Latest news with #BlackrockCollege
The 42
2 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Munster name Maeve Óg O'Leary as new captain
MAEVE ÓG O'LEARY has been named as Munster captain ahead of next month's Women's Interprovincial Championship. The versatile back-row makes her provincial return this season after an extended break due to knee injuries. The Tipperary native took up rugby at 15 with Ballina-Killaloe, making her name as a fly-half/centre before moving to the back-row with Blackrock College. O'Leary went on to win an All-Ireland League title with the side in 2022. Advertisement She made her Munster debut in 2021, the same year she became an Ireland international, and was part of the team that won Interprovincial Championships in 2022 and '23. Chloe Pearse and Stephanie Nunan will serve as this year's vice-captains. 'It's great to be back this season and an absolute privilege to be leading the girls alongside Chloe and Steph,' O'Leary said. 'We are all looking forward to the Interpros kicking off with plenty of opportunity in this year's competition. 'We have been training hard these past number of weeks and have been growing and connecting as a team on and off the pitch. 'There are a number of new faces and great talent coming through in camp this season, and I look forward to seeing our potential going forward as we continue to learn and grow.' Their campaign begins at home to Connacht at Virgin Media Park on Sunday, August 10th.
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Sexual abuse in schools inquiry
Sir, –This week the Minister for Education Helen McEntee announced the establishment of a Commission of Investigation into sexual abuse in all day and boarding schools. I attended Willow Park and Blackrock College as a boarder in the 1960s. Sadly, I experienced many years of physical and mental abuse. It is very disappointing that the dreadful abuse of corporal punishment, suffered by so many in this country, has not been included in this investigation. Any kind of abuse, be it sexual or otherwise, leaves dreadful lifelong scars, and stays with victims for the rest of their lives. – Yours, etc, BRIAN McDEVITT, READ MORE Glenties, Co Donegal.
Irish Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Serial winner Gus McCarthy planning to carry his happy habit into the Ireland fold
Gus McCarthy has never been on the losing side in a Test match or a Champions Cup game. It is a striking statistic for the 21-year-old Leinster and Ireland hooker. On Saturday he will look to maintain that record when Ireland take on Portugal in Lisbon (7pm Irish time). He has played 20 matches in senior professional rugby and suffered defeat just twice, both in United Rugby Championship (URC) games. McCarthy is a serial winner. He led his school, Blackrock College, to a Leinster Schools Senior Cup crown. He captained the Ireland Under-20s to a Six Nations grand slam and a place in the World Junior Championship final, where they lost to a brilliant French team. McCarthy's progression from Leinster to Ireland debuts came in just under six months, via an Emerging Ireland tour. The ACL injury suffered by Dan Sheehan in July 2024 provided an opening, which the young hooker followed up on. READ MORE He scored a try in his first cap against Fiji last November, provided an assist for three others and finished the match in the backrow because of injuries. The Leinster man then followed up with another try-scoring cameo in the 22-19 victory over Australia. McCarthy won two further caps off the bench in the Six Nations. That was a major achievement in itself as the two players ahead of him at Leinster and Ireland are currently away with the Lions − Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher. Gus McCarthy during squad training ahead of Ireland's match against Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday evening. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho McCarthy said of his rapid rise from rookie to the Test environment: 'I've been delighted with the opportunities I've got, but obviously I'm in Leinster and it's a very, very tough challenge. I've got two probable Lions Test players in the same position as me. 'I haven't played a whole amount. I didn't really get involved in any of the URC knockout stages and the latter end of the Champions Cup, but I did get quite a bit of game time in the middle of the season. It's good to learn from the best, some seriously good talent. The competition is endless; it keeps you on your toes. Ireland impress as the Lions struggle Listen | 26:21 'I wouldn't say it's frustrating. Obviously, I would like to play but I'm still very inexperienced. I try to take every opportunity I get and just bide my time.' He smiles when the word 'meteoric' is mentioned. 'It did happen sooner than I would have thought. I thought I was just going to be training for the first week of Portugal (in November) but then I got held on. 'For the week of the Argentina game, I was back with Leinster and then I thought I was done, but I got the call on the Sunday night asking me to come into camp again and then I got named to start in that Fiji match. I wasn't expecting it, but I was delighted to get a shot.' Gus McCarthy's rugby career to date has been a story of success after success. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho He was part of an Irish front-row alongside Jack Boyle (2) and Thomas Clarkson (6) that had a combined 12 caps when Ireland faced into last week's Test in Tbilisi . Whatever about the callow nature of the team, squaring up against Georgia in a scrum is not for the fainthearted. It is a rigorous technical examination. While Ireland did experience issues initially in that facet of the game, they successfully worked their way through them and won the game 34-5. So, what was the scrum Test like? 'I really enjoyed the experience of playing against that Georgian pack,' he said. 'The Georgians are known for being a seriously strong scrum, big front-row, abrasive players. It was a great test for us as a young and relatively inexperienced pack. Everything wasn't perfect but I think we did a good job and got stuck into them physically.' Saturday will provide a contrasting test, fast and loose in the sweltering temperatures of Lisbon and a Portugal side that will engage Ireland in a different way to Georgia. McCarthy can't wait. He's where he loves to be, in the match environment.
