Our deepest sympathies go to the family of the late Mrs. Anne Ryan, who passed away so suddenly last week. Anne was a member of the Parents’ Association and had been instrumental in the initiative to establish an active Ladies’ Group in the college recently. We extend our sympathies especially to her husband, Anthony (OC ’75) and to her two sons Anthony (going into Rhetoric as School Secretary) and Joseph (going into Humanities). May she rest in peace.

The 12th Annual "Duck Push" has begun. The Duck Push involves 32 transition year students from Clongowes Wood College pushing a 10-foot high duck from Dublin to Limerick. The students are involved in every aspect of the organisation of Duck Push. They must organise the allocation of permits for the collections that are held before the actual push itself, and for those collections carried out along the way.

Union Day saw the President of the Union, Mr. Owen Brady (OC ’59) handing over his chain of office to his successor, Mr. Willie O’Grady (OC ‘70). At the Union’s Annual General Meeting, Mr. David Kearney (OC ’70) was also chosen as President Elect and several new additions to the Union Committee were made. The Committee also announced the appointment of two more Union Ambassadors overseas: Toronto resident, Mr. Denis Geary (OC ’66) was appointed as Union Ambassador to Canada, while Sydney-based Mr. Garrett Byrne (OC ’70) took on the mantle of Union Ambassador to Australia.

The Graduation Mass of the Rhetoric Class of 2005 took place on Union Day (Saturday, May 28). At the Mass, the boys of Rhetoric were presented their Union ties by outgoing Union President, Mr. Owen Brady, who also spoke to boys about the purpose and ideals of the Clongowes Union. The graduating class were also addressed by Fr. Bruce Bradley S.J., who delivered a poignant homily.

Fr. Leonard Moloney S.J. said he was “delighted with the response from the floor” when Tim McNamara and Anthony Ryan were announced as the new College Captain and Secretary respectively at the Rhetoric Prize Giving ceremony at the end of Union Day. The Headmaster also commented on the spontaneous words of Ross Giles, winner of the Aloysius Award which “showed that he had a real perspective on what was important in life”.

Old Clongownian, Tom Burke (OC ‘96), will start a ten-day 1,250 mile bike ride to make poverty history on June 22. The 27-year old is still just as determined to complete his ten-day 1,250-mile cycle ride in support of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY, despite colliding with a car during time trials last week. He had a lucky escape with just a few torn ligaments, cuts and bruises despite being knocked out and spending several hours in A&E.

On Saturday, 7 May, the annual Fred Scannell Memorial trophy was contested between the Clongowes Youth Club and Clongowes Wood College. The trophy was decided over two matches with the Youth Club U14s taking on Grammar, and the U16s taking on Humanities.

On April 10, 2005 several members of the 1948 Irish Grand Slam Team visited Clongowes. After attending the School Mass, enjoying lunch with the Community and inspecting Vinny Murray Park, they signed an Ireland jersey (provided by Finlay Dargan, Syntax) and presented it to the Headmaster, Fr. Leonard Moloney S.J.

The Clongowes Pedigree Dairy Farm Float stole the show at Clane’s first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade last March, enthralling viewers and especially children with its well-groomed animals.

The Union of Irish Schools Competition took place recently on 21 April 2005. Again convened by Peter Maughan, the Old Clongownian Team, comprised of John Robinson, Niall O’Keeffe, Joe MacMenamin, and Jimmy Lenehan, were placed a respectable 10th place.

Four Honorary Doctorates were presented at the University of Limerick on Thursday, April 14. Gordon Holmes (OC ’54), Managing Partner and Chairman of Holmes O'Malley Sexton, and former State Solicitor, Entrepreneur John Ryan, Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer of Macrovision, Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament and the philanthropist (late) John Hunt were conferred with honorary doctorates at the University of Limerick.

Following the sad death of Mrs. Anne Ryan, the initial meeting and news of future activities of the Ladies Group will be published in the next edition of the Clongowes Digest. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Anne for initiating the Ladies Group and we shall miss her leadership, her enthusiasm and her dedication enormously.

For information on the Clongowes Ladies Group in the meantime please contact Jenni Barrett at tel: 045 902 336 e-mail: jenni@clongowesfoundation.com.