Brilliant Pres are U19
All-Ireland Basketball Champions!
Report by Principal Ken Whyte
A very warm welcome to the Spring 2011 issue of the
Pres Gazette. This edition highlights the ongoing
endeavours and many successes of our students,
teachers and mentors over the winter period.
I must begin by thanking our senior rugby team for
their heroic efforts on St Patrick’s Day in the Munster
Senior Cup final against Rockwell College. While
victory was not ours on the day, by their efforts they
exemplified all that is great about Pres rugby. Well
done, and thanks again lads!
Great credit must go to our U19 All-Ireland basketball
champions and their coach Seán Murphy for all their
hard work during the season. Congratulations guys!
Special mention in the Pres Gazette is made of the
retirement of Conor Goggin, Physics teacher, after
many years of dedication to the school. Our very best
wishes go with Conor for a very happy retirement.
In this edition you will find stories and pictures about
Rugby, Rowing, Irish Debating, SHARE and our theatre
production of O’Casey’s ‘The Plough and the Stars’.
We thank all our students who participate in curricular
and extra-curricular activities and by so doing reaffirm
the very special spirit and ethos of ‘PRES’.
Many thanks to the production team of Pres Gazette Brian McMahon, Caleb Sheehan, photographer Adrian
O’Herlihy and graphic designer Charlie Neville.
Ken Whyte
Ken Whyte
Principal
Front cover (l-r): Pres basketball heroes Mark Dalton,
Stephen Maguire and Emmett Keohane.
Joyous Pres welcome home All-Ireland U19 Basketball Champions!
Coming off a poor season in 2009-10, we didn’t have high expectations for the 2010-11 season. However, it
proved to be our best season in Pres basketball history! Our goal at the start was to compete for the Division 2
Cork Cup. But through a great deal of hard training and determination, we managed to go on to be All-Ireland
Champions. It would be a truly memorable season for Pres basketball.
The season started with a seven game unbeaten run but unfortunately, we fell short in the Cork Final against
Crosshaven. In the bigger competition, the All-Ireland Championships, we were most successful. Our road to the
final was a long and tough one, firstly beating Mallow convincingly, then a solid Crosshaven side who had beaten
us in the Cork Final, and St Clonliths who were Dublin Cup finalists. In the final, we were superbly led by captains
Ronan O’Sullivan and Luke Abbott, and played fantastically well beating Coláiste Eoin, who were the favourites
to win the competition at the start of the year. We played very well as a team, but there was some superb individual
performances, particularly from Ronan O’Sullivan who received MVP scoring 28 points, and Stephen Maguire
who put the game out of reach scoring a crucial set of free throws. A huge ‘Thank You’ must go to our magnificent
supporters who helped us greatly. The whole school must have traveled to Dublin for the decider!
We hope to carry this success into next
season as we will be playing in the top
flight of schools’ basketball.
On behalf of the team we would like to
give a special ‘Thank You’ to our great
coach and friend, Seán Murphy, because
without him this memorable season would
certainly not have been possible. We are
indebted to him for all his hard work for
us and his never ending encouragement!
Mark O’Gorman (5th Year)
Back Row (l-r): Art Kelleher, Nathan Kingston,
Ronan O’Sullivan, Dan O’Connor, Luke
Abbott and Darragh Cummins.
Front Row (l-r): Mark Dalton, Michael Healy,
Emmett Keohane, Stephen Maguire, Tim
O’Sullivan and Mark O’Gorman.
All-Ireland Colleges U19 Basketball Champions 2011
Back row (l-r): Darragh Cummins, Tim O’Sullivan, Art Kelleher, Mark O’Gorman and Dan O’Connor,
Front row (l-r): Emmet Keohane, Ronan O’Sullivan, Luke Abbott, Seán Murphy (Coach),
Stephen Maguire and Nathan Kingston.
The Plough and the Stars, directed by Kieran Aherne
The strong cast and crew receives direction from the maestro Kieran Aherne.
‘Everybody’s professionalism is required for this play to succeed!’
Poor ole Mollser!
‘....when I first said I loved only you Nora’
Director Kieran Aherne
Cast and crew can now relax at last after a memorable run!
Fancy a scald?
