Category: News

Round 1 of the 2016/17 Irish Mathematics Olympiad  took place in Glenstal on Thursday, November 17th at 6.00 pm. Any senior cycle student who was interested in attempting to solve 6 difficult problems which required mathematics, logic and creative problem solving was welcome to participate. We had two 5th year students and four 4th year students available

on the night to undertake the challenge! Feedback from the participants this year suggests that this year’s paper was easier in comparison to last year’s which was probably a welcome change. Last year’s nationwide statistics for Round 1 are given in the table below.

2015/2016 Irish Mathematics Olympiad Round 1 Scores

We were very proud of fourth year student, Lucas Bachmann, who was the only student in the country to attain full marks in round one last year. The rest of our students also scored well in the paper. Dr. Bernd Kreussler of the University of Limerick commended Lucas’ achievement and speaking with him earlier this year, he mentioned that he was looking forward to working with him again this year. Lucas’ story from last year is documented on the school website at the following link; http://www.glenstal.com/lucas-mingming3rd-year-maths-olympiad-role-of-honour/.

We await the Round 1 statistics from across the nation to determine if we will have more students invited to attend the mathematics enrichment classes in the University of Limerick this year. These centres encourage students to engage with mathematics in a number of ways that promote mathematics as a subject in school and as an area of study. Students can take pride in their abilities, can represent their school at a national event and are offered an environment in which they can flourish without limitation. They tackle challenging problems with their peers, offering them a social benefit, while simultaneously developing critical skills such as logic, problem solving, abstract thinking etc..

Well done to the following students who participated in this year’s Round 1:  

Alfie Hales, Michael Gilbride, Seán Gilbride, Philip Harich, Maccon Keane & Lucas Bachmann.

Further details of the Irish Math Olympiad are available at:  www.irmo.ie  and   www.maths.mic.ul.ie/olympiad

Thomas Franklin

The first GAA Jerseys for Glenstal were launched this year. They were jointly designed by myself (Ben McCartan), Robert Burke and Charlie McCartan in the red and grey colours of the school.

Two hurlers from Limerick U21’s came to launch the jerseys – Colin and Pat Ryan who had won a Munster and All Ireland U21 medal each. They play with Pallasgreen and Doon respectively and are now beginning their careers with the Limerick Senior hurling squad.

We had a puck around outside with some boys from other years and asked a few questions. We got to know a little of the opportunities the boys got from playing GAA. For example, they were playing GAA in America over the summer and the kind of training they do. We took a few photos in the atrium with the new jerseys. It was a good experience for everyone involved.

Ben McCartan,

Second Year

 
After a friendly game last year against St. Villiers of Limerick, the enthusiasm for volleyball continued into this year at Glenstal. With a few training sessions under their belt in the early part of 2016, Glenstal’s volleyball team bundled into the bus on the 16^th of November to make their way to St. Joseph’s College in Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary. There, they would face St. Joseph’s College and Carlow Vocational School in Round 1 of the Senior Boys National Competition.

Arriving in good time the team warmed up. The first game was against the host school, St. Joseph’s, and all things considered, Glenstal would probably love to play this game again. By the time Glenstal began playing really good volleyball, they had lost both sets, 25 points to 13 and 25 points to 18. As the score lines here suggest, Glenstal were improving as they were exposed to more game time. It was the similar errors of palming or carrying the volleyball, lack of communication and servicing faults that gifted the opposition many scores. In the first set, Glenstal found themselves trailing 9 points to 1 before they settled into the play. From there, there were glimpses of superb volleyball from the Glenstal outfit but it was not consistent. Excellent servicing from Aidan Murphy and point saving from Sam Warren gave their front line the best chances for scoring. Glenstal knew they could eradicate the errors and went into the next game with confidence.

There was a quick turnaround to the second game but Glenstal faced competition regulars in Carlow Vocational School. The first set was tight with the score at 9 points each before Carlow Vocational School made a break to go 13 points to 9 ahead. The gap remained until Carlow Vocational School won that set 25 points to 18. Undeterred and playing better volleyball more consistently, Glenstal began the second set excellently. They stormed into a 6 point to 1 lead with good play from all the men. The score line read 9 points to 2 before long and Glenstal were in form. At 13 points to 6, Glenstal knew they had control of the set and just needed to remain consistent and keep their game as error free as possible. Communication and skills had improved vastly and saw Glenstal hold a 16 to 12 points lead. Even though the gap had narrowed, Glenstal finished strong, winning the set 25 points to 13. It was all to play for in the final set as if Glenstal were to win, they would qualify for the finals. It was tight in the early stages with neither team getting too far ahead. 9 points to 6, in favour of Carlow Vocational School gave them the slight advantage they needed. The set continued with a similar gap before Carlow Vocational School finished as winners. Final score: 25 points to 20.

Conor Flood (Schools & Club Development Officer) was very complimentary of the boys and their efforts. Conor officiated at this event and a previous event where the boys played. He noted how their game had improved with practice and teamwork, He congratulated the boys on their participation. For the national competition, it’s curtains up but this won’t be the last of Glenstal volleyball. Well done to our students who represented their school in fine fashion!

