Morale is at an all time high for the teachers and pupils of Marian College. Next year they are expecting their best ever results from the current Junior and Leaving Cert students.

I spoke to Ned Prendergast, the recently-appointed School Liaison Officer for Marian and he told me about the excellent after-school study programme, which is going very well at the moment. The Programme will continue until the end of the year and then resume after Christmas. He told me that the sixth year participants are working solidly thanks to one of the organisers, Mr. Kelly, one of the teachers in the College.

Sports are rated extremely highly in Marian, with the Senior Rugby team playing against Gorey in Mid-November and the Junior team competing with Arklow for the Rugby Cup Final, on a later date to be arranged. Both pupils and coaches are hoping for great results.

Marian College has one of the most successful underage teams in Irish Water polo, while the Senior team has a long, successful history. All teams are now seeking strong, fast swimmers, especially first and second year pupils, who wish to go on to be trained by Irish Waterpolo International and Swimming Coach Heidi Kinsella.

Ann Keating of O'Connell Gardens has been recently appointed Chairperson of the Parent-Teacher Association. She was also involved in another fund-raising event for Marian, as Question-Master in a Table Quiz held in Lansdowne Tennis Club at the beginning of November. The Quiz raised £200 for the College which was presented to Principal Paul Meany.

Students of the College will again be raising funds for "Concern" this Christmas. They are known to be the No. 1 collectors for Concern and have been involved for many years.

Marian College Principal, teachers and staff, would like to wish all the pupils and parents a safe and happy Christmas.

The McDonagh connection. Noel McDonagh with his name sake Joe, President of the GAA, and Sam Maguire who should be returning to Dublin next September!