Latest news with #BlackrockCollege
BreakingNews.ie
22-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Ireland number eight Aoife Wafer signs for Harlequins
Ireland number eight Aoife Wafer will join English Premiership side Harlequins after the Rugby World Cup. The Wexford native follows her international teammates Dorothy Wall, Neve Jones and Edel McMahon in making the move to English clubs in recent years. Advertisement Wafer was named the 2025 Women's Six Nations Player of the Year by popular vote on Monday, becoming the first Irish player to receive the accolade. She made her Ireland debut in 2022 against Italy and has since gone on to become a key figure in the Ireland team helping to secure consecutive third place finishes in the Guinness Women's Six Nations, as well as qualification for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Wafer currently plays for Blackrock College and Leinster. Speaking about her move to Harlequins, Wafer said, 'The history that the Club is steeped in is something that really stood out to me. I'm really looking forward to being here and I can't wait to get going. This league has all the star players in the world in it. I want to be the best player in the world, and I can't wait to test myself out against those stars every week,' Advertisement 'I was very lucky to come over to a game a few months ago and meet some of the girls and the family values were something that really stood out to me. That's really important to me, and I know that my family will be well looked after over here as well.' IRFU Head of Women's Performance & Pathways Gillian McDarby said, 'We're pleased for Aoife as she takes this next step in her career with Harlequins, where she will have the opportunity to further her development in a high-performance environment. 'Her journey is a testament to the investment and progress within the Irish system, which continues to produce talent capable of performing at the highest level. We look forward to continue working with Aoife in green during the international windows.'
Irish Times
07-05-2025
- Irish Times
Spiritans accused of putting own interests before those of abuse victims
The Spiritan congregation has been accused of putting its own interests, needs and concerns before survivors of abuse in schools run by them. The Restore Together advocacy group for survivors of abuse in Spiritan-run schools has said: 'Our experience is that the Spiritans have failed at every stage, from the time of the abuse onwards, to put the interests and rights of victims/survivors first. The Spiritans have invariably put their interests, needs and concerns and those of the institution first.' The accusation is in a lengthy letter written on behalf of the group by survivor Philip Feddis, who attended Blackrock College. Last month it was sent to past pupils' unions at Blackrock College, Willow Park, St Mary's College, St Michael's College and Templeogue College, all in Dublin, and Rockwell College in Co Tipperary. Easter, it said, was 'a time for Spiritan priests to reflect on the adequacy of their response to child sex abuse'. READ MORE The 'victim/survivor experience' involving Spiritans was 'not one of compassion', it said. 'Victims/survivors feel frustrated, disappointed, angry and worse. The ongoing delay in implementing the comprehensive restorative programme has increased the suffering of victims/survivors in many ways. It is not compassionate, it is cruel.' It pointed out that 'a comprehensive, victim-centred redress scheme and a testimony-gathering (truth-telling) project has still not been delivered and the Spiritans have made no commitment to a start date for either. This is completely unacceptable to victims/survivors; most of us are over 60, who have already waited far too long for justice.' [ Spiritans have paid €8.8m in settlements to 125 abuse survivors since 1998 Opens in new window ] Because of the age factor, 'urgent delivery is vital for the success of these redress and testimony programmes', the letter said. 'A constant refrain is that victims/survivors are tired. We are tired of being ignored and marginalised. We are tired of feeling betrayed and abandoned by institutions that were supposed to protect and care for us as children.' It noted how 'Restore Together recently called on the Spiritans to finalise the redress scheme without further delay and have it up and running no later than June 1st this year. The Spiritans have not responded to this call. We in Restore Together have been more than patient.' Survivors, the group said, are 'tired of having to fight and push the Spiritans every step of the way to fully and comprehensively face up to the issue of child sex abuse in their schools and `do the right thing'. We are tired of being told we will have to wait.' The 'historic power imbalance that we as victims/survivors experienced as children and which facilitated our abuse is still present and underpinning the current situation. This compounds the suffering of victims/survivors and has to be ended for once and for all. The Spiritans must take all immediate steps to bring justice to victims/survivors without having to be pushed every step of the way to do so,' it said.
