Latest News

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***********2011 - 2012************

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URSULINE MUSINGS – FEBRUARY 26, 2012

Success for Gael Linn Debating Team

Well done to the Senior Gael Linn Debating team who has successfully negotiated another hurdle in the competition. Jane O’Quigley, Laura Connolly and Tamsin Greene Barker successfully proposed the motion that it was a good thing that there will be an end to the culture of the pub in Irleand:
            “Is rud maith e go bhfuil deireadh ag teacht le cultur an ti tabhairne in Eirinn”
Four teams were in action: Ardscoil na Trionoide, Athy and Ursuline Thurles, proposing and Loreto Clonmel and Newbridge College, opposing. Loreto Clonmel also qualified for the next stage.

Concern Debate
Prior to the mid-term break, the Concern Debating,  team who had secured eight out of a possible nine points in their previous debates, was defeated in arguing that “Barack Obama is good for Africa” against presentation, Thurles. It is unlikely now that they will proceed to the knock out stage of the competition.

Enterprise

All the Transition Year Mini-Companies displayed their work last week for a judging panel from North Tipperary Enterprise Board. Four companies were selected to go forward to the Regional finals which will take place on March 7. The four companies are:

• “Caman, Let’s Play” – a design to fit on a hurley to make it usable on indoor surfaces or astro-turfs
• “Tub-a-Love” – hand crafted bake mixes in a decorative re-usable glass jar
• “Seasonal Spices” – a variety of spice mixes to add flavor to food
• “Nurtur Nature” – a 100% eco friendly fertilizer

Disappointment for Senior A

The Senior A Hockey team travelled to Limerick last Wednesday to take on Crescent Comprehensive in a replay of the Cup semi-final.

Unfortunately, a date in this year’s final was not to be. The team conceded an early goal and despite having the majority of possession after that, it could not break down the solid Crescent defence and so the score remained 0-1.

The Senior B team was also in action twice last week in a home and away fixture against Villiers, Limerick. The home fixture gave the victory to Villiers and the away fixture was a 1-1 draw. The Second Year A team had a 7-0 win over the same opposition.

A Munster Final for Junior Camogie

The Junior Camogie team has booked its place in the Munster Final of the Camogie Plate by comprehensively beating Laurel Hill Colaiste. They await the result of the second semi-final to see who their opponents will be in the final.

Cross Country Athletics

In the recent Munster Schools Cross Country held in CIT Cork on Thursday February 9, the Ursuline teams performed extremely well. Heavy rainfall had left the course particularly muddy and this led to difficult conditions for the runners to contend with.

 First off were the minor team of Aoife Booth, Susie Osborne, Molly Kavanagh, Nuala Fitzgibbon, Eimear O Loughlin and Rebecca Lynch. This team had already achieved qualification from East Munster with a fourth place finish and here they improved on that by one place by finishing in a very credible third which qualifies them for the All Irelands in March.

The Junior race was over 2500 meters and this team was highly fancied to do well as they had already won the East Munster and are also the defending All Ireland Champion Minor team form last year. This race set off at a fierce pace with Eimear Loughman off with the main bunch of leaders. She settled in to third place and it seemed that it was going to be a fight between herself and Karen Kennedy of Presentation Thurles for third and fourth places. With 500 metres to go and with the main bunch fast catching the two girls, Eimear took off after Laura Cooke of Villiers (who was forty metres ahead of her at this stage) and caught her with four metres to go and win a really hard fought and well deserved silver individual medal. This was one of the best performances ever witnessed for an Ursuline Cross Country runner as the last 300 metres were run over what was literally a sea of mud. Laura Costello, in her first outing this year, finished in 10th place followed in by Emma Doyle (14th) and Aoife Delargy (15th) out of the 60 starters. Muireann O Dwyer and Ciara Fogarty came in a few places behind the two girls.

The Intermediate race proved to be a very close battle between Loreto Clonmel, Ursuline Thurles and Ursuline Waterford. On this occasion the result went to Loreto Clonmel by the smallest of margins. Two points separated the two teams over the 3000m course. The start was a confused affair with some of the athletes still not quite at the line before the gun went off. Ciara Cummins and Eileen Rafter finished in 8th and 10th positions. Orla Healy and Brigitte Murphy were in 21th and 22nd places. Kate Kennedy and Catriona Hayes followed in close behind. This is a young team (last years' All Ireland Junior Champions) and it has potential to do very well next year and a medal finish at the All Ireland's is very much a possibility so fingers crossed for March!

The Senior girls had a good run. They had finished in second place in East Munster. Shauna Hayden followed up on her very good 2500m East Munster run with 13th place and finished only a minute behind the winner. Cora Doyle and Heather Casey finished in 29th and 30th places to get a very credible 6th place overall in the team competition.

In an unusual order of events this year, the girls took part in the Co Tipperary Championships on Feburary 23 in Thurles and once again, the School won the Overall Best Schools Shield.

The Athletes now look forward to March where the three teams will take place in the All Ireland and Shauna Hayden will take part as an individual. There are places to be won on the Irish team and some of the girls will be in the running for them so best of luck to them!

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URSULINE MUSINGS – FEBRUARY 5, 2012

Concern Debate

The Concern Debating team is putting the final touches to its argument that “ Barack Obama is good for Africa” in preparation for the final debate in the opening series on Wednesday, February 8.  They have managed to win the arguments in the three debates so far, scoring eight out of a possible nine points from the judges. The last sixteen in the competition will be decided by the accumulated points over the four debates.  The opponents for this debate will be the Presentation, Thurles who will oppose the idea that Obama is good for Africa. An interesting debate is anticipated.
Team: Ruth Heenan (capt), Síofra Adams, Hannah Barnes, Jenny Kelly. (Sub: Anna Joyce)

Hockey

That same afternoon, the Senior A hockey team will take to the pitch in the semi-final of the Munster Cup. The opponents for this encounter are Crescent Comprehensive, Limerick and a tough and tight match is anticipated.

There were just two competitive matches last week and it was success for both teams. First Year East scored four goals against Villiers, Limerick and the Second Year A scored five goals against the same opposition. Both matches were without reply from Villiers.

Transition Year Y.S.I.

The time is drawing near for the three groups of Transition Year students to have their submissions ready for this year’s Young Social Innovators competition.  One group is examining the sexualisation of young girls by the media.  The title of this project is “Let Them Be Little” and the students will produce a brochure and set up a website for parents of Primary school children to access to show them age appropriate activities for young children.

A second group is looking at the language barriers that exist in Primary Schools for some students and they hope to do something that might make life easier for these foreign students.  The third group is raising awareness about the depth and variety of produce/foods that are prepared and produced in Co Tipperary.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – JANUARY 30, 2012 

Mental Health Public Speaking

With Mock Leaving Cert Examinations underway since Friday last, it was good to get some of the fixtures in public speaking and debating out of the way before them. The Mental Health Public Speaking team of Ruth Atkins, Aine Blake and Lisa Fogarty and sub Lauren Moore travelled to Kilkenny to take part in the South Eastern Regional Final. Their opponents were Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown and St Brigid’s, Callan.  The Ursuline team decided to develop the topic they had chosen for the first round:
“Modern life is fast and pressurised and our children are not immune to its consequences”
These words by former President Mary McAleese gave the students the opportunity to explore the consequences for mental health of this pressurised life style.

The Adjudicators were very impressed with the high standard of Public Speaking skills that were displayed by all three teams and the insights they had gained into the mental health issues. They awarded the win to the Ursuline team and the girls now go forward to the All Ireland semi-final which will take place next month.

Ursulines Talk it Up

(l to r): Ruth Atkins, Aine Blake and Lisa Fogarty who successfully talked their way into the All Ireland semi-final of the Mental Health Public Speaking competition

Gael Linn Debating

On the same day, the Gael Linn Debating team of Jane O’Quigley, Laura Connolly and Tamsin Greene Barker headed south to Clonmel to oppose the motion
“Tá ár bhféiniúlacht mar thír caillte again in Eirinn”
Four teams in all, Loreto Clonmel, St Leo’s Carlow and Stella Maris were in action: two proposing the motion and two opposing. The adjudicators chose two teams to go forward to the next round: Loreto, Clonmel who had proposed the motion and the Ursuline team (opposing).

Transition Year
The Transition Year students headed for Dublin last Friday for their much anticipated trip to see Dirty Dancing in the Grand Canal Theatre. They also used the opportunity to visit Kilmainham and the Zoo and a great day was had by all.

The TY students are working very hard at the moment to prepare themselves for their YSI submission which is due by early March. Each of the three groups is busy researching and preparing its brief.

Sport

It was also a very busy week for sporting teams in the school. The First and Second Year Basketball teams had their first competitive outing of the year and both teams were successful against opponents, Nenagh. First Years won by 28 – 15 and Second Years by 16 – 14.

The Junior A Hockey team was successful in its first Cup outing against Bandon by 1 – 0 and the Second Year A team had a 1 – 0 victory in the league against the same opposition. There were also league fixtures completed for Second Year A, First Year West, Second Year B2 against Laurel Hill Coláiste and all three teams had a win. The Junior B 2 team played out a 1-1 draw against Villiers while the Junior B1 team lost by 2 – 4 in its Cup competition.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – DECEMBER 11, 2011

Mental Health Public Speaking Competition

Last Wednesday the school hosted the North Tipperary Mental Health Public Speaking competition. Four schools were represented: Presentation, C.B.S. and Ursuline Thurles and the Community School, Borrisokane.

The National Public Speaking Project aims to:

• promote an awareness among young people of the importance of positive mental health and of the causes and effects of mental illness
• introduce students to public speaking
• reduce negative attitudes and prejudices associated with mental illness

In this round of the competition, the three members of the team have a choice to either speak on the one topic or to speak on three different topics. The Ursuline students, Ruth Atkins, Aine Blake and Lisa Fogarty chose to speak as a team on how “Life is busy and pressurized and our children are not immune from the pressures.”
The standard of speaking and the depth of understanding of the mental health issues was extremely high from all four schools. There had to be a winner and the Ursuline team was chosen to represent North Tipperary at the next stage of the competition after Christmas.

Ava Meagher, winner of the Tipperary SoroptimistPublic Speaking competition recently, pictured with Maura Stapleton, Presidentof the Tipperary Branch

X-Factor
The final preliminary rounds of X-factor will draw to a close this week and then the decision will be made as to who will get the places in the final. There will be three prizes: Best Act from Junior Cycle, Best Act from Senior Cycle and the Overall winner. The final will take place on the last day of term.
Sport
The Senior A and Junior A teams travelled to Cork last week for league encounters with Mount Mercy. The Senior A played a strong game and had much the better possession but they conceded a goal in the last minutes and suffered the first defeat of the season. Despite this one loss, they were crowned league Champions. The eyes of the team are now firmly set on the Cup campaign which will start immediately after Christmas.
The Junior A also played Mount Mercy and the team emerged as 2 -1 winners of that encounter.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – DECEMBER 4, 2011

As befits the season of Advent, the last week was a time of preparation: the Concern Debating team is working on informing themselves on GMFs as they prepare for the next debating encounter which will take place immediately after Christmas. The Gael Linn team is also “in session” making its preparations and many of those involved in Public Speaking and Debating attended the Trinity College Philosophical Society’s workshop on debating and public speaking skills. The School Council is preparing and planning some lunch time activities for the final week of term and most importantly, the Religious Education classes are preparing for the Mass of the Gifts, the highlight of the Liturgical celebrations in the school, which will also take place in the final week of the term.

X-Factor

Two rounds of X-Factor have now been completed and the Fifth Year School Councillors are ensuring that all acts are ready to go for the qualifying rounds. So far there have been solo singers, a violin duet, bass guitar solo, dancers, sketches etc. The finalists will be announced when all the participants have showed their talents.

Sport

There were varying fortunes for the two Basketball teams in action last week. The Senior and Cadette teams took on Kilcock, Co Kildare in the league and the Senior team was defeated by 22 – 27 but the Cadette team continued its winning ways by defeating the same opposition by 38 – 14.

The Senior A defeated “old enemy” Crescent, Limerick by 2- 0 while the Junior A team suffered its first defeat of the season, going down by 1 – 2. The First Year (North) team played out a 1 -1 draw against Crescent and the Second Year B1 lost by 0 -1.

First Year East and North teams were in action against Laurel Hill Coláiste and East played a 0 – 0 draw while North won by 2 – 1. Senior C and Junior B2 teams both had 3 – 0 wins over St Anne’s, Tipperary. 

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URSULINE MUSINGS – NOVEMBER 28, 2011

SOROPTIMIST PUBLIC SPEAKING

Three students participated in the Co Tipperary section of the Soroptimist Public Speaking competition last Saturday week in the Clonmel Park Hotel. Ciara Maguire, Emily Fitzgerald and Ava Meagher were among the thirteen participants from various schools around the county and further a-field. The students choose to speak on a topic from one of seven areas concerning the European Union, Education, Environment, Economic and Social Development, Health, International Good Will and Civil Rights and the Status of Women.

Ciara spoke on how “Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another”. Emily chose the topic in the Health section: “So many people spend their health gaining wealth and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health!”. Ava spoke on Civil Rights and the Status of Women: “It is only when you get a critical mass of women in politics that you get women’s issues attacked.”

Ava Meagher was one of the two students chosen to go forward to the Regional Finals to be held next February.

SERVICE FOR THE HOLY SOULS

A Liturgy for the Holy Souls was held last week in the Sports Complex where the whole school came together to pray for their loved ones who had died. The theme this year was the Butterfly: symbol of the resurrection. Each class had prepared for the Liturgy in advance during November and they had made a beautiful montage of butterflies on which they had placed the names of those they especially wished to remember. The service was supported with lovely singing from the Chamber and Cecilian Choirs.

POETRY ALOUD

Four students had successfully negotiated the opening round of Poetry Aloud in October and they travelled to the National Library in Dublin last Friday to take part in the final. Ruth Atkins, Jenny Kelly (Fifth Years), Mary Claire Fitzgerald (Third Year) and Clodagh Nash (Second Year) performed their chosen poems very well but they were not successful.

CONCERN DEBATE

One would be forgiven for believing that the debate between the Ursuline girls and the C.B.S. boys last week was at the latter end of the competition instead of the second debate of the round robin series, such was the standard of debating on the motion
            “that Irish youth is doing its fair share to end poverty and hunger in the Third World.”
The girls were opposing the motion and won the day by a majority decision of the judges.

MATHS ENRICHMENT

Based on performance in Junior Cert Maths, three students were chosen to attend Maths Enrichment classes organised by the UCD School of Mathematical Sciences. Laura Connolly, Emer Herlihy and Orla Maher were the chosen students who have the opportunity to avail of this and it can lead to the Maths Olympiad training classes which have an International aspect to it.

