Wednesday, 12 February 2025

Cadet, Junior & U21 European Championships 2025

On 5 February I arrived in Poland with the rest of the Irish karate team for the 2025 Cadet, Junior & U21 European Championships. We had been awake since the crack of dawn, and after landing in Kraków, we took a 90-minute bus ride to our hotel. Despite the exhaustion, spirits were high, and everyone was excited for the weekend ahead. Once settled in our rooms, we quickly grabbed a bite to eat before our first training session at 4 pm. Since we didn’t want to overeat, we kept it light, then got ready and headed to the arena by taxi. Training was focused but not too intense, ensuring we conserved energy for competition day. Afterward, we returned to the hotel, showered, ate dinner, and had an early night in preparation for the next morning's training and weigh-ins.

The next morning, we trained lightly at 10.00 am before heading straight to registration and weigh-ins. As we drove, we admired the picturesque snowy landscape outside. Stepping out of the taxi, we heard the crunch of snow beneath our feet before heading inside. After waiting nearly an hour, we were weighed in—thankfully, everyone made the correct weight. The rest of the day was relaxed as we awaited the timetable and draw. That evening at 8.30 pm, we gathered in reception to meet with our coaches, who updated us on rule changes and key competition details. Then, it was time for bed—we had to be at the stadium early the next morning to support our kata competitors.

On competition day, our first competitor, Calvin, won a bronze medal—Ireland’s only medal of the tournament. That night, I went to bed early, knowing I would be competing the next morning. By 9.45 am, I was in the stadium, despite not fighting until 11.30 am. I prefer arriving at least two hours early to support my teammates and prepare. After warming up, I waited anxiously for my category to be called. When it was finally my turn, I stepped onto the tatami, knowing my opponent was the current World Champion. I fought hard but didn’t win, and I felt I hadn’t performed at my best. However, because she reached the final, I got another chance in the repechage later that evening.

After resting and refueling, I returned to the warm-up area at 4.30 pm to prepare. Although there was a delay, I was the first match when my category was finally called at 6.30 pm. My first fight was against a competitor from Montenegro, and having watched her earlier, I knew her style. I managed to win and was now one fight away from a medal match. My next opponent was a skilled Turkish fighter I had seen at past competitions. Before stepping onto the tatami, I took three deep breaths to steady myself. Unfortunately, a mistake on my part cost me the match. While I’m not fully satisfied with my result, I gained valuable experience competing against top-class fighters. This was my first tournament as a Junior (U18), and while I know I can do better, I also know that my time will come.

Sunday, 26 January 2025

Ex Machina Film Review

Wow, Alex Garland really blew me away with this., Ex Machina. I've always understood that he was an incredible filmmaker and this was meant to be his magnum opus, but he's really outdone himself here.

The entire movie is made on the basis of a thought experiment. What if we made an actual artificial intelligence, what would it mean, how would we react, and how can we know it's authentically intelligent. It is ahead of its time by at least a decade. Ex Machina is great in that it provides an unbiased well thought out objective take on its concept that can be read by many a people with completely different opinions on the matter. Still have them all relate to the topic in a meanful way and form an individual opinion from the movie. Suffice to say this is a far more evolved take on AI than 'I, Robot' (2004).

I think that the nature of the story wouldn't work if every character didn't served a functional purpose to the story unique to their personality and motivations that can drive the story forward. The two main male characters are perfectly opposite in temperaments and equal in intellect. They openly confront the issue of the AI, Ava. It's the perfect balance of imbalances and as the relationships between the characters gets fleshed out, so does the story.

The location alone provides so much contrast of natural beauty to a sterile unfeeling prison. I also just enjoy the environment that it inhabits as both are completely devoid of human life. If you strip away the context of this movie, it'd be prime real estate. Oh, and the cinematography is just so clever in how they shoot facial expressions in coversations or the rooms of the house, the colour grading, the score.

Personally, I think I could talk about this movie non-stop. But I don't think I could possibly cover everything that's good about it because I'm just one person and great art lends itself to the interpretation as many people as possible. The real merit of art is to not just make the audience feel but to make them think.
Adam Geraghty

Wednesday, 8 January 2025

This Scouting Life

A fabulous New Year has started at The High School and with it begins another exciting chapter for 31st Rathfarnham Scouts in 2025. The High School and 31st Rathfarnham share a strong bond and a rich history in our community, one built on close partnership and tradition. Numerous pupils, both past and present, have been members, as well as Scout and Venture Leaders. Membership extends not just to pupils but also to teachers, staff, and management. Links between The High School and 31st Rathfarnham date back to the very foundation of the troop in 1917 and have only grown stronger since then!

