Ursulines Thurles’ hopes of a first Subway All-Ireland Schoolgirls title since 1996 are all but dead as Kilkenny College and Banbridge Academy led the way on the first day of the national championships at Havelock Park yesterday.

Why does the State spend an annual figure of €6.75m on the Protestant Block Grant which supports Protestants who need it with school fees? asks Victoria White

Cold and damp conditions ultimately put pay to Kevin Mulcaire’s record-breaking ambitions but nothing could stop Ciara Neville lighting up the track at the GloHealth All Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore on Saturday.

Crescent College Comprehensive became just the third Munster school to taste national glory in 20 years as they claimed the Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championships in Galway yesterday. 

It’s been a whirlwind rise up the rugby pecking order for Robin Copeland, through St Mary’s College, Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans and then Cardiff Blues.

Newtown School in Waterford has become the latest fee-paying second-level college to join the free education scheme.

2008 champions Belvedere College sent out a message of intent in Balbriggan yesterday afternoon, as first-half tries by Adam Foy and Josh Hutchinson provided the foundations for a comprehensive 28-3 opening round victory over Wesley College.

The salaries of all teachers in fee-paying schools were paid on the same basis as other second-level schools — one for every 18 pupils until September 2009.

Government cuts and falling enrolments have seen taxpayer funding of fee-paying schools’ teacher salaries drop 11% in five years to below €97m.

HEINEKEN CUP POOL THREE:

IT BEGAN as a school project — but Molly Parmeter’s celebrity ‘style bible’ is a media sensation.

Fee-charging schools have warned that further cuts to their funding in next month’s budget will cost the taxpayer money.

WHO created the fee-charging schools? The State, not parents speeding up to the school gates in red Ferraris and not Protestants in wide-brimmed, black hats.

Connacht have announced the signing of Landsdowne out-half Craig Ronaldson who has penned a one-year deal with the western province.

Villiers gave Ashton a good test before succumbing 5-1 in an entertaining Munster Senior Schoolboys Cup final at Garryduff yesterday.

The average fee-paying school has €3,200 more per pupil for extra teachers and other supports than free schools, analysis shows.

One of the country’s oldest fee-paying schools says government cutbacks and pressure on families have forced it to enter the free education system from next September.

Bray 3 Kilkenny College 10

Most of the €96m in State funding given to 56 private schools in 2011-12 was spent on teacher salaries, writes political correspondent Mary Regan

Munster U19 13 Leinster U19 32

The IHFA Open Day takes place on Wednesday June 20 on the farm of Tom and Maura Murphy at Swiftsheath, Jenkinstown, Co. Kilkenny.

At the headiest of times for Irish hockey, the agony and ecstasy of the national sides chasing their Olympic dreams was put harrowingly into perspective this week.

St Michael’s secured a Leinster Schools Senior Cup final shot with holders Clongowes Wood after a titanic tussle with Kilkenny at Donnybrook yesterday.

Controversy abounded after a last-ditch Kilkenny College try staved off a Catholic University School comeback in the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup quarter-final.

KEVIN DOWNES confesses it was weird. When he entered the dressing rooms of the Staker Wallace club in Martinstown near Kilmallock last January, he was unsure. On a black winter’s night, he was introduced to the world of senior inter-county hurling, just over four months since he’d torn open the envelope and digested his Leaving Cert results.

One of Ireland's most senior church leaders has accused the Government of discriminating against protestant schools.

The Leinster U-19 team to face Ulster in Greystones RFC on Saturday (KO: 2pm) has been named.

IRISH consumers are spending over €2.5 billion a year on horticultural products.

St Michael’s College 22 Kilkenny College 0

The Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup semi-final scheduled for Sunday between Clongowes Wood College SJ v Terenure College has been postponed until Monday due to a waterlogged pitch.

IT’S a result that’s still resonating around Leinster Schools rugby — Kilkenny College’s shock 14-13 victory over 65 times champions Blackrock College in their quarter-final replay at Donnybrook on Monday.

The Leinster Schools (U19) team to play Munster Schools on Wednesday in Musgrave Park (kick off 2pm) has been announced.

The draws for the Leinster Schools Senior and Junior Cup competitions have been made in Lansdowne FC tonight.

The following is the Leinster Schools (U19) squad to face Leicester on Friday, November 4, in Leicester.

NEWBRIDGE College produced a stunning injury-time comeback to defeat Kilkenny College and advance to the Leinster Schools Section B Senior Cup semi-final at Portlaoise yesterday.

Education Correspondent

Ireland women’s first full international since last winter’s World Cup ended in a 0-0 draw against Japan in Den Bosch, Holland, today.

Castleknock College gained revenge for their defeat to St Michael's College in last year's Leinster Schools Junior Cup final with a 6-3 win at Donnybrook today.

The Irish Rugby Football Union hope to receive a directive from the Government today on whether England’s Six Nations Championship visit to Dublin on March 24 should be postponed.