SPORT

The hockey league fixture list is rather frantic at the moment as schools try to complete at least some of their matches before Christmas. The Senior A and Junior A were in action against Bandon Grammar and both teams had convincing wins even though the score line belies the tough encounter in both cases. Senior A won by 3 – 0 and Junior A by 4 – 0. Senior B team had a 1 – 0 win over Laurel Hill Secondary School, whilst First Year (West) went down by 0 – 3 and Junior B2 played a 0 – 0 draw against the same opposition.

Pictured at the recent HockeyInter-provincial series in Belfastare the three Ursuline students who were chosen for the Under 16 team. (L to R) Edel Nyland, Becky Danaher, Anna Crotty

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URSULINE MUSINGS – NOVEMBER 21, 2011

GAEL LINN DEBATE

Ruth Atkins, Laura Connolly and Jane O’ Quigley travelled to the Cistercian College, Roscrea last week to participate in the first round of the Gael Linn Debating competition. Four teams, Cistercian, Roscrea, Scoil Iosagáin, Portlaoise, CBS Callan  and the Ursuline team debated issues around the Presidency. The motion:

            “Tá ról rithábhachtach ag Uachtarán na h-Eireann”

was robustly argued with two teams proposing and two teams opposing. The result gave a passage to the next round to the Ursuline (proposing) and CBS (opposing).

CONCERN DEBATE

The Concern Debating team is putting the final touches to its motion for the second debate in the Concern series against Thurles CBS. The motion for debate is
            “That Irish Youth is doing its fair share to end poverty and hunger in the developing world”
The team is opposing the motion and a keen and passionate debate is anticipated!

GAMES DESIGN WORKSHOP

Two Transition Year students, Annie Blake and Mairead Blake, won the overall prize at a Games Design Workshop which was conducted in LIT Thurles.  They won an Xbox 360 for the Art work they had designed and used in the Games Design Workshop. 

CHAMBER CHOIR

In its first official performance of the year, the Chamber Choir travelled to Brú Brú, Cashel last Saturday night to take part in a concert which was part of the Cashel Arts Fest festival. The Choir performed three pieces: “Maria Matrem”, “Chilli Con Carne” and “Heart, we will forget him”. Also participating was Cashel Community School Choir, a Barber  Shop Quartet “Four in a Bar” and a ladies choir from Cork.

SPORT

It has been a busy week for the sporting teams particularly the hockey team as fixtures mount for the thirteen competitive teams in Munster League and Cup competitions. Senior C played out a 1-1 draw against laurel Hill, Coláiste and Junior B1 had a 3-0 win and First Year (East) had a 4 -0  win over the same opposition. Later in the week, First Year (South) was in action against laurel Hill, Coláiste and they secured a 2-0 win and the Second Year B1 had a 4 – 0 win also.
The Senior Camogie team was defeated by Borrisokane in the Championship.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – NOVEMBER 13, 2011

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS BELL

The return to school after the mid-term break was greeted by the sound of a bell. Not the ususal bell that students are used to listening to, but the sound of the Eucharistic Bell which was in the parish for a couple of days. The students all came together in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall and there was a lovely Prayer Service conducted by the Religious Education Department and the significance of the bell and the four icons on its pedestal was explained

ADDED JOY FOR JUNIOR CERT STUDENTS

As a result of review of Junior Cert Examination scripts, there were many upgrades in specific subjects but for two students, it was particularly significant. Laura Connolly and Emer Herlihy received upgrades in English and Music, respectively and this brings their results  to 12 A's each.  On results day last September, three students had achieved 12 A's, the highest number in the country,  and this now brings the total of students with 12 A's to five.

ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIPS

News was also received during the week that three students from the Leaving Cert class of 2011 have received Entrance Scholarship Awards from Trinity College. The three students are Anna Brennan (studying Law), Aisling O’Connor (Dentistry) and Ruth Scott (Science).

HIGH ACHIEVERS CONCERT

42,000 candidates take examinations every year in the Royal Irish Academy of Music. 340 of the candidates get a High Achiever Award. Each province has a concert for which the High Achievers audition if they wish to take part . Eighteen students were chosen to perform at this year ‘s concert which took place in Siamsa Tíre in Tralee recently.

Six students received High Achievers  awards based on the results of last May’s RIAM exams: Áine Blake (Piano), Anna Brennan  (Piano), Emer O'Herlihy  (Piano), Róisin Heenan (Voice), Eimear Kinsella (Violin) and Fiona O'Sullivan (Music Theatre). Three were chosen to perform in the Concert: They were Áine Blake who played Le petit âne blanc by J Ibert. Eimear Kinsella Adoration by F Borowski and FionaO'Sullivan who sang I Dreamed a Dream by CM Schönberg and M Kretzmer

Lorna Horan Senior Examiner in the RIAM was the presenter of the Concert assisted by Dorothy McCauley Manager of the Local Centre Examinations and Audrey Behan, Examiner of Speech and Drama. The standard was very high and a great day was had by all.

POETRY ALOUD

In the course of the week of the show before the mid-term, the School hosted the first round of the Poetry Aloud competition. From the many students who took part, four students were chosen to go forward to the next stage of the competition: Ruth Atkins and Jenny Kelly from Fifth Year, Mary Claire Fitzgerald, Third Year and Clodagh Nash, Second Year.

HOCKEY

The Senior A and Junior A hockey teams travelled to Limerick last week to continue their respective League campaigns. The opposition for both was Scoil Mhuire. It was a successful day for both teams who scored three goals each.
BASKETBALL

The Cadette Basketball team was in action also last week as they took on  presentation, Castleisland in the quarter final of the Cup competition. Unfortunately, Castleisland proved too strong and they proceed to the semi-final.

FIRST YEAR CAMOGIE BLITZ

Well done to the First Year Camogie team who reached the final of the Co Tipperary Blitz  which was held last week in Dr Morris Park in Thurles. The team played four games in all and drew against Cashel, had two victories against Nenagh B team scoring 4 – 7 in the semi-final. The final placed them against the Nenagh A team which they lost by 1-2 to 3-2.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – OCTOBER 16, 2011

Crazy For You

Crazy For You opened on Saturday night last, and will continue until Thursday night, October 27. Tickets for the final night can be reserved by calling to the Secondary School office or phoning 0504 22147 between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.

The action moves between the glitzy theatrical world of New York and the rather dull and uninteresting Deadrock, Nevada where nothing much happens and the occupants are simply “Bidin My Time”. Things liven up considerably when a disgruntled New York banker, Bobby Child, arrives to foreclose on the run down theatre in the town. On arrival, he falls head over heels in love with the town’s only female occupant and in an effort to win her approval, he decided he wants to save the theatre by staging a show there.

The songs are well known and loved and include “I’ve Got Rhythm”, “Someone To Watch Over Me”, “They Can’t That Away from Me” and the fun and comedy of the script all add up to a most pleasant evening’s entertainment.

Concern Debate

The first debate in this year’s series took place last week against Nenagh C.B.S.  The team worked hard in their spare time on gathering their material and honing their debating skills. The motion for debate was
            “Aid to the Developing World is a luxury that Ireland cannot afford”
and the team of Ruth Heenan (captain), Síofra Adams, Hannah Barnes and Jenny Kelly opposed the motion and got the approval of the three judges.

Sport

The first competitive hockey match of the season took place last week for the Senior A and Junior A teams who took on Laurel Hill, Coláiste. The Senior A team emerged as convincing winners as it put five goals away against the opposition without reply. The Junior A match was a closer affair with the team trailing by a goal for most of the match. However, continued pressure on the Laurel goal yielded two late goals and a first win in this year’s league campaign.

The Cadette Basketball team did not have the same luck and though playing well, the team went down by 39 – 33 baskets against Confey College. The Senior Camogie team travelled to Limerick to take on Laurel Hill Secondary School and they suffered a comprehensive defeat.

Interprovincial Hockey

Three students travelled to Belfast last weekend to represent Munster in the Under 16 Inter-provincial series. Becky Danaher, Kate Crotty and Edel Nyland have been training very hard with the Munster Under 16 squad every weekend for the last few months. It is a huge commitment and great credit is due to the girls.

The Munster team had two draws: one against Leinster and one against Ulster, hotly tipped to win the series. The team lost to the South East and won against Connacht with Edel Nyland scoring one of the two goals.

Archbishop Clifford’s Visit

On Thursday last, on the feast of St Ursula, Dr Clifford visited the school and conducted a prayer service with staff and students. The Archbishop spoke in some detail about the Pope’s visit to Madrid during the summer for World Youth Day and how Pope Benedict praised the commitment of the huge number of young people who attended his address to the young people and the Mass, despite very inclement weather conditions that prevailed on the day.

Dr Aisling Butler Bursary

Following the Prayer Service, the parents of Dr Aisling Butler presented the second Dr Aisling Butler Bursary to a student from the class of 2011 who has commenced her studies in Medecine. This year’s recipient was Maeve Herlihy who has started her medical studies in U.C.C. In her address to the students, Aisling’s mum, Evelyn, spoke about the importance of the Bursary for them as a family as it gives life to Aisling and ensures that she will always be remembered in the school where she spent six happy years.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – OCTOBER 9, 2011

Mission Day

The Sixth Year Class held its Mission Day last week. The theme the students chose for the day anticipated Hallowe’en at the end of this month and for an hour last Wednesday, they were transformed into witches of all kinds and sorts. A number of teachers also dressed up and were unrecognisable as they mingled amongst the students.

The “Cast A Spell” theme proved very imaginative and provided the students with many opportunities to organise fun and games for the rest of the school. There is no doubt that the most popular attraction on the day was the Haunted House organised by one of the Sixth Year groups. They took over the back of the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall that normally accommodates the dressing rooms for the shows and they had it all decked out as a haunted house and it was occupied by some very scary creatures! It was so popular in fact that students queued all through lunch hour to gain access – indeed a spell must have been cast!

There were plenty other games to amuse the students for an hour including Tug of War, Hitting the Shoe not to mention the usual food outlets for cakes etc. The whole affair raised € 3,200 for the Ursuline Missions in Kenya and that money will be put to very good use in a country that is suffering more than its fair share.

Sport

After a shaky start to the season, the Junior Gaelic Football team continued its winning ways last week by defeating Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig by 7-8 to 3-6.

The Senior A hockey team is ready to start its league campaign this week. In its first competitive outing this season the team takes on Laurel Hill Coláiste and team members are fit and ready and looking forward to notching up a first win!

Crazy For You

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URSULINE MUSINGS – OCTOBER 2, 2011

Sixth Year Art & Geography Trip
Sixth Year Art and Geography students combined work with pleasure recently when they went on twq respective outings, necessitated by the demands of their subject syllabi.
The Geography students are compelled to do a field study and it counts for a significant percentage of marks in the Leaving Cert Examination. This year the students made the trip to Co Clare to complete their shoreline field study and also visited the Ailwee Caves. All that remains now is the writing up of the study and the findings.
The Sixth Year Art class had in the words of the Art Teacher “the best exhibition ever” when they visited the “Dublin Contemporary ‘11” Exhibition in Earlsfort Terrace, the national Gallery and the Douglas Hyde Gallery. It was an immensely enriching and interactive experience for all.

Gaelic Football & Camogie
The Gaelic Football Junior team have already played two matches, winning one and losing one. The defeat came in the first match against Loreto Clonmel and the victory was at the expense of St John the Baptist S.S. in Hospital, winning quite comfortably by 6-13 to 5-5.
The Camogie team is not having the same start to the season suffering two heavy defeats against Loughrea and Cashel Commnity School.

Hockey - Challenge Matches
In preparation for the start of the league season, the Senior A and Senior B hockey teams  travelled to Kilkenny to challenge Kilkenny College. In two very competitive games, the Senior A team emerged as winners by 1 – 0 and the Senior B lost by a similar score-line.

Crazy For You

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URSULINE MUSINGS – SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Crazy For You

Auditions have now been completed and rehearsals are underway for this year’s production. The main parts are as follows:

Bobby Child: Fiona O’ Sullivan
Polly Baker: Eva McNally
Bella Zangler: Grainne White
Lottie Child: Ava Meagher
Irene Roth: Orlaith O’ Sullivan
Everett Baker: Ruth Atkins
Tess: Aisling Quirke
Patsy: Claire O’ Dwyer
Lank: Suzie Hanly
Eugene Fodor: Roisin Heenan
Patricia Fodor: Ann Marie O’ Dwyer
Moose: Gwen Fitzpatrick
Mingo: Adrienne Kelly
Sam: Moya Foley

Other parts are being played by Aoife Phelan, Tamsin Greene Barker, Lisa Fogarty, Rachel Williams , Ellen Lanigan, Irene O’Sullivan, Anna Crotty, Lucy Tobin, Claire Russell, Laura Booth,

Rehearsals are now underway and it will be all systems go for what should be a most enjoyable and funny show with some memorable tunes from the pen of George Gershwin.

Transition Year

The Transition Year had their first theatre outing on Friday last when they attended Psycho Spaghetti in the Excel Theatre last Friday. This is a one man show and has become an essential on the Transition Year Calendar each year. It takes a look at the way teenagers think and see the world and it is all done through an amusing but insightful script.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Junior Cert Results

Congratulations to the Junior Cert class of 2011 who covered themselves in glory last week when they got their results. Apart from the three students who received twelve As in the examination, there were many others who achieved at the highest level also. Students have the opportunity to drop one subject for Junior Cert if they are very committed to Music or Sport. Some of these students achieved eleven or ten As  and there is great credit due to them also, clearly demonstrating that with hard work, dedication and organisation, top marks can be achieved.

School Show

The choice for this year’s school show is George Gershwin’s Crazy For You. The show is full of well known tunes, lots of dancing and a big emphasis on fun and comedy. Some of the more well known songs are “I Got Rhythm”, “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me”.

At present, the auditions are in their final stages and the decisions will be made as to who gets what part. After this process, it will be all systems go to get every thing in place for the opening performance on Saturday, October 22.

Opening of the Year Mass

The whole school community came together last week for the first Liturgical celebration of the Year. The theme chosen by the students for the year was beautifully represented in the readings, the music and the art work:
“Forgiveness means letting go of a hurtful situation and getting on with your own happiness”
The Cecilian Choir provided the music and they were in great voice for the occasion and they were ably assisted by the instrumentalists.

Chamber Choir
The Chamber Choir is also getting into its stride as auditions for places have now been completed. This choir is a dedicated group of forty and they are all conscious that they have a lot of work and training to do to repeat the success of last year’s Chamber Choir who won the Cork Choral Festival.