Cúrsaí Raidió i gColáiste na Toirbhirte
Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste sin an meon atá againn i gColáiste na Toirbhirte. Cúpla seachtain ó shin
tháinig An tUasal Barra Ó Caoimh isteach chun labhairt linn agus agallamh a chrúthu. Oibríonn Barra le Raidio
CUH agus Raidio na hOllscoile. Labhraíomar faoi chursaí Gaeilge sa chlár agus an iarracht a dheanaimid í a
choimead beo. Phléigh muid seachtain na Gaeilge tráth na gceisteanna agus na haoi-chainteoirí a thagann isteach
go rialta. Bhí Barra tóghta lenár ngrá le haghaidh ár dteanga dhuchais. Toisc go raibh sé ag caint leis an bhfoireann
díospóireachta labhraíomar faoi chursaí diospoireachta. Bhain mé fein, Darragh Ó Drisceoil, Seamus Ó Riada agus
Gearóid Beecher an sult as an gComhrá seo le Barra. Mar fhocal scoir ba mhaith liom buíochas a thabhairt don
tUasal Mac Eoin agus Bean Uí Mhurchú don obair dhicheallach a dhéanann said i gconaí.
Liam Ó Foghlú (An 5ú Bliain)
Clár Raidió á taifeadtha sa scoil ag Gaeltaca le Bean Uí Mhurchú, Máistir Mac Eoin agus Barra Ó Caoimh
Séamus Ó Riada, Séamus Ó Cíosóg, Liam Ó Foghlú agus Gary Beecher
A thig ná tit orm
Maidhc Dainnín Ó Sé le dream ón séú bliain agus an Máistir Mhic Eoin. Scéalaíocht, ceol agus craic
Cúrsaí Díospóireachta
Séamus Ó Riada, Máistir Mhic Eoin, Darragh Ó Drisceoil agus Liam Ó Foghlú
Is mise Gearóid agus táim féin mar bhall den bhfoireann díospóireacht ghaeilge shinsearach na scoile le Darragh
Ó’Drisceoil, Liam Ó Foghlú agus Seamus Ó Riada.
Tar éis ár n-obair chrua go léir agus an chabhair den chéad scoth a bhfuaireamar ón tUasal Mac Eoin táimid tar
éis áit a bhuacaint sa Díospóireacht Chraobh na hÉireann Gael Linn 2011, a bheidh ar siúl sa ‘Heritage Hotel’ i
bPortlaoise ar an 31ú Márta seo chugainn
Bhí an chéad bhabhta den chomórtas díospóireachta ar siúl i Mainistir Fhear Maí agus an rún a bhí idir láimha
againn ná ‘Ba cheart dúinn fáiltiú roimh chuairt ó Bhanríon Shasana go hÉirinn’. Bhíomar féin agus Pobalcholáiste
Cholmáin, Mainistir na Corann i gcoinne an rúin agus bhí Coláiste an Chroí Naofa, Carraig na bhFear agus Coláiste
Regina Mundi, Corcaigh i bhfábhar an rúin seo. Tháinig muidne sa chéad áit agus Carraig na bhFear sa dara áit
agus chuaigh an bheirt againn ar aghaidh go dtí Maigh Chromtha don chéad bhabhta eile.
An rún a bhí ós ár gcomhair an babhta seo ná ‘Is aoibhinn beatha an phinsineara’ agus bhíomar glan i bhfábhar
an rúin seo! Bhí an bua arís againn sa díospóireacht seo agus arís eile ní raibh Carraig na bhFear ró-fhada inár
ndiaidh ag teacht sa dara áit.
Is ansin a chuamar ar aghaidh go dtí An Chraobh Réigiúnach a bhí ar siúl i Luimneach, ina raibh na scoileanna go
léir ó dheisceart na tíre páirteach. Bhí díospóireacht den chéad scoth againn go léir leis an rún a bhí á phlé againn;
‘Tá na rudaí is luachmhaire sa saol seo saor in aisce!’ Bhíomar féin agus Meánscoil Naomh Iosaif, Mainistir na Féile,
Luimneach i bhfábhar agus bhí Meánscoil Chnoc na Labhras, Luimneach, i gcoinne an rúin. Bhí an caighdeán
díospóireachta thar barr sa bhabhta seo, ach fós, bhí an t-ádh dearg linn go raibh an bua againn arís! Anuas air
sin, ní théann ach foireann scoile amháin ar aghaidh agus mar sin, ar aghaidh linn inár n-aonar, Coláiste na
Toirbhirte, go dtí Craobh na hÉireann!
Gearóid Beecher
Rugby in Pres is in safe hands!
