Whole School Assembly, October 2022

Our Whole School Community gathered in Des Places Hall, our Sports Hall, as we celebrated the excellent start to the new school year and the Feast Day of Claude Poullart des Place, co-founder of the Spiritan Congregation.

Fr. Cormac O’Brolchain, C.S.Sp. reminded the boys of the importance of prayer, of being open to God our father who loves us all. He led two minutes silence, mindfulness.

Chairman of the Student Council, Jonathan Hoffman led the community in the College prayer and the 6th Year House Captains – Louis McDermott and Sam O’Donovan (De Valera), Jack McGlone and Harry Whelan (Duff), Jonathon Hoffman and James O’Sullivan (Ebernecht), Louis Dignam and Philippe Le Roux (Leman), Ethan Leon-Ryan and Jamie Rogan (McQuaid), David Doyle and Charles Quinn (Shanahan), were commissioned.

The Libermann Cup, the award for the Best Overall House for 2022/23 was presented to Jack and Harry, the Captains of Duff House. Frazer McGinn and Jack McGlone shared with us their experiences on Retreat and in Lourdes respectively. Both talked about connection, community, and the joy of shared experiences.

This is a very special occasion. It is a statement of community, of commitment, of conviction. The Choir, Orchestra, readers and speakers were magnificent. We congratulate the student body, over 1000 strong, especially 6th Year, on their attention and participation. The observation of the two minute silence was magnificent. Well done. We do not take this for granted.

We thank our Readers Jonathan Hoffman (6th Year) and Aran O’Flaherty (5th Year) and our Servers Theo Claffey, Oscar Dougan, Lorcan Little, Ciaran Patchell and Eli O’Reilly (all 6th Year).

We thank our colleagues, Mr Grumley Traynor, Mr Orrock, Ms O’Kane, Mr Cavanagh, Mr Madden, Ms Crimmins, Mr O’Reilly, Mr Herlihy, Ms Nolan, Ms Markey and our Deans, Fintan O’Connor, Tommy Moore and our Maintenance and Household teams; the members of the community and my colleagues in attendance, all of whom make it possible.