Transition Years

The three groups of Transition Year students are well settled into their life at school, where the emphasis is on self-directed learning. They are, as usual, getting the opportunity to widen the normal school horizons and are getting used to the new aspects of the Transition Year curriculum: Community Care, YSI project etc

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URSULINE MUSINGS – SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

Now that the “dust has settled” on the return to school and all classes feeling as if they never had summer holidays, it is time to take a little look back at events during the summer.

REFURBISHMENT

The phrase “the dust has settled” has great resonance for the school community this year as a refurbishment of the existing building took place throughout the summer months. The builders were as good as their word and we returned to the building for September 29, having done all Staff Days in the Boarding School. Some of the work done was not visible, but some was! Students were able to see the possibilities for next year where temporary corridors presently lead to a building site. For the Staff, there was great joy as they entered a long awaited extension to the Staff Room. They have all now settled into that as if it was always there! The extension is now taking all the attention and staff and students alike are beginning to see the shape of what will be this time next year.

CLASS OF 2011

Congratulations to the Leaving Cert class of 2011 who did so well in their Leaving Cert and are now either settling in to their new life in third level institutions throughout the country or are preparing to set off. We wish them well and hope they are all very happy and content with their career choices.

It was lovely to see them all again for their Debs Dance which took place on August 23. They all managed to brave the stony path which led to the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall for the traditional presentation of the Debs. They then adjourned to the Anner Hotel where they danced the night away and caught up with each other after the summer.

OPENING OF THE YEAR MASS

The Opening of the Year mass will take place this week and the Religious Education, Music and Art departments are busily preparing for it. The theme for the School Year centres on Forgiveness
“Forgiveness  means letting go of a hurtful situation and moving on with your own happiness”
and this theme will be celebrated in the readings, the music and the art work.

HOCKEY

The astro-turf pitches are alive with activity as the experienced and not so experienced players work out and train for the year ahead. The Senior A panel has already played a challenge match against Loreto, Kilkenny and managed to put seven goals away against them. Signs of what is to come, hopefully!

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***********2010 - 2011************

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URSULINE MUSINGS – APRIL 10, 2011  

FEIS CEOIL

After the success of the Cork Choral Festival, the Chamber Choir participated in the school’s competition at Feis Ceoil last Tuesday in the R.D.S. The Choir made a change to its repertoire for the competition singing “Chilli Con Carne” again but adding “Heart, we will forget him” based on a poem by Emily Dickinson and arranged by Rentz.

It would have been difficult to repeat the success of Cork, given how well the Choir performed there, but the girls rose to the occasion and the Sixth Year members of the choir put away the anxieties of Irish Orals and Music Practicals.  They were rewarded with a second place, losing out by one mark to Belvedere College.

CORK CHORAL

The second place at the Feis was more than compensated for by the end of the week when the Choir received word that it had been named as the Best School Choir of the competition in Cork and so will receive and additional trophy when the awards are made in Cork after Easter.  This award is given to the Choir with the highest marks over the two days of the school’s competition. With 94 marks earned in its own competition, it would have been difficult for them to be beaten and so it proved!

ORCHESTRA 

The Senior orchestra will be packing up the bus with all the stands and instruments to take part in the Orchestra competition at Fesi Ceoil on Tuesday, April 12. The orchestra will perform “The Tempest” by Robert Smith and the ever popular “March” from Carmen by Bizet.

Y.S.I. PROJECTS

Word came through on Friday evening that both Transition Year groups have been selected to present their YSI projects to the judges in City West on May 11. Out of approximately 600 projects that presented in the first “Speakout” stage, sixty have been selected to present their projects to the judging panel. Both groups received excellent status under the criteria for the YSI.

THE DEN & BIZZ A BOARD

Meanwhile, the “Dis-Ability” group travels to Dublin on Thursday next to make its pitch for funding for the “Birds Nest Swing” it hopes to purchase for the Playground in Thurles.

Also on Thursday, another group of Transition Years will also be travelling to Dublin to take part in the national Final of the Enterprise competition.

Since winning the Co Tipperary final, Aine Blake, Sarah Kelly, Rachel Williams, Aoife McGrath and Orla Gleeson have been busy taking their “Bizz a Board” on to the next level. They have succeeded in actually producing the Board and they are also hopeful that they will have it as an App for the smartphone.

SPORT

As the hockey season draws to a close. the Senior C Hockey team was beaten last Friday by Mount Mercy in the Cup Final and the First Years are gearing up for  a final this week. The Tennis teams have all been involved in action in the round robin sections of their competitions and it now looks likely that Under 14B, Under 16 B and Under 19A will all qualify for the knock out stages of their respective competitions. The Second Year Basketball team has the Midland Final this week also.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – APRIL 3, 2011

CHAMBER CHOIR – WINNERS IN CORK

It was a well deserved win for the forty strong Chamber Choir last Thursday, March 31, at the Schools’ Competition for Equal Voices in the Cork International Choral Festival.  In recent competitive outings the Choir has been earning high marks and very favourable comments but first place has narrowly eluded it.

That changed last Thursday in Cork when the Choir performed its very contrasting programme for the competition: a beautiful arrangement by David Mooney of the traditional Irish air “Ardaigh Cuan” and the contemporary piece “Chilli Con Carne” by Anders Edenroth.

Because of the way the May Bank holiday is falling for schools, the organisers of the Cork Festival brought forward the Schools’ competitions by a month and the competition took place for the first time in Collins Barracks. There were ten schools taking part and the Chamber Choir was last to sing and it was worth waiting for as both songs were performed to the highest standard, revealing the control and technical ability of the choir. Adjudicators, Orla Flanagan and Blanaid Murphy firstly awarded four certificates of excellence: Loreto S.S. Fermoy, De La Salle Waterford, Cór na Carraige, Carrigtwohill and the Ursuline Chamber Choir and then the placings were announced with De la Salle Waterford coming second on 92.75 marks and Ursuline Chamber Choir in first place with 94 marks.

The Choir, under the direction of Ms Joan Farrell, is drawn from Junior Cert upwards and is voluntary for those who enjoy choral singing. The members of the choir are very dedicated and work hard after school hours so this win is well deserved and congratulations goes to all involved.

MUSICAL EVENING

It was a very busy week for the Music Department as the annual Musical Evening took place on Wednesday night last. The Intermediate and Senior Orchestras performed and it was a very good opportunity in particular for the Senior Orchestra to perform as they prepare to take part in the Schools’ Orchestral competition next week for Feis Ceoil. There was a great variety of talent on display: Harp Ensemble, Cello, Clarinet, Piano, Voice and Violin Solos as well as First & Second Year Choirs and the Cecilian Choir.

Y.S.I – DIS-ABILITY

There was good news also last Friday for one of the Transition Year groups in the Young Social Innovators competition. There is a facility within this competition that any group who has need of some money for its project can make a “Dragon’s Den” like pitch for cash for something worthwhile. The “Dis-Ability” group is anxious to provide a Bird’s Nest Swing for the playground in Thurles. This will cost about € 4,000 - € 5,000 and the group has already had talks with Thurles U.D.C. Now it has the opportunity to sell its idea to KPMG and earn some money towards this swing.

FOURTH GREEN FLAG

The Green Schools’ Committee, under the chairmanship of Fifth Year student, Sinead Ryan, was put through its paces last Wednesday when the examination for the fourth Green Flag took place. This flag concerns Travel and Transport and the committee had worked very hard on preparing its submission and ensuring that there was high awareness amongst the students of this whole issue and how we as a school can make a contribution towards reducing the carbon footprint.

The examination went very well and the signs are that the school will receive its Fourth Green Flag.

SPORT

Well done to the Second Year Basketball team who qualified for the Midland Final last week when the players comprehensively defeated Gaelcoláiste, Carlow. The Junior A Hockey team fought hard in its League encounter with Bandon Grammar and lost only on penalties after extra time. Meanwhile the First Year team hurtles forward and had a 5-0 win over the same opposition.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MARCH 27, 2011

YOUNG SOCIAL INNOVATORS

The two Transition Year groups travelled to C.I.T. in Cork to support their written submission for this year’s Y.S.I. programmes. There are three venues for this “Speakout” stage of the competition and approximately six hundred schools who are anxious to state their cases took part.

Two hundred schools were adjudicated in Cork over two days so the timing allotted is very tight. The students have two minutes to dramatise, in music, mime, song and word, their particular cause. Both groups had worked very hard condensing their projects into the two minutes: The “Dis-Ability” group certainly conveyed the work they have done in drawing attention to the strengths and weaknesses of Thurles as a place where access for the disabled is, to say the least, very mixed. Already this group has highlighted areas of weakness within the school and they have addressed these issues and brought about change.  

The second group conveyed in the Speakout how they have shared skills with the older generation: the young people are teaching the older generation how to handle technology: mobile phones, internet usage, emails etc whilst the older generation is passing on the skills of knitting, embroidery and bread making.

Meanwhile the students keep working on their projects in the hope that they will be amongst the sixty schools who will get an opportunity to travel to Croke Park in May for the finals.

MUSIC

This is a busy week for the Music Department as not only are individual students preparing for the Leaving and Junior Cert practical examinations but the Musical Evening takes place this Wednesday, March 30. It promises to be a wonderfully entertaining evening as choirs, orchestras and instrumentalists get the opportunity to play.

It is also an opportunity for the Chamber Choir to perform in front of an audience before they travel to Cork on Thursday to take part in the Cork International Choral Festival. The Choir has worked hard on preparing two new pieces for the event, one of which has certainly challenged the group and is also highly entertaining. The piece is entitled Chilli Con Carne and as the name suggests it is a “difficult recipe”

FOURTH GREEN FLAG

The Green School Committee is also under pressure this week as the examination for the fourth Green Flag takes place on Wednesday, March 30. The three previous Green Flags earned have been awarded for recycling, energy usage and water usages. This flag will be earned for transport. The committee has been working on this for a year and a half and has certainly raised awareness of our use of cars etc. They organised and a very successful WOW (Walk on Wednesdays) day last year and they continue to drive home this message as they place the emphasis firmly on shoe leather!

SPORT

Well done to the Senior B Hockey team who overcame the Presentation team by 3 – 0 to take this year’s League title. The Junior A had a friendly against Kilkenny College (1-2) as did two of the First Year teams. The A team won by 4-0 and the B team by 3 -0.

The Under 19A tennis team took on the players from St Angela’s, Cork and defeated them.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MARCH 20, 2011

CO TIPPERARY SCHOOL DRAMA WINNERS

It has been a roller coaster for Transition Year students with the pressure on to reach the deadline for the Y.S.I projects recently but a group of the students from both classes managed to put a one act play together for the Holycross Schools Drama Festival last week.

They chose to do Are You Dancin’? – a play that had been written by former Transition Years and the group adapted it for their needs. The rehearsal schedule was very tight but the girls put in a great effort under the watchful eye of Ms Slattery and all came together for the performance on Tuesday, March 15. The adjudicator was particularly complimentary on all the ensemble work in the piece and she awarded them the winning play and Aine Blake received the Best Actress award.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND DAY

On the eve of St Patrick’s Day, the Charities Committee held an Alice in Wonderland day in aid of Bernardos and combined having a little lunch time fun with collecting money.

The students paid a small “fine” for the privilege of wearing a colourful accessory – crazy socks, scarves, hats etc all based loosely on Alice in Wonderland. The school was a sea of colour as students had gone to great trouble to accessorise. The Sixth Year Charities Committee then organised some lunch time fun: searching for suits of cards – the Queen of Hearts being very important -, hanging up the clothes, shaving the balloon. It was a fun packed lunch time and the committee raised just over
€ 2,000 for Bernardos.

TAG RUGBY BLITZ

Two Transition Year teams headed off in glorious sunshine last Tuesday, March 15 to C.I.T in Cork to participate in a Tag Rugby Blitz. Both teams played very well on the day. The first team had a win against Gaelscoil Cork and lost to Presentation Thurles and Abbeyfeale Convent.
The Second team had wins against Presentation Thurles and Ardscoil Bantry and a draw with Abbeyfeale Tech.It was a great day out participating in a sport that is growing in popularity. The added bonus was the opportunity the teams had to meet the Munster Senior Rugby team as they were training on the grounds.
Team 1- Kelly Cummins, Kate McCarthy, Eve Ryan, Grainne Fennelly, Genevieve Ridge, Julianne Shine, Aoife Walsh, Julia Gibbons, Siobhan Ryan, Aine Blake and Jane McCormack.
Team 2- Hannah Barnes, Megan Mason, Cliona Sheehy, Aoife McGrath, Edel Cummins, Laura Bergin, Rebecca Carr, Emma Byrne, Aoife Clancy, Michelle Burke, Denise Sutton and Sara-louise Ryan.
Coach: Sean Lanigan Ryan

SPORT

The Under 19A tennis team of Antonia McGrath, Louise Coman and Amy Long was in action last week against St Aloysius, Cork and fought hard but were defeated by 3-2.
The Junior B1, Senior B and Senior C hockey teams had three victories against Rockwell College in their respective leagues. The Junior B1 win by 1-0 has given them the league title for 2011.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MARCH 13, 2011

First Place - Tipperary North Student Enterprise Awards

The Student Enterprise Awards is a County and City initiative designed to offer students the opportunity to take a business from the idea stage, through market research, production, selling, record keeping, management and writing a comprehensive report on their activities.

Five of the Transition Year Mini-Companies participated in this year’s competition.  Megan Mason, Lisa Fogarty, Genevieve Ridge, Naomi McCarthy and Michelle Burke came up with “Kommunikool” – a design of storybooks and communication cards for young children, “Minni-Flashback”, designed and made by Mairead Molumby, Ashley Shanahan, Lucy Tobin, Grainne White, and Aoife O’Meara, is a DVD slide show of photos, video footage and favourite songs – an ideal birthday gift. “Exam Slam” is a double-sided revision sheet for Secondary School students and is an ideal exam aid. This was the idea of Ruth Atkins, Ciara Ryan, Ciara Maguire, Julianne Shine and Cathy Cloonan. The “bands4 Life” wrist band is a successful and popular enterprise created by Emma Byrne, Eimear Scott, Edel Cummins and Siobhan Ryan.

The Winners

However, it was the Board game “Star Games”, designed and developed by Aine Blake, Sarah Kelly, Rachel Williams, Aoife McGrath, Orla Gleeson that won the day at the competition. This is an educational Board Game “Bizz-a-Board” which is fun to play but is also a very useful tool for knowing your Business curriculum as all aspects of the game have key Business terms and information at its core. The entries were judged by  strict criteria: the written business report, the product sample, the trade stand and the the interview.

The five girls are very passionate about their idea and they are hopeful that they may get it professionally produced. They received the top prize of € 500 awarded to the winners of the Senior competition.

