Author: Jo Adams

The school Choir was invited to sing at Sunday Mass at St Patrick’s, one of Belfast’s oldest Churches.  Sir John Lavery  painted one of the side chapels, and the Church is renowned for its beauty and fine acoustics. 

The Choir enjoyed a weekend in Belfast packed with fun activities and cultural visits, including a tour of Belfast City Hall, Queen’s University, the Ulster Museum, the Botanical Gardens and Tropical Ravine, a virtual reality gaming experience, and a performance by the Ulster Orchestra at the Waterfront Hall.

The organising committee of the Glenstal Parents’ Ball, which took place at the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, on Saturday 4th March, presented a cheque for over €2000 to the Togo Africa team.

This group of 8 students, who will be accompanied by Fr John O’Callaghan and teacher Thomas Franklin, will travel to Togo in the summer of 2023 with a view to bringing aid and funds to the ‘Complexe Scolaire Athénée St Albert le Grand’ in Togo.

Our sincere thanks to all those who support this educational project and have contributed, a little or a lot, to the funds collected for the African school – every cent of which goes to them!

There will be more fundraising events over the course of the next few months.

Glenstal’s Fr Christopher and Luke Nicholas (class of 2022) feature in  the Irish Times.  The article celebrates the intrinsic value of Latin as a subject, Fr Christopher’s fifty year contribution to teaching at Glenstal, and the outstanding success of Luke Nicholas who achieved the highest mark nationally in Leaving Cert Latin last summer. 

Click here to read the article:  https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2023/04/04/one-of-irelands-last-latin-teachers-has-retired-is-it-the-end-of-the-line-for-a-dead-language/

On 22nd March two Glenstal students along with Fr Luke presented the Glenstal experience of forming a Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) and developing an Energy Master Plan (EMP) at a public meeting to promote SECs hosted by Ballyhoura Development at its headquarters at Coote Hall, Kilmallock, Co Limerick.

It was an opportunity to thank our lead mentor Sean Sweeney who has guided us in the development of an EMP that is focused with clear objectives and pathways for thejourney towards sustainability at Glenstal.

It was also an opportunity to meet with the wider Ballyhoura team with whom we hope to collaborate in the years ahead.

Boys starting secondary school in September 2024 are invited to discover boarding life at Glenstal, sample learning activities with our teachers and experience the school’s rich musical, sporting and cultural life.  This is a fun overnight stay at the school to introduce Fifth Class boys to boarding, along with a group of their peers and potential future classmates.

Click here to register:   https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/taster-weekend-boarding-at-glenstal-tickets-556008886547

One of our St Patrick’s Day celebrations was a concert for the school, in which boys from every year participated. 

We had readings, recitals, poetry, and of course, music.

Our many and varied talented musicians and thespians always enjoy playing and performing together, and the audience of fellow students appreciate their efforts.

On Thursday March 23rd, our first and second year students, supported by Fionn O’Donnell (6th year) and Paul Purcell (3rd year) and teachers Cathal Reid and Michael Penston, along with Fr Anthony and Fr Luke planted 200 trees on the back avenue in just under 2 hours!

The trees included Oak (50), Cherry (30), Crab apple (30), Rowan (50) and Birch (40). This will further develop the hospitable Glenstal habitat for biodiversity.

Our thanks to all the students and staff for their hard work.

Finally, thanks to the Lord who provided 2 hours of fine weather for planting and then abundant rain for the watering afterwards. 

Learn more about life at Glenstal, our upcoming Taster Weekend for Fifth Class boys (15/16 April) and the Admissions process for new First Years starting in September 2024.

You can view this webinar from your computer, tablet or mobile phone. A replay will be available to watch for all those who sign up.

Click here to register:   https://glenstal.webinargeek.com/firstyear2024

We gathered here at Glenstal this Shrove Tuesday morning for the ritual of the Burning of Palms and Petitions.

Palm fronds from last year’s Palm Sunday celebration are burned, accompanied by our prayers of petition; the ash generated will be used in tomorrow’s Ash Wednesday ceremony.

A group of 5th Year students accompanied the Headmaster to the amazingly culturally rich city of Rome.  So much to see in just a few days….. St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, Catacombs, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, the list goes on and on!

They also paid a visit to the Benedictine Monastery in Rome, and Brother Oscar in particular, who is, of course, from Glenstal. 

They also managed to squeeze in time for the ubiquitous Italian specialities of Pizza and Ice Cream!