The 42
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Father's influence, multi-sport youth, and the importance of a non Dublin-centric Leinster
WHEN HE WAS progressing through the ranks of schools, provincial and international rugby over the past few years, rising Leinster prospect James Culhane didn't have to look very far for the perfect source of inspiration. A native of Limerick, Culhane's father Paul was a talented rugby player in his own right. In addition to featuring in the Munster Schools Senior Cup with St Munchin's College in the Treaty County, the elder Culhane captained the Ireland U21s as well as the Irish Universities side. His son James followed in his footsteps to an extent when he was skipper of the Blackrock College side that won the Leinster Schools Junior Cup in 2018 and he was a virtual ever-present when the Ireland U20s won a Six Nations Grand Slam four years later. Throughout this time, Culhane Sr was always on hand to provide guidance to the bustling back-row if it was ever required. 'He's been a huge influence, my Dad. He'd be one of my biggest heroes and he loves seeing me do well. Whether it's in rugby or my engineering degree [in UCD], but he has obviously been a huge mentor for me,' Culhane remarked ahead of Leinster's United Rugby Championship clash away to Scarlets tomorrow evening. Yet despite receiving his education in a south Dublin school that won their 72nd Leinster Senior Cup title only last month, Culhane's home village is actually Enniskerry in Co. Wicklow. Advertisement He is one of a number of players from the Garden County in the Leinster squad with Josh van der Flier (Wicklow Town), Jack Conan (Bray) and Cormac Foley (Newtownmountkennedy) also included amongst this particular cohort. The eastern province's head coach Leo Cullen – like Culhane, a former Blackrock College student – is another Wicklow native. There is also a healthy Kildare contingent within the Leinster senior squad that is spearheaded by the likes of Sam Prendergast, Jimmy O'Brien and Jamie Osborne, and Culhane acknowledged it is vital the game in the province is spread right across the 12 counties. While Blackrock College had a massive part in his development, Culhane also credits the De La Salle Palmerston club in Kilternan – located a little under four miles from Enniskerry – for first introducing him to rugby as a youngster. 'I think it's so important that it's just not Dublin where the rugby is centred. That we try to expand as much as we can, because there is so much talent everywhere around Leinster. It's just important to try and give everyone an opportunity to express that. Bring as many people through as you can. 'I did come through Blackrock, which was part of the school system. I would have played for De La Salle as well, that would have been the early part of my development in club rugby. I played a lot of both. You talk about Sam [Prendergast] and [Diarmuid] Mangan as well, they went to Newbridge. I think it's good to play both club and school, and get experience from both.' Culhane in action against Ulster last weekend. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Culhane is someone who is also a strong advocate for playing multiple sports, having previously represented the South Dublin Football League in the Kennedy Cup. He also played his fair share of GAA back home in Enniskerry, but rugby was always going to be the main sporting pursuit in the long-run for Culhane. Hamstring and shoulder issues restricted him to just five outings last term, but with eight appearances already under his belt in the current campaign (including an 80-minute run out against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday), the 22-year-old is doing his best to make an impact in his first official season as a Leinster senior player. 'I would have played with the SDFL when I was 12 and 13, I would have played left-back. I think it is easier to get in the team when you are left-footed, there are not as many left-footers! I played for Wayside [Celtic]. I also played for a few different teams. I started in Enniskerry and then Cabinteely for a little bit as well,' Culhane added. 'I think once I joined Blackrock, I was always going to keep playing the rugby, but growing up I loved playing all sports. Loved playing the GAA, football and rugby as well. 'It is taking that opportunity [with Leinster] when you get it, especially when you're involved with the team of internationals. On the weekend, I was delighted to be playing with just so much talent around me. The way they play elevates your game as well. When you get an opportunity to get your way into that team, you take it.'
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
James Culhane: 'I think it's so important that it's just not Dublin where the rugby is centred. That we try to expand as much as we can'
When he was progressing through the ranks of schools, provincial and international rugby over the past few years, rising Leinster prospect James Culhane didn't have to look very far for the perfect source of inspiration. A native of Limerick, Culhane's father Paul was a talented rugby player in his own right. In addition to featuring in the Munster Schools Senior Cup with St Munchin's College in the Treaty County, the elder Culhane captained the Ireland U21s as well as the Irish Universities side. His son James followed in his footsteps to an extent when he was skipper of the Blackrock College side that won the Leinster Schools Junior Cup in 2018 and he was a virtual ever-present when the Ireland U20s won a Six Nations Grand Slam four years later. Throughout this time, Culhane Sr was always on hand to provide guidance to the bustling back-row if it was ever required. 'He's been a huge influence, my Dad. He'd be one of my biggest heroes and he loves seeing me do well. Whether it's in rugby or my engineering degree [in UCD], but he has obviously been a huge mentor for me,' Culhane remarked ahead of Leinster's United Rugby Championship clash away to Scarlets tomorrow evening. Yet despite receiving his education in a south Dublin school that won their 72nd Leinster Senior Cup title only last month, Culhane's home village is actually Enniskerry in Co. Wicklow. He is one of a number of players from the Garden County in the Leinster squad with Josh van der Flier (Wicklow Town), Jack Conan (Bray) and Cormac Foley (Newtownmountkennedy) also being included amongst this particular cohort. The eastern province's head coach Leo Cullen – like Culhane, a former Blackrock College student - is another Wicklow native. There is also a healthy Kildare contingent within the Leinster senior squad that is spearheaded by the likes of Sam Prendergast, Jimmy O'Brien and Jamie Osborne, and Culhane acknowledged it is vital the game in the province is spread right across the 12 counties. While Blackrock College had a massive part in his development, Culhane also credits the De La Salle Palmerston club in Kilternan – located a little under four miles from Enniskerry - for first introducing him to rugby as a youngster. 'I think it's so important that it's just not Dublin where the rugby is centred. That we try to expand as much as we can, because there is so much talent everywhere around Leinster. It's just important to try and give everyone an opportunity to express that. Bring as many people through as you can,' Culhane added. 'I did come through Blackrock and everything, which was part of the school system. I would have played for De La Salle as well, that would have been the early part of my development in club rugby. 'I played a lot of both. You talk about Sam [Prendergast] and [Diarmuid] Mangan as well, they went to Newbridge. I think it's good to play both club and school, and get experience from both.'