All Ireland Athletics Success

A little piece of history was made last Saturday in the National Aquatic Centre which hosted the All Ireland Cross Country Championships on its grounds. For the first time in the forty year history of the Championships, one school won two of the team events – Minor and Junior.

Three of the Athletics teams had qualified for the All Ireland Championships: Senior, Junior and Minor. Whilst Athletics is an individual sport, there is a team element to it. Each participant is awarded points for their finishing place and the team with the least points wins the team award.

There was great delight when Minor, Laura Costello came from the trailing pack and had a storming final 200 metres and took the bronze medal. Her team mates, Molly Kavanagh, Eimear Loughman and Aoife Delargy all competed very strongly and the total points gave the team the gold medal position.

The Junior team event, over 2,500 metres was a very competitive race and Ciara Cummins, Brigitte Murphy, Eileen Rafter and Orla Healy all ran very strongly and whilst none won individual medals, they were in a sufficiently high position to take team gold.

The Senior participants, Fiona McEnery, Emer Barry and Jenny Kelly,  were in a highly competitive field and competed well over the 3,000 metres but not sufficiently strong enough to figure in the team medals.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MARCH 6, 2011

Soroptimist Public Speaking National Final Winner

Heartiest congratulations goes to Sixth Year student, Anna Brennan, who took the beautiful inaugural trophy at the Soroptimist Public Speaking National Final last Saturday in Mullingar.

Anna had successfully negotiated her way through the Tipperary and Regional sections of this public speaking competition with her speech on the environment: “there is sufficiency in the world for man’s need, but not for man’s greed”. She competed against nine other speakers from all over the country and was the only speaker who chose to speak on the environment. The most popular topic on the day was the one on Education as six participants chose this topic: “Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”

Not alone had Anna to deliver her six to seven minute speech on the environment but she also had two minutes to prepare an impromptu speech which was on the topic of holidays.

Saturday’s final was the twenty-ninth year of this competition and the first year when the new Mildred O’ Brien Trophy was presented. A native of Co Down, Mildred O’ Brien has been a Soroptimist since 1976 and it was she, along with another soroptimist, who started this Public Speaking competition twenty nine years ago and she was on hand to present the trophy herself last Saturday.

This is the second time that a student from the school has won the national final. Jacqui Lacey won it in 1996.

Wesley College Choir Competition

The Chamber Choir went to Wesley College last Friday night to participate in this Choir Competition. They worked very hard on polishing and perfecting their two pieces: “Ave Maria” arranged by Joshua Hines and “Incantations” by Michael McGlynn and they came a very creditable second place to Alexander College, Dublin. The Choir is also busily preparing a different repertoire for the Cork Choral Festival which will be coming up shortly.

Transition Year

The two groups of Transition Year have had a busy week putting the final touches to their respective YSI written submissions and both groups have done a huge amount of work on their chosen themes: - Thurles – a good access town for the disabled and sharing talents between the old and the young. Both groups are very hopeful of being selected for the “Speakout” in Cork where they will have to give a two minute dramatic presentation of their themes.

The two groups also took part in a First Aid workshop last week which they found very beneficial if indeed a little daunting.

Sport

The tennis season is up and running and the Under 14 B and Under 16 A teams were in action. The Under 16 team lost out to St Angela’s in Cork whilst the Under 14B had a win over Nenagh A team.

The First and Second Year Basketball teams were also in action last week. The Second Years had a 48-1 victory over Nenagh and have now qualified for the Midland semi-final, not having lost a match in the group stage. The First Years encounter with the same opposition was a much closer affair and they went down to Nenagh by 15-23.

There were also some hockey teams in action during the week. The Senior C team overcame Loreto, Clonmel by 2 -0 and Second Years and First Year (Green) defeated the same opposition by 4-0 and 3-0 respectively. The Junior B2 team however suffered a 0-2 loss.

Athletics

Meanwhile, the members of the Senior, Junior and Minor Athletics teams are all training hard and have their minds well focused on next Saturday’s All Ireland Cross Country Championship which will be held in Dublin. The three teams have performed very well in the Co Tipperary, East Munster and Munster competitions and have earned their places in the All Ireland.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – FEBRUARY 14, 2011

Regional Final – Soroptimist International

Congratulations to Sixth Year student, Anna Brennan, who took part in the Regional finals of the Soroptimist public speaking competition in Bandon last Saturday. Anna was one of two participants who qualified recently in the Co Tipperary heats for this regional final which then included six other participants from Waterford and Cork.

Speakers had a choice of speaking on one of seven categories including the European Union, Education, Health, Civil Rights and Anna chose to speak on the Environment: “there is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed”.

All eight participants were then given an impromptu subject and fittingly, given the weekend it was, the subject was “all you need is love” and each speaker had two minutes on this subject. Anna was chosen, along with one other student, to take part and represent the region at the national finals in Mullingar which will take place in March.

Athletics

Following their success at the East Munster Cross Country Championships where all four teams qualified for Munster, the athletes had an opportunity last week to take part in the County Tipperary Championships. All teams performed well and in particular the Junior team had a great run, with Ciara Cummins, Eileen rafter, Brigitte Murphy and Orla Healy coming in first, second, fourth and sixth places, respectively. They are now in preparation for the Munster Championships which will take place in C.I.T., Cork on Thursday, February 17. A good performance among very stiff competition will be required to ensure qualification for the All Ireland championships.

Transition Year

Wassa Wassa was the order of the day last week for the TY students. What is that, you may well ask? Quite simply it was a workshop on the skills of African drumming – but more than that it introduced the students to African culture, portraying it in a positive light.

Meanwhile, Log on Learn, proceeds with great enthusiasm each Monday and Wednesday evening and the school and computer room in particular is filled with a mixture of the enthusiastic voices of the young and the not so young! This nationwide project, where the students take the older generation through the basics of I.T., continues to thrive in this its third year. 

In House Debating

One might be forgiven for believing that the First & Second Year students were involved in the political leaders’ debate last week when the winners of the First Year Debating competition took on the winners of the Second Year competition. The six students argued, rebutted and were involved in point scoring on the topic of the economic climate. Indeed, Enda, Micheal and Eamonn could have learned a thing or two had they been in attendance. There was tension, commitment and focus on the subject by all six participants and the adjudicators could not separate the teams at the end of it all and so called a draw!

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URSULINE MUSINGS - DECEMBER 20, 2010

The weather has played havoc with the sporting life of the school as all hockey league fixtures have been called off so as to avoid unnecessary travel. In the brief respite from the freezing conditions, some fixtures were fulfilled last week. Three First Year teams were in action at home and Senior C and Junior B2 teams travelled to Limerick to take on Castletroy College. Senior C played two games, winning one and losing one.

Hockey coaches and trainers are certainly going to have a headache after Christmas trying to re-organise league fixtures whilst also completing Cup fixtures!

Mass of the Gifts

There were no such difficulties in organising the annual Mass of the Gifts which took place in the Cathedral last Friday. Despite the difficult economic times being encountered by all the families in the school community, the generosity of the students in preparing family boxes for the Social Services was extraordinary. The gifts were presented in the opening procession at the Mass. The singing of the carols by the Cecilian and Chamber Choirs ensured that all went away with a good Christmas feeling.

X-Factor

Over the last six weeks or so, the School Council has been running off the heats of this year’s X-Factor during lunchtime. The four judges – two Sixth Year students and two Teachers have made their decisions and the finalists were announced last Friday: in the senior section,   the two Transition Year groups have been successful with their sketches, Alison Burns & Georgina O’Brien (duet), Senior Trad group,  Joanne Hogan (Piano & Vocals), Anna O’Donnell as Cheyrl. In the Junior Section, First Year students Elaine Hayes (Dancer), Norita Bourke (singer), Leah Meehan (Gymnast) are amongst the finalists.

The final will take place on the day of the holidays and we look set for a high standard of competition.

Lunch-time Activities

The School Council is also preparing for some festive lunch-time activities in the lead up to the holiday. A Friendship Christmas stands decorated in the School courtyard and representatives of Staff and Students are preparing to “do battle” in the annual debate and the Lyrics Board competition! The most serious motion for this year’s debate is “that Santa Claus should be Taoiseach – he has all the qualities!”. The Teachers are opposing the motion!

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URSULINE MUSINGS – NOVEMBER 22, 2010

475th Anniversary Mass

Preparations are well advanced for the liturgical celebration that will take place in the Cathedral, this Thursday at 7.30. The Mass will mark the 475th anniversary of the founding of the Ursuline Order by St Angela Merici in 1535.  The theme for the Mass comes from the words of St Angela herself when she called on her followers to “Lead a New Life”.

The Ursuline Community, the staff and students of Scoil Angela and the Secondary School extend a warm welcome to all parents, past pupils and all in the parish of Thurles and beyond who would like to attend.

Debating/Public Speaking

It was a busy week for the Debaters and Public Speakers in the school. Three Transition Year students Eve Ryan, Denise Sutton and Emily Fitzgerald took part in the Mental Health Association of Ireland competition against Thurles C.B.S.  The three girls spoke as a team (there is an option to choose three separate subjects) on “The human ideal – mensa in corpore sano”.  The judges praised both teams for the high level of content and skill and they chose the boys from the CBS to go through to the next round.

The Concern Debating Team of Louise Burke, Ruth Heenan, Aine Blake and Ruth Atkins travelled to Our Lady’s, Templemore for its third debate in the round robin series. They opposed the motion that “European promises on climate change are a lot of hot air”. In a very entertaining debate, the girls got the nod from the judges and the motion was defeated.

On Saturday last, two students, Anna Brennan and Eve Ryan went to Clonmel to take part in the Soroptimist Public Speaking competition. This is a competition for individuals. Anna Brennan was selected as one of two students to go forward to the Regional Finals for her speech on the environment and Eve Ryan was selected as “first sub” in the event of either of the two winners being unable to attend.

T.Y. Trip

The Transition Year students travelled to Dublin last week to visit Kilmainham and the National Gallery of Ireland. They also then took the opportunity to attend the Grand Canal Theatre for the production of Hairspray currently running there. A great day and evening was had by all!

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URSULINE MUSINGS – NOVEMBER 15, 2010

Concern Debate

After a shaky and close debate in the first outing of the year, the Concern Debating team was anxious to make up lost ground in the round robin stage of this competition...and the team did not disappoint !

Louise Burke (captain), Ruth Heenan, Grainne Fennelly and Hannah Barnes successfully proposed the motion that “Young Irish people are indifferent to the problems in the Developing World”. The opposition on this occasion was Nenagh C.B.S.  There are two more debates in this stage of the competition and the team is already busily preparing for the next encounter.

High School Music Festival – Waterford

Approximately one hundred students travelled to Waterford last Tuesday, November 9, to take part in a new initiative as part of the Waterford International Music Festival. The Festival is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year and the committee introduced several innovative ideas, one of which was this High School competition. Six schools presented a thirty minute abridged version of its show and the competition took place over two nights. The participating schools were: Dungarvan – Godspell, Good Counsel, New Ross – Les Misérables, De La Salle, Waterford- Oliver, Carnew –Bryan Superstar, Gorey CS – West Side Story and Ursuline, Thurles – The Sound of Music.

Adjudicator, Tony Finnegan, commented on the high level of talent that was on view amongst the six schools. He made several nominations in six categories: Alison Burns who played Maria was nominated as best female performer, Fiona O’Sullivan, captain Von Trapp, was nominated as Best “Male” performer and the group also received two nominations: Best Choral Presentation and Best Movement. These awards however went to other groups with Gorey’s West Side Story picking up three of them. However when it came to the final award of the evening, Best Overall presentation, there was great delight amongst the Ursuline girls when they were declared the winners and were presented with a beautiful Louise Kennedy Tipperary Crystal Trophy.

Mayor of Waterford, Mary Roche, presents the High School Musical Trophy for winning this inaugural competition with their presentation of The Sound of Music.. Also pictured is Tony Finnegan, Adjudicator (left).

Science Week

Science week was well marked in the school when Sixth Year students organised Science Table Quizzes for all First and Second Year students last week. The buzz amongst the students as they discussed the possible answers created quite a bit of excitement and the winning teams were well rewarded by the Sixth Years.

The First Year students also had the opportunity to visit the T.I. where they passed a very pleasant time watching various scientific “experiments” in practical ways.

Sport

The Senior A and Junior A Hockey teams travelled to Cork last week to take on Scoil Mhuire in their respective league competitions. It was a day of mixed fortunes with the Junior A team emerging as 3-0 winners but the Senior A suffered its first defeat of the season, going down 1 -2 to Scoil Mhuire.

Two of the First Year hockey teams travelled to Limerick on Thursday last, despite the weather conditions and they played challenge matches against Laurel Hill Secondary School and showed great promise in their two victories.

The Gaelic Football team made the long journey to Ballincollig without success going down 3-6 to 6-8.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – NOVEMBER 7, 2010

There is quite a lot of news to catch up on as this scribe has been on a « little break ».

Sound of Music

Normally, one would be saying that the curtain is down on another production and the costumes and props all packed away. In this instance that is only partially true.

The Waterford International Festival of Light Opera is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year and has given the whole occasion a make-over. One of the initiatives for this year’s Festival is the introduction of a “High School Musical” aspect to the event. Six schools are taking part in a pilot scheme whereby they present a 30 minute version of their show. The emphasis is on the acting, singing, ensemble plating and chorus work of the show and so staging is at a minimum. So, the Von Trapp family is certainly going on wheels and travelling to Waterford on Tuesday, November 9.

The competition is taking place over two nights: Monday & Tuesday and there is a great mixture of shows included: from Les Misérables to The Sound of Music and from Oliver to Jesus Christ Superstar.

Entrance Scholarships

Well done to many of the Leaving Cert class of 2010  who have over the last few weeks received word that they are the recipients of Entrance Scholarships, based on their Leaving Cert results last June. Rose Deegan received on of the J.P. McManus scholarships at a ceremony in the University of Limerick last Saturday. This scholarship is worth € 25,000 to Rose. She is studying Nursing in U.C.D. Annette Slattery and Mary Prendergast received scholarships of € 1,000 from Maynooth, Katie Doody and Shannon Cleary from Trinity College and Rose Deegan, Shona O’ Flynn, Mary Kate Burke and Kate Bugler from U.C.D.  Congratulations also to past pupil, Meghan Butler (Class of 2009) who received € 1,000 for the top result in her First Year exams in Speech and Language Therapy in U.C.C.  

Poetry Aloud

Twenty students, a mixture of Junior certs, Transition Years and Fifth Years went to Ballingarry last week to take part in the Poetry Aloud competition which necessitates the student to recite two poems aloud: one poem is compulsory and the second is the students choice from The Rattle Bag or Lifelines anthologies of poetry. Three students were chosen to go forward to the next round: Ciara Maguire, Ruth Atkins and Aine Blake.

