CAMPUS NEWS ACADEMIC LIFE
THE ACADEMY The Clongowes Academy was set up by Fr Hilary Lawton, Prefect of Studies, back in the 1950s as a modern-day version of Plato’s Academy from Ancient Greece. It follows a strictly academic model where each member must present a scholarly paper of some 40 minutes to his peers, who then pose questions about his research. Each paper is a culmination of the members’ exhaustive research into and analysis of their chosen topic. The Academy gives its members a chance to become experienced in the research process, public speaking and fielding questions from their audience. Fr Michael Sheil SJ is the Academy’s Moderator and is a former member of the Academy, having delivered a paper on Norman Castles during his Poetry year. Each session is followed by questions, refreshments and the opportunity for lively discussion on the paper just delivered. This year’s Academy presentations were an interesting mix of topics delivered by boys from Poetry and Rhetoric. Well done to all who took part and presented their research so well.
Toby Griffin
The Military/Political Genius of Bonaparte
James Wyse
Robert Mugabe - Freedom’s Dictator in Zimbabwe
Joey Kennedy
Centenary of Irish Independence – 100 years on
Benoit Clarke
The Flame of the French resistance in WW2
Georóid Ryan
Famine:Bengal & Ireland Compared
Henry McCallum
A Northern Identity Crisis – a view from a mixed up Ulsterman
Eoin Brady
Ghosts of Castle Browne – Story of Clongowes
Fiachra Lambe
Irish Place Names – Do you know where you’re from ?
Toby O’Donnell
Making Holy War – a History of the Crusades
Harry McDermott
What makes a Serial Killer ?
Hugh Hanly
Untold Stories of WWII
Andrew Percival
Are Social Media Ruining Society ?
BT YOUNG SCIENTIST Well done to Tom Groome (Grammar) who took part in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition this year. Tom’s project, Canine Colour Psychology investigated dogs’ colour preference and if it is affected by the time of day. Tom’s project was an entrant in the Intermediate section of the Biological and Ecological Science Section.
CERTIFICATES OF COMMENDATION Congratulations to our Elements boys who were awarded 35 Certificates of Commendation. The boys were commended for nominations to the Year Council and Student Council, for improvement in academics and diligences, teacher nominated commendations in Science, Religion, Maths, Performance, French, History, SPHE and EAL and participation commendations for rugby and athletics and being men for others.
CLONGOWES LIFE
SUMMER 2022
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