new friends. Staff are all very co-operative and friendly. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but it was only on completion of teaching practice this year - year two - that I found out I was definitely good at it and it was a career I was most definitely going to pursue. I have made many close friends since I started 76

attending St.Patrick’s, and I know these people will always be a part of my life from now on. There are some excellent nights out - especially those with an occassion attached e.g. Christmas party, end of year and the College Ball. I commute to college via train every Sunday/Monday; it’s handy getting the train as it is direct from Newbridge and only takes an hour. I get the train home again on a Friday afternoon after my final lecture. Accomodation is close and convenient. I live in the student village with three of my close friends: we even welcomed a 1st year this year, which was great. Mark Ryan, 2nd Year, Tipperary (Business) I feel this course allows me an opportunity to become an expert in the topic of business: it also allows me the opportunity to help young adolescents to strive and achieve in the post-primary education system. Teaching Practice is a great opportunity for the student teacher to develop the necessary skills to becoming a good teacher. It gives a great insight into what the profession of a teacher is like. Everyone who participates in college life becomes friends. ‘Pat’s’ is a second home to many people. Social life in Thurles is enjoyable, with Thursday nights taking centre stage. In terms of sport, we were All-Ireland Champions in the Fergal Maher Cup (Hurling) in 2011 - what more can be said! Liam Maher, 3rd Year, Kerry (Business) I find that in my subject area I am quite able to deal with the course material. In the college, I have gained experience in and out of the class room which I am sure will benefit me in my future life - even if I decide to deviate from teaching at some point in the future. The way our Teaching Practice is structured - for me - is the only way to develop as a teacher in today’s classroom, as over four years we have to

opportunity to reflect and develop the way that we teach and how to improve. There is a very good support network for students, while the road and rail network around Thurles is among the best in Ireland and it’s easy to find cheap, decent accommodation.

my confidence, allowed me to become more creative and helped me to try things which will really benefit me as a religion teacher.

Harriet Bolster 4th Year, Limerick (Business) There is a real community/ family feeling in St. Patrick’s. With relatively small numbers, there is an intimate feeling within the college and the classes. This improves the learning ability of the student as there is more time for discussion within the lectures. Teaching Practice offers a great opportunity to develop one’s knowledge, experience and love for this type of career. I would have stayed in the school rather than go back to college after the 4/6 week placements! There’s a good social life, and it’s easy to meet people. I commuted from Limerick for the first three years and moved to Thurles for my final year. I have found it very beneficial. Accommodation is reasonably cheap and within very close distance of the college. Claire Vaughan, Clare, 4th Year, (Business) All the modules are really interesting and relevant to teaching. Although parts of the course can be difficult, all the lecturers are extremely supportive, which makes it so much easier to get through the four years. When I left school I wanted to go straight into teaching. I didn’t want to spend three years in college without ever setting foot in the classroom. I loved the fact that at St. Patrick’s I would get to go out on teaching practice every year! I knew straight away that this course was for me – it has been the best decision I ever made. Although Thurles is a quiet area, we’ve always made the most of the facilities and with the help of my friends we’ve always had a laugh. The friends I’ve made at St. Patrick’s will be my best friends for life. Being involved in the chaplaincy has really improved

Thorn of Thurles

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St Patrick’s College Student Survey, November 2010 Last Winter, an internally conducted marketing survey provided a snapshot of the composition of the student body. Here are the questions contained and the summary statistics: TOTAL STUDENTS SURVEYED: 109 Breakdown of Sample: 1

BA in... Business 89 Irish 20

Year: 1st Year 35 (30/5) 2nd Year 34 (19/15) 3rd Year 17 4th Year 23

Are you Male 31 Female 78

Age: 18-24 95 25+ 14

Parents’ Occupations: Top Categories: Services Sector: 28% Construction/Trade/Engineering: 25% Agriculture: 18% Housekeepers: 17% Education: 12% Self Employed: 9% Office work/Secretarial: 6% Business: 5%

6 Is your background Urban 33% Rural 67% i.e. 2 in every 3 students are from the country. 7 78

Which type of second-level school did you attend? Secondary 45% Vocational 8%

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Community 9% Fee paying private: 1% Gaelscoil 3% Presentation/Christian Brothers / Mercy/ other religious order 42% There is a clear indication above, that schools with a religious ethos supply almost half of all our students.

This was an interesting question.

What county are you from? Results in %: Tipp 24 Clare3 Cork 5 Galway 4 Kerry 6 Kilkenny 18 Laois 6 Limerick 5 Mayo 4 Roscommon/Longford 4 Sligo/Donegal 2 Ulster/Louth 1 Waterford 3 Westmeath 1 Wexford 7 Carlow 1

Here, we can see that almost 50% of St. Patrick’s College students are from Tipperary, Kilkenny and Wexford, with the 2010 All-Ireland finalists accounting for more than 4 in every 10 students.

Main Survey Questions 9

How do you travel to St. Pats? Train 19% Bus 6% Car 78% Walk 6%

How did you hear about this college? Results in %: Friend 17 Relation 9 St Patrick’s Student 13 Career Guidance Teacher 39 Career Guidance Literature 3 Third-Level Fair 6 Newspaper Ad 2 Radio Ad 2

My own research/CAO literature 31 Always knew about St. Patrick’s 8 Can’t Remember 6 CAO Website 3 Qualifax Website 2 St. Patrick’s Lecturer 1 Teacher 3

It is good to get a quantitative grasp on the importance of Career Guidance teachers to the college. Here we see that 39% of students cited their Career Guidance teacher as their method of finding out about the college. One cannot underestimate an independent-minded teenager’s ability to ‘do their own research’ too. Almost a third of students said they did this. There is a reasonably low influence exerted by ‘Relations’ (9%) and Third Level Fairs (6%). 11 Why did you come to St. Patrick’s? (Allowed to pick more than one answer) Wanted to be a teacher 94% Points suited me 15% Convenient location 11% Heard good reports about it from existing student(s) 4% The lure of teaching is shown above to account for nearly 9 times as many students as our location and far more than the points attributed to it. 12/13/14 N/A 15 Did you find it easy to get accommodation? 2 in every 3 students said it was easy 16 Did someone from St. Patrick’s visit you during Leaving Cert year? 17 If yes, did that influence you to come here? Yes ___ No ____ 1 in 10 students claimed to have received a school visit during their Leaving Cert Year. Interestingly, all but one of those who WERE visited said the visit influenced their decision to come to the college. 18 On a scale of 0-5 (where 5 is excellent), how

would you rate St. Patrick’s so far? 3.5 /5 was the average rating – just scraping a First Class Honours grade!

19 Would you tell other people about your experience of St. Patrick’s? 92% of respondents said they would tell others 20

If yes, who would you tell? Parents 49% Relations 51% Friends still at my old school 61% Friends from my class at home 39%

How would you rate your experience of St. Patrick’s? so far (between 0 and 5) This was just a ‘test’ duplicate question to see if students were concentrating and taking it seriously. With one or two exceptions, all students spotted that this question was asked already and gave the same answer.

22a What radio stations and programmes do you listen to? Radio Stations ______ The Top 5 stations were significantly ahead of the rest here: 1 2 3 4 5

Spin 49% Beat FM 41% Today FM 32% 2FM 19% i102-104 15%

These 5 stations were the only ones to record doubledigit percentage approval, with Tipp FM languishing far behind on a paltry 3%. Radio One (8%) and Radio na Gaeltachta (6%) were popular with mostly mature students. Red FM and KCLR were the only other stations to record 5% or higher.

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Student Survey 22b Favourite radio shows (give times if you can): Ray Foley’s afternoon show on Today FM topped the poll with 7 mentions followed by Today FM’s Ray D’Arcy (5 mentions). Mary Wilson’s Drivetime on Radio 1 and Beat’s Breakfast shows were next most popular. 23

On a scale of 0-5, where 0 is ‘not at all’, how much did you listen to the radio during your Leaving Cert year? The score here was 2.1/5 which is a little low.

On a scale of 0-5, where 0 is ‘not at all’, how much did you notice ads for Third Level Colleges during your Leaving Cert year? 2.6 was the score here.

Would you be interested in visiting your old school to talk to Leaving Certs about your time here? Yes ___ No ____ Will decide later ____

Encouragingly – both in terms of ‘spreading the word’ and also in terms of attitude – 57% of students who answered this question said they would be interested in addressing Leaving Cert students in their old secondary school.

COLLEGE Chaplaincy ACTIVITIES VINCENT DE PAUL / GIVING TREE Thanks to St Patrick’s College students and generous donations to the “Giving Tree” at Christmas time, food and gifts were donated to the Thurles conference of the St Vincent de Paul society. Bob Maher, Treasurer of the Thurles branch of SVDP wrote that alongside another supply of Food from another Voluntary Organisation they were able to make up and deliver over 50 Hampers.

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THE COLLEGE LITURGY GROUP The College Liturgy Group plays a vital role in the life of St. Patrick’s College. Here is just a small report on our activities this year: Our liturgical year began with the Opening Ritual where staff and students took part in a celebration of the journey of the upcoming academic year. The Liturgy Group organized a special ceremony for the graduates of 2010 and their family and friends. Advent and Christmas were also marked by the Liturgy Group with special intentions for all students beginning teaching practice in January 2011.

SPORT IN ST. PATrick’S College: Ladies’ Football The 2010/2011 Ladies’ Football Panel started off on rocky ground - they didn’t know how they would get a team together, but as always the Ladies stepped up to the mark! St. Patrick’s College Ladies began their league campaign against their nearest and deepest rivals - Tippearary Institute. With little or no training done (and barely knowing each others names at this stage!) they went to play T.I. on a dark evening with the rain lashing down on players and supporters alike. It was definitely the ‘Match of the Year’, as regards Ladies’ Football, and the battle was tough and hard fought. Every single girl on the team played their heart out, from the newly acquired First Years to the old hands in Fourth Year; they put 100% into

every tackle and every score. The Ladies knew that they fully deserved victory on that night and nothing was going to stop them. Many of the team said that although they had won county finals with their club and All-Ireland titles with school teams, they had never experienced a feeling like beating Tipperary Institute in that match - they floated on air that night and on H.Q.’s dancefloor! After this epic game, the Ladies trained harder than ever - up to three nights a week in Thurles Sarsfields G.A.A. grounds with their first-class management team of Ian Walsh and James Maloughney, and a few more helpers along the way! They played some more league matches against Limerick Institute of Techology and Waterford Institute of Technology but there was only ever one match on the team’s minds

Each Lenten Wednesday, members of the Liturgy Group took on the privilege and responsibility of creating and owning a short liturgical exercise, each with a different theme. These episodes heightened the Lenten experience of our students and helped each student to grow in their Lenten journey. The final End of Year Mass was celebrated by Fr. Tom Fogarty and celebrated the memories and achievements of the last year while also looking to the future with hope. Overall, St. Patrick’s Liturgy Group provides students with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in liturgy planning. It is also a valuable resource for all future teachers and helps each person to gain experience and competence in pastoral work. In addition to the practical aspect, long-lasting friendships are made and the combination of these two elements makes participation in St. Patrick’s Liturgy Group an unforgettable and worthwhile experience. Finally, we would just like to say a very sincere thank you to everybody who contributed to the Liturgy Group this year. It would not have been possible without you all!

Vincent de Paul delivered Fuel to approx. 200 families, gave Food Vouchers to many, Clothing Vouchers to some and Cash Advances to others in an effort to help out. 80

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Ladies’ Football

- the first round of the Championship against T.I. - the big re-match! And so the match was fixed - during our First Years’ Teaching Practice! It was a devastating blow to the team, after months of training it looked like the team would have to pull out of the match they had been waiting for all year long. Two intense days of negotiations followed, the committee tried everything they could, rule books were searched through, dozens of phone calls made, favours called up - but to no avail, the fixture could not be changed! Then the St. Patrick’s College spirit kicked in, and suddenly we had ten more players - players who volunteered simply for the good of the team, so the team would have numbers to play our long-awaited match. And so the big day came, along with two more surprises - two ladies who made it back from opposite ends of the country to play! It was the toughest match the team had ever played, and despite an awe-inspiring speech from manager Ian Walsh in the dressing room beforehand, it was not to be our day.

THE THORN OF THURLES that match heartbroken and tearful, but still would never forget the effort and dedication shown by all members of the panel and all the supporters who had helped along the way!

The Thorn of Thurles 2011 was organised by St. Patrick’s College G.A.A. Club Commitee. The competition was hosted by the famous duo of Aidan O’Neill and Diarmuid McMahon.

St. Patrick’s College Ladies’ Football panel would like to thank the Fourth Years who are leaving us this year: LeeAnne Furlong, Linda Fanning and Brid Cullinane - thank you for your dedication, support and for encouraging us all to become players in the first place! We would also like to acknowledge the contributions made by Ian Walsh, James Maloughney and Paddy McCormack to the team, and of course Mark Ryan for all his patience, help and support.

The contestants and their escorts were: Brian Fogarty & Emma Dwyer Cian Ryan & Aisling O’Hara Aidan Hackett & Eimear Walsh Justin Dermody & Lisa O’Shea Cathal McNamara & Margaret Whelan Ian Walsh and Shelly Barron

After months of training on dark winter nights, the highs of beating T.I. in the League and the devastation of losing in the Championship after extra time, it is the dozens of friendships made that will remain with us for years to come and that will form the basis of our team for next year - when there will be no losses!