Panel: Philip Reiche, Colum Grogan, Aidan Murphy, Oran Clancy, Sam Warren, Sam McCormack, Eamonn Daly, Jaime Cabello, David Power

Thomas Franklin

Congratulations to Johnny Williams and Ronan McDermott (Class of 2016) who were awarded certificates for Academic High Achievers in the Entrance Scholars Awards Ceremony in the O’Reilly Hall on Wednesday 16th of November. Johnny is studying Medicine and Ronan is doing Quantitative Business and both are enjoying the university experience very much. Congratulations to them both and to their families on this singular achievement. 

Congratulations also to the Charles Gavin, Daniel O’Flynn and David Quane who received Entrance Exhibitions in respect of academic excellence in Trinity College on Monday the 2nd of Novem
ber. Charles is studying dentistry and Daniel and David are both studying Nanosciences which apparently is the physics and chemistry of materials which still puzzles me.  

Again congratulations to them and their families on their achievements. I would love to claim their achievements as my own but I think that might be stretching it a bit.

 

Fr Wiliam Fennelly, OSB

Headmaster

 

 

Dear Glenstal Parents,

I hope all is well with each and everyone of you and that your sons are getting on fine. Hard to believe it is November already and the winter is just upon us. I was back in Glenstal for Abbot Brendan’s Blessing and the Autumn colours in Glenstal were spectacular. We are all very lucky to be associated with such a beautiful place.

 

A number of you have been inquiring about my life here in Rome. I am not sure how to answer that fully because Rome is somewhat of a mixed bag. Some things are magnificent and others are not so great. I decided to post the odd account on the school website just to keep everyone up-to-date on various happenings here. 

 

Firstly, I am staying in San Anselmo, a Benedictine House on the Aventine Hill. There are about 80 monks here from all around the world and it is a very interesting place indeed with such a large mix of monks. The Aventine is quite centrally located and only a couple of kilometers from the Colosseum, the Forum and many of the ancient parts of Rome. I am taking various courses in Theology at a Dominican University called the Angelicum right in the centre of Rome. All the courses are through English thankfully as my Italiano is not great. Pope John Paul II studied Theology here in the Angelicum. I would not put myself in anything like the same category as him but it is interesting to sit in the same classrooms that he studied in while a student there.

 I walk or cycle to the Angelicum depending on my mood and the weather. The walk takes me past the Circus Maximus, the Palatine Hill, the Colloseum and the Forum Romanum. As a graduate of Classical Studies I never get tired of gazing at the various ancient buildings, sites and ruins. To think that you can look at the very same buildings that were built by Caesar and Augustus and those famous names in ancient and later Roman history. Walking on the same cobblestones that Sts. Peter and Paul walked on forges a real link with the past. You could live a lifetime here and you still not get to see all that there is to see. I have done quite a few the major sites in central Rome and some of the not so major ones as well.

 

I took a trip out to Ostia Antica which is an amazing place and on a par with Pompeii and Herculaneum. Ostia was the sea port of Rome where goods were delivered and then sent on the 20 kilometer journey to Rome via canals and roads. Eventually, Ostia was silted over and abandoned. However, the composition of the silt kept the watered-over town very well preserved despite being submerged for centuries. In the 1930’s it was reclaimed from the sea. It is in great condition and easy to walk around. There are so many buildings still intact with houses, baths, the theatre, tombs, shops, bars etc. One of the bars fascinated me because it was so well preserved with the bar counter and seats together with large and small amphorae on shelves. You can almost smell the stale wine; it’s not hard to imagine it teeming with customers. There is at least a day’s wandering around Ostia Antica.

 

Both walking and cycling are demanding on the hips and knees – not to mention tyres – as the paths and roads of Rome are not well maintained: some of them are downright dangerous. About a month ago, one of the monks in San Anselmo hit a pothole cycling down the Aventine Hill, flew over the crossbars and ended up with some awful injuries. He had no helmet on and is very lucky he didn’t suffer serious head injuries. He is still in hospital. So, when I cycle I keep my concentration going at all times and my hands on both brakes when cycling downhill. Nobody seems to obey the Rules of the Road and a red light can mean anything. From a cyclist’s perspective, the cars are not too bad as long as you know what you are doing. You must indicate with hand signals and if you can make eye contact all the better. Once you give the car drivers adequate signals they are fine. However, the scooters are another story and you have to keep your eyes and ears open for them; some of them are a total law unto themselves.

 

The Romans generally are nice and helpful. However, you have to be careful in restaurants, shops, cafe’s etc. For instance, I have learned the hard way to ask about the price of things before I order. I have been caught out and charged 12 euro for a glass of beer, 17 euros for a haircut and God knows there isn’t that much barbering on my head! I have been looked after very well in Rome by a Glenstal Old Boy, David Lind, who knows places to eat which have wonderful authentic Roman food at reasonable prices. Some of the cafes go back many generations and are a real experience. The Roman waiters don’t make a fuss; they take their time but they look after you when they are ready. That’s the way it’s done here and you just go with the flow; you can’t rush them. Some tourists, especially American find this difficult to take.

