Whole School Assembly – Friday, 30th September 2016

The Whole School Community assembled in Des Places Hall, our Sports Hall, as we acknowledged and affirmed the contribution of all members of our school community to the start of the school year.

Our Spiritual Director and Community Leader, Fr. Cormac O’Brolchain, CSSp. presided and reminded the boys that “God loves each one of them unconditionally, that he never gives up on us. We should never give up on ourselves or on one another”. He presented the Libermann Cup, the award for the Best Overall House for 2015/16, to James Kelly and Andrew Murphy (both 6th Year), the Captains of DeValera House. Ross McCann and Robert Sheedy (both 6th Year) held the boys spellbound with their personal and insightful reflections on their Pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Dublin Diocese. Both Ross and Robert were inspirational. A special feature was the presentation of the Leinster Schools’ Cricket Cup to Fr. O’Brolchain by Captain JJ Garth (Transition Year). The final played last June against C.U.S, produced our first Junior Cup win since 1965.

Chairman of the Student Council, James Kelly led the community in our school prayer and the 6th Year House Captains – James and Andrew, Alan Francis and Mark Nealon (Duff), Matthew Barry and Robert Young (Ebenrecht), Bill Madigan and Robert Sheedy (McQuaid), Chris Aylward and Chris Wong (Shanahan) – were commissioned by Fr. O’Brolchain

This was a great Blackrock occasion and I thank the boys, particularly 6th Year for their participation and attention.

I thank my colleagues, Ms O’Connor, Mr Grumley Traynor, Mr Herlihy, Fr.O’Brolchain, Mr Goan, Mr Tom Ryan, Ms McMahon, Mr O’Reilly, Mr Sullivan and the Religious Education Department, Reader Tom Sheeran (6th Year); Servers Rhys Mackey, James Moriarty, Padraig O’Dea and soloist Chris Wong (all 6th Year), the Deans, Mr Cavanagh and the Orchestra, the Choir, Mr Tommy Moore, our Household Department and my colleagues in attendance for making it possible.