On February 28, almost a month after their senior counterparts were eliminated from their competition with the last throw of a St. Michael’s dice, once again Clongowes’ hearts were broken with an injury-time try by St. Mary’s ensuring that the Rathmines school progressed to the Junior Cup semi-finals.

This year’s Annual Fund received an overwhelming response this year and closed with almost 60 families contributing just over €80,000 to this year’s project – the refurbishment of the Lower Line Study.

Clongowes Towards 200 was recently launched at a series of events at the College. This is a major development programme, managed by the Clongowes Wood College Foundation, to renew and enhance the College and its structures in advance of its bicentenary year in 2014.

The Clongowes Wood College Foundation has recently established the Foundation Council to lead the next phase of resourcing Clongowes Towards 200. The Foundation Council is governed by Presidents, Mr. William F. O’Grady and Mr. Dick Reeves.

“May our Lord God, who does not leave without reward those who act charitably, give you generous recompense and prize in the heavenly country.”

These are the words of St Aloysius Gonzaga S.J. patron of Clongowes, which are now inscribed on the ‘Carpenter’s Well’, adjacent to the Refectory of the 1999 building. The Well was recently restored and landscaped, and on 22nd February a special blessing and dedication ceremony was held at the College in honour of all those who gave generously of their time and resources to the completion of the 1999 Building and the development of Clongowes.

Just over 200 Old Clongownians, Clongowes staff and guests of the Union President attended the Annual Dinner in Pavilion of Old Belvedere Rugby Club, Anglesea Road, Dublin 4 on Friday, 25 February 2005. Over €3,300 was raised on the night for the Romanian charity, Satu Mare.

Don’t forget that this year’s Junior Branch Ball 2005 will take place on Saturday, 9 April 2005 in the Burlington Hotel. The Ball, which usually attracts up to 200 people, begins at 19h30 and should run into the wee hours.

Clongowes Life, the College’s new biannual magazine was unveiled on Wednesday, 23 February 2005. The full-colour 44-page publication has been mailed to over 3,000 Clongowes households around the globe.