I joined Rathfarnham 31st Scouts when I was in Form 1, and I can safely say it is one of the best decisions I ever made. It quickly became my absolute favorite extracurricular activity, both in and outside of school. Scouts is a great place to learn skills, both practical and personal. As a Scout progresses through the 'ranks,' they are entrusted with increasing levels of responsibility until they become Patrol Leaders. This is an excellent way to develop leadership and personal responsibility, and it has undoubtedly been a valuable character-building experience for me and my friends who learned these skills alongside me.

Being in Scouts is also incredibly fun for everyone involved. 31st Rathfarnham Scouts go on annual


summer camps to countries across Europe, which are exciting adventures at any age. During my time in Scouts, I camped in Ireland, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Each camp taught me new things about scouting, the world, and the people I traveled with. These camps are great exercises in developing personal independence as you grow older. They also allow you to bond and make friends with others in the troop—a very natural and enjoyable process! I deeply value the friendships I made in Scouts and the friendships that were reinforced through it. Being part of a troop like 31st Rathfarnham and sharing these experiences creates a sense of community and camaraderie unlike any other. I would encourage anyone interested to join our troop.

31st Rathfarnham Scouts meet in the Rathfarnham War Memorial Hall on Friday evenings at 7:30 pm. Male pupils from Forms 1 to 4 are all eligible for membership and are welcome to come along to see what being part of our troop is all about!
Leo Shorten

Thursday, 19 December 2024

Christmas Book Recommendations

Christmas break is most likely the time of the year where I read the mostIn my opinion it’s a really great way to spend a couple of weeks resting after a busy winter term—but it can be frustrating not knowing what to readThat’s why we’ve tried our best to put together a list of books that should peak every pupil’s interest—junior or senior!  

 

Northern Lights 

“Northern Lights is a great story for readers of any age, especially fans of Harry Potter and fantasy worldsWe follow the journey of Lyra as she travels across an unfamiliar world in search of her missing friend, Roger Parslow, and her imprisoned uncle, who has been conducting experiments with a mysterious substance known as "Dust."  Northern Lights boasts a great cast of colourful personalities, a vivid world which leaves the pages soaked with detail; and marks the start of Philip Pullman's famous "His Dark Materials" Trilogy - though it serves up a satisfying story all on its own.” 

- Luca Farrelly (Form 6) 

 

The Day of the Triffids 

“My book recommendation for seniors would have to be 'The Day of the Triffids' by John WyndhamThis chilling 50's science fiction novel explores a terrifying reality where the majority of the world has been blinded by a supposed meteor shower and the titular Triffids - an aggressive carnivorous plant bioengineered by the Soviet Union - rise up against a weakened humanityThe story is a well renowned classic, even being the inspiration behind the film '28 Days Later', and is spiritually compatible with my all time favourite book 'The War of the Worlds' by H.G. WellsI would highly recommend it to any curious pupils for its depiction of a unique calamity and its commentary on human nature and resilient spiritsIt is scary though - I read this in First Year and I couldn't sleep well for a week!”  

- Leo Shorten (Form 6) 

 

The Fountains of Silence 

“Set in late-1950s Madrid, The Fountains of Silence is a work of historical fiction written by Ruta SepetysUnder the fascist dictatorship of General Franco, an eighteen-year-old American tourist, Daniel Matheson, travels to Spain in the hope of connecting with the country of his mother’s birth through the lens of his cameraHis photographs lead him to Ana, a maid at the hotel where Daniel is staying with his familyAs the story unspools, we begin to find out more about these two intricately drawn characters who occupy an incredibly well-researched, deeply vivid world.   

My Aunt gave this book to me as a present a number of years ago, and I can still remember the book’s fearful-yet-hopeful atmosphere and sincerity to its settingThis was the first book of historical fiction I ever read, and I think it’s a great choice for Junior readers who are looking to diversify their reading or dip their toe into the genre.” 

- Olivia Leonard (Form 4) 

 

Klara and the Sun 

“A book I would always recommend as a thought-provoking read over a break is Klara and the Sun by Kazuo IshiguroThe book is framed from the perspective of Klara, an intelligent, empathetic and overall incredibly human "artificial friend"She is part of a series of robots that are designed to assist and accompany children with whatever they require, be it combating loneliness or just menial tasks, depending on the childKlara stands out among them as observant and emotional, and through her insights on her life and the world around her does the reader begin to realise the complexities of her social contextBeneath the seemingly simple prose lies themes very relevant to today, and is interesting to translate to our current world stateIt's a really enjoyable experience, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly to seniors!” 

