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 For the fifth year in succession, Coláiste Iognáid has won the West of Ireland School’s Debating Competition. Sixth-Year students Cormac McGuinness and Jake Hansen-Shearer travel to Trinity College, Dublin next month to contest the National title. Organised by Irish University Debating societies, Saturday’s competition was held at NUIG.
The ‘Jes’ also won the individual championship in the event, with third-year pupil, Robert Fitzgerald-Bellone speaking his way to the top of the table. He too looks forward to taking on other individual speakers from around the country at the National final. The school is particularly pleased at winning ‘The Double’ at this event.
 Coláiste Iognáid’s 5th Year Kairos retreat was held this year in Dromantine, Newry from 22-25 January. 37 students took part in a full programme of talks, group work and liturgies. The retreat was led by Brendan McManus SJ, assisted by Cathal Doherty SJ, and teachers Elaine Coffey and Brian Stewart. Eddie Cosgrove SJ participated as an observer, taking a break from his studies. Feedback from the students shows it was a great success.
 The Cherishing Your Child programme was recently completed by a group of Jes parents. This programme works on the relationship between parent and child, developing tools in communicating through mutual respect. The programme promotes conditions for keeping channels of communication open within these vital relationships, in particular during the teenage years. One parent commented: "I learnt about effective listening skills, confrontation skills, judgment and behaviour, and the type of parent I want and strive to be." Next Programme Commences : 22nd Feb. 2010, bookings and enquiries to Helen Smith, 087-2986308 / 061-353958 email : hello@turasnua.com.
 Ciaran Coen, Niamh Butler Thornton, David Mooney and Clara Sherry were awarded with a telescope by Prof. Michael Redfern in recognition of their work on Faulkes Telescope Universe Challenge. The Jes team’s project involves trying to detect extra-solar planets by using an effect known as gravitational micro-lensing. The team are continuing to work on their blog for the extended dealine of May 2010. http://jesastronomy.blogspot.com
 This year's Coláiste Iognáid (Jes) school show ran from 11 14 November. Titled 'Back to the Eighties', it was a colourful and vibrant reminder of the songs, outfits and allusions of the 1980's. It was directed by teachers, Claire Lohan and Paul Kilrane, and involved all the fifth year students in the dancing, singing, design and backstage work. It played to packed houses every night, proving very popular with parents who could remember the era! More Photos
Teacher Richard Molloy led a group from the Coláiste Iognáid Mountaineering Club on their most ambitious walk yet- climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland over the October Bank Holiday weekend (24-26 Oct 2009). There were 11 students involved in the group who went by minibus across on the ferry to Stranraerand stayed near Fort William in preparation for their ascent. The weather was cloudy and the mist was down so there was no view from the top unfortunately!
 For the first time ever, Colaiste Iognaid ran a Kairos retreat for 22 mainly ex-Jes students who had graduated and were in university. They had missed out on their Kairos retreat when at school so Brendan McManus SJ (Jes chaplain) and Conall O'Cuinn SJ (vocations promoter) ran an extra one for them. "It was a great success" said Brendan, "the fact that they were older and had opted to come on it made for a super retreat". Conall O'Cuinn added "The hope is to continue running retreats at Uni's.
 The Coláiste Iognáid choir and orchestra travelled to Limerick on Sat. 10 October to take part in a musical event as part of the 150 year anniversary celebration in the Crescent Comprehensive school. The Jes, which came second, was one of 7 schools who took part in the competition for choirs and Orchestras of Jesuit Schools and schools in the Limerick area. Music teacher, Carl Hession was joined by Geraldine King and vice-principal, Catherine Hickey for the event.
 Jason Lyons, a third-year Coláiste Iognáid student has been in Dublin for the last three weekends for trials for the Under 15 national soccer team. Jason who plays for Barna soccer club, is among 32 players selected for the final round of trials. Jason has also been involved in trials for Celtic and hopes to be included in the Irish squad that sees its first game in December.
 Brendan McManus SJ and Una Allen were the two Coláiste Iognáid representatives at the National RE Congress which was held in the Fairways, Dundalk, from 2-4 October 2009. An impressive line-up of speakers on the theme of 'Between Memory and Hope' included, Timothy Radcliffe OP, Dr. Carole Eipers, Peter McVerry SJ, Joyce Rupp, Rev. Daniel O’Leary and the Rev. Ruth Patterson. Brendan is the school chaplain and Una is a member of the Ignatian Identity Group (parent's body) as well as being a member of the board of management. Both agreed that it was an informative and stimulating weekend.
 Colaiste Iognaid (the Jes) has a staggering 19 players taking part in the schools interprovincial competion this weekend in Dublin, 3-4 Ocyober, 2009. There are 9 girls in the Under 18s and 10 in Under 16s for the Connaght squad. With winning the Kate Russell cup last season, hockey is stronger than ever in the Jes!