Panel 2010/2011: Brid Cullinane, Lee-Anne Furlong, Linda Fanning, Grainne Clifford, Shelly Barron, Emma Dywer, Aisling Parker, Ciara Nolan, Eimear Walsh, Margaret Whelan, Yvonne Meade, Aine Burke, Aisling O’Hara, Lisa Brennan, Lisa O’Shea, Andrea Doyle, Aoife O’Neill, Eilish Clancy, Elaine Parker, Katriona Dowry, Lauren King, Maeve Tierney, Laura Moloney, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Gemma Dwyer, Anna Marie Quigley, Heather Keane, Niamh Creane, Stephanie Horan, Emma Lynch, Grace O’Sullivan

There were some excellent party pieces on the night, from Ian Walsh’s infamous rendition of Galway Girl, to Cian’s heartwarming poem about his escort Aisling O’Hara and finally the excellent singing by the eventual winner Brian Fogarty. Judges on the night were GA.A. Legend Paddy McCormack, lovely librarian Ailish Larkin, everyone’s favourite lecturer Seamus Lynch and life-long student Tony Shanahan. There were many G.A.A. Awards given out on the night, as well as songs and jokes about our favourite characters in college. It was definitely the best night out of 2011, and it also raised some much-needed funds for our G.A.A. Club! By Ciara Nolan

Every single member of our panel (some who had been part of it less than 24 hours!) played excellently and to the bitter end of extra time. The team left 82

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THE THORN OF THURLES

Amanda Butler, Claire Vaughan, Ruth McCormack, Louise Tynan

Cian Ryan, Aisling O’Hara, Michelle Barron, Ian Walsh, Lisa O’Shea, Justin Dermody, Margaret Whelan, Cathal McNamara, Brian Fogarty

Cara Sutcliffe & Friend

Lee-Anne Furlong, Friend, Linda Fanning, Eilis Clancy

Patrick O’Donovan & Niamh Creane

Niamh Creane & Ciara Nolan

Aidan O’Neill, Diarmuid McMahon, Yvonne Meade

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THE THORN OF THURLES

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THE Thorn of Thurles An ‘undercover report’ by The Editors! If you want a mental picture of what The Thorn of Thurles is all about, picture the Rose of Tralee contest that is familiar to anyone born within 100 miles of an Irish TV set. Picture well-mannered, ‘Lovely Ladies’ putting their best foot forward. Then picture the OPPOSITE! The Thorn of Thurles is St. Patrick’s College’s ‘YorkieBar’ answer to Tralee’s festival (with male contestants and female escorts), but is the antithesis of restraint. To quote film director Lars Von Trier: ‘Chaos Reigns!’ Earning a late call-up to the team of judges for the event alongside my co-Editor, Ailish, Tony Shanahan and Paddy McCormack seemed like a good idea at the time. Eager contestants had attempted to bribe us in the hours before kick-off with colourful sashes and over-friendly banter. The jostling for position in the ‘hearts of minds’ of the judges that goes on in the run-up to the event would put Formula One drivers and Grand National jockeys to shame. A quiet drink beforehand in the venue’s side-bar with my fellow judges was not a taste of things to come. Soon enough, music far-too-loud-for-a-40-year-old was playing, and 4th year comperes were delivering ‘Ant and Dec’ style one-liners with alarming regularity. One such finely-aimed quip regarding Chelsea left me badly wounded before combat had even commenced. Ailish was similarly unprepared for that most original taunt of librarians the world over: “shuuuuushh!” but she did think the line was delivered with great wit.

to his Ladies Football charges and not-quite-so-loyal to the song ‘Galway Girl’, but was certainly a hard act to follow. Cathal McNamara delivered a sublime piece of poetry with his usual style and wit. Justin – well – Justin was just Justin, and Aidan Hackett survived countless allusions to his OAP status and the odd selection of hats that he wears to college. It was all rather surreal. With an overbearing sense of inevitability, the baying crowd of Brian Fogarty supporters finally got to see their man on stage. He didn’t disappoint. The icing on the cake was a rather excellent piece of musicianship. Now for the judging -.or so we thought... Before Paddy, Tony, Ailish and I had time to consult or even shout ‘DOUZE POINTS’, the winner was announced. So much for democracy – though in the comperes’ defence, there was no arguing that the right man (Brian Fogarty) won. Emma Dwyer was the worthy winner of the ‘Best Escort’ competition. I’d love to say what slogan was printed on her sash – but this is a respectable publication, so I can’t... All that was left to do was to enjoy what remained of the night – and fortunately, the St Pats students always prove good company on any such occasion. Congrats to all who organised the event and to our new ‘Thorn of Thurles’, Brian Fogarty.

To paraphrase the bad guy in the film ‘Dumb and Dumber’: it was ‘mental’. Six brave males lined up to compete: Ian Walsh, Justin Dermody, Brian Kennedy, Cathal McNamara, Aidan Hacket and Brian Fogarty. The Ladies Football coach had the unenviable task of starting proceedings, with the familiar Question and Answer approach abandoned in favour of a Question-And-We’ll-ShowYou-The-Answer-To-Read-Out approach. Hmm... interesting.... Personal questions were the order of the day, with no stone or ex-girlfriend left uncovered in the quest to find the ‘Best man’ on the night. Ian was impressively loyal 86

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GRADUATION: BALL PHOTOS 2011 St. Patrick’s College held their Graduation Ball in the Anner Hotel, Thurles on May 26th. Here is a snapshot of the event and of our current students.

Emma Dwyer, Stephanie Horan and friend

Grace O’Sullivan, Zowie Baldwin and Margaret Whelan

Harriet Bolster, Edward Dunlop, Sharon Kelly, Linda Fanning, Maria McMahon, Lee-Anne Furlong

Friend, Emma Lynch, Claire Dunlop, Hazel O’Connor, Niamh Kennedy, Sophia Reynolds

Aimee Kelly, Sinead Dooney, Fergal Mackey, Cathal McCarthy, Oisin Heavey, Aidan Hackett, Paul Keegan, Barry McLoughlin, Emma Dwyer, Liam Connolly, Patrick O’Donovan, Robert Barron, James Maloughney

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St. Patrick’s College

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GRADUATION: BALL PHOTOS 2011

Ciara Nolan, Ruth McCormack, Aisling Parker, Niamh Creane, Cathal McNamara

Ciara Shea and friend, Pauline Frewen and James McPartland

Neelu O’Sullivan and her husband

Claire Hally, Cian Ryan, Shane Prendergast, Conor O’Neill, Gemma O’Dwyer, Catherine Hoban

Carmel Corcoran and friend

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GRADUATION: BALL PHOTOS 2011

Emma Lynch, Sophia Reynolds, Niamh Kennedy, Edel Newell

Elizabeth Breen and Deirdre Fitzpatrick

Lee-Anne Furlong, Aidan O’Neill, Sharon Kelly, Linda Fanning

Fr. Tom with Katie Walsh and Anna-marie Quigley

Emma Lynch and Ciara Nolan

Carmel Corcoran, Lisa Brennan, Jonathan O Ceallaigh and friend

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St. Patrick’s College

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GRADUATION: BALL PHOTOS 2011

Elizabeth Sheridan, Louise Tynan, Claire Vaughan, Ruth McCormack, Ciara Nolan, Martina O’Neill, Amanda Butler

Fr. Tom with Grace O’Sullivan, Leah Collins, Zowie Baldwin and Margaret Whelan

Brian Kennedy, Dan Doheny, Ailbe Power

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GRADUATES: Where are they now? OLIVIA GILTENANE

BRIAN O’DONOGHUE

My name is Olivia Giltenane and I graduated from St. Patrick’s in October 2009. I received a B.A. Honours Degree in Business Studies and Religious Education. I’m currently teaching Maths in the Isle of Sheppey Academy Kent, England. During my final year in St. Patrick’s I was both nervous and anxious as I didn’t know where I would be living or teaching once I left college. Towards the end of fourth year we received a talk about teaching in England. I was impressed with the presentation on relocating to England and, on realising that there was no real prospect of a job in Ireland, I knew moving abroad was the answer. At this early stage in my career I knew tough decisions needed to be made and, on graduating, I realised that moving to England was the best thing to do. When you have a passion for teaching and have trained for years to be in the classroom the last thing you want to do is wait for a job – especially when the situation in Ireland means somebody with my relative lack of experience will probably be waiting a long time. I couldn’t take that risk, I wanted to teach and therefore moving to England was an option. Like anybody relocating I had to come to terms with the new curriculum but the help offered by staff members made the move a lot easier. The support they offered in bringing me up to speed with the curriculum meant the battle was half won when I started and I could settle into my position quickly, without disrupting my pupils or the school. The modern management setup is very different here than back home and they use a system which I can see being adopted in Ireland one day. Having exposure to these techniques and practices expands my knowledge of how a school operates on a day-today level and will be an enormous benefit to my career in the long-term. I am currently studying for a Masters in Education at Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent. I am advancing my career and I’m learning more about education than just teaching in the classroom. I do miss St. Patrick’s College. It is a very welcoming place with a friendly atmosphere. I will never forget my time there. I made great friends and my memories of St. Patrick’s College will stay with me for years to come. I wish everyone, especially the current fourth years, the best of luck with their exams and best wishes for the future.

Over the four years of study in St Patrick’s I took part in everything I could possibly get involved in from the Student Council, managing the ladies’ football team, the college hurling team and many fundraisers. I would advise all students to get involved in all you can. It will enhance your experience. So when it came to leaving I was a little sad leaving all the college goings-on, not to mention my many friends (go on the rams!) that I made over the four years. It is also a great place to meet many lovely female students and, lucky enough for me, I found an extra-special student, Kerri, who is also teaching now. My time in St Patrick’s was a very happy and memorable one. Once I got my degree I applied for every job that was available and even sent my CV around to many schools all over the country. In this economic climate I knew that a job would not come looking for me so I set out determined to find one. I was very lucky at the start of my career to get a job covering sick leave in St Peter’s College Wexford, teaching Business and Religion for three months. This was very enjoyable and gave me great experience. After this, I was lucky enough to get subbing and resource teaching in Kilkenny CBS until the end of the year. At the moment I am teaching in Beneavin De La Salle College, Finglas. I am teaching Maths and Business to all years. I am really enjoying this experience and I feel this job has really made me improve my teaching. The school is a fabulous rebuilt school with an inspiring, helpful staff. This is my first time to have my own classroom and this is a big achievement in my eyes as it was one of the goals I set when I started studying in St Patrick’s. The students can be challenging at times but I am well able for them at this stage and I am really enjoying the challenge. The majority of students are a pleasure to teach. I know people reading this might think Finglas could be a tough place but I can honestly say that the Finglas people are a pleasure to deal with and, hopefully, I will have the pleasure of dealing with them for many more years. During the year I also got the opportunity to train the first year gaelic football team which has been an added bonus to the teaching. The best thing about the job is getting into the classroom and helping students improve and grow. Worst thing about the job is seeing some students not putting in the effort and even giving up at times 95

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GRADUATES: Where are they now? when they have so much potential. I try to make them change their attitude. The preparation and knowledge I got from St Patrick’s College, especially from the education department, had me ready to be the teacher I was capable of becoming. For that I will be forever in your debt. Thank God I still keep in touch with many of my fellow students and I call in to say hello to Tom and all the staff when I can but I do miss college and the craic I had there. St. Patrick’s College will always have a place in my heart. To all students coming out to the real world, apply for everything and a personal appearance with a CV gives a better impression than just a cover letter and CV sent in the post. Keep trying as what’s for you won’t pass you. My last piece of advice which I didn’t always do but I learned it (probably the hard way) is so important now and especially for doing exams, presentations and assignments in college:”Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”

ELAINE HART I graduated from St. Patrick’s College in 2009 after an eventful and inspiring four years of study. Trying and failing to find work in Ireland, in September I joined numerous Teaching Agencies in the UK, such as Uteach recruitment, Bluewave, Tradewinds/Sanza, and Teach Anywhere. My relations in Australia were also finding positions for me half way across the world. It was in Australia that I had my first interview via skype! Following this, I found a position in an Academy in Central London. I was thrown in to teach BTEC Business, which I found similar but more comprehensive than the LCA course. I was also teaching ICT to Year 8 & 9, something that I was learning myself before I was teaching it to the students! London is an eventful place to teach to say the least. I think now that the worst is over! I now have a contract in Ramsgrange Community School for one school year while another teacher is on Maternity Leave. During my third year in St Patrick’s College I spent four weeks in this school on teaching 96

placement. It’s great to be back and teaching some of the students I had whilst on placement. My current sixth years were in second year when I was on placement. The students here have their challenges but are super kids to work with! However I will be back to the drawing board again looking for a job in September. Whilst in Ramsgrange I am teaching Business and Accountancy to Honours Leaving Cert level and I also have LCVP to add to my collection of subjects. I really enjoy the challenge of this school. The challenges I face are in relation to my subject knowledge and also in how to get the best results for my students. I have a selection of all years from first to sixth and I am also a Transition Year tutor, which involves much planning and co-ordinating of activities for these students. We recently had our TY graduation which caused many a headache in the preparation. However, in the end it was a ‘roaring success’ as described by our principal. I am very lucky with the staff here in Ramsgrange - they are extremely friendly and helpful if I ever need them. I have now spent two years teaching but have yet to teach Religious Education. I would like an opportunity to teach this soon. I don’t know if I will be in Ireland, Iceland, or India for the next school year, however, I know that I will relish the challenge wherever I am placed. I feel that St Patrick’s College gave me the determination, drive and love of teaching to continue to look for work when it seemed I would not find any in Ireland.

TOM O’MEARA How did you feel leaving St Patrick’s College? To be honest I was happy to leave college life. While I was in St. Patrick’s College I used to commute everyday from home. The opportunity and hope of getting a job stood out to me. I must admit I did miss the fun and banter of the college but luckily I kept in touch with a lot of the college friends that I made. How did you find work - was it difficult/easy? How were the interviews?

Luckily I have been working since I left college. I am qualified three years and have had a job for those three years. I have never found interviews too bad. I think that when you are given the opportunity to impress at an interview, there is no need to feel nervous, just go and grab the opportunity.

job which means it’s very hard to plan for the future. Unfortunately, this does not look like changing anytime soon. While it’s great to be working since college, it would be better to have some kind of security.

Where have you worked/are now working?

I was among the first year to qualify from St. Patrick’s College. The college most definitely prepared me for the teaching world. The subjects and the modules have all been of benefit to me. I am very proud that I was among the first graduates of the college. There is no doubt that my four years in St. Patrick’s gave me a big step on the ladder when I began my teaching career.

I worked in Killmallock Vocational school and Gallen Community College, Ferbane in my first year out. For the past two years I have been in St. Aidan’s CBS, Whitehall in Dublin. Fortunately I have been teaching all my subjects (Business, Religion and Education) along with PE. However with cut backs, I am not sure what my position is for next year but fingers crossed. Do you like the school, the students, the staff? Yes, I really like the school. There are about 650 students in the school. One of the best things about the school is the staff. It is a very young staff of people who go out of their way to help you. This has made it a lot easier for me to fit in. The majority of students are pleasant. It is an all-boy’s school and, as a result, has the typical characteristics that you would expect. Not everyday goes according to plan but it is a very enjoyable experience. The school is also a huge sports school. This gives me a common interest with students and makes my teaching day more enjoyable. Where are you living?

