I welcome the St. Kieran’s College Record 2008. The Record is meant to chronicle all that has happened and is happening in the College since 2007.
The production of this Record owes much to the work and help of others especially members of the Secondary School Staff. However, if you keep in mind that we are in our 225th academic year and that St. Kieran’s has a world-wide spread we need to invite more contributions from all the countries where our past students are work- ing. I believe the time has come to issue an open invitation to our past students who are not lacking in ideas or the ability to make a written contribution. St. Kieran’s has a proud and living tradition and our past students will help us nourish the next publication of the record. In the meantime much thanks to all who have contributed to this edition.
St. Kieran’s College is now home to one thousand registered students between the Secondary School and the Outreach pro- gramme of N.U.I.M. for mature students. In meeting the current needs of the study body and those for the next academic year the College Trustees continue to invest in St. Kieran’s in keeping with our commitment to excellence in education and formation for all those involved. For the financial year ending 31 August 2007 additions to our school buildings cost ¤376,297 and to the College facilities cost 188,795 euro.
Additions to furniture, fittings and equipment cost ¤327,624 and for the College ¤16,638. Creidim, the programme to promote, develop adult religious educa- tion and faith formation in the Diocese of Ossory is also fully funded by the College Trustees. Total expenditure for Creidim was ¤55,494 for the year. It is worth noting that since the new gymnasium/sports complex has opened to our students the College Trustees have contributed ¤3,888,559 to the College Campus development. However we must keep in mind that such financial commitments have gone hand in hand with the hard work, passion and ded- ication of all involved.
Special thanks is due to the Principal, Mr. Curtis, colleagues and staff, to Fr. O’Connor and the chaplaincy team, to the students and their new council, to parents and guardians and their association. I thank also my colleagues on the Board of Management, the College staff, the Trustees, especially the former Bishop of
Ossory Laurence Forristal and our new patron Bishop Seamus Freeman SAC, for their ongoing support and commitment to the mission of St. Kieran’s. It lifts one’s spirit to observe what our ‘Catholic Ethos’ means in practice, in the day to day as lived at our College.
Monsignor Kieron Kennedy President