Transition Years

It is difficult to keep track of the myriad of activities in which the Transition Year students are involved. Last week, six students were chosen after interview to head up the school bank in the Build a Bank Challenge: Aoife Clancy, Laura Ryan, Evie O’Sullivan, Clionagh Sheehy, Aoife O’ Meara and Naomi McCarthy. This team will set to work immediately and have the school bank up and running very shortly.

Rotary Club Leadership

A number of students took part n the Rotary Club’s Leadership project. Fifth Year student, Sinead Ryan, was chosen to go forward to the Regional Interviews to be held this week.

R.I.A.M.High Achievers

Based on the results of the Music Exams for 2009/2010, eight students received High Achievers Awards. The Royal Academy of Music then holds auditions across Munster for a High Achievers Concert. The auditioning panel is looking for a variety of instruments at a variety of levels to showcase students who have achieved top results in their examinations. Eva McNally (Violin)  and Fiona Gormley (Voice) were selected for the Concert which will take place in Cork shortly.

Concern Debate

The Concern Debaters had their first outing before the mid-term break in the round robin section of the competition. Ruth Heenan, Louise Burke, Ciara Maguire and Jane O’ Quigley proposed the motion that “genetically Modified Foods are essential in combating world hunger”. In a very keenly argued debate against the boys from Thurles C.B.S. the motion was narrowly defeated. The team is in action again this week.

Sport

Challenge matches are over and the serious business of League and Cup competitions are now in full swing. The Senior A Hockey team has had two matches and drew the first against Mount Mercy 1 -1. In its second outing, following the long journey to Middleton, the team emerged as 1 – 0 winners. The Junior A team defeated Mount Mercy by 3 – 0.

The Senior Camogie team was defeated by Mallow in the Championship last week by 1-8 to 1-3. The cadette basketball team has had one win over St leo’s in Carlow and suffered a narrow lass against the Ursuline, Waterford. The Senior basketball team lost its opening encounter against St Leo’s in Carlow.

Inter-Provincial Hockey

Orla Lynch and Edel Niland lined out for Munster Under 16s recently in Old Alexander College and Antonia McGrath lined out for the Under 18 Munster team. Both Antonia and Edel have also been selected to train for the International panel which will be chosen shortly.

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URSULINE  MUSINGS – OCTOBER 4, 2010

The Sound of Music

It is full steam ahead with this year’s production of The Sound of Music and rehearsals are in full swing. Opening night has crept up very quickly and a lot of work remains to be done to ensure that all is in readiness for Saturday, October 16.

One of the challenges of this year’s show is that there are almost two casts, with almost all of the children’s parts being played by two students. We, in the Secondary School, are indebted to Scoil Angela for providing us with two Marta (aged 7) and two Gretls (aged 5). Casey Kerwick, Caoimhe Ryan, Niamh Heffernan and Avril Macken will be making their debut on the stage of the Sr Ursula Hall a few years earlier than even they may have anticipated.

The corridors of the school “are alive with the sound of music” as the ticket booking staff gear up for what is likely to be a very popular choice of show. Booking will open next Monday, October 10 for the four night performances: Saturday, October 16, Sunday 17, Tuesday 19 and Thursday 21.

All Ireland School Choirs Competition

In the midst of all the flurry and fuss surrounding the show, the Chamber Choir, many of whom are taking part in the show, have their shoulders to the grindstone in preparation for the All Ireland Schools Choir Competition. This is the second year of this televised competition and the second year that the Chamber Choir have been successful in having their CD of two songs accepted.

The Choir will travel to Cork next Wednesday, October 13 to record the provincial final and the programme will go out sometime in November. Best wishes to Ms Farrell and her dedicated group of singers!

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URSULINE MUSINGS – SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

Opening of the Year Mass

The whole school came together last week for the first Liturgical Service of the School Year. The theme chosen for the year uses the words of Mother Teresa of Calcutta:

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do”

This theme was reflected in the prayers, the Art Work and the Music which had been prepared by the students in their respective classes.

Maths/Science Olympiad

Congratulations to two Junior Cert students who received word during the week that they have been offered places at the Maths and Science Olympiad as a result of the excellence of their results in both these subjects in Junior Cert. Ruth Atkins and Amy Long are offered an opportunity to attend the Olympiad and further their knowledge in both these areas.

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URSULINE MUSINGS  - SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

The Sound of Music

The long process of auditioning is completed and it is full steam ahead with rehearsals: learning lines, learning music and getting the moves.

This classic Rogers and Hammerstein show is based on the real life story of the Von Trapp family and is set in Austria at the time of the Second World War. Each and every song in the show is so familiar: “Doe, a Deer”, My Favourite Things”, “Climb Every Mountain” and “Edleweiss”.

A new departure this year, given the nature of the cast list, was to go to Scoil Angela and seek out pupils to play the roles of the two smallest Von Trapp children, namely Marta (aged 7) and Gretl (aged 5). Scoil Angela did not disappoint and Casey Kerwick and Caoimhe Ryan will alternate in the role of Marta and Avril Macken and Niamh Heffernan will alternate in the role of Gretl.

The other parts are as follows:
Captain Von Trapp – Fiona O’ Sullivan
Maria Rainer  - Alison Burns
Liesl – Gillian O’ Donovan / Rachel Williams
Louisa: Lisa Fogarty / Roisin Comerford
Friederich – Susie Hanly
Kurt – Ava Meagher
Brigitta – Maeve Lewis / Maeve Carew
Max – Lily Cantillon
Baroness Elsa – Orlaith O’ Sullivan
Mothe Abbess – Georgina O’ Brien
Sisters Berthe, Margaretta, Sophia and Ursula – Gwen Fitzpatrick, Anna Crotty, Ruth Atkins and Susan Lowry
Franz – Paula Farrell
Frau Schmidt – Grainne White
Herr Zeller – Eibhlin Ryan
Von Schreiber – Phillippa Bourke

The show will open on October 16 and will continue to October 21.

Transition Years

The two groups of TY students have settled well down to their tasks. They are testing the markets with a view to establishing their mini-companies, getting involved in different physical activities and of course they are all involved in the most important Community Care programme. They will have a break shortly as they head to Killaloe for a day of outdoor activities.

Sport

The training and trial sessions are almost at an end and the many hockey teams are being chosen. The Junior A and B teams had challenge matches against Kilkenny College recently and both teams performed well and put four and five goals respectively past the opponents’ goalie. The Senior A will travel to Kilkenny and take on the same opposition this week and all should then be in palce for the demands of the League and Cup season.

The Senior Gaelic Football team have already had one competitive outing against St Anne’s in Tipperary which they won convincingly – a good start to the season.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

Leaving Certs 2010

Congratulations to the Leaving Cert students of 2010 on their wonderful results and who are now embarking on the next stage of their education and heading off in all directions. They had an opportunity recently to meet up as a class, probably for the last time, at their Graduation Ball.  All were looking beautiful as they arrived at the school for a presentation of certificates and they danced the night away in the Anner Hotel to the music of Bluemoose.

The Return

It is not quite as exciting for the new Sixth Years and the other classes who returned by degrees last week. The Sixth Year students have already settled well back to work but the newly formed Charities Committee was quick to get into action. They capitalised on Tipperary All Ireland fever and quickly organised a Tipperary T-Shirt day for the victims of the Pakistan floods. Students were very happy to pay a small fine for the privilege of wearing their Tipperary jerseys on Friday last and there was even some tolerance for those who live “over the border” in Kilkenny and some black and amber jerseys were tolerated. They were however well outnumbered and the temptation to charge them more was resisted!

School Council

The Sixth Year members of the new School Council who were elected last May were also swift into action and organised themselves as “Big Sisses” to the new First Years. They also elected the officers for the year. Anna Brennan was elected as Chairperson and she is ably assisted by Mairead Barry and Michelle Bourke as Vice-Chairpersons.

The members of the Council from the other year groups will be elected in the coming week and they will commence work immediately.

School Show

The choice for this year’s school show is the ever popular Sound of Music. The show will be staged from October 16 and it will be all systems go with auditions and practices in the coming weeks.

It is like summer has never been and the cycle begins again!

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***********2009 - 2010************

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MAY 9, 2010

Y.S.I. Showcase

The culmination of all the work, all the effort and all the creativity came together last Wednesday, May 5, in the Croke Park Conference Centre when the two groups of Transition Years presented their Young Social Innovators programmes.

It has been a long process since last September getting these projects together and a lot of hard work went into the projects. “Introducing Me” – a programme on developing self-esteem, made it through the Speakout last March in Cork in the “Making Our World Healthier – Mental Health” section. The challenge of this project was to think of ways of improving self-esteem particularly in young people. They examined habits of Teachers, and engaged themselves in micro-teaching and role play to make their points, and they produced signs for all around the schools of positive messages designed to make people feel good about themselves. This and much, much more, including making their own film, writing their own rap etc. All was presented last week in Croke Park.

The second project qualified from the Cork Speakout in the “Making Our World a Better Place for Young People” section. The project was entitled “Guys and Dolls” and the students took a look at relationships between young people, and as the name of their project suggests, particularly between the guys and the dolls! They too were very innovative in their approach to the subject: carrying out surveys and issuing questionnaires, making a film and “composing” songs for their Speakout.

This was the first year that the T.Y. groups were involved in the Y.S.I. projects and whilst they did not win, it was a great learning experience for them all. Well done to all the students and Ms Slattery and Ms Flanagan, the two teachers who drove the projects, for all the work.

Athletics – South East Munster

Twenty eight athletes travelled to Waterford last week to take part in the South East Munster Individual Athletics Championships and they continued the winning ways of the team season, with girls qualifying for thirteen events at Munster level on Saturday, May 23 in Cork C.I.T.

In the Senior Section, Silvianne Strapp, Nicola Sutton, Lorraine Healy and Ann Marie Hayes won bronze in the Relay, Ann Marie Hayes won gold in the 800 metres, Lorraine Healy and Silvianne Strapp won gold and silver respectively in the Triple Jump. In the 400m Nicola Sutton won the silver medal and Niamh Fitzgibbon took the bronze medal.

In the Intermediate Section, Elaine Fitzgibbon won the bronze medal in the 1500m in a time of 5m.35s. Sarah Healy took the silver medal in the Discus throwing 30.48 metres only 10 cms behind the All Ireland champion in this event.

In the Junior Section, Siobhan Hennessy took the gold in the 1500m walk, a personal best for her.

The Minors did extremely well with Eileen Rafter taking the gold in the 800m in a time of 2m25s and she was followed home in second place by Ciara Cummins in 2m.26s – it does not get much closed than that! Ciara also took silver in the Long Jump and Orla Healy just missed out on a medal, coming fourth. Rachel Hodgins came second in the three kilo Shot Putt, and took the silver medal.  

Scifest

This Science Festival is becoming a regular feature now on the calendar of the Science Department and it is hosted by Tipperary Institute. Projects being entered are as follows:
Second Years:
Robin Tobin, Sinead Crone, Amy Jordan – “To demonstrate the effects of liquid on tooth erosion”
Molly Ryan, Siobhan O’Toole, Eileen Bourke –“Mr Baker, so fresh it’s fungi”
Meghan Perdue, Aoife Barry, Nicole McNamara – “The effect of magnetised water on Rapeseed growth”
Niamh McCormack, Niamh Kennedy:- “An investigation into the decomposition rates of different paper samples”
Lauren Moore, Anna Joyce, Carina O’ Brien:- “Healthy Eating v Fad Diets”
 
First Years:
Rachelle Hogan, Amy Revell, Niamh Butler: “Investigating how much electricity teenage girls use”
Eimear Teehan, Susi Williams, Elizabeth Aleshinloye:- “Can drain water be used to water plants?”
Jenni Kennedy, Sylvia O’Donnell: “Investigating the use of various composts on the growth of Violas”
Laura Booth, Emily Healy:- “Making a Solar panel from recycled materials”
Leah Carroll, Roisin Putti:- “Now you C me, now you don’t”

Green School

The Green School committee has been working very hard on WOW Day which will take place this week. WOW – Walk on Wednesday – is part of their efforts to earn a fourth green flag for the school under the Transport Banner. The school is awash with footprints as all are being encouraged to walk and to lessen their carbon footprint!

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URSULINE MUSINGS – APRIL 18, 2010  

Minor A – Munster Cup Champions

One would be forgiven for believing that this Minor A team (all under 14) was playing its hockey in a higher section such was the level of skill and ability to score goals that was on display last week in the Munster Final against Bandon Grammar School, Cork. It was an amazing performance from all members of the team and they played so well as a unit and showed no nerves when taking shots on goals, succeeding eight times.

The score line does not reflect the way the game was played and around the middle of the field, Bandon competed very well for the ball but they never really threatened the Ursuline goal. By contrast, when the Ursuline girls got into Bandon’s goal mouth area, they posed serious threats every time and were rewarded with some really well taken goals. Captain Orla Lynch was delighted to accept the cup on behalf of her team and the Minor As now join the Junior A team (under 16) as Munster Cup Champions. The Junior A are Munster Cup and League champions this season – a rare occurrence!

International Athletics

Congratulations to Ciara Cummins and Eileen Rafter, two First Year students who represented Ireland in the 3,500 metre race at under 14 level in Cornwall, competing against the best of England, Scotland and Wales, during the Easter holidays. These two students were chosen as a result of their performance for the school at the All Ireland Athletics Championship in March.

Both girls competed very well and were part of the eight-strong Irish team. Ciara finished second best of the Irish girls and came in twelfth place and Eileen followed in twenty-third place. Both girls made a significant contribution to the Irish team performance.

German Scholarship

Each year, German scholarships are offered to students based on their German results in the Junior Cert examination last June. Four students from the school came in the top one hundred results in the country and these students are then interviewed and a certain amount are offered three week trips to Germany during the summer. Two students, Mary Coman and Deirdre Meehan, went for interview and both students received word last week that they were successful. Congratulations to both of them!

Concern Debate – Quarter Final

“Reaching the last eight in a National competition such as the Concern Debating competition is a huge achievement”. So said the chief adjudicator at the quarter final debate between the Ursuline and Athlone Community School last week. 

The motion up for debate was that:
            “Tomorrow’s children will inherit a better world”
And the Ursuline team opposed the motion. Anna Brennan, Jane Bugler, Lily Cantillon and Louise Burke argued strongly against the motion and it was a very close affair with the Athlone team getting the nod from the adjudicators by a majority decision.