Did St. Patrick’s College prepare you well for teaching?

Do you miss St Patrick’s College? Of course I miss the college life, sport and some of the friends I made. It is still great to get out “into the real world” and begin working.

Sarah Kennedy, Gillian Molloy & Friend at the Graduation Ball 2011

I am living in Dublin about 30 minutes from the school. What is the best thing about the job? It would have to be the impact I have on students lives, whether it be in the classroom or out on the sports field. What is the worst thing about the job? I think the lack of security is the worse. In the current economic climate it is so hard to get a permanent

Declan Byrne & Claire Dunlop at the Graduation Ball 2011

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St. Patrick’s College T h u r l e s

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GRADUATION: NOVEMBER 2010

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SECTION C: THE ALUMNI INTERNATIONAL REUNION MASS THURLES 12TH AUG. 2010 Homily – Rev. Eugene Baker To have it said of the Family that it has ‘connections’ is a great compliment, at least in this country it is. To have connections implies an ability to pull favour, to be well to do, and to be of good stock. The Alive-O children’s song “Connected” spells out this idea with added dimension: Connected, connected, You and I connected. Connected, connected, connected by love At home it’s there for them and me A thing I cannot clearly see It makes us into family What is this thing? It’s love This International Reunion conveys this sense of connection in a grand way. As we gather today, or over the past few days, we try our best to re-connect, not alone with a sense of place, but more so with familiar faces and voices. And there is also a hope of forging new connections, new contacts. Last year I was re-connected; you mightn’t think so but I’ll explain. On May 3rd last year, the class of 1990, to which I belong, celebrated a very happy event. Pat Madden who started off with us in First Philosophy in 1984, was ordained a priest in his home parish of Moycullen, Co. Galway and as many as twelve of his former classmates came from near and far to be with him for this joyous occasion. The odd thing is that it is twenty-five years since we were classmates of Pat. Pat left us voluntarily after a few weeks. Those of us who took the direct route might have ripened prematurely in 1990, but it was wonderful, magical, illustrious, to see one of our own ripen into Christ’s Priesthood so many years after us. It was a glorious day. That was a good connection. We had a lot of catching up at that reunion, and underlying the event lay the marvel of ‘The Call’. Mysterious, intriguing, strange, inviting. Proof if proof were necessary that once the seed of a vocation is planted, it will force its shoots no matter what obstacles lie in its wake. The commissioning of Peter in today’s Gospel, echoes similar themes on ‘The Call to Priesthood’. 100

The power and intensity of this call is as mysterious as it is compelling, yet the limitations of ourselves, further maligned by the fragility of the structures we work under, can cause us to trip up, stagger, even fall over. Peter, the bold one, who fearlessly tries to walk on water one minute, sinks the next. Peter, who at the table emphatically attests his loyalty to his Lord, cowardly disowns the Son of Man later that night. But the writer of the Fourth Gospel seems anxious to put the record straight on Peter. The triple denial by him, coupled with his disappearance from the drama of Calvary, is adjusted at the scene of Tiberias where Peter gives a triple affirmation of his love, honour and obedience to the Son of God. I am reassured by this re-presentation of Peter as the intensely humane, foolishly flawed, yet contrite character who is honourably commissioned with the task of nourishing and nurturing the flock of the Good Shepard. For I too am that, enthusiastic one second, demoralised the next, caller of bad judgements, confidently unsure, all rolled up in one. Only last week in our local store I met a parishioner whom I noticed to be expecting. Wishing to prove myself pastorally, I began to enquire on her state of health; was she feeling tired, was her back aching. It was all proceeding nicely until I decided to ask the crucial question, when was she due? The reaction said it all, “I’m not due at all. Are you telling me Father that I’m fat?” How do you respond to that? “No no Mary, just thought you looked a little pregnant”. In those Fr Ted moments, I identify with Peter, who’s passionately inspired by the Jesus of Nazareth, but overwhelmed by his own shortcomings for the job at hand. Allow me for a moment to wing you away to a place like Tiberias but set by the Indian Ocean, and located just north of Dar es Salemm in Tanzania. The town is called Bagamoyo and it is the recognised site of the introduction of Christianity into East Africa. In 1868, four Spiritans and seven sisters of the Daughters of Mary established a new mission on the East African mainland, with the blessing of the Sultan of Zanzibar. Their main work was the accommodation and education of boys and girls who were literally redeemed/ransomed from the Slave Trade in Zanzibar. Mighty oaks from acorns grow and from the humble acorns of Bagamoyo, mighty

oaks of Mission Houses grew and developed, so that the directive from the shores of the Sea of Tiberias are emphatically carried out. The little ones are set free, the broken-hearted are mended and the hungry are fed. Roll on to 2010 and today the Spiritans are well established in East Africa and their mission continues with the help of many other congregations and dioceses. Among them are the Pallotine Fathers whose contribution is worth noting. Last January and February I was a guest of Fr. Ollie O Brien (Middleton) and the Pallotine Fathers in Kenya and Tanzania. I had already visited many of their missions in 2006 so this recent visit allowed me more scope to re-connect with familiar faces who studied across the road and were ordained from this Cathedral. I think today of: Fr. Dan Nowd, Brownstown, Kildare - Ordained 06-06-1963 Fr. Mike Barry, Dungourney, Middleton - Ordained 14-06-1964 Fr. Ned Ryan, Rossmore, Co. Tipperary - Ordained 08-12-1964 Fr. Oliver O’Brien, Midleton - Ordained 07-06-1969 Fr. Tommy Ryan, Clonoulty, Thurles - Ordained 08-06-1974 Fr. Noel O’Connor, New Inn - Ordained 10-06-1978 Fr, Michael O’Sullivan, Milltown, Co. Kerry - Ordained 07-06-1986 I have been hugely impressed by the selfless, demanding, wholehearted dedication of these men who have tirelessly brought about good from the most awful of situations. Also in 2006, I met a young African Pallotine Father at their Formation House in Arusha. At that time, he was preparing to leave for Rome for further studies. He is a native of the Parish of Bouy where Fr. Mick Barry of Dungourney was feeding hundreds of his flock with rolled maize every day because of the terrible drought that had cursed their land. I got to know the young priest’s home, his mother, sisters and brothers. His father was buried in a plot just outside the home. His mother was so kind and hospitable and even though her need was more desperate than mine she ordered a live hen

be brought from the yard and, with its feet securely bound, presented it as her zoowadi for the guest. I was over-awed by the gesture. Firstly, I’m not good with live fowl and in the pecking order of things, I didn’t deserve such grandeur. The connection here is that the young priest, the son of that kind mother is working and living here in Thurles today as the Mission Co-ordinator for the Pallotine Fathers in Ireland. He is Fr. Matthew and I welcome him to our gathering today. Another connection is established. The coming together, which this International Reunion facilitates, reminds us of how connected we really are. The renaissance writer John Donne had it right when he asserted that ‘No man is an Island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.’ This mysterious connectedness is amplified through the context of our reunion today; that of St. Patrick’s College, Thurles. We were cautiously drilled on Ordination Day of 9th June 1990 to remember the Rock from which we were hewn. The second piece of Isaiah’s advice was not however encouraged; that of remembering the quarry from which you were dug. But we are here to acknowledge how we have been fashioned, how we have been formed. St. Patrick’s College, Thurles is our proud connection. But I believe there is an even greater connection that rallies us to come from near and far. It is the connection of Christ, the connection of the Father 101

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THE ALUMNI and the Son, the True Vine with His branches, the Good Shepherd with His Flock. Through him, with him and in him, we find our Link, our Security, our Connectedness. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine, mar a direann an seanfhocal. Through the mystery of Eucharistic Communion we willingly or unwittingly connect with the Son of God. In our communion today this is achieved. On the lake shore of Tiberias today stands an impressive bronze statue depicting Christ and Peter. Christ stands over a kneeling Peter and has a hand extended over Peter’s head conveying an action of ordination. ‘Feed my lambs! Feed my sheep!’ is the directive. The scene will invariably evoke memories of that fine day in June when many of us knelt on the steps of this sanctuary and, with chalice and paten put into our hands, we were given the same directive. In what ways then will we do the feeding? What salt will we add to the feeding to make it palatable? Are we resigned to advertising from a tired menu or can we allow for creative genius to fuse new methods of presenting the stable diet of Words and Sacrament? Whatever means we employ, we need to take Christ’s directive compellingly; God’s People need to be spiritually fed or they will wilt away for as long as the cooks only stir the pots. As we engage in the feeding of this occasion, let’s allow ourselves to be nourished and refreshed by Christ, let’s allow ourselves the chance to be young at heart and in so doing allow ourselves to be re-connected. God’s Spirit’s there in me and you And every day it gives a clue It tells us what we ought to do What is that thing? It’s love. Connected, connected, You and I connected. Connected, Connected, connected by love.

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EPISCOPAL JUBILEE CELEBRATION Ash Wednesday, 9 March 2011, marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Dr Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly. In deference to the penitential nature of Ash Wednesday, it was decided to commemorate the Archbishop’s Episcopal Jubilee on Monday evening, 7 March. The result was a most joyful and memorable celebration which will live in the memory of all those who were present on that evening in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles. The large congregation which gathered for the Jubilee Celebration was representative of the archdiocese and the wider Irish Church. Archbishop Clifford was chief concelebrant at the Mass and also homilist. Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, lifetime friend and colleague of Dr Clifford, presided at the ceremony. Those in attendance also included the Papal Nuncio, Dr Giuseppe Leanza; four other bishops, among them the Bishop of Waterford & Lismore, Dr William Lee, former President of St Patrick’s College, Thurles; as well as most of the priests of the archdiocese. The diocese of Cloyne, where Dr Clifford has been serving as Apostolic Administrator since March 2008, was also represented by four priests.

Solidarity and Joy The Mass of Thanksgiving was an expression of diocesan solidarity and joy. Faithful from throughout the archdiocese were actively involved in the impressive liturgy. The Jubilee Celebration served to uplift the spirit of all present. Such was a timely boost for morale in a period of exceptional challenge for both Church and country.

Congratulations At the conclusion of the Mass, the Papal Nuncio read a message of congratulations from Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Brady then addressed the congregation, warmly congratulating Archbishop Clifford while recalling their years of friendship since their initial meeting as first year students in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, in September 1957. 104

ARCHBISHOP CLIFFORD’S HOMILY

aloud. The Lord will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.”

A Phobail Dé, idir chléir is tuath, In the Jewish tradition a Jubilee was celebrated every seventh year and a Great Jubilee every fiftieth year. The Jubilee Year was inaugurated by blowing a trumpet made from a ram’s horn named a “yobel” in Hebrew, hence the word “Jubilee”. I do not propose to blow my own trumpet this evening on my Silver Jubilee! I decided to preach the homily myself in case someone else would attempt to blow it for me and be forced to exaggerate the truth or even to invent! I feel humbled by the kindness of priests, religious and lay faithful and their guests who have honoured me with the Jubilee Celebration – this Mass of Thanks-giving and good wishes with occasional ad multos annos.

St. Paul tells the Philippians, “I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord”. St. John, in the Gospel reading, records Jesus’ words to his Apostles on the night before He died in what is known as the Farewell Discourse: “You are sad now, but I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy and that joy no one shall take from you”.

Out of sight…! When I remarked at my episcopal ordination here on 9 March 1986 that I had never expected to work for the Kingdom of God outside the Kingdom of Kerry, I found it difficult for a time to distance myself mentally from my native diocese. Then, I heard an interesting story from that quarter.

Buíochas My own feelings were summed up for me in yesterday’s reading in the breviary from the Confessions of St Augustine: You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is your power and of your wisdom there is no number. And man desires to praise you. He is but a tiny part of all you have created. He bears about him his mortality, the evidence of his sinfulness, the evidence that you resist the proud; yet this tiny part of all you have created desires to praise you. So you excite him, that to praise is his joy. For you have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless till they rest in you. St Augustine, sinner, convert and bishop for thirtyfive years regularly celebrated the anniversary of his episcopal ordination which took place in 395 AD.

Since I had worked for twelve years in an office in the Bishop’s House in Killarney, Bishop Diarmuid O’Suilleabháin put up my photograph, in my new robes, over the desk where I worked. He got a new housekeeper soon afterwards. One day she was showing a lady friend around the house. Unknown to her, my successor as Secretary was in the next room and he overheard the conversation. “Who is that bishop in the picture?” the visitor asked. “Is it possible you do not know him?” the housekeeper replied. “No”. “That’s amazing. He is that famous bishop out foreign – Archbishop Desmond Tutu”! This brought home to me in an amusing but telling way that in twelve weeks I was forgotten in the place where I had worked for twelve years! So, I focused now on my new people of Cashel & Emly.

As I humbly thank God for his goodness to me for the past twenty-five years in Cashel & Emly, I am filled with gratitude and joy – gratitude to God and to the people I have served; joy which came through in all three readings chosen for me by one of our priests well versed in Scripture.

By a chance of fortune, a few years ago I met Archbishop Desmond Tutu at a gathering in Croke Park. When I was invited to speak to his group of thirty or so, I told him the story. He was hugely amused. He came down and stood next to me and remarked, “Couldn’t anyone see the resemblance? I have found my double!”

The first reading from the prophet Zephaniah echoes that joy: “Shout for joy daughter of Zion, Israel shout

Archbishop Tutu radiates joy. He bubbles with it! Despite his age – he is seventy nine now – and

despite the bitter struggle he has come through in his witness to the Christian message of peace and justice in South Africa during the apartheid regime, he is still full of energy and his good humour is infectious. He reminded me how Pope Paul VI defined a priest, “A priest is a man who radiates the joy of Christ”.

