“The aim of education, is the wise use of leisure”

                    Aristotle

Togher Boys’ N.S. has enjoyed many outstanding successes in chess over the past decade, but the victory in the Munster Schools’ U-14 championship will rank with the best of them.

While more than twenty schools now compete in Primary Schools’

Chess in Cork, Togher Boys’ is only one of two schools who are deemed eligible for this competition, along with schools such as Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown and C.B.C. They now go on to compete in the All-Ireland (32 county) Finals in Dublin.

On May 26th our boys will travel to Dublin for the ESB Sponsored nationwide tournament: a competition in which we were runners-up last year from a total entry of nearly 300 schools. With our All-Ireland win in the Community Games finals last August in Mosney and a secong Munster schools’ win the previous January, chess is on the crest of a wave at Togher Boys’ at present.

The team which featured five 11-year old boys from fifth class, was: Jamie O’Donovan (Cherry Tree Road), Paul Fitzgerald (Ballinhassig), Ian Lyne (Tramore Road), Gary Williamson (Greenwood Estate), Jason Burns (Vicar’s Road), Cian O’Driscoll (Fernwood). The subs were Adrian Burke (Westside Estate), and Shane O’Leary (Sandown Crest).

A particular word of appreciation and thanks to Assistant Principal, Mr. Richard Pardi, team coach and manager, without whose expertise, coaching and time, freely given, such success would not be possible.

Well done boys!