 Brendan Smith of the DERI Institute is pictured presenting a number of digital cameras to Catherine Hickey and Brendan McManus SJ of the Jes. Brendan Smith of DERI, Digital Enterprise Research Institute, and the two Jes Staff were in NUIG for the launch of Eurocreator, an educational initiative designed to encourage students and teachers throughout Europe to create and share digital media. The cameras will be used as part of TY Media Studies .
 The Crescent in Limerick ran a two day Hockey Tournament on the 12th and 13th of September to celebrate 150 years of Jesuit Education in Limerick. All the top teams in Ireland were invited and the Jes faced stiff opposition from Bandon Grammar (Cork), St. Andrews (Dublin), Mt. Anville (Dublin) and Coláiste Laurel Hill (Limerick). We had a score draw against our sister school and a scoreless draw v Loretto Kilkenny. The culmination of points and goals scored saw us lift the especially commissioned Fr. Murray Cup. Captained by Brenda Flannery, this year’s Jes team shows great promise for the forthcoming season
 A delegation of Jes students, teachers and parents were in Limerick on 11th Sept for their 150 year celebration which saw Fr Adolfo Nicolas, Superior General of the Jesuits, celebrate a mass with the whole school. Fr. General spoke about the challenge of education as growth- making better people for a more compassionate world. The Jes delegation were involved in the mass, met Fr. General and enjoyed a lovely meal provided by the Crescent SJ.
 12 students and 3 teachers travelled to Maluti District of Eastern Cape of South Africa. They left Galway on the 18 th July and arrived in the town of Matatiele on the Sunday. In their two week stay they worked on two projects. The first was the construction of toilets for students of St. Matthews Junior School. The second project was the construction of classroom for Ntabeni Junior School. more information
 Ciaran Coen, Niamh Butler Thornton, David Mooney and Clara Sherry, have made it to the final stage of the Faulkes Telescope Universe Challenge. The Jes team’s project involves trying to detect extra-solar planets by using an effect known as gravitational micro-lensing. This allows astronomers to detect a planet orbiting a star just by recording and measuring changes in the star’s brightness. As part of the project the team have access to a remotely-operated telescope in Australia which they control over the internet for an hour a day. A professional team of astronomers then analyse the images taken by the Jes team to try and detect new planets. Follow the team’s progress on their excellent blog at: http://jesastronomy.blogspot.com
 Jes Rowers win silver medal
Zoe Mannion and Aifric Keogh of Coláiste Iognáid won the silver medal in the women’s junior pair on Sunday, August 2, finishing second to Britain, who won the event overall. The Ireland pair, rowing as Coláiste Iognáid, won the silver at the Coupe de la Jeunesse at Vichy in France over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The Coupe is a 12-nation European Championship for junior athletes. In addition, the Jes pair had won the junior title at the National Championships three weeks beforehand. In total, Ireland brought home two medals, a silver and a bronze, from the French competition, the bronze medal coming in the junior men’s quadruple scull.
 Coláiste Iognáid has won a Hewlett Packard Innovation in Education grant which will provide a mobile classroom of tablet PCs. Along with NUI Galway, the Galway school was selected for its commitment to making practical usage of technology in delivering the school curriculum. The aim is to create a roaming computer suite which would afford the maximum number of students and teachers a unique opportunity to achieve computer literacy and equip them for participation in knowledge economy. This platform will allow students to access digitally provided content in an efficient and cost effective manner.
 The Jes Wins All-Ireland Hockey
The Jes Senior Hockey team beat Foyle/Londonderry in a thrilling final to win the Kate Russell All-Ireland Cup. The Jes came back from one-nil down at half time to lead two-one in the second half. However, with just 5 minutes remaining, Foyle scored an equaliser to force the game into the 'Golden Goal' extra time. In a goalmouth scramble after 5 minutes, Isabelle Mortimer scored to send Jes supporters wild and the team into the history books!
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 The Jes Wins Connaught Rugby Cup
The Jes beat Sligo Grammar 10-3 in the final of the Connaught Rugby Cup. In a keenly fought match, the jes's two unconverted tries seemed a tenuous lead in the second half when Sligo got a drop goal and seemed to come back into the game. In the end however, the Jes had done enough a reclaimed the cup for another year!
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 Debate Club News
As is now customary, Coláiste Iognáid has dominated schools’ debating in the West of Ireland and, indeed, nationally. Pupils from Coláiste Iognáid were National Finalists in two out of three of the country’s best known and most prestigious English Language debating competitions this year.
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 President Mary McAleese's Visit.
President Mary McAleese visited the Jes on Wed. 4 March and addressed the school, staff and parents' groups. The President viewed a number of display boards in the foyer and spoke with representatives of Rugby, Rowing, Hockey, Transition Year Social Outreach and the Slí Eile South Africa trip. She spoke in the school hall on how the gifts and talents of Jes students gave her hope for the future in the light of such depressing financial news.
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