Lúcháir In his address on the occasion when he received the Nobel Prize, Archbishop Tutu defined peace as follows: God’s Shalom, peace, involves inevitably righteousness, justice, wholeness, fullness of life, participation in decision-making, goodness, laughter, joy, compassion, sharing and reconciliation. Never before had I seen the inclusion of laughter and joy in a description of peace. But wouldn’t peace be very dull without joy and laughter? The Christian joy of which I speak now is far more than a feeling or a heightened sense of pleasure. It can be present even in suffering and in persecution. Recall how the Apostles were harassed by the Temple priests and their reaction as recorded in the Acts: “They went from the presence of the Council rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer… for the name of Jesus”. Christian joy is not contingent on a future good or bad, Celtic Tiger or recession. It is grounded in deep trust in Christ. Nothing which happens to us can separate us from the love of Christ. While it is natural to have frequent mention of joy in the Christmas liturgy, the Church mentions joy during Lent also. The first Preface for Lent reads, “Each year you give us this joyful season when we prepare for the paschal mystery with heart and mind renewed”. The fourth Sunday of Lent is called “Laetare Sunday,” the first words of the Mass on that day are “Rejoice Jerusalem, be glad for her.” The Church is the new Jerusalem. St Julian of Norwich, in the private revelations made to her, wrote that, “Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, was also the Man of Joy, even in his Passion.” 105

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EPISCOPAL JUBILEE CELEBRATION My ordination as Bishop here in this Cathedral actually took place on Laetare Sunday and the Prodigal Son came home for the occasion – in the Gospel passage of St. Luke for that day!

All would not be roses Joy in the midst of suffering? Could that be possible? St Peter’s letter has this consoling message for those suffering persecution: My dear people, if we can have some share in the sufferings of Christ be glad, because you will enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 13-14). In his introduction to his Letter on the Christian meaning of suffering, Pope John Paul II wrote: Declaring the power of salvific suffering, the Apostle Paul says: ‘In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church’. These words seem to be found at the end of the long road that winds through the suffering which forms part of the history of man and which is illuminated by the Word of God. These words have, as it were, the value of a final discovery, which is accompanied by joy. For this reason Saint Paul writes: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake. The joy comes from the discovery of the meaning of suffering, and this discovery, even if it is most personally shared in by Paul of Tarsus, who wrote these words, is at the same time valid for others. The Apostle shares his own discovery and rejoices in it because of all those whom it can help – just as it helped him – to understand the salvific meaning of suffering. Jesus’ consoling words to his Apostles in this evening’s Gospel passage can also be consoling for us in our suffering: “You are sad now but when I see you again, you will be full of joy and that joy no one shall take from you”. The morning after my Ordination I was eating my breakfast and opening my letters. All of a sudden a shower of broken glass fell among my cornflakes! I am not superstitious but I got a premonition 106

that all would not be light and roses in my new office! Actually, a good nun had sent me a framed photograph and the glass broke on the way. I have had anxious moments and occasional sleepless nights. But, they have been more than outweighed by the blessings I have enjoyed throughout my time in this Archdiocese.

ADDRESS BY FR CHRISTY O’DWYER

Three would be the appropriate number!

Ar son cách atá bailithe san ardeaglais seo, agus an son Pobal Ailbhe uile, déanaim comhgháirdeas ó chroí leis an Ardeaspag agus é ag ceilúiradh cúig mbliana fichead mar Ardeaspag i ndeoise Chaisil & Imligh.

I began by quoting St Augustine. I shall end with another passage from a sermon he gave on the anniversary of his own ordination as bishop. Since he was Bishop of Hippo for thirty-five years, it may have been his Silver Jubilee: The cares of my office have been a cause of anxiety to me since the day on which that burden was placed on my shoulders, of which I have to give a rigorous account. But, I am much more deeply moved by thoughts of this kind when the anniversary of that day revives the memory of the original occasion and reminds me that I should hold the office I received then as if I came to receive it today. Unless the Lord helps us carry our burdens, we shall sink beneath them, and unless he carries us, we shall fall to our death. My position at your head frightens me, but the condition I share with you consoles me. I am a bishop set over you, but a Christian in company with you. Therefore, my very dear friends, let us pray together that my office of bishop may be useful to both myself and you. It will be useful to me if I tell you what you ought to do, and to you, if you do what I tell you. If we continually pray for you, and you for us, with perfect Christian love, then with our Lord’s help we shall joyfully come to eternal blessedness…But I do not wish to attain eternal salvation without you. I should like to add one word of caution about your prayers. Many have wished me ad multos annos today – “May you continue for many years”. Three years would be the appropriate number! Anything else would be a bonus and bonuses are very definitely out of favour during these times!

At the conclusion of the joyful Mass celebration, the following address was delivered by the writer:

the face of great change, but, thank God, as people of faith we know that we are neither powerless nor alone in the face of life’s challenges and changes.

Fidelity Fáilte is fichead romhaibh-se uile chuig an ócáid lúcháireach seo ’um thráthnóna.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Ardeaspag as ucht a bhfuil déanta aige thar na blianta mar phríomh-aoire Chaisil agus Imligh. Guidim rath is beannacht air ’sna blianta seo romhainn. Go gcuire Dia ar do leas thú, a Ardeaspaig.

Congratulations On behalf of all here present, and on behalf of all the faithful of Cashel & Emly, I congratulate Archbishop Clifford on this happy occasion of the Silver Jubilee of his Episcopal Ordination. Archbishop Clifford, we rejoice with you on reaching this happy milestone in your life and ministry. We thank you for your ministry in the archdiocese over the past twenty-five years and we pray God’s blessing on you and your ministry in the time to come.

Change and Challenge Archbishop Clifford has served this archdiocese during a time of much challenge and much change. Those of us who were present in this Cathedral on Sunday 9 March 1986 could scarcely have foreseen the magnitude of that challenge and that change. I suspect that Archbishop Clifford, too, has been surprised by the nature and extent of that change. Life teaches us how relatively powerless we all are in

Among other duties, the ministry of a bishop is: -To confirm the faith of God’s people -To inspire them with the Good News of God’s redeeming love -To encourage them in times of trial and difficulty -To console them in their pain and loss. Such is a daunting ministry. Ultimately, the success of that ministry is measured by fidelity, rather than by any great signs of tangible success. In the words of the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, what God ask of us is that we be faithful, not that we be successful. Fidelity is the ultimate criterion of success in God’s eyes. Pope, bishop, priest, religious and lay faithful will all be judged by that yardstick. This evening, we thank God for Archbishop Clifford’s fidelity to his ministry as bishop. We thank him especially for:

-His unfailing commitment to his duty -His admirable zeal, and -His unsparing effort over the past twentyfive years.

Buíochas We thank Archbishop Clifford for his generous availability to priests and people; his support for so many community-building organisations, both religious and secular; his commitment to the Missions and Third World organisations such as Trócaire and Bóthar and his joyful Confirmation ceremonies in our parishes. We are grateful, too, for Archbishop Clifford’s service manifested in so many aspects of his ministry, in particular: 107

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EPISCOPAL JUBILEE CELEBRATION His kindness to the sick, the bereaved and those with special needs. -His encouragement and support for Catholic education, manifested through: -His support for the work of our dedicated Catholic teachers -His ongoing ministry to Post-Primary pupils -His encouragement and support for St Patrick’s College, initially as seminary and, latterly, as teacher-training college and centre for spiritual and pastoral renewal

There is so much more which could be said, but this is neither the time nor place for a long address. Suffice it to say that we thank Archbishop Clifford for his ministry in Cashel & Emly which has been characterised by commitment and hard work. That generosity has been further manifested in recent times when he assumed responsibility for the diocese of Cloyne as its Apostolic Administrator.

Hope Above all, we thank Archbishop Clifford for helping to keep hope alive in these difficult times. It would be easy to succumb to the prevailing pessimism which characterises so many facets of Irish life today. Thank God, Archbishop Clifford has not done so. Despite all our difficulties, he continues to call us all to hope. That hope is founded on God. That hope will not fail us.

Dia thú, is go maire tú an céad!

To Fr. Tom:

DIAMOND

1951

PRESENTATION

I wish to thank you most sincerely for your kindness and thoughtfulness in sending me on your good wishes on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of my Episcopal Ordination on March 9th last.

Rev P Lanigan

Sacramento

Rev P Kinane

Cashel

Rev D Power

Motherwell

I enjoyed the occasion and was humbled by the warmth and friendliness of the experience. It continues to be a source of gratification and encouragement to me that so many people went to such trouble to mark the Jubilee in such a generous way.

Rev W. Carroll

Middlesborough

Rev. T. Farrell

SACRAMENTO

Rev. D. Cahill

Middlesborough

Rev. J. Gilligan

Middlesborough

Rev. J. McGrath

S.C.A.

I remember you every day in my Masses and prayers. In my childhood the old people would say “May the Lord increase you” when you did them some favour. The Irish from which it came was “Go méadaí Dia tú”.

GOLDEN

1961

Rev. Eamon Purcell

CASHEL

Rev. James Costello

SOUTHWARK

Rev. Neil O’Dwyer

LOS ANGELES

Rev. John O’Connor

LOS ANGELES

Rev. Michael Dillon

SACRAMENTO

Rev. Patrick Keane

AUCKLAND

Rev. Thomas O’Gara

DULUTH

Rev. Liam Storan

SACRAMENTO

Rev. Gerard Smyth

MIDDLESBOROUGH

Rev. Liam Houlihan

SALFORD

Rev. David O’Shea

ST. AUGUSTINE

Rev. Denis Bourke

S.C.A.

The Cathedral Ceremony concluded with a presentation to Archbishop Clifford by Fr O’Dwyer on behalf of the priests and people of the archdiocese of Cashel & Emly. The gift to the Archbishop was a specially commissioned replica in silver of the façade of Thurles Cathedral. Hopefully, it will be a permanent reminder to the Archbishop of the happy Silver Jubilee celebration. The beautiful and impressive replica was crafted by Ms Eimear Conyard, Jeweller and Silversmith, who is Manager of the Jewellery and Goldsmithing Course which the Craft Council of Ireland presents at its premises in Castle Yard, Kilkenny. The following is the inscription on the base of the replica :

EPISCOPAL JUBILEE PRESENTATION To ARCHBISHOP DERMOT CLIFFORD From PRIESTS AND PEOPLE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CASHEL AND EMLY 1986 9ú Márta 2011 Is é Dia mo choimirche

With renewed thanks, Dermot Clifford Most Rev. Dermot Clifford, DD, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly

As Church and country, we face many challenges today and into the future. As Church and country, it is important for us all to remember that we have come through many great challenges in the past. With faith and trust in God, we can do similarly in our time and into the future.

Epilogue

Rev. Francis Duane

Northampton

Rev. Michael O’Dwyer

S.C.A.

Following the Cathedral ceremony, hundreds of participants enjoyed light refreshments in nearby St Patrick’s College – a pleasant conclusion to a memorable occasion.

Rev. James Semple

SALT LAKE CITY

Rev. John Carroll

SACRAMENTO

Rev. Michael Coen

S.C.A.

Focal Scoir

Is fada an lá a mhairfidh ceiliúradh iubhaile cúig mbliana fichead an Ardeaspaig i gcuimhe na ndaoine a bhí i n Dúrlas Éile an tráthnóna úd.

Rev. David Rea

SOUTHWARK

Rev. Maurice Moran

S.C.A.

40 YEARS

1971

Rev. Patrick O’Sullivan

MIAMI

Rev. Pierce Duggan

CASHEL

Again, we congratulate Archbishop Clifford on this joyful Silver Jubilee Celebration of his Episcopal Ordination and we pray God’s continued blessing on him into the future. Comhgháirdeas arís, a Ardeaspaig. Go gcumhdaí 110

JUBILARIANS 2011

(Fr Christy O’Dwyer)

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Rev. Patrick English

SHREWSBURY

Rev. Oliver Freney

PAISLEY

Rev. D.J. Burke

SALFORD

Rev. Chris Quinn

S.C.A.

Rev. John McGrath

BRENTWOOD

Rev. Thomas Boyle

PAISLEY

Rev. Myles Kearney

BATON ROUGE

Rev. John Bergin

S.C.A.

20 YEARS

1991

Rev. Edward Byrne

S.C.A.

Rev. Patrick Treacy

KILLALOE

Rev. Gerard Fleming

S.C.A.

Rev. Martin Sheehan

KERRY

Rev. Patrick Maher

AMARILLO

Rev. Andy Hoolan

KILLALOE

Rev. Richard Fitzgibbon

WESTMINISTER

Rev. Joseph Rohan

CLOYNE

Rev. Liam Collins

SAVANNAH

Rev. Joseph Browne

CASHEL AND EMLY

Rev. Brian Bergin

NOTTINGHAM

Rev. John Kent

KERRY

Rev. John Beatty

CASHEL

Rev. Padraig Kennelly

KERRY

Rev. Oliver O’Grady

STOCKTON

Rev. Robert Coffey

LIMERICK

Rev. Michael Quilligan

MIAMI

Rev. Denis Shanahan

CASHEL AND EMLY

Rev. Timothy O’Sullivan

SANTA ROSA

Rev. Joseph Ryan

WESTMINISTER

Rev. Michael Moroney

BATON ROUGE

Rev. Seamus Freeman

S.C.A.

Rev. William Riordan

SHREWSBURY

Rev. Michael Lenihan

CORPUS CHRISTI

Rev. James Condon

STOCKTON

SILVER

1986

Rev. James O’Donnell

CASHEL AND EMLY

Rev. Tom Mangan

LIMERICK

Rev. Stephen Gorlaing

ICELAND

Rev. Joe Cussen

LIMERICK

Rev. Loughlin Brennan

CASHEL AND EMLY

Rev. Michael O’Sullivan

S.C.A.

Rev. James Kennedy

CASHEL AND EMLY

Rev. Joseph Brilly

DULUTH

Rev. Jim Hannon

CLOYNE

Rev. Kevin Donaghy

ARMAGH

Rev. John Garvey

CLONFERT

Rev. William Hennessey

CASHEL AND EMLY

Jubilarians: Class of 1986

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CORRESPONDENCE & REFLECTIONS Letters to the Editor Dear Tom The photo taken at the English reunion in 2011:

Many thanks for the copy of “Luceat”. Congrats on its publication. Phil Barry, S.C.A. To Luceat Thanks for another great quality publication Fr. David O’ Connor, Natchez, Mississippi Dear Father Tom, I want to thank you and congratulate you for hosting what was a most memorable and enjoyable Alumni Reunion. I deeply appreciate your kindness and the warm hospitality you extended to me during the days of our gathering. The comfortable accommodation, the banquets, the Mass at the Cathedral and the camaraderie with so many alumni go to make up what were wonderful days for me and a grace moment that I will always treasure.