Bronze Medal for Biology

Well done also to Sixth Year student, Lorraine Healy, who took part in a Biology workshop in DCU during the Easter Holidays and as a result of a quiz-like competition, she was awarded the Bronze Medal. Lorraine may also have the opportunity of making the Irish team which will take part in a similar European Science competition as part of the Biology team.  There will also be teams for Physics and Chemistry.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – APRIL 12, 2010

Young Social Innovators

What better way to return to school after the Easter break than to receive very good news. So it was for the two Transition Year groups. At 3.00 p.m. on Monday last, the results of the “Speakouts” for the Young Social Innovators 2010 were made available on line.

The two groups had put a lot of work into the preparation of their themes for the Speakout in Cork at the beginning of March and both groups recognised how difficult it would be to be chosen as one of the sixty projects to go forward to the Showcase in Croke Park on May 5 next when there was a total entry of 360 projects.

“Introducing Me” is one of the five projects chosen in the “Making the World Healthier – Mental Health” section and “Guys and Dolls” is one of ten projects in “Making the World a Healthier Place for Young People” section.

Now, the frenzied activity will begin again as both Transition Year groups prepare for the Showcase on May 5. Well done to all concerned and especially to Ms Slattery and Ms Flanagan, the project leaders.

Concern Debate – The Last 8.

“Tomorrow’s Children will inherit a better world” – this is the motion for the quarter final of the Concern Debate which is to be held this week, on Wednesday April 14. Anna Brennan (Captain), Louise Burke, Jane Bugler and Lily Cantillon spent a good deal of their holiday preparing for this and they know they are up against stiff opposition in the form of Athlone Community School who have a very strong pedigree in this competition, having won it most recently in 2008. The girls have to oppose this motion and as they put the finishing touches to their arguments they are conscious of the difficulty of the task ahead. The debate will take place in Birr. 

Minor A – Hockey Final

Just as the second term finished with success of the Junior A hockey team winning the Munster Cup, the third term now begins with yet another Munster Final. The Minor A will take on  Bandon Grammar School, Cork and have the advantage of the home venue on this occasion. Good luck to them and hopefully it will not be as tense as the Junior A final!

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MARCH 21, 2010

Feis Ceoil

It is no mean feat to pack up two orchestras and some eighty students and head for the R.D.S. The instruments alone take up so much room and have to be loaded so carefully.

The Junior Orchestra was first up and they played very well but the winners of the competition were the very young students from Kilkenny. The Senior Orchestra competition had seven entries – the highest in some years. The Ursuline Orchestra came third losing out by two marks to the winners.

Last Eight for Concern Debaters

The Concern Debating team had a very quick turn around from its victory over Birr last week and they headed for Kilbeggan to take on the Mercy School there last Monday. The motion up for debate was that
                        “The world is ignoring its population time bomb”
Anna Brennan, Mary Moran, Lily Cantillon and Kate Bugler successfully argued their opposition to the motion and they now find themselves in the last eight of the competition.

The quarter finals will take place after Easter, giving the students the opportunity to prepare.

Basketball – Midland Final

Well done to the First Year Basketball team who had a very comprehensive victory over Newbridge last week in the Midland Final. They beat them by 65 – 4 baskets. They will now go into an All Ireland play off competition.

Hockey

Two titles were earned last week. The Senior B team had a 3 – 2 victory over Villiers, Limerick to name them the League Winners this year. Likewise, the Minor B1 team defeated the same opposition to grant them the League title.

Meanwhile, the Junior A and the Junior B teams are preparing and training hard for the two Cup finals this week.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MARCH 14, 2010

Jersey Day

The School Council organised a Jersey Day for the victims of the Haiti disaster last Friday. The students wore all kinds of jerseys, with Tipperary and Munster heading the list. However, a few Kilkenny jerseys were spotted lurking in the shadows! The school was awash with County, Regional, Country colours and the effort raised almost € 600 for the Haiti Disaster Fund.

Last 16 for Concern Debating Team

The Concern Debating team has made it through to the last sixteen teams in the country following the success of its arguments over Birr Community School last Thursday. Anna Brennan (capt), Ruth Heenan, Lily Cantillon and Jane Bugler successfully argued “that the Millennium Development Goals were a lost cause”.

No sooner had this debate been won, when the motion and opponents for the next round were revealed: “the world is ignoring its population time bomb” against the Mercy S.S., Kilbeggan. The Ursuline team will oppose this motion next week so they have not much time to prepare their arguments!

Y.S.I. Speakout

After all the hard work and the weeks of frantic preparation and activity, the Transition Years travelled to Cork last week to present a two minute summary of the project. Both T.Y. groups were involved and each group had its own theme. “Understanding Me” was presented using a rap rhythm to their own lyrics in which they outlined what they had done to raise awareness about self-esteem.

The other group used some popular songs, again with its own words to convey the project about relationships entitled “Guys and Dolls”.

There are in excess of 600 entries in this competition and sixty will be chosen to make a fuller presentation in Croke Park next may.

Chamber Choir

Well done to the Chamber Choir, a dedicated group of choristers, and to Ms Farrell, conductor on coming second in Feis Ceoil last Monday.

The Choir travelled to the R.D.S. to participate in the Secondary Schools’ competition. They sang
 “God’s Aid” and in contrast a challenging arrangement of “This little light of mine”. Out of the seven choirs participating, the Chamber Choir lost out by one mark for the winning spot, which went to King’s Hospital School.

On Tuesday, the two Orchestras packed up their instruments and headed to Dublin also for the Orchestral competition.

Sport

It was another good week for the hockey teams with the Senior C putting 4 goals past the Presentation in the Cup competition, Junior As winning the League final with a 3-2 victory against Bandon Grammar School, Cork and the Minor As playing a 3-3 draw against the same opposition. The Minor A team followed that draw up the next day with a 2 – 0 win against Crescent in the Cup semi-final.

The two Senior teams A & B were out of luck however with St Angela’s Cork having the victory in the Cup semi-final and Bandon Grammar beating the Senior A in the Plate competition.

The Under 15 B1, Under 15 B2, Junior B1 teams all managed wins in their respective leagues and the Minor B4 drew against Rockwell.

The First Year Basketballers have made it to the Midland final following a comprehensive win over Rochfortbridge by 49 – 18. They will take on newbridge in the Midland final.

The Junior Camogie team lost narrowly to Coachford by 3-5 to 3-3.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - MARCH 1, 2010

Munster Athletics

What a day for the athletes last Friday when they participated in the Munster Cross Country Athletics Championship in Cork!

The four teams, Minor, Junior, Intermediate and Senior certainly performed magnificently and they were well rewarded coming away with the best School trophy and winning two of the sections.

The Senior and Minor teams came first and the Junior team came third and as well as securing the trophy on the day, they have also secured qualification for the All Ireland series.

The performances of the day happened in the Minor section when Ciara Cummins and Eileen Rafter came in first and second in a very competitive field. Well done to all the athletes who all made a significant contribution to the success of the day.

Pink Day (click here for photos)

One might have been forgiven for thinking that the Ursuline uniform had undergone a change over last weekend so “uniform” was the approach of students to Pink Day.

In order to raise awareness of Breast Cancer and to raise some money for the Breast Cancer Awareness charity, students were allowed to accessorise in pink last Monday and they paid for the privilege. The results were to say the least quite innovative, though the most popular item seemed to be pink tights! The staff also joined in and accessorised in pink and prepared pink buns with pink cream for the coffee beak. The amount raised is not clear yet, but doubtless it will be a very well received when the final calculations are made.

Public Speaking

The Mental Health Association public speaking team is busy putting the final touches to its speeches in preparation for the Regional Final of that competition this week. Anna Brennan, Caroline O’ Connor and Louise Burke are speaking about how “children have more need of role models than critics” and they take on Glenstal Abbey, the Convent of Mercy, Tralee and the Convent of Mercy, Ennistymon in the University of Limerick.

Transition Year YSI projects

The two Transition Year groups are extremely busy putting the final touches to their Young Social Innovators Project which will be presented in the City Hall, Cork on Wednesday next, March 10. Both groups have now submitted in writing their project and the next step is to present their programmes in a two minute “Speakout”.  In this “speakout”, the students have to condense all their ideas and their actions into the two minutes allotted and they are allowed to use music and drama to convey their ideas.

Hockey

It is a busy time for the hockey teams as the final stages of competitions are being reached. The Minor A had a 4-1 victory over Villiers last week in the Cup whilst the Under 15 played out a 2-2 draw in the league. The Minor B1 and Minor B2 teams had 3-0 and 4-0 victories respectively against laurel Hill, Colaiste. The spotlight turns to the Junior A team now as they prepare to take on old adversaries, Mount Mercy in the semi-final of the Cup. The Junior B team is also preparing for its cup match against Villiers.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - FEBRUARY 14, 2010

Old Mobile Phones

The Green School Committee has been making preparations to launch a big drive to collect old mobile phones. This project has two dimensions. Firstly, all phones will be donated to the Jack & Jill Foundation and will be enormously helpful to them in the wonderful work they do and secondly if the committee can gather three hundred old phones, the school will receive an Interactive Whiteboard. So from Monday next, February 22, the Green School Committee will be more than delighted to accept any mobile phones that people may have lying about.

All Ireland Basketball Qualifiers

The Cadette Basketball team made the long journey to County Monaghan last Saturday to take part in the All Ireland play offs. Having won the Midland group, the team was well prepared for this encounter. There were four pools of three teams each, so the Ursuline opponents were Newbridge and local team Castleblaney. The first match versus Castleblaney was a tight match but the Ursuline team emerged as winners and they then awaited Newbridge whom they also had to defeat. They had a long wait before taking to the court for the second time and the two teams were drawn as they entered the last quarter when unfortunately one basket more saw Newbridge qualify for the All Ireland.

Log on Learn

The Transition Year students are showing their capabilities as teachers as they take on some older citizens who are anxious to learn their way around the computer, The Computer Room is a–buzz each week as “pupil” and “teacher” interact together on this most worthwhile programme.

Concern Debates

Anna Brennan, Louise Burke, Jane Bugler and Lily Cantillon travelled to Portlaoise last week to debate with Newbridge College in the first Concern debate of the knock out section. The team had the task of proposing the motion that
            “genetically modified foods are essential in the fight against world hunger”
and in a keenly debated contest, the Ursuline girls won the day and they will now proceed to the next round which will take place in a fortnight’s time.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - FEBRUARY 8, 2010

Transition Years Under Pressure

To say that Transition Year students are under pressure may seem a bit of a paradox but the truth is that they are. Having entered this year’s YSI programme, deadlines are now approaching fast and furiously and yes, the pressure is on!

The Young Social Innovators programme (YSI) is a national programme that is taken up by 183 schools around the country and has an entry of some 380 projects involving six thousand students. The challenge to the young people who participate in YSI is if you believe in something passionately, then you can do something about it. Simply put: Believe in it, Act on it.

There will be two programmes put forward from the two groups. The first dead line to be met is a twelve page report on the project which has to be submitted by February 26 and following this, the students will travel to Cork to make their presentations – the “Speakout”. Based on these two submissions, sixty projects will be chosen for the Showcase on May 5 in Croke Park.

One group’s project is entitled “Guys & Dolls” and looks at the whole area of stereotyping in the area of relationships and the project’s motto is “Don’t paint us all with the one brush”. The second project is called “Introducing…Me” and focuses on the area of self-esteem and how to build it.

Mini Med

Following the experience of students who participated in Mini-Med in previous years, the number applying for Mini-Med this year exceeded places so eight students were pulled out of the hat for this year’s course. Mini Med takes place in Waterford Regional Hospital and WIT next week during the mid-term break so it is a clear marker that students who apply to do this course are serious about this option as a career. The course, which takes place from Tuesday to Friday, gives the students a taste of many aspects of medical practice and includes six one hour practicals. Students participating are: Hazel Blackmore, Louise Burke, Michelle Burke, Edel Campion, Maeve Herlihy, Mary Moran, Ellen Sweeney and Shannon Toohey.  

Sport

It is a very quiet time for sport and the sports fields and courts are almost forlorn as so many students are involved in Mock Junior & Leaving Cert. The Minor B1, B2 and B3 hockey teams had league encounters with Crescent last week and all three teams had very comfortable wins: 5-0, 6-0 and 5-0 respectively.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - FEBRUARY 1, 2010

Catholic Schools’ Week
Catholic Schools’ Week, which is taking place nationwide this week, is being marked in the school with various activities organised by the Religious Education Department. The theme for the week “A Light for Every Generation” is beautifully depicted in the hallway as is a newly made St Brigid’s Cross. Prayer services are being conducted with every class and there are also prayers over the Intercom. As the Feast of St Blaise also fell within the week, throats were blessed on Wednesday.

Staff Collection for Haiti
A very fancy and delicious tea/coffee break time last week yielded almost € 1200 for the Haiti appeal fund. Members of Staff, talented in the cake-making department, certainly tempted the palates of all with a lovely spread which was enjoyed by all.

Mental Health Public Speaking
Caroline O’Connor, Anna Brennan and Nicola Sutton have been given a bye into the Regional Final of this public speaking competition and the preparation they had done for the theme “that the blocks of positive mental health are laid in our youth” will stand them in good stead as they now prepare a new topic.

Concern Debating
The Concern Debating team has also received notice of the motion and the opposition for the knock out stages of this debate. The team will propose the motion “that genetically modified food is essential in the fight against world hunger” and the opponents, Newbridge College, will be the guests to the school on Wednesday next, February 10.

Maths Quiz
Three teams of Sixth Year students travelled to Clonmel last Friday night to participate in the Irish Maths Teachers Association Quiz (IMTA).  This was the Tipperary section and Libby Ryan, Lorraine Healy, Silvianne Strapp and Tessa O’ Gorman came first and will now go forward and represent Tipperary in the Regional finals which will be held later in the term. Well done also to the other two teams of Ursula Russell, Cara Bergin, Mary Butler, Debbie Fogarty, Anna Brennan, Aine Stakelum and Katie Larkin.   

First & Second Year In House Debating
The climax of this keenly contested competition took place last week as the twenty four teams that started out were reduced to two teams of Second Years and two teams of First Year. The event was chaired most efficiently by Second Year student, Orla Lynch, and two Sixth Year students, Dervla Nash and Aoife O’ Sullivan, along with Mrs Quinn, adjudicated the debate.

The motion for both First and Second Years was “that the influence of the media has destroyed traditional values” was keenly argued by both sets of teams. The Second Year team of Emily Binchy, Jane Ryan, Issabella Harold Barry proposed the motion and they won the day against Siofra Adams, Enya Ni Tiomanaide and Anna Crotty.

In the First Year debate, the team opposing the motion won the day: Leah Carroll, Ciara Cummins, Roisin Putti. The proposition team was Katie Cody, Roisin Heenan, and Jenny Ryan.   

