News
Page 2002.
Email - stpatscavan@eircom.net
| Rannafast Champions | 26 Oct 02 |
| College Choir on Lyric FM | 21 Dec 02 |
| Sudanese Student wins Rannafast Medal | 16 Nov 02 |
| Highest TG Result in Ireland | 8 Nov 02 |
| Past Student Appointed Judge | 9 Sept 02 |
| Past Student Ordained | 2 July 02 |
| TV Crew visits College | 27 Apr 02 |
| Past Student Honoured | 27 Apr 02 |
| New Ambassador Visits the College | 8 March 02 |
Mr
Cormac Dunne, a past student of the College, was recently appointed a judge
to the District Court.
Mr Dunne, pictured right, sat his Leaving Cert examination in 1972. He studied law and in recent years he had built up a large and successful solicitor business in Cavan town. Mr Dunne is also President of the Past Pupils Union. He is a brother of Mr Raymond Dunne, Careers Officer in St Patrick's College.
Judge Dunne was sworn in at a special ceremony at the Four Courts in Dublin in August last.
We, the staff and students of St Patrick's College, offer our congratulations and our best wishes to Judge Dunne as he takes up his new office.
The victorious Rannafast team celebrates after the match.
Included in the photo are Ray Cullivan, team coach, and his assistants Fr
Gilhooly and JJ Reilly.
On Saturday 26th October 2002 the Rannafast team won the final of the competition with a fine victory over St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon. This is the first time that a College team has won a major Colleges Football competition since 1978/79.
This St Pat's side had already defeated Abbey CBS and St Coleman's Newry on their way to the final. The game began quite well for the Cavan team. They quickly settled down and took control of the game. By half time they had established a two point lead but, they were unlucky not to have scored at least one of two excellent goal opportunities. The half time score: Cavan 0 - 6, Dungannon 0 - 4.
The second half opened well for St Patrick's when they widened the gap by another two points. However, Dungannon rallied strongly and gradually picked off their points. With five minutes to go they had pulled level with the Cavan lads and a minute later took the lead. Cavan replied with a further point to bring the score to 9 points all at the full-time whistle.
Two ten-minute periods of extra time were played. During the first of the extra periods a member of the Dungannon team was sent off for a harsh tackle on Ali Pickett. Ali, however, pointed the resulting free and Cavan had the single point advantage at the end of the period. Dungannon drew level early in the second period. But the Cavan lads refused to give in. Though many of them were suffering the effects of tiredness and cramps, they fought their way back, scoring another point before the final whistle blew. St Patrick's College, Cavan 0 -11, St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon, 0 - 10.
This was a tough and hard encounter but, once again, all members of the team showed great commitment and great heart. In his speech after being presented with the cup, John O'Reilly commended the team for their dedication and hard work. He paid a special word of tribute to team coach, Ray Cullivan. He also thanked other members of the College Staff for their help and support; JJ Reilly, Fr Gilhooly and Mary Reilly. The Dungannon coach told the Cavan team that they had defeated the two favourites for the competition and that they fully deserved the honour of bringing the Rannafast Cup back to Cavan.
We warmly congratulate each and every member of the team and, of course, team coach Ray Cullivan.
On Thursday morning, 19th December, a recording of the College Choir singing Christmas carols was broadcast on Lyric FM, the national classical music radio station.
The recording was made in the College Chapel on Wednesday of the previous week.
Choirmaster, Mr Ciaran Tackney, also gave a live interview for the programme.
Christmas Carol Concert
On Friday, 13th December, the College choir also participated in a Christmas
Carol Concert in the Cathedral of Sts Patrick and Felim, Cavan. The
choir was joined by the Cathedral Choir, Loreto College Choir and the Cavan
Singers. The occasion provided a feast of Christmas music performed
to a very high standard and thoroughly enjoyed by the huge audience.
Among the soloists were 1st Year student Declan King (Once in Royal David's
City) and 6th Year student Cian Brady (Amid the Winter's Snow)
The concert was in aid of Cavan Cancer Unit
Brendan
Rehill, a Fourth Year student, obtained the highest mark in the country
in Technical Graphics in the Junior Certificate examination of 2002.
As a result of this marvelous achievement Brendan was presented with a special award at the Annual Conference of the TechnoTeacher Association in Letterkenny on 22nd November. The TechnoTeacher Association represents teachers in the area of design, graphics, materials technology etc. The presentation was made by the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Pat "The Cope" Gallagher. Our picture shows Brendan receiving his award from the Minister of State.
Brendan, a native of Crosskeys, is a son of Eileen and Tom Rehill.
We congratulate Brendan on his success and we extend our congratulations to his TG teacher, Mr Eddie Duffy, and to his family.
Khalid
Hussain, a Sudanese student, is the first non-national to win a Rannafast
medal representing St Patrick's College.
Khalid, whose parents are Sudanese, was born in Saudi Arabia and came to Ireland when he was four yours of age. He took up Gaelic football while in primary school in Drogheda and played underage football for the local Wolfe Tones team. Later, when his family moved to Wexford, he played with his primary school team. He admits that he even tried his hand at hurling during PE classes.