Back Row (L-R) Pat Munore, James Kenny, Tim Bourke, Billy Fitzgerald Front Row (L-R) Martin Breen, Joe Ryan, Tom Fogarty, Pat Hartnett Kind regards Joe Ryan, Westminster Many thanks for another fine edition of Luceat. Fr. John Hannan Sacramento Many thanks for the Luceat. It is always so interesting to read it. God bless you in all your endeavours. Tom Harney, (Class of 1962) Montana Many thanks for the copy of Luceat received. Fr. Noel Spring, Kerry With many thanks for the 2010 Edition John Buckley, Kerry

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Again, thank you for all your efforts in making possible for us Alumni the opportunity to re-connect and to remember once again our days at Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Thurles. May the education programs of the College that you oversee continue to bear fruit in the lives of our young people and ultimately benefit the people and communities they will serve. Wishing you continued success in your work. Sincerely yours, Rev. Justin H. MacCarthy Many thanks for the Luceat of 2010. Congrats to all concerned. Keep it up! Pat Moloney (1963) Southwark

Fr Tom, As requested, I enclose a cheque for the roof. It is 63 years since I left it. I presume it is the original roof, so it has stood the test of time well. I congratulate you on the great undertaking and pray God’s blessing on the work. Fraternal Wishes, James Canon Murphy, Poushley Dear Editor, Thanks for the publication of Luceat. May the college continue to be renewed in the work of education. May you always have creative vision.

Dear Editor, I enclose a donation for Luceat. I congratulate you on an excellent issue, with very informative and interesting articles, which addressed some historical as well as contemporary issues. Many of us former students of St Patrick’s greatly value the update and news in Luceat, of our priest colleagues around the world. Again many congratulations to you and your team on an excellent production.

Fr. Joseph Egan P.P. Boherlahan/Dualla With every blessing and best wishes. Congratulations to all on the 2010 publication of Luceat. Francis Mulvey (1959), Cardiff

John McGrath Parish Priest Billericay

Editor, Luceat,

Dear Editor,

Congratulations on another great ‘Luceat’. Many thanks.

Thanks for Luceat 2010, a most enjoyable read. Enclosed please find a donation towards next year’s edition. It is great to see the Alma Mater thriving – keep up the good work.

All good wishes John McKeon (1962) Dagenham, Essex My sincere thanks for the 2010 copy of Luceat. How life changes! The only person who does not seem to change or age is Fr. Tom Fogarty! Blessings, Rev. Stephen Baillie, Paisley Diocese

Dear Editor, Thank you for “Luceat”. It is much appreciated. It is very good. God bless. Colin Doocey, Cork and Ross

Up Tipp. Dan Spaight Church of Christ the King Stockton on Tees

Many thanks for this year’s copy of Luceat. Having had a brief glance through it I can see it is at least equal to the very high standard of former years. May God Bless all your work for the coming years.

God Bless Nelius O’ Connor Hexham and Newcastle Dear ‘Luceat’, Many thanks for the 2010 Luceat which arrived today. I look forward to reading it. Congratulations and well done! John Littleton The Priory Institute Tallaght Village 115

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CORRESPONDANCE & REFLECTIONS

OBITUARIES

Dear Editor:

Dear Tom,

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since I first stepped through those hallowed doors of St. Patrick’s College. Luceat stimulates and rekindles again old memories of my time there. St Patrick’s has also undergone a lot of changes in those intervening years and has a new sense of direction and vision for its future. May the Lord continue to bless you all as you pass on the torch from one generation to the next.

Many thanks for the Luceat and thank you for your hard work on behalf of the College. It is wonderful to see the growth and improvements.

Fr. James Cregan – Funeral Mass Introduction by Monsignor John O’Sullivan (1968)

200 years ago, a famous Dominican preacher paid the following tribute to the Catholic priesthood. I think he had priests like Fr. Jim Cregan in mind:

I welcome you all to Blessed Sacrament, Tallahassee, for the funeral Mass of Fr. James Cregan. Fr. Cregan was an associate here at Blessed Sacrament when this sanctuary was built in 1982-1983. He was very proud of it.

“To live in the midst of the world without wishing its pleasures; To be a member of each family, yet belonging to none; To share all sufferings; To penetrate all secrets; To heal all wounds; To go from people to God and offer Him their prayers; To return from God to people to bring pardon and hope; To have a heart of fire for charity; To have a heart of bronze for chastity; To teach and to pardon, Console and bless always -What a glorious life! And it is yours, O Priest of Jesus Christ.”

Sincerely yours in Christ, Michael Flannery Diocese of Jackson

May God continue to bless your good work. Your Friend and Classmate, Tim Wehn, Las Vegas, Nevada Thank you for keeping the flag flying. It is great to see such youth and vibrancy ringing through the “halls” of St Patrick’s. Michael Gleeson (Los Angeles)

Dear Editor The latest edition of Luceat seems to mark the end of one era and the next beginning. For a few years you were able to maintain some semblance between both. Good luck to the new St Patrick’s and all present. Sincerely, Larry Joy

Greetings Tom, As promised, through the American Alumni Assoc. in the U.S.A. I am forwarding the enclosed cheque to be used as you see fit for the future life of the college. Surely, it was a great and successful reunion at St Patrick’s in early August. Thanks to yourself and your many supporters – all of you just made it so. Thanks! It was great to see Tipp with two all-Irelands this summer. It will give a lift to our step for the rest of the year.

Sincerely, John Cantwell, Sacramento 116

P.S. Thanks for coming to our reunion in Sacramento

We come together today to pray for the eternal rest of Fr. Jim and to grant him a share in the risen life of Christ. Fr. Jim’s death was not unexpected. However, that does not lessen the sadness of the many people who mourn his passing… his blood family, his spiritual family, his colleagues, priests of this diocese and neighbouring diocese. I offer my sympathy to Jim’s brothers Joe, Paddy, and John; sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and to all his relatives and friends. I offer sympathy also to Fr. Jim’s devoted nurse and care giver, Bobbie Robertson; to the parishioners where he served; and his family in his native, beloved Limerick. In this funeral Mass for Fr. Jim, we ask the Lord to help us to face the prospect that we, too, one day will die. To prepare ourselves to celebrate Mass, and to prepare ourselves to meet the Lord when our own inevitable death comes, let us call to mind our sins, and ask the Lord for mercy and forgiveness.

Homily by Fr. Michael Foley I have known him since September 1962. I was present at his ordination in 1963. He joined us here at Blessed Sacrament in 1980, before moving on to Sacred Heart, yet at the behest of our bishop at the time, maintaining and continuing a relationship with Blessed Sacrament. He retired four years ago. His was a lifetime of service. He was first and foremost a priest – a man of God, and he devoted his life to doing God’s work. He was understanding and wise – a devoted, respected and popular pastor. It was his vocation as a priest to bring people together to worship and to pray and to help them to love God and their neighbour.

Fr. Jim Cregan lived in the midst of the world, and was welcomed as a member of probably every family in the parish in which he served. Yet he belonged to none, in the sense of belonging exclusively to any one family, except his own blood family in Limerick. What underpinned and supported Jim’s life and activity was his unshakable Christian faith. He was faithful –full of faith. That was very evident in the way he dealt with illness since 1976. He battled all the way, without losing faith or hope – what remarkable courage. In this, he was like all believing Christians inspired by the example of Jesus Christ, who throughout his passion and crucifixion never wavered in his confidence – in his Father’s love. Fr. Jim has brought us together to renew our confidence, indeed our certainty, in faith that he and all of us, will in God’s good time, be united in the vision of God’s glory. That is our faith and hope and that is our earnest wish for ourselves and Fr.Jim. May he rest in peace.

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SECTION D: STAFF Eulogy for father Patrick McGrath: I REMEMBER We mourn the death of a great man, Father Patrick McGrath who died on Sunday, July 12, 2009. Father McGrath was a life-long friend of my family and a mentor to me personally. The Reverend McGrath believed in the dignity of the human person and worked diligently throughout his life to care, share and be fair. He was a fierce proponent for the rights of women and children and constantly spoke about the importance of family. When he was a newly ordained priest of only twenty-four years of age, he was sent to California and there made history with his devotion to helping teenagers excel. An extremely well read and well-educated man, improving literacy and eradicating violence were important issues to him. In his California glory days, he was considered a trailblazer, a pioneer on the planet who brought new ideas and new actions to our parishes. He instigated the first youth soccer team, organized the first youth folk mass, was responsible for the first woman speaking from the altar, and created the most popular and active youth group in all of Northern California. It was my privilege to be called his “sidekick”. He was a devotee of the literacy charity, Be the Star You Are!® and in my first book, Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference, Father Pat was honoured and exalted in the chapter, ‘The Gift of Celebration’. In the new book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS, he penned the chapter, ‘The Gift of Sports’. Engaging and kind, Father Pat not only listened, he heard. He touched the lives of thousands of individuals and will be dearly missed. His legacy remains in the hearts of all who knew him and in the books where he is fondly remembered. After forty-four years of serving others, he is now our special angel. To honour this great friend and mentor who helped so many lead better lives, we have created a memorial fund in his name.

To me, the words “celebration” and “Father McGrath” are synonymous. As he often said, “Today is the only day we have.” Here’s wishing you a Father McGrath day. Celebrate now! And remember a great man dedicated to human dignity and the sacredness of family, Father Patrick McGrath.

Reeling in the years with Kay: On Tuesday, May 17th, the co-Editors sat down with Kay, the college’s longest-serving staff member to record what proved to be a fascinating interview.

On behalf of all the people in California who loved you, Father Pat McGrath, God Bless and farewell. Until we meet again in heaven, WE REMEMBER YOU!

Q When did you start working in the college? K In 1971. I came in on my 14th birthday.

What were your hours like? It was 7.30am to 4pm – and they had Rosary at 4pm every evening. And then you came back at 6pm – you could go down town for a walk – and then you were back till 8pm. Then, Sundays you were off from 2 to 4pm.

Are you from Thurles? No, I’m from Gortnaroo.

The Seminarians didn’t go home? No, it was pretty much the same every day.

And how did you get the job? My sister was here before me for two years so I heard about the job from her.

So, you didn’t go home unless it was Christmas or something like that? That’s pretty much it. Some people used to come in and visit alright.

John O’Dwyer Brother of Fr. Christy O’Dwyer. May he rest in peace. Margaret Sexton Grandmother of Diane Corkery, Head of Religious Department. May she rest in peace. Patrick Clohessy Father of Karen Ní Chlochasaigh, Irish Department. May he rest in peace. Margaret Lawler Mother of Michael Lawler. May she rest in peace. John Noel Ryan Husband of Rita Lalor Ryan, B.A. Theology Graduate 2008. May he rest in peace. Anne Sherlock B.A. Theology Graduate 2006. May she rest in peace.

And what did she do? She was doing cooking, cleaning – it varied – there were all different sections to the ‘house’. When I started, that’s what I was doing too. Paint a picture of the college back then…how many students were there? There were 106 Students – men training to be priests, ten priests who were lecturing and teaching in the ‘house’, ten staff, four nuns in the convent where the classroom is now, eight girls and two boys. We all ‘lived-in.’ So you’re the longest-serving member of staff here?! Yes, that’s right! And you’ve been here all the time since? I left for two years to get married and have children. They came looking for me to come back! You were head-hunted! That’s right, head-hunted! When I came here first, I was doing ‘house’. I had to keep all the walls and corridors washed and polished every day. Then you had the pantry. Whoever was there had to look after the students. Then there was the scullery. There were two girls in there. Once I got down into the kitchen, that’s where I stayed because I was kinda good at that. And that’s where I’ve been since. And when you said that you ‘lived-in’ did you mean

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you went home at weekends? No, no – there were no days off. No days off.

And were you lonely? Not really, you got used to it plus my sister was here for the first few years. Then she went, but by then I had got to know people. We were all the one age and got used to each other. When I got married and came back, things changed. There were staff changing constantly and you only got to know people for two of three weeks and they could be gone, because some of them weren’t able for the long hours and hard work. Were you allowed out to dances and that? We were allowed out on a Sunday. But we weren’t allowed keys so the Sister used to wait for us at the door at 1am – on the dot. We were allowed out to the pictures too. Of course, you had to go and find a husband! That’s right! What did you do after 8pm to keep yourselves amused? We had a sitting room in the back and a television and a record player and we used to dance. Did you get to know the Seminarians quite well? We weren’t allowed to. Not for the first couple of years. If you were caught talking to a student you’d be gone! If you were washing the halls and the bell went, you had to get out of the way until the students were gone into class. 119

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sTAFF Was that for their benefit? I think it was. But it changed then and got more relaxed after a while in the late eighties. We could say hello and all that. Do you remember Fr. Tom? Vaguely, not much because we didn’t have much contact then. Those days you got to meet them on Ordination Day. That’s the way it worked. That was a huge event and you’d see them going down the avenue. It was fabulous! That would be a big, big occasion. It would be around the first Saturday in June. We had a big dinner upstairs with the dignatories from different colleges.

great laugh in the kitchen. Then it got very quiet - I ended up talking to myself! I was the only one here in the end. Were you ever encouraged to join the Religious Orders? Oh yes, why wouldn’t they! We went to Rosary at 4pm every day but that was enough for me!

NEW STAFF Dr. Máire Ní Ríordáin (new Head of the Education Department)

What memories would you have of big events? When we had the Centenary here in Thurles of the GAA (in 1984) we had all the dignatories here. That was a big event with the Taoiseach. Were there still nuns here at that stage? Up to about ten years ago, there were. Then the numbers of seminarians went down very low so we couldn’t keep it going. We all thought we were going to be let go. In the end, I was kept and the rest of them were let go. It was very hard on them. My sister was one of them. She was back about 12 or 14 years at that stage. But there were only two priests at that stage. Without the development of the college as it is, the building would have been closed. When were the meals served and what were they? Breakfast was at 8am. Students would have cereal and porridge and tea and brown bread. There was no toast. The main meal was bacon and cabbage, roast lamb, roast beef, stew and fish on Fridays without a doubt. They were massive meals to make. We had a soup before dinner, of course. Tea would be a fry, Shepherd’s Pie, bangers and mash. On Sundays there would be a cold tea like a ham and salad or something like that. Could the students go into town? No, no, not at all – maybe to the hospital the odd time. Have you enjoyed working in the college? Oh yes. I wouldn’t still be here, in fairness. There was always a great atmosphere. We always had a 120

Qualifications: PhD in Mathematics Education (2008) University of Limerick (‘An investigation into teaching and learning mathematics through the medium of Gaeilge: Additive and Subtractive Bilingualism’). BSc. Physical Education and Mathematics Concurrent Teacher Education Degree, Hons. (2005), University of Limerick . Ag baint amach Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, Ollscoil Luimnigh.