East Munster Athletics

The Senior, Intermediate, Junior and Minor Cross Country Athletics teams travelled to Dungarvan last Friday having qualified from the Tipperary Section. And once again they were successful and all teams have now qualified for the Munster Final which will take place in C.I.T. on February 26.

The Senior and Minor teams came first, the Junior team, second and the Intermediate team came third. The competition allows for six athletes on each team and then you count the top three finishers from the team. In the Senior Section Mary Prendergast, Ann Marie Hayes and Marita Molony came third, fourth, and seventh respectively and Elaine Fitzgibbon and Ciara Burke also finished very well. The Intermediate team of Fiona McEnery (8th), Shauna Hayden (10th), Shona O’ Flynn (19th) and Cora Doyle (22nd) did enough to secure third place and a spot in the Munster Championships.

The Junior team of Caitriona Hayes, Caroline Murtagh, Eimear Ryan, Heather Casey, Siobhan Hennessy all performed well over the 1500 metres and secured the second place team. The Minor team of Ciara Cummins, Eileen Rafter and Orla Healy came first, second and ninth respectively and they came in first place and are looking very strong to take the Munster title.

Hockey
There were mixed fortunes for the hockey teams as they continued League fixtures or participated in Cup first rounds. The Senior A had a home draw against Scoil Mhuire and in a very tightly contested match, there was little between the teams in the first half with both teams pressing well and defending even better. However, five minutes or so from the end of play, Scoil Mhuire scored what proved to be the winner and the Senior A will now go into the plate competition.

Junior B, Senior B had very convincing wins and scored 14 goals between them against Crescent and Laurel Hill. The Minor A also outplayed its opponents, Bandon, managing to put away ten goals in the process. The Minor B4 team went down by 0 – 3 against Presentation, Thurles.

Basketball
The First & Second Year team started their league fixtures travelling to St Leo’s, Carlow last week. The First Years (two teams) defeated their opponents by 31-29 and 22 – 6 whilst the Second Year team secured a 22-22 draw.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - JANUARY 23, 2010

Credit Union National Poster Competition

A number of students received awards from Thurles Credit Union in its annual poster competiton and now one of these local winners, Isabella Harold Barry has been awarded Merit in the 11 – 13 years category in the national level of the competition. There will be a National Exhibition and prize giving ceremony on February 7 in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin to which Isabella is invited with her parents.

Munster Camogie

The Senior Camogie team played its long awaited Munster semi-final last week against Ballincollig, Cork. Unfortunately, the team never recovered from a rather nervous and tentative start to the match allowing Ballincollig to score two quick goals against the. A much better performance in the second saw the Ursuline girls score well and confine Ballincollig to two points only – but it was a little too late and Ballincollig ran out winners by 3-6 to 2-3.

Co Tipperary Athletics

There was success again for the Athletics teams in the Co Tipperary Cross Country Athletics championships held last week. The Minor team of Eileen Rafter, Laura Booth and Ciara Cummins earned the first team place following a strong performance from the three girls over 1200 m. Ciara came first, Eileen, second and Laura ninth, thus securing first place for the team.

The two Junior teams of Emer Ryan, Catriona Hayes, Bridget Doyle, Siobhain Hennessy, Kate Hennessy, Caroline Murtagh, Heather Casey and Aoife O’ Toole came in second and third place teams with strong performances from Caitriona, Heather and Caroline. The Intermediate teams did the same over 1500 m and came in second and third placed teams. Members of the Intermediate team are: Dorcas Aleshinloye, Andrea Ryan, Fiona McEnery, Aoife O’Dwyer, Cora Doyle, Shauna hayden, Dearbhaile McDonald, Catriona O’Connor, Michelle Burke, Kate Osborne, Lily Cantillon, Georgina O’ Brien and Steffi Keating.

Two senior teams performed very well also and they came home over the 1500 m in first and second team places. Serena Moloney ran very well and finished first and was followed by Ann Marie Hayes in second place and Marita Moloney in fourth place. The second Senior team also ran strongly with Elaine Fitzgibbon running in seventh, Sharon Cantwell took tenth place, Karine Ronan came twelfth and Niamh Fitzgibbon, thirteenth.

The teams have all now qualified for the East Munster championships which will take place in Dungarvan on Friday, January 29. Good performances from all the teams will be required amid stiffer opposition for qualification for the Munster series and ultimately the All Ireland.

Hockey

With many teams preparing for the start of the Cup campaigns, some challenge matches were the order of the day. Senior A, Senior B and Senior C all played against their counterparts from Loreto, Kilkenny and secured victories. Minor and Junior A teams also had successful challenges against Kilkenny College and Junior A has also successful overcome the first hurdle of the cup beating Bandon Grammar by 3 -0.

Junior B2, Under 15 B3, Senior C and Minor B4 all had league encounters last week against Loreto, Clonmel. Junior B2 and U15B3 drew, Senior C won handsomely by 5 – 2 and Minor B3 was beaten by 0 -3.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - DECEMBER 13, 2009

Entrance Scholarship

Congratulations to Emma O’Dwyer from last year’s Leaving Cert class who was awarded an Entrance Scholarship at a ceremony held in U.C.C. last week. Emma, who is studying Arts/Languages, received her award based on her Leaving Cert results.

School Council

The School Council has organised raising some funds for victims of the recent flooding. Over the last few days, during lunch and break times, the members of the Council are selling red ribbons to place on the Christmas Tree that stands in one of the courtyards. All proceeds will go to the Vincent de Paul/Red Cross flood appeal.

Concern Debating

In the third debate of the opening series of debates, Anna Brennan, Jane Bugler, Louise Burke and Ruth Heenan travelled to Cahir to oppose the motion “that the Irish media are guilty of presenting Africa in a stereotypical and unfair way”. In a keenly argued contest, the judges rejected the motion and gave the victory to the Ursuline team. There is only one debate remaining in the opening series and that will take place after Christmas. However, with two wins and a draw secured, the team looks set to go forward to the knock out stages of the competition.

X-Factor

The opening rounds of the lunch-time talent show are drawing to a close. Only three acts remain to be viewed and then the judges (two Teachers & two Sixth Years) will have to make up their minds what acts will participate in the final next week.

Sport

The Cadette Basketball team travelled to Newbridge last week to take part in the Midland sem-final. The Cadettes were anxious to emulate the Senior team who had already secured its place in the final. They did just that by defeating Newbridge by 34 – 28.

Both teams will travel to Waterford this week to participate in the final.

The Senior Camogie team is also preparing itself for the Munster final this week. They have qualified for this final for some time but have been awaiting results from the other side of the draw to know their opponents.
Good luck to all three teams.

Meanwhile the hockey teams are busily fulfilling league fixtures. Junior A was successful against Ashton by 3 -0, the Minor A defeated crescent by 6 – 3 and the Junior B1 also defeated Crescent, this time by 5 – 0. The Minor B 4 played out a scoreless draw against Ashton and the Under 15B2 lost out to Crescent by 1 – 4.
The Minor B1, B2, and B3 teams were all successful against Laurel Hill, Colaiste by 6-0, 4-0, 2-0 respectively.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - NOVEMBER 22, 2009

Junior Cert Upgrades

As a result of appeals in certain subjects, three students achieved 12As in their Junior Cert. Anna Brennan, Louise Burke and Eibhlin Ryan now join Karine Ronan and Deirdre Meehan with the full compliment of As in Junior Cert. Congratulations to all.

 Debating/Public Speaking

Twenty Fifth & Transition Year students travelled to the Trinity College Public Speaking and Debating workshop last week. The workshop consists of a full day of learning the skills involved in both: from the art of impromptu speaking to the art of rebuttal – all are covered in the course of the day and all students benefited greatly from the experience.

Soroptimist Public Speaking

Three students, Mary Moran, Eibhlin Ryan and Ruth Tobin along with their teacher Ms M Quinn braved the elements last Saturday and headed for the difficult terrain of Clonmel to participate in the Tipperary section of the Soroptimist Public Speaking competition. Topics such as “What goes around, comes around” and “Intellectual Curiosity: where would we be without it?” were the popular topics of the day. Congratulations to Transition Year student, Eibhlin Ryan, who was one of three students chosen to go forward to the Regional section of the competition.

M.H.A.I.

Nicola Sutton, Caroline O’Connor & Anna Brennan will take part in the first round of the Mental Health public speaking competition this week and will speak as a team contending “that the building bricks of good mental health are laid in our youth”.

Art Competition

Congratulations to sixth year student, Emma Maher, who was awarded first prize in the senior section (17+) of the Credit Union Art competition last week. There was success too for second year student, Isabella Harold-Barry who won first prize in 9-13 age group and Shauna Hayden who won third prize in the 14 -17 age group section.  

Co Tipperary Badminton

Three teams entered the Senior section of the Co Tipperary Badminton competition last week. The Senior A team of Maeve Broderick, Hannah Tobin, Claire Hughes and Edwina McGrath made it all the way to the final but was defeated narrowly by Roscrea.

Hockey & Basketball

It was another busy week for the hockey teams as they fulfilled their various league fixtures. Junior B1 and Senior B had victories over Laurel Hill, Secondary School by 2 – 0 and 2 -1 respectively. The U15B3 team suffered a narrow loss – 0 -1.  The Junior A and Minor A teams had challenge matches against Loreto, Kilkenny and both teams claimed victory.

The Senior and Cadette basketball teams have already qualified for the play offs as a result of their respective wins in the Midland League so the defeats against Clonaslea last week does not affect their position.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - NOVEMBER 15, 2009

Science Week

There is absolutely no doubt but that every student in the school knew that it was Science Week. The Science Faculty worked very hard to ensure that there was a high level of participation amongst the students for the many and varied activities that went on during the week.

The First & Second Year students had table quizzes organised and run by the Sixth Year Charities Committee and as well as students enjoying the experience, they also managed to raise funds for Crumlin Children’s Hospital. In both quizzes, the results were tied at the top.

The Science Crossword was also very popular and the Third, Fifth & Sixth Years participated in this and there was a winner from each year group.

The Transition Year students entered “Science Snaps” in a photographic competition entitled “Creativity & Innovation” and there was a very high standard of photo submitted. These have all been entered in a National Competition run by Tyndall National Institute. One photograph was chosen from all the entries as a winning “school entry”.  Pictured here is the winning photo entitled “The World’s Future is in Your Hands” by Ciara Faning. In a week that saw the publication of the pastoral letter on the environment entitled “The Cry of the Earth”, this photo seems very apt indeed.  

A team of three Sixth Years travelled to Carlow to participate in the Irish Science Teachers Association (ISTA) science quiz.  Andrea Hennessy, Libby Ryan and Aoife Walsh came fourth in a high scoring quiz and were only four points off the winning team.

CSPE Action Projects

Two groups of Second Years and one group of Third Years all went in different directions in the course of the last week to do their action project for the Junior Cert CSPE examination. One second year group travelled to Limerick Jail, another went to experience the law in progress with a visit to Nenagh Courthouse and the third year group went to the Dáil.

The trip was the “fun”part but now they have to record all and set it down on paper for submission with their CSPE written paper next June.

Cakesale for Childline

A group of Third Year students held a very successful cake sale for Childline and managed to raise € 275 for the charity in the process and also they wanted to raise awareness about the work that Childline does.

Sport  

It was a busy week for the hockey teams as they fulfilled league commitments. Minor B1, Minor B3 Under 15 B1 and Minor B2 all took on Villers, Limerick in their various leagues. Apart from the Minor B1 who had a 2-2 draw, it was win, win, win for the other three teams.

The Senior A, Senior B, Junior A and Minor A had league appointments with Crescent, Limerick. There was a win for the Junior A by 2 -0, a draw for the Senior B and a loss for the Senior and Minor A teams.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - NOVEMBER 1, 2009

Guys & Dolls

The curtain came down on Guys & Dolls before the mid-term break. Many thanks go to all who attended in such large numbers and in particular to the parents of the students on stage. With such an intense rehearsal schedule, parents were on call to fetch and carry each day and the production would not have been possible without that co-operation.

Chamber Choir

The Chamber Choir (click here) had to travel to Cork on Thursday, October 22, the day after the final performance of Guys & Dolls for the recording by R.T.E. of the Co-operation Ireland All Island School Choir competition. With ninety per cent of the students being on stage the night before, great credit is due to them and their conductor, Ms Farrell, for acquitting themselves so well in Cork. The programme was broadcast on Sunday last, November 1 and the five choirs who had qualified for the television stage of the competition provided a feast of choral singing for both the audience in attendance on the night and the wider television audience last Sunday. The Ursuline Choir sang “Maria Matrem Virginem” and a contrasting lively piece called “Las Amarillas”. Well done to the very experienced Choir from Presentation S.S., Kilkenny who emerged winners on the night and they now proceed to the final in the Ulster Hall, Belfast on November 15.

Archbishop Clifford’s Visit

Also on the week before the mid-term, the Archbishop paid his biennial visit to the school and met with the staff and students. A prayer service was held with the whole school community marking the visit of Dr Clifford as well as the Feast of St Ursula on the day. The Archbishop addressed the school on the theme of prayer and its importance in all our lives.

Sport

Sisters, Antonia and Edwina McGrath were both called to the Irish International hockey squad for training during the mid-term at Under 16 and Under 18 level respectively. The Senior and Cadette Basketball teams have continued their winning ways notching up their second victory of the league against St Leo’s, Carlow. The Senior Camogie team is into the semi-final of the Munster Championship following its defeat of Coachford by 6-8 to 4-6.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - OCTOBER 11, 2009

CO-OPERATION IRELAND 09 – SCHOOL CHOIR COMPETITION

The Cecilian and Chamber Choirs in the school were very busy upon the return in September as they had to make a CD of two contrasting songs each, in order to enter the first ever Co-operation Ireland School Choir ’09 competition. The competition is open to all second level schools in the Republic and Northern Ireland and the CD recordings had to be submitted by September 30.  From these CDs, five choirs from four regions were chosen to go forward to Regional Finals.  The competition is being organised by RTE in association with Titanic Quarter.

So it was that last week that the school received news that the Chamber Choir had been chosen as one of the five choirs from the Munster/Leinster region.  This involves the Choir travelling to Cork on October 22 for the Regional Final and this part of the competition will be transmitted on RTE 1 on Sunday, November 1.  This is a terrific achievement for the Choir and its conductor, Ms Farrell and accompanist, Ms McNally.

The competition in Cork will be very keen indeed as the Choir will be up against very experienced choirs from Presentation, Kilkenny, Newtown, Waterford, Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare and Presentation, Ballyphehane Cork.   

The winner of each of the Regional Heats will receive €1,000 and will qualify to participate in Co-operation Ireland School Choir ’09 final which will take place in the Ulster Hall,  Belfast on November 15 and will be transmitted live on RTE 1.

