On Tuesday 24th May, Bishop Paul Colton paid a visit to Bandon Grammar School to attend their End of Year Service and to give the address. Local clergy, including Canon Denis MacCarthy, the Rev. Denis Maguire and Fr. John O’ Donovan were also in attendance. The service was led by the school chaplain, the Rev. Anne Skuse, and the prayers and reading were said by students and staff. The school choir, under the direction of Ms. Power, led the singing of the hymns.

In her introduction the Rev. Skuse expressed her delight that after three years the school community was once again able to gather altogether for worship and went on to say:

This service gives us the opportunity to give thanks to God for all we have shared together over the past year and to ask God’s blessing on and say farewell to those who are leaving us. To our sixth form students and this year to Mr. Coombes our headmaster and to Mr. Bradfield the school administrator who are retiring.

In his address the bishop began by thanking Mr Coombes and Mr Bradfield for their dedicated service of care to the school community which cumulatively amounted to almost one hundred years! The bishop presented Mr Coombes with an Annie West print of the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross to remind him of the school’s link with the diocese. Speaking to the students, the bishop challenged them to think about what they would bring with them, if they like so many around the world, had to leave their homeland due to war, violence or hatred. After the service the bishop spent the morning on a pastoral visit, talking with students and staff throughout the school community.