Awards and Scholarships: Teaching Council Research Bursary, 2009/10 MACSI Postgraduate Scholarship: University of Limerick, 2006-2008. Advanced Scholars Award, University of Limerick. 2005-2006 I took up the position of Head of Education here at St. Patrick’s College on the 6th September, 2010. Tipperary had won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship on the previous day so it was it a significant day to begin a new stage in my career! When commencing my position as Head of Education, St. Patrick’s College was undergoing a transitional period in its history. It is fantastic to have had the opportunity to be part of and facilitate new developments taking place in the College.

In particular the new academic linkage with the University of Limerick (UL) is a major achievement for the College during the Academic Year 2010/11. There is no doubt that change can initiate conflict given that it is a highly personal experience. But change is a process, not an event and I think this reflects the development of St. Patrick’s College through the decades and the stage that it has reached to date. Moreover, effective change takes time and I know that this is the beginning of a new era for the College and I am delighted to be involved as Head of Education. Personally, UL is very close to my heart so this academic linkage means a lot to me. I undertook a concurrent teacher education degree in UL and qualified as a post-primary teacher of PE and Mathematics. Beginning third level education was a significant experience in my life – I had entered English medium education. Up until this point I had studied through the medium of Gaeilge, with Gaeilge being one of the languages spoken in my home and the main language of the small, rural, Gaeltacht community in which I grew up in. For me learning through Gaeilge was natural, automatic and I never thought about what it would be like learning through the medium of English. I was very naïve entering third level education; not once did the language transition enter my thoughts before commencing my new course of study. I was very fortunate in that another girl in my course was experiencing the exact same transition, thus I did not feel that I was at fault, or my intelligence. We became the novelty of the small mathematics class (17 in total). Their amusement stemmed from the confusion etched on our faces as we toyed with “simple” mathematical terms such as integer, denominator, limit and factor. These clearly were concepts that we should know and be familiar with but language was causing a barrier to our understanding. We often communicated through Gaeilge in that first year of university in order to help our mathematical understanding of the material being explained, again much to the amusement of our peers but they too started picking up terminology through Gaeilge and would try to partake in our little discussions. However, necessity required us to adapt to the new language of instruction. Fast-forward three years and as part of my degree

I was required to complete a final year dissertation. The language transition always lingered in the back of my thoughts as throughout my degree I still relied on Gaeilge when learning mathematics, although it lessened as time went on. I knew I wanted to undertake a research project in the area of bilingualism and mathematics and was fortunate to have an excellent supervisor whose guidance was invaluable. The seeds of a research project had been sown. This dissertation highlighted the need for research in this area to be undertaken in Ireland and thus was the stepping-stone to postgraduate studies. I completed a PhD in the area of Bilingualism (Gaeilge and English) and its influence on mathematical attainment and cognitive development. I feel very fortunate and privileged to have been provided with an opportunity to pursue further study. My passion for my PhD study/research area is largely due to the fact that it is a topic I can relate to and want to find out more about and I am still discovering new things today! My research has opened many opportunities for me over the past number of years such as travel through attendance at international conferences, a research sabbatical in New Zealand and meeting highly intelligent academics in my area of research, for which I am very grateful. Throughout my postgraduate studies I taught mathematics in UL, along with being a microteaching tutor and teaching practice supervisor for the Department of Education and Professional Studies in the university. My love for mathematics stemmed from early primary school all the way through secondary and into third level. I knew I wanted to be a teacher of mathematics, hence why I choose the concurrent model in UL. I have a great passion for sport also and was highly involved in Gaelic football and basketball. However, I quickly realized over the four years of the degree that ‘playing’ sport is not the same as ‘teaching’ physical education and I knew that my true passion for teaching lay with mathematics. It was a significant decision to make to diversify into the area of mathematics education but one which I have never regretted. After completing my PhD I took up the position of Senior Projects Officer in Teaching and Learning (Mathematics) for two years in the National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learning (NCE-MSTL). My primary 121

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NEW STAFF role in this job was to design, develop and deliver Continuous Professional Development for primary and post-primary teachers of mathematics. This was a very challenging role and I encountered many obstacles and negative attitudes from qualified teachers unwilling to engage in further learning and professional development. However, overcoming these challenges is what made the job rewarding. Personally, over this two year period I learnt so much and the experience gained was invaluable. At the end of my two years in the NCE-MSTL, I knew that it was not a job that I envisioned working in for the long-term, hence how I have ended up in St. Patrick’s College. With taking up the position of Head of Education here in the College once again I am diversifying slightly by lecturing in general education as opposed to specifically in mathematics education. But I love the diversification and the challenge, while still having the opportunity of researching in the area of mathematics education. My vision is that mathematics teaching will become part of St. Patrick’s College in the future. There is no doubt that this past Academic Year has been extremely demanding and testing but amazing in terms of the changes and progress that has been made. St. Patrick’s is a unique institution and I feel very honored and privileged to work with such fantastic people and students. Therefore, to conclude, I have a few ‘lessons’ that I have learnt from reflecting on my own experiences. Firstly, there is a need to be passionate about what you do in all areas of life and pursue those passions. Secondly, embrace change and overcome challenges – this is where significant learning and development takes place. Thirdly, take opportunities when presented to you – they can lead to very exciting experiences. Fourthly, do not be afraid to diversify and pursue other areas of interest. Fifthly, engage in life-long learning - it should not stop once you have completed your degree. And finally, have a balance within your life –it is not all about work, for me sport is my release. Go raibh mile maith agaibh, Máire.

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Dr. Mary Roche (Education Department) The First Year - A Personal ‘Reflection’ Mary Roche September 6th 2010. The sun is shining and you are proudly driving up the M8 from Cork with the sound of your Tipp flag snapping in the wind. What a day to be starting work in Thurles - especially if you’re a Tipp person who has been in exile for many years in Cork. All-Ireland winners. Yessss! It almost means that you aren’t nervous. Almost. But there are three more days to go before the first lecture… no panic. There’s a blur of instructions about turning on everything in the computer cupboard in Aula 1, instructions about pointing the remote at the beamer and pressing ONLY ONCE and then instructions about remembering the new log on and password (but there’s a plan B if it won’t let you in) and don’t forget to pass around the attendance sheet and ... oh dear, here come some students, smile and look confident. Suddenly its Thursday morning… check the timetable - which floor are you supposed to be on… St Patrick’s College is a very special place. There’s an aura of antiquity and solidity all around and you feel a sense of joy here. It permeates the whole building. This is a values-based and values-led institution. And the primary value is care. From the top down people actually care about each other. Your 9 o’clock start in Aula 1 is eased because a person cares enough at 8.30 am to check that the system is working well - you arrive in and see ‘control-altdelete’ on the screen - care. A heater and a lamp are provided for the office - care. Scented candles in the staffroom - care. Chocolate biscuits just when you need a fix - care. Help with the pesky ‘roaming profiles’- care. You’re regularly asked if everything is going well for you - care. You share with the senior students that an anonymous first year is unhappy in her accommodation, the whole class responds with suggestions and advice and three students approach you privately and ask if they can help her because ‘they were that student’ - care. Colleagues meet and

consult and discuss how to make each lecture as good as it can be - care. A book club is launched care. Students write affirming comments in reflections and they put up with the fact that you are not the greatest at remembering names - care. You are in awe of the president’s ability to remember each student’s name, interests, friends, and it is evident that he really cares and that his values influence the entire community here. People smile a lot. Relationships matter in St Patrick’s College. And after a few weeks its as though you were never anywhere else. You remember to say ‘shared drive’ instead of LAN. You remember to let the students have a break in the middle of the two hour sessions. You try to remember which Caitriona is which and which fellow is Dan and which is Jason and whether you’re at Prep for TP or Philosophy and sometimes the students actually dialogue with each other and with you during one of the tutorials and that just makes your day. Graduation day. Wow. What a feeling to be part of this really meaningful ceremony - so different to other institutions you’ve worked in, where there were hundreds of graduands and you only knew a few of them. You try to imagine how you’ll feel when your current first years graduate. You drive up the M8 in sunshine, fog, wind and rain and it gets darker and darker as you set out and you take the train some days because its easier -slightly. Winter draws in and its not much fun getting up in Cork at 6am and setting out for Tipp. But as you come up the drive in St. Patrick’s College on a frosty morning the big tree in the sparkling field on your left is so beautiful with the sun coming up behind it. Then snow and ice and thank God for the Christmas break. TP looms and you are allocated a group of great students. Before you know it its Term Two with brighter mornings and longer evenings. And overall you love it here. The students are warm and engaging and totally sincere. Staff members are supportive and co-operative and kind. Your department colleagues are generous and patient. There’s great camaraderie in the Education office and in the staffroom at coffee breaks. You LOVE the smell

of the Croke Library. It reminds you of being a small girl in the store room of the County Library, which you could sometimes visit because your Dad worked there. And for a book’grub’- or whatever the term is for an embryonic bookworm - that was pure bliss. Every time you visit the Croke - even flying through to the Mercy Wing - your inner child breathes deeply and smiles. And now it’s summer and it’s unbelievable that a year has passed. You feel you belong now to the community in St Patrick’s College. It definitely is a ‘home away from home’. St Patrick’s College is a very special place in which to work. Dr Mary Roche began her teaching life as a primary teacher. From the beginning of her career Mary was concerned about the dominance of didactic pedagogies and she sought ways of engaging children in dialogue and critical thinking. She studied this area for her MA degree and followed with a PhD in which her focus was on creating dialogical pedagogies that were grounded in care, freedom and justice. Mary taught in disadvantaged schools in Dublin and Cork before leaving to lecture in Education in Mary Immaculate College Limerick. She also lectured on the Post Grad Diploma in Mentoring for NQTs in MIC, and in UCC on the M Ed programme. A lifelong passionate interest in the areas of philosophy and in children’s literature, particularly picturebooks, means that Mary is regularly invited to present workshops and in-service to primary and second-level teachers in ‘critical literacy’ and ‘visual literacy’ and how picturebooks can be used for encouraging critical thinking and philosophising in classrooms. She has written extensively on the topic and has presented papers at several conferences at home and abroad. Mary is currently engaged in a commissioned research project into CPD for the Teaching Council, and is also co-authoring a book on CPD for Routledge Publishers. Mary would like to add that, despite her opening comments in this article, she actually loves her adopted county and city of Cork. Qualifications: NT Dip (Carysfort) MA in Education (UWE Bristol) 123

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PhD. University of Limerick

Modules: Philosophy of Education Preparation for Teaching Practice Classroom Management Professional and Personal Development

Cáilíochtaí: Céim sna dáin, Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál (2005) Máistreacht sa Ghaeilge, Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál (2006) TMGA, Ollscoil na hÉireann Má Nuad (2007)

Marie Gorham

Scoláireachtaí: Sparánacht Taighde COGG An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (2009- ) Múinteoireacht: Is léachtóir páirtaimseartha le Gaeilge mé sna réimsí seo a leanas de Chlár na Céime Ealaíona san Oideachas, Nua-Ghaeilge agus Staidéir Reiligiúnda – An Fheasacht Teanga agus Nua Litríocht na Gaeilge – filíocht chomhaimseartha na Gaeilge agus Drámaíocht na Gaeilge ina measc. Is teagascóir na Gaeilge mé le cúig bliana anuas in Aonad na Gaeilge, Scoil na dTeangacha, na Litríochta, an Chultúir agus na Cumarsáide, Ollscoil Luimnigh. Bím ag teagasc ar an gcúrsa Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach: An Ghaeilge sa Saol Comhaimseartha i measc ranganna teanga eile.

I was delighted to lecture to first year students in the ‘Psychology of Education’ this year. I shared the lecturing duties with Catherine McCormack who was incredibly welcoming and helpful. Indeed, all of my encounters with both staff and students in St. Patrick’s have been hugely positive and warm and I know that St. Patrick’s has an excellent reputation in this regard. This is surely something to be very proud of. I’m originally from Mayo but moved to Thurles two years ago – because of ‘a man’ – who is now my husband. Though my love of ‘the West’ has not dwindled I really enjoy living in Thurles and the fact that it is so central to many parts of Ireland – although I do feel that there is a genuine need for a motorway from Thurles to Ballina! I have been involved in the study and application of psychology since I commenced my undergraduate degree in 2001. Since then I completed a PhD in psychology, presented at many conferences and published research in the area of Autism and education. While studying and between studies I was very fortunate to gain experience in applying psychological principles to help many different groups of people. In addition, I also have a keen interest in mental health, having trained in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and conducted research in this area. Unfortunately, I had the pleasure of reading last year’s Luceat and therefore am highly embarrassed in relation to my lack of athletic accolades (and ability)! My sporting achievements since the age of 11 years old accumulate to nil – though I do enjoy watching a variety of sports from the comfort of my armchair. Hopefully the emphasis on sporting activities in St. Patrick’s will have a positive influence on me! 124

Karen Ní Chlochasaigh

Réimsí taighde: Is iad na réimsí sainspéise atá agam ná: Múineadh agus sealbhú teanga i gcás na Gaeilge, An fheasacht teanga, An fhoghlaim fhéinriartha, An fhoghlaim ríomhchuidithe, Úsáid na teicneolaíochta sa seomra ranga Gaeilge, An fhilíocht chomhaimseartha. Faoi láthair tá taighde Dochtúireachta ar siúl agam in Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Trá Lí, Co. Chiarraí, faoi stiúir an Dr. Muiris Uí Laoire. An teideal atá ar an taighde reatha seo ná ‘Tréithe Dea-Fhoghlaimeoirí na Gaeilge’ agus tá sé maoinithe ag COGG An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. Foilsiúcháin: Ní Chlochasaigh, K. ‘Tonn Tuile na bpaisean agus na bpléisiúr: Téama na Collaíochta i bhfilíocht Chaitlín Maude’ Comhar, Meitheamh 2010. Ó Laoire, M. agus Ní Chlochasaigh, K., 2010. ‘ Dea-fhoghlaimeoirí teanga i mbun foghlama: Cad

iad na bealaí éifeachtacha foghlama a bhíonn acu?’. Ó Laoire, M., Davitt, A., Ní Laoire, M. agus Ó Máirtín, M. (eag.) Teagasc na Gaeilge 9. Baile Átha Cliath: Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge. 47-58.

