Clongowes Stories

11th May 2015

‘The Serpentine Speaks’ was conceived by Tom Carroll and co-written with Ms. Jane O’Loughlin and Ms. Ger Dillon. The play, co-directed by Tom, Ger, Jane and GAP Student, Mr. Paddy Sunderland, marked the welcome return of Third Line drama to the Clongowes calendar. This is a cleverly-conceived play that celebrates the history of Clongowes and its most…read article

9th May 2015

This year’s Beckett-Joyce Award ceremony proved to be an historic occasion in more ways than one. Now in its twenty seventh year, the competition and the occasion have become a wonderful shared experience for both Clongowes Wood College and Portora Royal School, Enniskillen. This year’s ceremony, held in the Community Library in Clongowes on Tuesday…read article

7th May 2015

While soccer is something of a Cinderella sport in Clongowes by comparison with its big sisters Senior Rugby and Junior Rugby, it was not always thus and the game, introduced to the school by the newly arrived Tullabeggars in 1886, enjoyed a golden age for some twenty years before it was overtaken by ‘the Rugby…read article

6th May 2015

Higher Line Gold Medal Debate It has been almost one hundred and seventy eight years since Daniel O’Connell established the Clongowes Debating Society, which has grown to become an integral part of a Clongowes education. Debating is now held as a core activity for many of the boys throughout the school, with every student being…read article

5th May 2015

The origins of racing ‘The Triangle’ in Clongowes, while hardly lost in the mists of time, are certainly unclear. It is such an obvious course that it is likely that boys ran and possibly raced it as long as boys have run and raced in Clongowes. As regards the modern event, Fr Bruce Bradley, in…read article

27th April 2015

Following on from a magnificent performance in the National Concert Hall last month (here), a great evening of music and song was had in Connolly’s Pub, Ballagh last Tuesday night (April 28th) when the Clongowes Wood College Traditional Irish Music group played their last session of the year. The group, led by Catherine Heslin, delighted…read article

20th April 2015

Some 200 boys, many joined by their parents, attended the Curragh last Sunday (19th April), when Ireland’s premier racecourse staged a race to celebrate the bicentenary of Ireland’s premier boarding school. The sun shone to make the occasion perfect and many Old Clongownians made their way to Kildare to enjoy the day. A complimentary coach…read article

16th April 2015

‘It’s an amazing opportunity for these guys to play in Donnybrook,’ noted Rob Kearney as the Third Line League final drew to a conclusion on Wednesday. Beside him Fergus McFadden nodded agreement as he pored over the previous recipients of the historic trophy, one of them being this year’s Senior Cup captain, John Molony. Kearney…read article

13th April 2015

Sunday 19th April 2015 Join us for the Clongowes Wood College SJ Bicentenary Race Day at The Curragh Racecourse. A great day is planned at the Co. Kildare venue with the first of 7 races scheduled for 2.15pm and the last race at 5.30pm. Among the races taking place will be the Clongowes Wood College…read article

25th March 2015

From the first tentative arrival of the shades of Fr Peter Kenney and James McLorinan to the last exultant beat of the impish David Dudeney’s drum the National Concert Hall resounded to the music, song and words that helped give a flavour of the cultural legacy bequeathed by the pupils, alumni and staff of Ireland’s…read article