- Emily McAdam-Kavanagh (Form 4)  

 

Sophie’s World 

“For Juniors looking for some good reading over the break I can recommend no better than 'Sophie's World' by Jostein GaarderThis book is a delightful and fantastical story following a young woman named Sophie who takes up an interest in philosophySophie becomes inquisitive of the world around her and begins to discover a strange and increasingly fantastical new realityThe novel is written in a creative and endearing way that both educates and entertains the reader by simultaneously exploring philosophical views and theories alongside Sophie's increasingly complex and supernatural experiences as she learns alongside the reader.”  

- Leo Shorten (Form 6) 

 

The Godfather 

"Everyone knows the Godfather trilogy of films so well, and they're so renowned as amazing, that the book from which the films are based is often overlookedPersonally, I think the pacing of the book is better, and there are some scenes in the book that the films leave outAnd unlike the films it's a standalone without a sequel so you get a whole complete story over one bookI would highly recommend reading it before you watch the films." 

- Michael Binchy (Form 6) 

 

Purple Hibiscus 

“Despite the privileged life Kambili and her older brother, Jaja, lead in the city of Enugu, Nigeria, their home life is anything but harmonious: although their religious father is a respected businessman, at home he has impossible expectations of his children and wife.  When a visit to their loving and outspoken Aunt Ifeoma—their first trip away from home—gives the two a newfound freedom, Kambili must find strength with her loved ones while knowing nothing can be the same as before  

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the author of many other titles, such as Americanah, We Should All Be Feminists, and Half of a Yellow Sun Purple Hibiscus is her debut novel, which has been described as having “prose as lush as the Nigerian landscape that it powerfully evokes” (The Boston Globe) Her elegant storytelling and ability to reveal characters’ innermost workings over the course of a book is akin to Margaret Atwood in my opinion.  I loved this book so much that I am actively seeking to read more books by her—I’m currently reading Half of a Yellow Sun.  I would recommend this book to any Junior who enjoys a more slow-paced, atmospheric book. 

- Olivia Leonard (Form 4) 

 

The Lies of Locke Lamora 

“For older readers looking for wit, heart and irresistible personality, "The Lies of Locke Lamora" is a clever, conniving yarn about a band of thieves lurking in the shadowy city of CamorrWhen a violent coup threatens to upend his unstable existence, Locke must draw on every last trick in the book to keep himself and friends aliveIt's a tale that's wickedly funny, occasionally heartbreaking, and always gripping, featuring some of the most lovable scoundrels this side of Scorsese.”  

- Luca Farrelly (Form 6) 

 

One of Us Is Lying 

“I would recommend the book ‘One of Us Is Lying’ by Karen M. McManus for young adults aged twelve to fifteen, but older teens can of course enjoy it as well!   

The book follows five teens, Nate Addy, Browyn, Cooper and Simon. All five go into detention but only four make it outWhile these young adults deal with the death of their classmate, they become closer friends and closer to solving this mystery!” 

- JoJo O’Connor (Form 4) 

 

The Handmaid’s Tale 

“Despite the fact that The Handmaids Tale is set in the future, when Margaret Atwood wrote The Handmaids Tale in 1985, she gave herself a rule: she would not use any event or practice that hadn’t already happened in human historyThe novel is set in New England, where we see Offred, the book’s protagonist, navigate Atwood’s chilling vision for a dystopian AmericaIn this vision, a patriarchal totalitarian state known as the Republic of Gilead has overthrown the United States governmentUnder this regime, women are completely subservient to men: their lives are confined to distinct social classes based solely upon their function as status symbols.   

While reading The Handmaids Tale, knowing that all of the book’s contents had in some place or time happened, makes the book that much more hauntingAtwood’s way of writing and storytelling is unlike any other author in my opinion; I thought it was such a compelling read that I finished this book in just a few days.   

This novel is increasingly relevant in today’s trends towards far-right and misogynistic sentiments, and for this reason I have chosen The Handmaids Tale as my book recommendation for Seniors.”  

- Olivia Leonard (Form 4) 

 

We hope that among the eight books shared above, at least one has caught your eye—happy reading!   

 

Compiled by Olivia Leonard.