Gníomhaíochtaí Proifisiúnta: Is ball mé den Mheitheall um Theagasc na Gaeilge ar an Tríú Leibhéal agus d’fhochoiste Choláiste Bhréanainn, Baile an Bhuinéanaigh, Co. Chiarraí. Is scrúdaitheoir mé ar phainéal na scrúdaitheoirí TEG Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge.

Tony Ó Floinn Ó Dhún Mór go Dúrlas Éile Pé olc maith liom é, rugadh agus tógadh mé sna Déise in aice le Dún Mór i lár na seascaidí agus is é an chuimhne is luaithe agam ná rogha dheacair a bhí le déanamh sa bhliain 1969. Lá iontach amháin, tháinig fear áitiúil chun balla a thógáil timpeall an tí, éacht dar liom is mé cúig bliana d’aois. Ach ní hé sin an rud is mó is cuimhin liom ach an fhadhb a bhí agam mar ag an am céanna ar an dteilifís bhí pictiúirí beo á gcraoladh den chéad turas go dtí an ghealach. B’é a dheineas i ndeireadh na dála ná an dá thrá a fhreastal agus an lá úd a chaitheamh ag rith idir an dá iontas. Le fírinne, bhí an t-ádh liom mar go raibh múinteoirí Gaeilge den scoth agam is mé óg i Scoil Náisúnta Chill Aodh agus ansin i gColáiste De La Salle i bPort Láirge. Cé gur thaitin na ranganna Gaeilge liom i gcónaí bhí, agus tá fós, an-shuim san eolaíocht agam chomh maith agus d’fhreastalaíos ar Ollscoil Luimní, áit ar bhaineas céim san Cheimic Thionsclaíoch amach. In ainneoin nár bhaineas riamh an sásamh céanna as an gCeimic is a bhainim as an nGaeilge anois, chuir an cháilíocht luachmhar san ar mo chumas mórán rudaí a dhéanamh im shaol. Sampla amháin ab ea éirí as mo phost san earnáil cogáseolaíochta sa bhliain 1989 is m’aghaidh a thabhairt ar an Siombáib a bhí tar éis saoirse a bhaint amach blianta beaga roimhe sin. Ní nach ionadh, bhí spiorad iontach dóchasach i measc pobal na

Siombáibe na laethanta san agus an rialtas fé stiúir Robert Mugabe ag déanamh éachta chun seirbhisí oideachais is sláinte a sholáthar do na gnáthdhaoine a bhí ar an ngannchuid le fada an lá agus chun eacnmaíocht na tíre a fhorbairt. Chaitheas trí bliana ag múineadh na heolaíochta agus na Ceimice i ngnáthscoil ar an dtuath in Inyati in aice le Bulawayo i ndeisceart na Siombáibe. Bhí isteach is amach ar leath de na sé gcéad dalta ina ndaltaí cónaithe agus chónaigh na múinteoirí uile timpeall na scoile; ba chuid speisialta dem eispéireas ná an deis bheith im chónaí agus ag obair taobh le taobh le múinteoirí ón tSiombáib fhéin. Tá cuimhne ghéar agam fós ar an lá a thugas cuairt ar Victoria Falls i dteannta roinnt Éireannach eile a bhí ag múineadh sa tSiombáib. Bhí ceardaithe áitiúla ag díol a dtáirgí i mbothanna ann agus dianmhargaíocht ag teastáil chun teacht ar phraghasanna réasúnta. Bhí na ceardaithe féin in ann déaláil leis na turasóirí i mBéarla ach ansin dul i gcomhairle a chéile ina dteanga dúchasach féin; bhí roinnt de na cuairteoirí, mar shampla, buíon Gearmánach a bhí taobh thiar dúinn, in ann a mhacasamhail a dhéanamh. Ach ní raibh ach an Béarla ag na hÉireannaigh agus sinne fé mhíbhuntáiste san mhargaíocht dá réir; rith sé liom ar an dtoirt gur bocht an scéal gan an Ghaeilge a bheith againn. Ba tar éis na heachtra san a chuireas romham mo chuid Ghaeilge a shealbhú arís agus mhéadaigh an tsuim atá agam inti ón am san i leith. Is léir dom anois an tábhacht a bhaineann le bheith ag foghlaim agus ag forbairt i gcónaí, bíodh rud nua i gceist nó gné nua de rud a bhfuil seanthaithí agam air. Ba shampla simplí dom den phróiseas so ná an chéad chuairt a thugas ar an mBlascaod lá breá samhraidh nuair a fuaireas amach nach raibh ann ach carraig mhór aonarach i lár na farraige. Cé gur bhaineas taitneamh as an leabhar Peig is mé ar scoil, níor thuigeas i gceart é go dtí an lá san agus léargas níos fearr faighte agam ar cé chomh crua agus a bhí an saol ag muintir an oileáin. Nuair atá aon chúrsa á mhúineadh agam anois is é mo phríomhaidhm, ar ndóigh, ná go mbaineann na mic léinn tairbhe as ach déanaim féin iarracht rud nua a fhoghlaim chomh maith. 125

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NEW STAFF Creidim go bhfuil deis iontach agam anso i gColáiste Phádraig an tsuim atá agam sa Ghaeilge a roinnt le daoine eile agus, go háirithe, le daoine go mbeidh an seans acu a suim agus a saineolas féin a scaipeadh is iad ina múinteoirí Gaeilge nó ag múineadh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Nó, b’fhéidir, i slí eile mar is cáilíocht luachmhar í an chéim a ghnóthaíonn mic léinn na Gaeilge i gColáiste Phádraig agus is iomaí féidireachtaí fostaíochta a bhaineann léi gan trácht ar na buntáistí intleachtúla agus cruthaitheacha a bhronnann an dátheangachas féin.

Ailish Larkin - Librarian My first year in the library in St. Patrick’s has been such a pleasure. Having been very happy in Dublin for almost ten years, it was a big decision for me to move to Thurles. However, from the first time I walked through the doors of the college, I really felt that there was something special here. I was struck by the warmth and kindness of both the staff and students and this is due, in no small part, to Fr. Tom who sets such a lovely, welcoming spirit in the college. I grew up in Mayo and my family moved to Wexford when I was twelve so, although I love Wexford, I am not a true ‘yellow belly’ like Shane. I studied European Studies with French and Italian in Trinity College, which included an Erasmus year in Italy which was truly bellissimo…..pizza, cappuccino, amazing art, fabulous people and we travelled the length and breadth of the country. After college I went to the south of France for a year and worked as an English language assistant in primary schools. This was a fantastic year of cute French kids, snowy Alpine mountains, lots of hiking and gorgeous, smelly cheese. On returning to Ireland I worked as an ABA tutor in a school for children with autism in Dublin. I absolutely loved the children and was lucky to work with an ambitious, dedicated team. I then decided to pursue a career in librarianship because of my absolute passion for, and the importance of, reading and because I love working with people. My passion for reading was ignited in third class when our teacher got us all to buy a 126

book which we read and then swapped around the room. By the end of the year we had all read about thirty books including Tom’s Midnight Garden, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and my personal favourite, Under the Hawthorn Tree. I was hooked and looking back, I realise that I was blessed to have had such an enthusiastic and encouraging teacher. I completed the Masters in Library and Information Studies at UCD in 2007-08. I then started to work as a Librarian in a secondary school in Tallaght as part of the Demonstration Library Project. The Demonstration Library Project is part of JCSP – it is a brilliant pilot project whereby schools in disadvantaged areas get a brand-new library and a librarian to work with teachers on improving the students’ literacy levels. Literacy is crucial to all subjects and it is vital for all educators to spend time on it. I learned so much in this job – it was a real eye-opener in terms of the poverty that exists in Ireland, I learned how to get the most out of challenging students and I had so much respect for the amazing, hard-working teachers in the school. On arrival in St. Patrick’s I was warmly welcomed by my library team – Marina, Marian and Mary. Without any exaggeration I am blessed to have such caring, hard-working, supportive and kind fellow library workers. Mary Murphy, the librarian who was here before me, has also been so kind and helpful. I want to thank Marina for all her help and kindness (and AMAZING cakes) throughout the year. Marian, I want to thank for her thoughtfulness and Mary, for her absolute dependability. Reflecting on the year, I don’t think I heard one negative word from my library colleagues and because of this we have a positive, hard-working and carang atmosphere. Highlights of the year included getting to know the delightful staff and students, having a sing-song in the staff-room and my daily walk through the Croke Library. Even at 8.55am on rainy Monday mornings, that stroll never fails to raise my spirits. I am delighted with both the staff and student book clubs that have taken their first baby steps this year. I hope they will both continue next year as they are a lovely way in which to really get to know people, to share opinions and ideas and to develop a true reading community in the college. I want

to thank the entire college community for making my first year such a pleasant experience.

of photographs in order to obtain my Licentiateship from the Irish Photographic Federation.

Jody Neville (I.T.)

I also love football. I’ve followed Southampton since Matt Le Tissier was creating magic with his boots in the 90’s. I travel over there for a game when I can. My participation in sports is currently limited to throwing various objects at the TV and an occasional round of golf, activities which expend the same amount of energy. However I hope to get back running and playing football soon. Though I’m probably past the days where I can dream of togging out in the red and white.

One year down, and hopefully many more to go. This first year at St Patrick’s has been one of the most enjoyable of my career. The people, staff and students, have been a pleasure to deal with and an honour to call friends and colleagues. Hopefully it will continue for years to come. But anyway, a little about me. I’m originally from Limerick but infiltrated Ballina over 5 years ago from where I continue to spy on the Tipperary natives under the guise of a typical home life that I share with my wife, Noreen, and brand new daughter, Erin, who was born in November 2010. I attended Scoil Ide National School in Limerick and continued to St. Munchin’s College. I was stunned when I arrived in St Patrick’s on the day of my interview to see that the building is almost exactly the same as Munchin’s. Memories came flooding back; from running up stairs after the bell rang to sneak into class, to passing the boarders refectory holding my breath to avoid the awful smell of food that emanated most days! I studied Software Engineering in Limerick Institute of Technology before going out and learning my trade from the ground up, working for American multinationals Dell and Veritas, which was bought out by Symantec in my time there. The buyout meant redundancy and after some travelling I switched to the hotel business, taking over IT at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort where I stayed for over 3 years before a second redundancy and the opportunity arose to work in St. Patrick’s. Away from my work life I’m an avid photographer. I’m currently exhibiting in The Lakeside Hotel and The River Run in Ballina/Killaloe as well as The Cafe Heaven in Newcastle West. I’ve also exhibited in Dublin and Adare in the past and I won RTE’s Winter Photographer of 2008. I’m currently planning a panel

I’m also a big music fan and listen to a wide range of music, from Frank Sinatra to Kraftwerk. And if there were 8 or 9 days in a week I’d fit in more movies, TV and reading.

Mary Mullaney – Library Assistant I started working in the Library at St Patrick’s College in September 2010. As a native of Thurles I always had great admiration for the college. As children we were brought by our parents to the reception halls on ordination day for the first blessing from the newly ordained priests. We also loved the May procession which took place around the beautiful grounds of the college. St. Patrick’s College has always been a part of my life growing up, so I was delighted when Fr Tom offered me the job in the Library. My daughter Emma was a student there for four years and during that time I had been to visit the college on many occasions. I have really enjoyed my first year working in the Library. Ailish, Marina and Marian have been so friendly and helpful, I have made lots of new friends and I look forward to returning to work in September.

Dr. Michael Reynolds Email mreynolds@stpats.ie Phone 0504 21201 Qualifications BA (NUIG) H Dip Ed (TCD) 127

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NEW STAFF H Dip Ed Mgt (NUIM) MSc. Administration (Notre Dame, Indiana) PhD (NUIM) Modules: Teaching Methodology, Modheolaíocht na Gaeilge Interests: Taught at both Primary and Secondary levels; Secondary School Principal; Provided pre-service and in-service training for Boards of Management, Principals, and School Staffs; Lectured in the Education Department, NUI Maynooth I am currently a member of the Schools Support Services for the Edmund Rice Schools Trust.

OTHER STAFF: Willie Stankard Willie Stankard, has been a sterling contributor to the Business Methodologies modules in St. Patricks. Here is his submitted profile: Willie Stankard - Profile B.Comm. H.dip in Ed. N.U.I. Galway Former teacher of Business Subjects at Second Level. Education interests lies in the future direction of Business Studies at Second level. Hobbies: I enjoy all sports having a keen interest in GAA I enjoy reading with a special interest in economic and sport related titles.

