On Friday 11th November, 14 students from Clongowes Wood College, accompanied by Tom Carroll and Fr Conor Harper came to Enniskillen Royal to participate in the Remembrance Day Service.
Clongowes Wood College is a Jesuit Catholic boarding school outside Dublin, that counts, among others, James Joyce as one of its past pupils. In 1979, at the height of the troubles, the Clongowes President Fr Philip Fogarty SJ sought Christian understanding and fellowship and so reached out to form the partnership with Portora Royal School, mainly due to the connection with the recently beatified Fr John Sullivan SJ who was an Old Portoran who taught at Clongowes, following his conversion to Catholicism and ordination. Since then the friendship between the two schools has grown and deepened, affording many opportunities to experience the richness and diversity of cultures between the two schools. This partnership will continue to be developed with the students of Enniskillen Royal Grammar School.
During the service prayers were led by our Head Boy and Girl, the Head Boy from St Michael’s College and the Head prefect from Clongowes Wood College. Then the Head Boy from CWC laid a wreath at the memorial, which was inaugurated last year outside the Steele Hall to commemorate the young men from Clongowes Wood College who gave their lives during the First World War. Wreaths were also laid by our Head Boy and Girl, and Brigadier John Graham OPU President. Mr. Gault from the British Legion.
After the service the CWC students were given a tour of the Lough Shore Site Campus, while the staff were given a tour of the Cooper Crescent Site. Following lunch, the students from Clongowes, accompanied by Enniskillen Royal Grammar students were given an insightful tour of the newly refurbished Castle and Inniskillings Museums by Brigadier John Graham, current OPU President. As we wished the staff and students a safe journey home, Jessica Elliott said ‘It was good to get the chance to interact with students from Clongowes Wood College and build new relationships’.With this spirit in mind there will be further opportunities during the year to continue to develop new friendships and cultural experiences, as well as celebrating the historical heritage of the Loughshore Campus.
Clongowes Residential: 20 students travel to Clongowes Wood with staff and Monseigneur O’Reilly and Dean Hall for Mass Service at Clongowes Wood.
• Overnight stay at Clongowes; evening Debating Competition; experience boarding school life
• Attend morning lessons and depart for home after lunch
Pupils involved last year said; “Meeting lots of new people and immersing yourself in the complete Boarding School experience… perfect for my CV.” Lewis Redmond Y14
“Seeing the pupils’ determination to achieve was extremely motivating, an experience I won’t forget” Usna McEarlane Y14
Joyce – Beckett Award
• Open submission of Creative Writing entries in Spring Term
• Judging by person of literary note (in the past it has been judged by some of Ireland’s outstanding writers, including Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney)
• Awards Evening early May – this happens annually on a rotation between Clongowes and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School with an evening meal and opportunity to socialize with students fromClongowes.
Ben Forbes, former winner of Joyce –Beckett, currently reading Law said; “I have the Joyce –Beckett Award on my CV and I was at an interview for a Criminal Law internship in London. The interviewer was really interested in it and in the end I got the internship!’
• Sporting fixtures providing sporting challenge and camaraderie.