It has been another great year in PBC for rugby. There have been a record number of students involved in playing
rugby in the school this year: over 100 1st Years; over 70 U15s; over 60 Junior players; over 40 Bowen Shield
players and over 60 Senior players! Not to mention the past pupils involved in coaching the teams.
First Years have had very successful year and you can rest assured that the future of rugby in Pres is in great
hands. Our U15 sides showed great promise and were very unlucky in the Thomas McCarthy Cup. Our Juniors
fought bravely and were very unlucky in the quarter final against competition favourites Crescent Comprehensive.
Our Bowen Shield side reached the Semi-Final of the competition but were pipped at the post by Rockwell who
went on to win outright. We congratulate our friends in Rockwell on their great win.
Our Seniors have had another great year. The Barry Cup squad won the Barry Cup in a mighty showdown with
Munchins College in Limerick, making it back to back wins for the college. Team captain Tim Clifford offered a
special word of thanks to coaches Enda Ronan, Darren Sexton, Peter Scott, Marian Carey and Paul Barr. The
Senior team has reached the Avonmore Senior Cup Final, beating Glenstal Abbey School, Saint Munchins and
Crescent Comprehensive along the way. They face Rockwell in the final on St Patricks’ Day in Musgrave Park.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the coaches at all levels for their time, effort and commitment. I
would like to wish the Senior coaches and the team all the best for Final. In addition, I would like to thank all those
who support Pres Rugby, especially the students who have come out in great numbers and colour. PBC abú!
Brian MacMathúna
All-Blacks - 1st Year rugby 2010/11
Springboks
Presentation Brothers College Winners of the Barry Cup for the second year in a row!
PBC 17 St Munchin’s College 15
Tries from Colin Buckley, Denis Keohane and Ian Smith. Conversion from team captain Tim Clifford
Back Row (l-r): Fergal Dinneen, Cormac Crowley, Denis Keohane, Colin Buckley, Michael Russell, Rory Prendeville,
Philip O’Leary and Darragh O’Keeffe.
Middle Row (l-r): Caleb Sheehan, Darren Sexton, Marian Carey, Robert Cuppage, David Hartnett, Michael O’Leary,
Ian Silke, Darragh Williamson, Mark O’Mahony, David Evans, Llyod O’Brien, Ian Smith, Peter Scott and Enda Ronan.
Front Row (l-r): Daniel O’Sullivan, Eoin Ó Riain, Dearan O’Flynn, Steven Randles, Tim Clifford (Captain), Kieran Farmer,
Hugh O’Halloran, Craig O’Driscoll, Josh Barrett and Brian Treacy.
Wallabies - 1st Year rugby 2010/11
Pumas
PBC’s very own Piano Man!
Gary Beecher
Gary Beecher, a 5th Year student in Pres was delighted to
have been recently awarded a place in ‘The William Finlay
Programme for Gifted Young Pianists’ in association with
the Dublin International Piano Competition.
To apply, competitors were required to do an audition,
performing a repertoire of their own choice in the
National Concert Hall last December. This recital was
followed by an interview with a jury of three prestigious
personalities.
The William Finlay Programme is in its inaugural year and
was set up to display the talent, motivation and ability of
Ireland’s outstanding young pianists. The Programme
aims to support and maximise their abilities and their
potential to enter a high level career in music.
Gary has been studying piano in the CIT Cork School of
Music from the age of 7 under the tuition of Susan Áp
and Jan Áp. Throughout the years, Gary has completed
his Grade Exams, being a recipient of scholarships each
year, and the award winner of the highest-placed pianist
2010. He was selected to perform for the Opening
Ceremony of the new CIT Cork School of Music building.
Gary has won numerous competitions in both Feis Maitiú,
Cork and Feis Ceoil, Dublin. He acknowledges the tuition
and support from the CIT Cork School of Music and the
encouragement he has received from Presentation
Brothers College in his musical endeavours. We wish him
every success in the years ahead!
The Spiderman weaves his web!
Congratulations to James Whelton, who won the Intel
award for 'Best Webdesign' at the recent eircom Junior
Spiders for his entry LCTimer.com - a website that
calculated and displayed the countdown (with exact days,
hours, minutes and seconds) to the next Leaving Cert! It
contains useful information, exam material and a CAO
points calculator. James also created a Facebook app and
a Twitter bot that would randomly generate and push out
the countdown to freak out students while on each site.