Mary Shanahan Mary Shanahan is not new to the college, but her role in the college as part of the delivery of Education and Religious Department modules is to increase significantly next year. Here is her current staff profile. Name: Mary Shanahan E-mail: mshanahan@stpats.ie Outside of her lecturing role at St Patrick’s College, Thurles, Mary has also taught philosophy and religious education at a number of institutions 128

including: University College Dublin; National University of Ireland, Maynooth; Hibernia College; and Oscail (Dublin City University). Mary is currently a Teaching Fellow (Philosophy) at St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, and she also holds a halftime assistant lectureship in Education at Mater Dei Institute of Education. Qualifications: First Class Honours B. Rel. Ed. (Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin City University) First Class Honours M.A. in Philosophy (UCD). Mary is currently in the latter stages of completing her PhD in philosophy (‘The Wisdom of Love at the Service of Love: Mediated Transcendence in Plato and Levinas’) at UCD under the supervision of Dr. Timothy Mooney. Awards and Scholarships: UCD Open Postgraduate Scholarship (2005) UCD MacIntyre Scholarship (2009) Teaching: Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion; Communicating the Faith. Research Interests: Ancient Greek philosophy (especially Plato); phenomenology (especially Emmanuel Levinas); existentialism; moral philosophy; feminist philosophy; philosophy of education; literary theory (especially feminist and post-colonial literary theory); and religious education. Select Publications: Articles: Forthcoming June 2011: ‘Towards a Christian Understanding of Mental Health’, Intercom. ‘Responsible Reciprocity: Ethical Friendship in Plato and Levinas’. Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, No. 10, (February 2010). ‘Sartre’s Humanist Existentialism: Existentialism and Humanism’, Teaching Religious Education, No. 2, (May 2008) ‘The Love of Wisdom and the Wisdom of Love’, Religion, Education and the Arts (R.E.A.), No. 5, (September 2005) Book Reviews: ‘Review of Mary P. Nichols’ Socrates on

Friendship and Community: Reflections on Plato’s Symposium, Phaedrus and Lysis’, The Classical Review, Volume 61, Issue 2 (May 2011) ‘Review of Phil Huston’s Martin Buber’s Journey to Presence’, Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, No. 10 (February 2010). ‘Review of Patrick Masterson’s The Sense of Creation: Experience and the God Beyond’, Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, No. 10 (February 2010)

Chapters in Books: ‘Establishing an Ethical Community: Taylor and the Christian Self’, in Ian Leask, Eoin Cassidy, Alan Kearns, Fainche Ryan and Mary Shanahan, (eds.), The Taylor Effect: Responding to a Secular Age, (London: Cambridge Scholars Press, 2010). Edited Books: Ian Leask, Eoin Cassidy, Alan Kearns, Fainche Ryan and Mary Shanahan, (eds.), The Taylor Effect: Responding to a Secular Age, (London: Cambridge Scholars Press, 2010). Conference Presentations: Title: ‘Desiring Education: Friendship Love in Plato’s Phaedrus’. Conference: Dublin School of Philosophy Symposium on Plato’s Phaedrus, University College Dublin (October 2010). Title: ‘Seeing the Site of Infinity: Plato and Levinas on Envisioning the Transcendent’. Conference: TCD & UCD Graduate Work in progress Conference, Trinity College Dublin (April 2010) Title: ‘Establishing an Ethical Community: Taylor and the Christian Self’. Conference: International Conference: ‘A Secular Age’: Tracing the Contours of Religion and Belief, Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin (June 2009) Title: ‘To See or Not to See: Eyes, Seeing and Souls in Plato’s Philosophy’. Conference: Aspects of Vision, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick (July 2008). Title: ‘Title: ‘Divinely Strange Embodiment: Mediation and the Transcendent in Plato and Levinas’. Conference: International Conference Perspectives on the Body and Embodiment,

University College Dublin (June 2007). Title: ‘The Tracing of the Ethical Face in Levinas’ Philosophy of Alterity’. Conference: Mary Immaculate College Theology Graduate Research Conference, St. Patrick’s College, Thurles (March 2007). Title: ‘Being and Non-Being in Plato’s Sophist and Jean-Paul Sartre’s Being and Nothingness’. Conference: National Irish Postgraduate Conference, Trinity College, Dublin (June 2005).

Professional Activities: Member of the Council for Justice and Peace (formerly the ICJSA) Member of the Irish Philosophical Society and, from June 2011, Committee Member. Member of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Member of the British Society for Phenomenology Member of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain

Work Experience My name is Chanel… I am a French student from a vocational school in Montluçon. I study secretarial work. During my course I was very lucky to spend four weeks at Saint Patrick’s College in Thurles as a trainee secretary. I worked at the Reception with Marian Gleeson and I loved every minute of it. I undertook numerous tasks in the office and, consequently, I met on a daily basis many students, teachers and other staff. At the beginning of my placement, I found it difficult to understand spoken English, because I thought that for me people spoke very fast and I was not used to their accent. After some time, I enjoyed chatting with everyone. I loved my stay in Thurles because the people were very friendly and welcoming. I think that the French are more reserved. This experience has been stimulating and interesting because I discovered a new culture. I liked the Irish way of life very much and I would like to return to spend more time there.I would like to thank Fr Tom Fogarty and Marian Gleeson for their hospitality and their kindness during my whole stay. 129

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CATHERINE MCCORMACK – DIRECTING THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE Getting involved in community and voluntary groups I am writing this piece to encourage graduating students to get involved in the community where you live and work. The hours of participation, pleasure and hard work add a rich dimension to the life of the newlyqualified teacher. You will be amazed at the energy you generate in yourselves when you leave the comfort of the living room after a challenging day in the classroom to share your The cast making a presentation to Catherine Mc Cormack (centre) on the last night. time and talents with others. I began by joining the local drama group! who played the beauty queen in February was a past pupil of mine from twenty two-years ago and starred Directing ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ was an in many school productions that I directed back then. unforgettable experience. I have directed many plays over the past twenty years but my most recent venture (which opened in The Source Arts Centre in Feb of this year) ranks as probably the second most memorable. The most memorable was many years ago. I arrived back in Thurles after my four years spent studying Religion and English in the Mater Dei Institute in Dublin having secured my first teaching post in the vocational school here. I was an enthuastic young catechist and loved extra-curricular involvement with the pupils - I directed about ten plays in those first dozen years taking rehearsals after school and on weekends mostly. We competed in the North Tipperary Schools Drama Festival and on many occasions the pupils went home with acting awards. It linked me irrevocably at a different level with dozens of young eager pupils – some of whom I count among my friends today. In fact the woman 130

I never imagined then that I would ascend the directorial ranks in the town’s eminent thespian group but after serving my time back stage, side of stage and yes, even front of house, I eventually agreed one September to fill the shoes of the group’s director when no one else was available. The year was 1995 and the play was the relatively new and hugely popular Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel. I sometimes look back at my naivety (or was it stupidity?) in taking on such a marvellous piece of work. I stumbled through casting and rehearsals and opened my directorial debut after twelve weeks of rehearsal on the stage in Scoil Ailbhe in Thurles. The result was a great team effort - actors; set designers; set builders; sound designers; operatives; props people; make up artists; costume designers and promptors all played their part and the result was truly magic – the play ran for the six nights of our usual run. We then toured it in the

Spring season around the country to the many drama festivals from Claremorris to Castleisland and West Cork to Rathangan and many venues in between. The ultimate prize in amateur circles is a coveted place in the All Ireland Drama Finals in the Dean Crowe in Athlone. We made it! It was now May 1996 and I was expecting a baby as were four of the cast members – the play is about fertility after all – we didn’t win first place but we had a hugely enjoyable experience along the way and gained many useful tips while on the festival circuit where professional adjudicators give constructive (and occasionally destructive) criticism. Over the last fifteen years I have directed many different styles of plays and enjoyed each one but The Beauty Queen of Leenane was a very special experience. It is difficult to say why exactly but firstly I suppose it came out of the blue as I hadn’t been active in the group for over three years. Then, literally overnight, I not only offered to direct when I heard the group was stuck but choose Beauty Queen off the top of my head not knowing what group members may read for a part or what support I would have for this undertaking. I took a leap of faith and never regretted it....well almost never. I was dismayed when only four people turned up for casting and they were all female!! I needed two males and had no male readers. Abandoning the whole idea at this stage was an option but I was determined to make it happen and I went in search of a cast. I got a dream cast together and began rehearsals in November. The cast was superb, going above the call of duty in meeting up to learn lines and scenes outside of scheduled rehearsals. Their dedication was second to none.

the sympathy of the audience ossicilates between sympathy for the mother or for the daughter as both are trapped in pathetic, frustrating lives. Comic relief is abundant in the character of a young local neighbour Ray Dooley, who passes messages from his brother to the play’s central character Maureen, a woman in her forties longing to escape this arid, rural backwater. Pato is the play’s love interest and the jury is out as to whether he has a lucky escape or is ultimately responsible for wreaking havoc in the Folan household. My involvement in this play began in November and occupied my free time from then until the end of February when it opened. Opening night was a huge success as all the tickets were pre-sold to raise money for the Order of Malta to acquire a new ambulance. The local Lions Club was also involved in support of the fundraiser and there was a great buzz at the preshow reception. The highlight for me was the presence of my fellow staff and students from St. Pat’s, my family and so many friends there to support the group and me. My butterflies were going beserk by the time the curtain opened and then I could relax because the most dedicated cast and crew in the world were now taking over and I was redundant. This is really what community is all about – giving any free time and any God given talent you have to make a difference in the lives of others. The ambulance has since been purchased due to the many efforts of local groups and it is great to feel part of that achievement.

We had great fun which is the main thing in any voluntary activity - we laughed every single night at rehearsals and never had a cross word throughout. The play is dark, full of sadness and tragedy and the bleakest of comedy. The universal themes of loneliness, isolation, emigration, cultural impoverishment and brutality towards others make this play relevant for every age and nationality. It is thought-provoking and highly entertaining and 131

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STAFF BOOK CLUB I am a big fan of book clubs. For a librarian this probably isn’t too surprising a revelation. However it wasn’t always the case. Before joining one, I was a bit of a book club snob and thought they’d be cheesy – too much like those on Oprah or Richard & Judy. I was happy for reading to remain a fundamentally private experience. However, once a friend twisted my arm and I joined a book club, I realised that they had so much to offer. In my last workplace - a secondary school in a disadvantaged area - I started a really successful staff book club. Talking (and arguing!) about books was so much more interesting than moaning about the recession or the traffic. Therefore, I had it in mind to see if the staff of St. Patrick’s College would be interested in joining one and I was delighted with the positive response I got from them. We are very lucky in this college to have great, enthusiastic readers on the staff. Our first read was Ian McEwan’s On Chesil Beach. The public library has a great ‘book club in a bag’ scheme whereby you can borrow six copies of the same title for a book club and this is where we got the copies of On Chesil Beach. Meeting up to discuss this heart-breaking book brought up lots of different ideas and opinions about the characters and this, for me, is the most interesting part of such clubs. You get to know people really well by hearing their distinct take on a book – what they think of certain characters or circumstances, how they judge a situation and so on.

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SECTION E: MISCELLANEOUS Something about Mary? Every year is a Marian Year in St. Patrick’s College, with an extraordinarily high proportion of Marys (and derivations of Mary) on the college’s Staff! Here is the current list (though by the time you read this, there will probably be another one!):

Reception: Marian Gleeson

Library: Marian Butler Marina Maher Mary Mullaney

Religious Studies Department: Marie Russell Mary McCaughey Mary Shanahan Sr. Mary T. O’Brien

Education Department: Máire Ní Riordáin Mary Roche Marie Gorham Mary Teresa McCormack Maria Duffy

Business Studies Department: Maria Ryan

IN CONCLUSION I hope you have enjoyed this (first ever e-book) edition of LUCEAT. Feedback regarding content and suggestions for LUCEAT 2012 is always welcome at office@stpats.ie or slynch@stpats.ie. 2011/12 will be a special year for St. Patrick’s College, as the accreditation process kicks in. We will wait with baited breath to see if the hurlers can repeat their magnificent exploits on the pitch, while it will also be a special year for the Alumni of 1962, 1972 and 1987. LUCEAT 2012 will aim to document the events of the coming year, representing the diverse fellowship of Alumni, students and staff that makes up the St. Patrick’s College community. The next publication will also contain significant content relating to the college’s rich and fascinating past – both as a building and a seminary. We welcome all correspondence from you during the year that will help LUCEAT 2012 to achieve these twin aims. And once again, we thank you for reading and contributing to yet another special year in St. Patrick’s College.

Yours faithfully, Seamus Lynch and Ailish Larkin Co-Editors

Another great thing about book clubs is that you read things that you wouldn’t otherwise necessarily read. People, with very different tastes to yours, suggest titles that they’ve enjoyed and often it can introduce you to a whole new genre or a new author that you find you love. We also read The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson and this is a perfect example of a book that is so much better once it has been discussed. Some books are just like that – they demand discussion. I was lukewarm about The Finkler Question until the staff had a great discussion about it. I walked away thinking it was fantastic and delighted with all of the chat it had provoked. After such a lovely start to the staff book club, I look forward to lots more discussions (and debates!) about interesting books with the staff of St. Patrick’s College. 132

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Year THREE

Top Row: Second Row: Third Row: Bottom Row:

Catherine Hennessy, Caherine Hoban, Christine O’Brien, Claire Hally, Dean Grannell, Emma O’Dwyer, Grainne Clifford, Ian Walsh, Victoria Ryan, Yvonne Meade Josephine Maguire, John Murphy, Justin Dermody, Kelly Dunford, Laura Connery, Liam Maher, Louise Ryan, Maria McMahon, Tara Ryan, Tony Greene, Marie Flanagan, Mark Kavanagh, Mary Stenson, Meave O’Donnell, Michelle Barron, Michelle Burke, Miriam Kelly, Natasha Cullen, Sinead O’Donovan, Siobhan Mortimer Pamela Dowling, Pierce Dargan, Rachel Coady, Rebecca Donoghue, Robin Murray, Sharon Feeney, Sinead Brennan, Sinead Gorman

Year FOUR

Top Row: Second Row: Third Row: Fourth Row: Bottom Row:

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Aidan O’Neill, Allan Henry, Amanda Butler, Brian Fogarty, Brid Cullinane, Cara Sutcliffe, Caroline O’Brien, Christina Finnegan, Sophia Reynolds, Stephanie Buckley Claire Dunlop, Claire Rahill, Claire Vaughan, Declan Byrne, Densie Moore, Diarmuid McMahon, Edel Newell, Edward Dudley, Sharon Kelly, Shirley Kirwan Elizabeth Sheridan, Emma Lynch, Gerard Murphy, Harriet Bolster, Hazel O’Connor, Ian Hennessy, James Maloughney, Jonathan Crean, Sarissa Denmead, Shane Prendergast Kelly O’Shea, Laura Ryan, Laura Watchorn, Lee-Anne Furlong, Linda Fanning, Lisa Kavanagh, Lorna Middleton, Louise Tynan, Niamh Kennedy, Rochelle O’Sullivan Lynda McNamara, Lynda O’Donovan, Martina O’Neill, Mary Byrne, Melissa Kenny, Michael Lawlor

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