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Commission of inquiry to be established into allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools
A commission of inquiry is to be established into allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools. The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the move on foot of a memo brought by Education Minister Helen McEntee. It is understood that Mr Justice Michael MacGrath will be nominated to head the commission. A scoping inquiry published last year found that there were 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse against 884 teachers, priests and others in respect of 308 schools recorded by the religious orders which ran the schools. The Government agreed at the time to establish a statutory inquiry in response to the scoping inquiry. Survivors have raised concerns that this could delay redress or justice. The Government's report into sexual abuse at religious-run boarding and day schools was prompted by revelations of systemic abuse by the Spiritan order at Blackrock College. Further details on the commission's terms of reference and workings will be published today. More to follow...
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ireland make four changes for World U20 Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand
Ireland head coach Neil Doak has made four changes to the side who lost to Italy for their clash with New Zealand in the World U20 Rugby Championship on Wednesday. Conor Kennelly will start in second row while Oisin Minogue comes in to the back row. Meanwhile, Jonny Scott comes into the centre with Daniel Green starting at full back. The game takes place at 5pm (Irish time) in Calvisano, with the boys in green looking to reach the semi-finals of the competition. They'll be able to do so by winning with a bonus point or winning and restricting the Junior All Blacks to one bonus point. Elsewhere, Charlie Molony moves to the wing alongside Derry Moloney while Ciarán Mangan makes up a midfield pairing with Jonny Scott. Will Wootton and Tom Wood will continue in the half backs. In the pack, Alex Usanov, Henry Walker and Alex Mullan are in the front row, Billy Corrigan joins Kennelly in the engine room, Captain Éanna McCarthy shifts to six alongside Minogue with Luke Murphy again at eight. Luke McLaughlin, Billy Bohan, Tom McAllister, David Walsh and Bobby Power are the forwards available to Doak and his Coaching Team on the bench, with backs Clark Logan, Sam Wisniewski and Gene O'Leary Kareem completing the 23. The game will be streamed for free on RugbyPass TV. IRELAND: 15. D Green (Queens University Belfast/Ulster), 14. C Molony (UCD/Leinster), 13. C Mangan (Blackrock College/Leinster), 12. J Scott (Banbridge/Ulster), 11. D Moloney (Blackrock College/Leinster), 10. T Wood (Garryowen/Munster), 9. W Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby); 1. A Usanov (Clontarf/Leinster), 2. H Walker (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster), 3. A Mullan (Blackrock College/Leinster), 4. C Kennelly (Highfield/Munster), 5. B Corrigan (Old Wesley/Leinster), 6. E McCarthy (Galwegians/Connacht, captain), 7. O Minogue (Shannon/Munster), 8. L Murphy (Young Munster/Munster). Replacements: 16. L McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 17. B Bohan (Galway Corinthians/Connacht), 18. T McAllister (Ballynahinch/Ulster), 19. D Walsh (Terenure/Leinster), 20. B Power (Galwegians/Connacht), 21. C Logan (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster), 22. S Wisniewski (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 23. G O'Leary Kareem (UCC/Munster).