Four years ago Khalid came to Cavan and enrolled in St Patrick's College. He took up the Gaelic football again and played on the college Broc team. This year he played a leading role on the victorious Rannafast team, playing solidly on the half-back line.
Khalid is also a keen soccer player. While in Wexford he was a member of his local club and won an U-13 schoolboys league medal. He also plays on the St Patrick's College soccer team.
Mr Frank Cogan, the recently appointed Irish Ambassador to Italy, made a special visit to St Patrick's College on Friday, 8th March. Mr Cogan, a past student of St Patrick's College, was accompanied by his wife Pauline.
A native of Carnaross, Co Meath, Mr Cogan was a boarding student from 1959 until 1964.
During
his visit Mr Cogan addressed the students, explaining to them the role of
an ambassador and giving them the opportunity to ask questions. He
also spoke to them about his student days in the College and was full of
praise for the education that he received in St Patrick's. The students
gave him and his wife a warm and enthusiastic welcome. Head Prefect,
Donal Thomas, on behalf of the students, made a presentation to the new
ambassador.
Later, Mr Cogan and his wife Pauline, were guests of honour at a special reception in the Library. Attending this function was a large group of his classmates from the Class of 1964 as well as a number of teachers who were in the college at that time. In welcoming Mr Cogan, Fr Alwill congratulated him on his appointment to the unique and prestigious post of Irish Ambassador to Italy. Fr Alwill said that all associated with the College will take some pride from the fact that a son of St Patrick's has achieved such a distinguished position. He wished Mr and Mrs Cogan every happiness and every blessing during their time in Rome.
In reply, Mr Cogan expressed his delight that so many of his classmates were able to attend the reception. He again recalled his student days and paid a special tribute to the College and to all the teachers who taught him. He also spoke of some of his experiences in the diplomatic corps to date, especially during his ambassadorship to Iran where we was involved in negotiations for the release of Lebanon hostage, Brian Keenan. He said that he was delighted to avail of the opportunity to return his alma mater, to speak to the students and to meet up again with all his friends.
Among the former teachers who returned for the occasion were former bishop Most Rev Francis McKiernan, Fr Jim Carroll, Fr Gus Leaden, Fr Felim McGovern, Fr Benny Maguire, Mr Tommy McTiernan, Fr Colm Hurley and Mr Jim McDonnell.
Darragh
Connolly, a past student of the College, was ordained to the priesthood
on Sunday 23rd June.
Darragh, who did his Leaving Cert in 1995, was ordained for the Diocese of Kilmore by Bishop Leo O'Reilly. Pictured to the left we see Fr Darragh with Canon Jim Carroll, the retired parish priests of Killeshandra and a former member of the College staff from 1946 until 1974.
A native of Killeshandra, Darragh was ordained in his local church, St Bridget's Church, Killeshandra. He is the son of Brian and Mary Connolly of Aughnacor, Killeshandra. His two younger brothers are currently students on the College.
On Sunday 9th June Loughlainn Carolan was ordained in Knockbride. Loughlainn was a student in St Aiden's Comprehensive School in Cootehill. During the months of September and October (2001) he, as a deacon, worked in St Patrick's College, teaching and assisting the College Chaplain, Fr Gilhooly. Pictured right we see Fr Darragh, Bishop O'Reilly and Fr Loughlainn.
The staff and students of St Patrick's congratulate Frs Connolly and Carolan on their ordinations and wish them every blessing and every happiness in their ministries.
A television crew from RTE's Nationwide programme recently visited the College.
The
Nationwide producer, Tom Kelly, had heard about the changes going
on in the College was interested in making a programme on them. The
programme will look at the history of the College, first as a major seminary,
then as a minor seminary, and now as a Catholic secondary school.
He is interested in how, at a time when the number of priests teaching in
the college has been greatly reduced, the school is still managing to maintain
its Catholic ethos and how it is adjusting to the new educational demands
of the 21st century.
The crew spent the full day in the college. Among those interviewed were Fr Alwill, Ms Karen Gornall (Religion teacher) and Kevin Donohoe (Leaving Cert Student). The crew also visited Armagh to record and interview with Archbishop Sean Brady, himself a past student and a former teacher.
Later Michael Ryan, presenter of Nationwide, (pictured here with Fr Alwill) visited the College to film an introduction for the piece.
The item was broadcast on the Nationwide program on 13th May on RTE 1.
Mr
P J Rudden, a past student of St Patrick's, was recently awarded the inaugural
UCD EGA "Distinguished Graduate" Award.
P J, originally from Laragh, was a boarding student of the College from 1966 until 1971. He is currently a Director of MC O'Sullivan & Co Ltd, the largest Irish firm of consulting engineers. P J has led the team that devised five of the seven Regional Waste Management Plans for the various regions of the country. He currently advises 25 local authorities on the implementation of waste management plans. He is also consultant for E 380 million gas pipeline from Dublin to Galway.
P J won the award for his leading role in the development and implementation of waste management strategies.
We extend our warmest congratulations to P J.