[ Academic News ]

Trinity College once again hosted the TY modern languages evening, this time in the Thomas Davies theatre. Ten pupils made presentations, six in French and four in Spanish, to four adjudicators, chaired by Dr Alyn Stacey of the TCD French department. Those who presented were:

Gemma Bewley          Le tour de France

Alina Stiehler              Los gitanos en España

Nicola Dalrymple        Marie Antoinette

Roman Sharykin        El Prado y Goya

Lydia Johnson           Le tournoi de Roland Garros

John Clarke               Mon séjour à Paris

Oyobosa Bello-Asemota   El flemenco

Charlotte Cooper       Les escargots

Nikita Kharitonov       La cocina vasca

Eliza Hancock           Les triplettes de Belleville

The four judges were impressed by the level of proficiency in the languages concerned and also the creativity of some of the presentations. The Dr Alyn Stacey cup was awarded to John Clarke (photographed with Dr Alyn Stacey), with Roman Sharykin and Iyobosa Bello-Asemota coming close behind. A special mention on the night was made of Nikita Kharitonov who showed 'exceptional proficiency' in Spanish.   

Many thanks to Dr Alyn Stacey and her colleagues for hosting a most enjoyable evening and their support of modern languages in the St Columba's. 

[ Performing Arts News ]

There have been some outstanding performances by Columbans in recent days. At the Newpark music festival over the weekend Siobhan Brady came 1st in the u-18 classical singing, Molly Buckingham was highly commended and as a duet they came second. This follows commendable vocal performances by Max Hillery and Gregory Munday earlier in the week. 

Sorcha McCooey, a very promising young dancer with the Irish National Youth Ballet, performed in front of the President, Michael Higgins, in the Civic Theatre in Tallaght last Friday.

And finally, at a more local and more humble level, there was a very enjoyable and amusing evening of language plays in the BSR last Saturday. French, Spanish, Irish, Latin and German featured on the night, where the main theme was 'Little Red Riding Hood'.

[ General News ]

Twelve candidates were presented for confirmation yesterday on Ascension Day, the traditonal day for the service in St Columba's. The former Archbishop of Dublin, the Rt Rev Dr John Neill, officiated at the service which was attended by family and friends.

Those confirmed were:

Max Treacy, Thomas Meijer, Blanaid Sheeran, Charlotte Bennet, Kate Bewley, Sasha Cole, Nicole Dickerson, Nyla Jamieson, Hope Okoki, Saffron Perceval, Josie Pollock, Rachel Sullivan.

[ Academic News ]

The original instigator of the TY academic prize some years ago, Mr John Fanagan, was on hand to adjudicate in the BSR last night. Six pupils from the TY gave their presentations to members of the third and fourth forms, parents and staff. Marked on the content, the delivery and handling of questions from the floor, Mr Fanagan awarded the prize to Alexandra Boyd Crotty for her dealing of the pernicious influence of Barbie on the young, especially girls and their body image . He commented on the variety, excellent delivery and knowledge of all the participants. The pupils and their chosen topics were:

Bethany Shiell -  Manga and Animé

Celine Klee - Blood Diamonds

Alina Stiehler - Alzheimer's Disease

Iyobosa Bello-Asemota - Euthanasia and Assisted suicide

Sofia McConnell - Ivory poaching

Alexandra Boyd Crotty - Barbie

[ General News ]

[ Performing Arts News ]

Mairéad Buicke, accompanied by her husband, Anthony Byrne, were the guest performers at the very successful gala concert held last Saturday. A full BSR thoroughly enjoyed the variety of musical pieces performed on the night which showcased the considerable talent in the College.

The profits from the raffle go towards the Habitat for Humanity trip to Zambia this summer which comprises members of the fourth and fifth form as well as some staff. Many thanks go the organising committee, the donors of prizes to the raffle, and to our generous sponsors of the receptions, Sodexo, who provided the food for the evening, and the Parents' Association, who provided the wines.

[ Academic News ]

Last Monday morning a group from  Form II travelled into St. Stephen's Green to visit the Little Museum of Dublin on  a CSPE excursion. The museum was founded and is curated by Old Columban Trevor White and school groups are most welcome. The museum's collection is made up of artefacts donated by Dubliners which document, decade by decade, the history of our capital city in the 20th century. We were brought around by another O.C., Ben Stafford and we learned why fighting stopped for half an hour every day in the Green during the 1916 rising, we saw the music stand that JFK used when addressing the Dail in '63, we saw gold covered Monster Munches that symbolised the 'celtic tiger' boom and loads more fascinating objects. The Little Museum aims to give Dubliners and visitors the chance to look at the city afresh and to value the shared history of the place - we certainly enjoyed our visit and gained a fresh new view of Dublin.