 

 

The All Blacks are here at the moment and are quite shaken by their loss to Ireland. Munster’s win against the Maori All Blacks has added salt to the wounds. I saw some of the players taking in the sights of Rome and have spoken to a few of their supporters who have all warned of a backlash in the Aviva on Saturday. It will be a great occasion. I went to their game against Italy and it was a bit of a joke with the score 35-3 at halftime. The Italians are great and they keep the atmosphere buzzing in the stadium which is an experience in itself. 

I am looking forward to meeting up with Fr. Columba and the School Choir here at the end of the month. They have quite a reputation here and will get a very warm welcome. They will be singing in the Irish College and in San Clemente Church. San Clemente church is quite interesting as the site was originally a Roman temple. It has been modified several times over the centuries with newer structures superimposed on the original site. It is now run by the Dominicans and is a must-see if ever you are in Rome. Very easy to access as it is just up the road from the Colosseum.

I recently went to a Papal Audience in St. Peter’s. It was an amazing experience and when the Pope passed by it was as if an invisible force of joy and warmth swept the area. It was as if Christ himself had appeared and in a way He did. The Pope has a real effect for good on people and I found it all very moving. 

Abbot Brendan presided over mid term awards at the morning assembly today.

The following students received awards for achievement so far this semester:

Sixth years had a very successful trip to London on the 25th October. After an early departure from Glenstal, the group left Shannon for Standstead at approximately 7:30 am. On arrival,  a bus took the group to their hotel in Bayswater. For some students it was their first time in London. A quick tube trip took the group to Covent Garden and lunch.

This was followed by a brisk walk to the Tate Modern Art Gallery and a brief tour of some of the galleries there.

Then it was on to the stunning Imperial War Museum where the time was just too short to take in all the various displays. Many of the boys were blown away by the Holocaust Gallery and the special First World War display.

Following a quick supper at Waterloo station, it was another train ride to Earlsfield and a brisk walk to the Tara Theatre for the performance of Hamlet. The theatre is extremely small and intimate with seating for approximately 120 people. The performance by the all-black cast (Black Theatre Live in association with Watford Palace Theatre & Stratford Circus Arts Centre) was extraordinary. Directed by Jeffery Kissoon and adapted from Shakespeare’s text by Mark Norfolk. It was the first time in Britain that an all-black cast presented the Shakespearean tragedy.

The performance finished at approximately 10:30 and while the group were waiting on the platform at the train station, there was a very poignant moment when two of the cast arrived on the opposite platform. All the boys stood and clapped the actors who bowed graciously.

Another early morning start and a bus back to Standstead for our flight home. All in all a successful trip.

Special thanks to Mr Kevin Duffy for organising the trip and to Mr David Cantwell and Mr Colm Mealy for all their support.

by Thomas Franklin

Maths Week began on October 17th this year and there was some activity in Glenstal Abbey School to celebrate the week. All students from 1st to 5th year were given access to Mangahigh which is a website with Maths games, challenges and activities. Access to the web resource is granted to all schools during Maths week and we hope we can maintain some limited access to Mangahigh afterward also. The students find the website enjoyable and it’s an innovative way to practice their mathematics.

On Monday evening, the 1st years participated in a quiz with challenging maths problems, brain teasers and puzzles to be solved. There were 3 rounds of 15 questions with multiple choice answers. The boys were split into teams of 3 and had to work under a time limit to solve as many problems as possible. After the scores were added up, it was the team comprising of James Devine, Daniel Kennedy and Cian O’Brien which emerged victorious. In 2nd place were Tadhg Magner and Peter
Queally while in 3rd place were Nyoleme Agbanobi, Aboudi Al-Helaissi and Matt Hegarty.

On Tuesday evening, it was the turn of the transition year students to participate. The Maths Week Activity: Simultaneous Equations was conducted across the country and our boys performed very well in the activity. Well done to Lucas Bachmann who edged out stiff competition to win the activity. Noteworthy performers were Seán Gilbride, Eoghan Fitzgerald, Niall Queally, Michael Gilbride, Marcus Esmonde and Alfie Hales.

On Thursday evening, Junior and Senior Prism were provided for the students. More information on these competitions can be found here: http://poincare.nuigalway.ie/PRISM/about. This was a new activity for our students with all participating students completing a one hour paper with a variety of problems. The difficulty of the questions increases quickly and ranges from primary school questions to very high order questions similar to higher leaving certificate thinking. We had a very wide range of participants and due to popular demand, it had to be run on Friday evening also! The following students are applauded for their participation in the activity;

The top 3 performers in Junior and Senior Cycle are listed below. Well done to Hugo McElligott and Lucas Bachmann who received certificates for their achievements.

On Thursday October 20th, Glenstal received a visit from Mr. Nate Stein and a group of his students from St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis, Missouri. The visit had been arranged by our Headmaster, Fr. William Fennelly, at Mr. Stein’s request in order to offer the touring group an opportunity to experience the daily life of our school. The previous day, they managed to catch the SCT’s City Cup fixture against St. Munchin’s in Corbally.