He first came up with the concept of a Leaving Cert
countdown as a way to freak out friends. Soon after
showing them a very basic version and laughing at their
reaction, more and more people were asking to see it.
Having heard about the eircom Spiders, he decided to
develop it more and enter the competition. Beginning with
rough sketches of the site and its features in the back of his
Irish homework copy, he would scribble down code when
it would randomly come to him in class. He coded the site
in HTML, CSS, JavaScript and JQuery in his spare time.
James, who was the first person in the world to hack the
latest Apple iPod Nano, was among the speakers at the
recent prestigious Dublin Web Summit. He skipped his
pre-Leaving Cert Maths exam to outline to a capacity
audience of more than 500 how he became the first
person to hack the Apple music device the day after
winning it from a radio station. Well done James!
James Whelton
Science lads fly the flag for Pres in Dublin
Science Team: Gordian Barry, Kevin Maxwell and Killian McCarthy
Achieved first place in the Regional Finals and Joint 8th Place Nationally in Trinity College, Dublin
Science Team: David Crowley, Jack Duffy and Ronan McBride
Achieved third place in the Regional finals and Joint 8th Place Nationally in Trinity College, Dublin
SHARE - 40 years on and still going strong!
This year marks the 40th birthday of SHARE (Students Harness the Aid for the Relief of the Elderly.) It’s hard to believe
that it’s now 40 years since five ambitious and caring 5th Year students, from our own very school, founded this great
organisation, together with the help of the late Br Jerome Kelly. SHARE began on Sheares Street with one complex of
houses built by the boys themselves. But now, in 2011, we have eight complexes across the city housing a staggering
167 residents, each with individual houses or apartments.
SHARE relies almost completely on the Christmas Collection each year, run by the SHARE Executive. The Executive
began within our gates all those years ago but has since expanded to include members from almost all Secondary
Schools in the City.
I am delighted to be a part of this year’s Executive which contains 20 of our 5th Years plus 38 4th and 5th Year students
from 19 other schools in Cork. Then of course, there’s Br Stephen, who in my opinion doesn’t receive enough credit
for the work he does for SHARE and the Executive.
On the 16th December at 8.00am, we hit the streets with everything against us! It was officially the coldest collection
on record and as I’m sure you very well remember, it didn’t rise above 0°C on any morning in the nine days with the
warmest afternoon being about 5°C! But we were well wrapped up and the motivators kept the hot chocolate and
tea coming all day long! Then of course the ‘R‘ word didn‘t help either. Nevertheless, we were there in high spirits
and loving every minute of it. I was always told about the support that the people of Cork had for SHARE and
witnessed it a bit when we collected in 4th Year, but this was just something else! I was extremely grateful and even
amazed at times at the generosity and volume of people supporting us during the Collection. One woman even told
me, ‘I’m unemployed a while, but not a hope am I gonna stop supporting SHARE, I put money aside especially for ye!’
That just sums up the spirit of Cork! Kind, light-hearted people who love and support SHARE.
When the counters told us the total amount raised during the collection on Christmas Eve night, each and every one
of us was blown away by the support which we had been given.
I can’t even begin to describe the experience of being on the SHARE Executive. At our very first meeting we were told
by a past member, ‘Get ready because this is gonna be the best year of your lives!’ He was absolutely right! I have
made thirty eight new and extremely close friends that I would never have known if it wasn’t for SHARE.
Finally, on behalf of all the residents and staff, including the entire Executive, I would like to thank each and every person
who supported us, not only this year but over the past 40 years. From my perspective, solely thanks to you, the people
of Cork, there is going to be a long and bright future ahead for SHARE.
Peter Carrigy
Rowing Review
Current Junior Irish Pairs champions Kevin Neville and
John Griffin got the New Year off to a winning start by
winning the newly developed ‘Two Blades Head
Championships of Ireland’ in Limerick at the end of
January. The Pres pair not only beat their nearest
Junior rivals Bann by eight seconds to win their grade,
but put in a magnificent performance to come joint
second overall, beating intermediate and senior crews
in the process! Very well done again lads!
Cork Head-of-the-River
The school had a very successful day out at this timetrial competition held on the Marina. Pres had a clean
sweep of Junior 18 events winning the Eight, Four and
Pair. There were also impressive victories in the Junior
15 Quad and Junior 14 Double events.
Upcoming Events
The school will now travel north to Enniskillen for the
final Head of the winter, before the regatta season gets
underway with the National Schools’ Regatta in April.