[ General News ]

Mr Finn writes: On Saturday morning last (20th April) 24 students and 5 staff representing the various choirs in the college travelled to the beautiful Connemara village of Roundstone. The long bus journey of more than three hours was put to good use as extra rehearsal time, with familiar numbers being brushed up and some new material introduced. A delicious lunch was provided at the fantastic White Gables restaurant in Moycullen where OC Jack Dunne, older brother of choir member Molly, waited table most professionally and patiently for the teaching staff. Arriving in Roundstone the group was met by Mr. Sherwood, who had organised the entire weekend, and brought on a refreshing walk along two of Roundstone's picturesque beaches, Gurteen and Dog's Bay. Photos were taken, paddling was done, names were drawn in the sand and Molly Buckingham, still recovering from a nasty leg break, negotiated the sand and the rocks with endless good humour. If some staff slightly lost their bearings it was entirely because of Mr. Sherwood's inadequate directions. Then it was back to the various lodgings around Roundstone to shower and change into concert gear before dinner in Vaughans Hotel. After a quick rehearsal, came the concert in St. Mary's Church in Roundstone, featuring a mixed programme of solo (Siobhan Brady, Molly Buckingham and Zac Stephenson) and choral singing, sacred and secular. Admission to the concert was free, but Mr. Sherwood had organised a collection in aid of Cancer West and the magnificent sum of €1,100 was raised, despite the solo performances of Mr. Finn and Mr. Swift. A brief period of free time, to change and freshen up, came next before a sing-song and ghost-story session was hosted by Richard de Stackpoole at his beautiful Victorian house. The choir then took full advantage of the walk in the dark back into the village to wail like ghosts, howl like werewolves and jump out at each other from behind hedges. Breakfast next morning in Vaughans was followed by a brief bus journey to Clifden to sing the morning service in Christ Church. Another sumptuous lunch was provided at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel before heading back to St. Columba's in time for Sunday Evensong. The only problem with the weekend was that it went by too quickly. Enormous thanks are owed to Mrs. Malone-Brady, Musical Director, and to Mr. Sherwood, (P)resident of Connemara.

The shortlist of six for the Transition Year Academic Prize has been drawn up. The six pupils who will present their thoughts in the BSR on Thursday 2nd May at 8:00pm are:

C Klee (Blood Diamonds), B Shiell (Anime Manga), A Boyd Crotty (Barbie), A Stiehler (Alzheimer's Disease), S McConnell (Elephant Poaching in Kenya), I Bello-Asemota (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide).

Tthe selection process is that IV formers andidates are invited to submit a summary of their thoughts - there were thirteen entries this year. These were examined by staff and the TY team, and the shortlist drawn up.

Each candidate on the shortlist is assigned a member of the TY Team to assist them in the technicalities of their presentation.

The prize was won last year by Rebekka Kehrwald for her piece on Factory Farming and she was presented with the inaugural TY Academic Prize Cup which now bears her name as 2012 winner. The judge this year is again Mr John Fanagan, former Head of English at the College.

[ General News ]

Photographed are (from the left) Mr Ninian Falkiner, Mr John Fanagan and the Warden, Dr Lindsay Haslett, at the anniversary of the granting of a Royal Charter to the College one hundred years ago this month. The Royal Charter has been carefully restored and will be hung in the area of Whitehall. Many thanks go to the Arts committee, under the chairmanship of Ms Tania Banotti, for their invaluable help in its restoration. Below is a piece written for the Old Columban bulletin by John Fanagan.

April 2013 marked one hundred years since the College was granted a Royal Charter by King George V, after some years of planning and discussion. On St Columba's Day 1913, the Charter was hung on the dais for all to see. Warden Balckburn told his audience that the Charter "practically confers the gift of immortality on the College", in that St Columba's, through the Charter, became a corporation with the power to buy, sell and hold property. Before this, the College trustees, who held the property on behalf of the Warden and Fellows, could, at any time have put an end to their trust, closed the school and sold the property. As the editorial in the July edition of the Columban said: "Henceforth such a proceeding is not even an abstract possibility. The Warden and Fellows now form a Corporation (which) must endure and must continue to administer the statutes which are now embodied in the Charter."

[ Performing Arts News ]

Our 11th Gala Concert is on Saturday 27th April. This year the visiting star is the exciting soprano Mairéad Buicke (see more on her at www.maireadbuicke.com) and again the best school musicians and choirs complete the line-up.

Among the pieces that Mairéad will perform are operatic arias by Puccini and Catalani, and more popular songs by Ivor Novello. Pupil performers will includeMolly Buckingham, Zachary Stephenson, Sinead Alari, Phoebe Otway-Norwood, Sofia Tobin, Clara Booth, Gregory Munday, Siobhan Brady and Aidan Chisholm. Choirs will perform 'Sunrise, Sunset' from Fiddler on the Roof and Haydn's 'The Heavens are Telling', among other pieces.

There is a reception beforehand at 7pm in Whitehall, the concert itself starts at 8pm in the BSR and once again there is another reception afterwards in the Cadogan Music Building. Places are €20 each, or €70 for four, and can be booked through the Bursar's office. Profits go to the Habitat for Humanity trip to Zambia at the end of next term.

The winner of the Concert poster competition was Hakon Schug (V form). Click here to see his dramatic winner.

[ Performing Arts News ]

Gwynn won the house singing competition last night on an evening high on entertainment and good humour. The judges had the nigh impossible task of choosing between some very impressive performances but Gwynn (who sang Mumford &Son's I will wait) just pipped Tibradden (who sang One Direction's What makes you beautiful).