College Record 2024

Message from the President

There are moments in every match: the moment a half back surges out to win a puck out, dominating the player he is marking and, in so doing, lifting the entire team; the moment a shot on goal is saved and, with a smart clearance, suddenly the ball is returned to the far end and a point is scored – a 4pt turnaround that changes the face of a game, crushes the opposition spirit or raises your own… Then there are also unseen moments that, even unnoticed by many, they are still memorable and part of story that is that match… the body language of one of our players, or someone on the opposition; a word said between players at the right time to encourage, refocus or drive on…

In the Colleges’ Final this year there was one such unseen moment. The match was an epic battle in which St Raphael’s College had pushed us for every ball and every score – our players responded brilliantly fighting for every small win and a draw at full time was a fitting reflection for both teams. From the stands I was nervous having “endured” the ups and downs of normal time and after the team had re-grouped at the break to start extra-time I noticed Richie Ruth walking from the centre of the pitch to the sideline and, as he did, he looked to the heavens – his gaze rested there for a minute and he exhaled fully. In that very moment I smiled and prayed – not for myself but for the team and its management – “Lord what ever he is asking for please grant it” – not the most altruistic prayer I will admit, I too had skin in the game…

“Lord what ever he is asking for please grant it”. It occurs to me that since the College first opened in 1782 that is the prayer of all who lived and worked here. As a Catholic institute of education, that prides itself in its pursuit of excellence, that is what we ask of the Lord each day for the other… “Lord what every he is asking for please grant it”.

We come here to see young people fulfil their God-given potential; we help them pursue, as our mission states, that potential academically, spiritually, physically and emotionally so that our students, of the school and so many Diocesan initiatives, have here a place where they are encouraged to strive for all that is possible in the relentless pursuit of perfecting their individual gifts and talents. In so doing they bring to life the joy intended by our motto, “Hiems Transiit”, for themselves, for those they love and the community where they will live, serve and lead. Our prayer every day, then, must be for the other – for it is the other we serve, “Lord what ever he is asking for please grant it”. But no more than I had at the Colleges’ Final – we all too have some skin in the game of the achievements of others. When they achieve, we as their school teachers or formators, you as their parents, those of us in management, those who care for the Trust, and Bishop Niall as our Patron, are all rightly proud when we witness the founding intention of this fine institution be realised time and time again.

We continue to pursue the realisation of the new build which will allow us to continue to serve Catholic education to the highest of standards. We have recently received the Disability Access Certs and Fire Certs, a process that took time, and now we are preparing the detailed drawings so that we may return to the Dept for the final ok. As mentioned we won our 25th Colleges’ All-Ireland title following an epic battle that revealed the character of the players we have, each playing for the other, the only way a team can win – their prayer for each other, like mine for them, “Lord what ever he is asking for please grant it”. Not the passive prayer which expects the Lord to provide but an active one in which they were prepared to cooperate.

And, time and time again, this year, as in all those that have gone before, our students here did so much to realise their potential in cross country, swimming, debating, young scientists, football, musicals, variety shows, trad bands and, as is now the norm, so much more…

This year, as this Record documents we see the retirement of Tom Hogan and Bernie Boland. In their years here they have served the prayers and potential of others in the College community with dedication and commitment. We will miss the companionship of these friends and colleagues but, like all who have been part of the family that is the College, they will visit us and still enjoy the achievements of the students of which we are so proud. I thank them, not only for their selfless service to the College students and our proud tradition, but also for the manner in which they raised the bar for us who follow.

As always I work closest with Adrian Finan as School Principal, Ken Maher and Liam Smith as Deputy Principals. I am endlessly amazed at their commitment to realising the prayers of those we journey with. Their leadership, guidance, passion for, and relentless commitment to, everything that is

St Kieran’s is humbling – and I am privileged to walk with them in some small way. They, and their wonderful colleagues on our school staff, do so much to ensure that all in our community reach their full potential, that all here have their prayers answered.

St Kieran’s College remains very much at the heart of the faith community of the Diocese of Ossory. Again this year it was wonderful to see the Diocesan Synodal sessions take place here in the College Chapel wherein we tried to listen to the voice of all in our local Church. I am delighted to see the continued activity of the Diocesan Forum, the Ossory Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator and the Diocesan Faith Development Group, all continuing their work from the College grounds.

This past year saw a collaboration with Notre Dame Australia as the College hosted two wonderful conferences on the future of Catholic Education and the role of Parish Catechists. It was exciting to see so many leaders in these spaces gather here to explore what more we can do to realise the prayers of others though these services. We hope that this is but the beginning of further collaborations with Notre Dame Australia in time to come.

Bishop Niall Coll, our Bishop and School Patron, has a deep love for, and commitment to, all that is education. He has taken the time, this past year, to meet with the Principals of all the Catholic Secondary Schools and he has joined us for St Kieran’s Day and other moments. Importantly he has deeply supported the work we trying to achieve here through the Trustees and his support of the College’s senior management. I thank him and the College Trustees for their support of me in all that we do here.

Most importantly I want to thank the students of this wonderful College. We do ask that your prayers are answered and your dreams fulfilled. We are so very proud of you and all that you achieve. You continually humble us with your ability, resolve and the relentless commitment you bring to your every task here. I thank you all for the manner in which you continually remind us that the true call of Catholic education is hoping that the prayer of another is answered. I honestly pray that each of yours is, in time.

St Kieran’s College is a special place and, as I continually say, it is our people that make it so. Therefore, again, I have a deep debt of gratitude to the students and their Council, the parents and their Association, the School and College staff, my colleagues on the Board of Management, the Trustees, Bishop Niall as our Patron, the Alumni Association and our past pupils and all those who make St Kieran’s College. That your prayers may be answered, and in asking that we each have some skin in the game – hiems transiit.

Rev. Dr Dermot Ryan, President Chairperson, Board of Management