The 1st Years are progressing well in training and look
a good bet for the future. Well done to all athletes and
coaches for their hard work and determination.
Fran Keane
Pres rowing squad push themselves
in preparation for Cork Head.
Pres giving it everything during Erne Head-of-the-River!
Pres are supreme in the pool!
PBC Swim team with coaches Pat Daly, Brian Clifford and Brendan McNult, who won the Medley Relay and were
second in the Freestyle Relay in the recent All-Ireland Senior Schools’ Gala in Galway. Well done lads!
PRESLINK Plough On!
Well done to all those 2nd Years who donned their
snow gear to make the Annual Preslink Bag Packing so
successful. Particular thanks go to the parents who
braved the elements to ferry the boys to and from
Dunnes Stores in Bishopstown just before Christmas.
All were delighted that despite the inclement weather
conditions, we managed to raise the grand total of
g4,800.25. This brings our fund raising total for this
year to g14,492.97.
Recently Br Martin, Congregation Leader visited us and
was presented with this cheque by the 4th Year
Preslink Committee. This money will be used to help
develop the Presentation schools in Ghana and Nigeria.
Some upcoming Preslink events...
Annual table quiz for the whole school
Preslink Committee visit to Mount St Joseph
1st Year event….to be decided!
Easter Bag Packing for 4th Years!
Celebration Day!
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Photograph left shows 4th Year Preslink Committee
with Br Martin Kenneally, Br Barry Noel and members
of PBST on their recent visit to Pres.
A fond farewell to Conor Goggin
This year sees the retirement of a Pres stalwart, Conor
Goggin. Conor, a past pupil of CBC (for which his
mother is entirely to blame!) and a science graduate
of UCC, was asked by the late Br Jerome to join the
staff of Pres in 1970 as a teacher of physics, serving
his apprenticeship under the avuncular eye of the late
Bill O’Driscoll and the colourful Larry Murphy.
From early on, it was clear that Conor, softly spoken,
was a man of great ability and possessed a mind
completely free of clutter. This was very evident in his
teaching style which was clear, precise and focused on
the core points. Conor’s notes and board work were
paradigms of logic and rational thinking, and were
undoubtedly a major factor in the brilliant
achievements of his students over the 40 plus years he
was part of the ‘Pres’ family.
Conor also helped forge links between Pres and the
Dept of Education at UCC, helping their postgraduate
students by demonstrating the practical work attached
to the teaching of physics, for those who were
interested in teaching that subject. He also piloted a
scheme of Data Logging which has since become an
option on the Leaving Certificate Physics’ Syllabus.
It is sad to lose someone of Conor’s calibre from the
staff of PBC. He is a man of the highest integrity and
his presence on the Pres staff will be sorely missed. We wish Conor a long, happy, healthy and enjoyable
retirement. He richly deserves it!
Ski Tour - 5th years on the piste in Austria!
The 5th Year Ski Tour to Kitzbühel, Austria was a great experience. It was the best school tour in my time in PBC.
The skiing was fantastic and I really have to say we all came off the slopes absolutely exhausted every evening.
It snowed heavily on the second and third days of our tour. This left the slopes in magnificent condition. There
were two resorts in Kitzbühel, offering us a great variety of experience. A lot of the group had progressed to the
advanced group by the end of the
week and we were covering many
miles in the mountain ranges
every day. We must give a very
special mention to the instructors
at the resort who went out of their
way to help and encourage us.
They were exceptionally friendly
and put us all at our ease.
There was a great bond and
friendship among all of us,
students and teachers. We would
like to give a special note of
thanks to the teaching staff who
were with us for the tour. This trip
will remain forever in my memory
and I would highly recommend
the ski tour to all students.
Emmett Quinlan 5th Year
Down Memory Lane
Presentation Brothers College 1st Year Physics Class, circa 1908
Circle me O God,
Keep hope within and despair without.
Peace within and turmoil without.
Calm within, storms without.
Strength within, upset without.
We ask your blessing, loving God,
In our lives we need your faithful presence.
In our discouragement and tiredness,
give us laughter and support.
In realising our ‘dream’ give us determination.
In our limitations we ask that you accept us
and help us to accept ourselves.
In beauty that is ours help us
to be true to our real selves.
In this spring time, bless us
now in all things good and
beautiful in the work done and
in the plans of the future.
We pray we will always
be full of love and gratitude.
Amen.
Pres Gazette design: Charlie Neville 431 4244
Reflection