SCHOOL SHOW: GUYS & DOLLS

The success of the Chamber Choir has necessitated a change of date for the run of Guys & Dolls. The usual finishing night is Thursday, but as a large number of students in the cast are members of the Chamber Choir, the final night for this year’s show will be Wednesday, October 21 to enable the Choir to set out for Cork on the Thursday.

SURPRISE VISIT FROM JESSIE

Past pupil, and runner up in the BBC’s search for a Nancy in the I’d Do Anything series, Jessie Buckley, returned to the school last Sunday to watch a rehearsal of Guys & Dolls. Unable to make it to any of the performances, Jessie was greeted warmly and with great delight by the students, especially the four Sixth Year students involved in the show who had played parts with her in West Side Story.

Meanwhile, the last touches are being put to the show as the cast prepares for opening night next Saturday, October 17 and will continue on Sunday Oct 18, Tuesday, October 20 and as advised above, Wednesday, October 21.  Bookings can be made by calling or phoning the school office at 0504/22147 between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. each day.

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URSULINE MUSINGS -SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

Guys & Dolls :

Auditions have been completed and the first production rehearsal took place on Sunday last so all is now in full swing as the cast prepare for opening night on October 17. The cast is as follows:

Sky Masterson:.................Aoife Walsh
Sarah Browne:..................Aoife Ryan
Nathan Detroit:.................Fiona O’ Sullivan
Adelaide:..........................Jessica Bambrick
Mimi:................................Eva McNally               
Arvide:.............................Georgina O’ Brien
Nicely Nicely Johnston:......Cliodhna Bourke
Benny Southstreet:...........Alison Burns
Rusty Charlie:...................Orlaith O’ Sullivan
Big Jule:...........................Gwen Fitzpatrick
Harry the Horse:...............Laura Joy
Lt. Branningan:.................Anna O’ Donnell
General Cartwright:..........Ellen Murray
Angie the Ox:....................Lily Cantillon
Society Max:.....................Eibhlin Ryan
Liver Lip Louie:.................Susan Lowry
M.C Hotbox:......................Phillipa Bourke
Agatha:............................Rachel Williams
Joey Biltmore:..................Grainne White

Transition Year

The two Transition Year groups have settled well to their tasks: mini-companies, community care, car & road safety workshop etc and they also enjoyed their first outing of the year in Killaloe last Friday. They went to the Killaloe Activity Centre where they participated in all kinds of land and water sports and for once the weather looked down kindly on them!

Tennis

Sixth Year student, Hannah May Morrissey travelled to Glasgow, Scotland recently to represent Ireland in a four nations Tennis Tournament – Ireland, England, Scotland & Wales. There were four teams in all from each country: Under 12, Under 14, Under 18 and a Senior team. Hannah May participated in the Under 18 team and played three singles matches and three doubles matches over the course of the three day event. The overall winner of the tournament was Scotland.

Hockey

In preparation for the competitive season ahead, the Senior A is having a friendly invitation blitz this week. The school is hosting this event and seven other teams in all will travel for the day’s session of matches: Loreto Dalkey and Foxrock, Loreto, Wexford, Middleton College and Mount Mercy, Cork and Kilkenny College & Loreto, Kilkenny.

Liturgy

The Religious Education Department is busily preparing for the opening of the year school Mass which will take place next week. The theme for the year is:
“Live simply. Love Generously. Leave the rest to God”

 Choirs

The Cecilian and Chamber Choirs have been very busy in the last two weeks as they prepared to record a C.D. for entry into a competition as part of “Co-operation North”. The practices have now been completed and the recording made on Monday last and it will be submitted for adjudication.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

The thoughts of the long, wet summer holidays are now but a dim and distant memory as all students are now settled back for the academic year ahead. The return is eased by the arrival in the last week of something approaching an Indian summer.

Class of 2009

The Class of 2009 had its final get together at the end of August at its Debs/Graduation Dance in the Anner Hotel. Congratulations to all of them on their wonderful Leaving Cert results and already many of them have set out to pursue their own particular dreams and ambitions and we wish them well.

Well done also to the Junior Cert students who received their results last week. Special congratulations must go to Karine Ronan who was one of nine students in the country to attain the “full package” of results i.e. twelve A s.

Munster Captain

Sixth Year student, Edwina McGrath, has been appointed captain of the Under 18 Munster hockey team for this season. This is indeed a well deserved honour for a dedicated sports girl. Edwina has been a member of the Senior A hockey team in the school for the last three years and a member of the Under 16 and Under 18 Munster team also. Whilst hockey takes a lot of her time, Edwina is also an excellent tennis and badminton player and has represented the school in all these sports and has achieved great success in all three disciplines.

School Show

The choice of show for this year is Frank Loesser’s Guys and Dolls and the process of selecting the students for the roles has begun. Based on a story by Damon Runyon, the show follows the fortunes of gambler Sky Masterson and his pals who come in contact with a well intentioned young lady called Sarah Brown who is anxious to “clean up the streets” of Broadway and free them of all sin!  This is not such an easy task for her as she has to combat the trickery and wiles of characters such as Nicely-Nicely Johnston and Nathan Detroit, not to mention the attraction she feels for the suave and charismatic Sky.

The show will open in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall on October 17 and run until Thursday night, October 22.

School Council

The School Council is up and running and the members of the Council, headed by Chairperson, Jane O’ Brien, are busily setting the agenda for the year. Jane is assisted by two vice-chairpersons, Leah Brennan and Mary Prendergast and the Secretary for the year is Fifth Year student, Ellen Sweeney. One of the main tasks for the Sixth Year Councillors is to ensure that all new First Year students settle in well and find their way about what can be a daunting place for them in the first few weeks.  

Two weeks of the new school year are already done and the pace of life is already increasing as the Sports Department set about choosing their many and varied teams for the season, show practices get underway, students are preparing the Liturgy for the Opening School Mass and of course the homework assignments increase. It is like there has never been a holiday!

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MAY 10, 2009  

SCHOOL RECEIVES ITS THIRD GREEN FLAG 

At a ceremony recently in Dublin, Chairperson and Secretary of the Green School Committee, Aisling Barry and Thoran Sorrell, accompanied by Ms Frend (left), accepted the Third Green Flag for the school.

It has been a long journey for the committee as they have been working on the attainment of this flag throughout the year. On arrival back to school in September, the green flag committee was faced with a very tall order indeed namely to achieve its third green flag.This flag is the third theme for schools involved in the Green Schools programme and involved reducing water consumption within the school, raising awareness about the importance of water conservation, whilst also keeping up a steady continuation of the recycling and energy programmes.

Aisling Barry, Chairperson of the Green School Committee set the ball rolling last September encouraging students on the mammoth task which faced them in order to achieve the water flag, reminding them to
‘Slow the flow of the H2O’.

Each week the committee worked closely together to promote the Green Flag initiative throughout the school encouraging all to keep up the efforts in recycling (first flag), reducing the energy used in the school (second flag) and now placing a particular emphasis on water in order to achieve the third flag. .

Installation of the Hippos
In conjunction with North Tipperary Co. Council, the green flag committee acquired funding to purchase HIPPO bags in order to reduce the water consumption in school. These devices were placed in the cisterns of each toilet in the school and therefore reduced the amount of water consumption with each flush.

A water meter and logger were then put in place in the school to assess the progress. This is a pilot programme undertaken by North Tipperary Co. Council and the school has itself proved to be very successful as there was a drop of up to 50% in the water consumption.

Notices were placed around the school informing students of the measures taken to decrease water consumption in the school and to promote further awareness of the importance of water conservation. The water conservation also saw the birth of the water mascot – Dropletta. She popped up all over the school ensuring that all remembered to ‘Slow the flow of the H2O’.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MAY 3, 2009

Sport

It was a busy week for the sporting teams in the school: the culmination of one league, blitzes in Camogie and Hockey, Tennis matches, Athletics and an important semi-final for the Second Year Basketball team.

The Second Year Basketball team had no sooner recovered from the All-Ireland qualifiers in Dublin where they had to play three matches in a row, than they had to head for University of Limerick to take on Cahirciveen in the All Ireland semi-final. However, they showed absolutely no signs of any fatigue and all were well motivated to earn their place in the All Ireland final. The match was very closely contested and there was little between the teams coming up to the final whistle and in a rather nerve wracking last five minutes the Second Years held on to the slimmest lead and finished with a 23 – 21 victory.

Now, it is off to the basketball Arena in Tallaght to take on Listowel in the All Ireland final and we wish them the best of luck.

Athletics

The same day, another group headed for Waterford to take part in the East Munster Individual Athletics and what a good day they had. The outcome of their journey was three gold medals, eight silver and three bronze. The three gold medals went to Siobhan Hennessy for the Junior 1200 m walk, Mary Prendergast for the Senior 3000 metres and Elaine Fitzgibbon for the Intermediate Mile.

The silver medallists were Lorraine Healy (Intermediate Triple Jump), Jacqueline Hughes (Senior 200 m), Sharon Cantwell (Senior 3,000 m). Genevieve O’ Mahoney and Nicola Sutton also won silver in Senior competition – shot put and 3,000 m walk respectively. Sarah Healy finished these individual performances with a silver in the Discus and then the Senior Relay team of Nicola Sutton, Jacqueline Hughes, Sharon Cantwell and Aisling Mullins came home in second place to secure the final silver of the day.

The Junior Relay team (Silvianne and Simone Strapp, Lorraine Healy and Shonagh O’ Flynn) also ran a great race and took the bronze medal in the Intermediate Relay Race.  Shonagh O’ Flynn and Alice McDonnell also won bronze in the Intermediate 800 m and Minor 100 metres respectively.

Ann Marie Hayes, Sharon Mulcaire and Aoife O’ Sullivan ran very well and were just pipped for medals coming fourth in their specialist competitions.

Hockey

The Second Year Hockey players had a blitz last week also and two teams represented the school against Presentation Thurles, Rockwell, St Annes Tipperary and Loreto Clonmel. The Ursuline B1 team topped the group and played a final against the Presentation which they won by 3 -0.

On Thursday, April 30, the Under 15B1 team had its league final against Rockwell and the team claimed the Munster title in this division.

Tennis

The Under 19 tennis team has booked its place in a Munster final also by defeating Nenagh and that final will take place on May 13. meanwhile the Under 14A secured a place in the semi-final of the Shield against Kinsale. 

Cork Choral Festival

The Chamber Choir, a very dedicated group of singers under the baton of Ms Farrell, took part in the Cork International Choral Festival last week.  Their chosen songs were Las Amarillas (arranged by Stephan Hatfield) a lively piece with lots of complex rhythms and harmonies and a traditional Irish air, Sean-Dun na nGall by Carl G. Hardebec. The Choir was rewarded for its hard work by receiving a special prize for its performance of Las Amarillas.

The annual Musical Evening takes place this Wednesday (May 6) in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall. There is a wonderful line up of orchestras, Choirs and Individual Instrumentalists and it promises to be a feast of music.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – APRIL 27, 2009

MISSION DAY – SEND IN THE CLOWNS (Sixth Year Section)

A little later than usual i.e. April 22, the Sixth Year students organised their contribution for raising funds for the Missions.

In a novel way, they set a theme for the day, Send in the Clowns, and each and every Sixth Year dressed themselves as clowns in every shape and colour costume imaginable. Amongst this one hundred and thirty odd clowns were found two strays, namely two of the Teachers who dressed themselves as clowns and hid amongst the others. This was one of the ideas for getting money out of the rest of the school body. Students had to identify who the “mystery clowns” were and pay for the facility of guessing….and they did: Mrs Quinn and Mrs McNally.

In keeping with the theme, the Sixth Years held a fun fair and there was a myriad of activities available for all the school to have good fun and enjoy an hour and a half or so: Sumo Wrestlers, throwing sponges, quad bikes (nearly), tricycle rides, name the doll, guess the number of lolly pops, “skiing”, obstacle courses, popcorn, etc. 

No Mission Day would be complete without a competitive edge and so the Sixth Years challenged the Teachers to a lunch time Dodge Ball match. The ad hoc rules were flaunted and the result of this encounter is unknown though Sixth Years are claiming the victory!!!

Likewise, Mission Day has now become almost synonymous with that famous lunch time Auction. Some of the “lots” up for auction were lunch with the male members of staff which raised a handsome sum, though there was some internal rivalry among the men to see who cost the most! In this case it is true to say that here is definitely no such thing as a free lunch. First Year classes had gathered funds to bid for a no homework night and a group of Sixth Years clubbed together for the privilege of making the announcements on the Intercom for a day!

The one thing for sure was that there was a great fun atmosphere throughout all the activities and all whilst raising € 8,200 for the Missions.

Second Year Basketball

Unfortunately a group of Second Year students had to miss the Mission Activities as they were involved in a series of matches in the All Ireland Qualifiers. They set out for Dublin at 6.00 a.m. and it proved a very worthwhile trip. The team had three matches to play against Colaiste Colmcille, Donegal, Our Lady’s, Knock, Co Mayo and the final match was against St Mary’s Longford. Winning the first two matches it came down to a decider with Longford who had also won their matches. So the tension was high but the Second Years proved equal to the task and played extremely well and were the victors by 41 – 19.

The team will travel to Limerick this week to take part in the All Ireland semi-final and we wish them the best of luck.

Hockey

The Minor B1 hockey team was involved in its League Final also on Mission Day. The opponents were Castletroy, Limerick and in a close affair, the Ursuline team eventually ran out winners by 1 – 0.  The Junior A team also had the semi-final of the Plate competition against Scoil Mhuire and with everything all square at full time, extra time was required and the team went down by 3 – 1.

Tipp FM

Congratulations goes to Sixth Year student, Debbie Gleeson who received the Adjudicator’s Special Award at the finals of the Tipp FM competition that was staged in the Premier Hall last Saturday night. Debbie was one of three acts from the school that made it through the heats to the final: Aoife Ryan and Katie O’Carroll and Cliodhna Bourke. Debbie received a beautiful crystal trophy and has been invited to “guest” in a show coming up shortly in the Premier Hall.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MARCH 29, 2009

Feis Ceoil - Tuesday

The Senior & Junior Orchestras packed up two buses ( a feat in itself with all the instruments) and headed for the R.D.S. in Dublin to take part in the Feis Ceoil competitions for Orchestras. Having completed the Department of Education examinations the previous week, both groups were in good form.

The Senior Orchestra was first up and  competed well playing Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance and Mussorgsky’s The Old Castle.  When the final adjudication came, the Orchestra was given joint second two marks behind the winning school - Sacred Heart School, Tullamore. The Junior orchestra also competed well but it too was up against stiff opposition from habitual winners in the section from Kilkenny.

Concern - Wednesday

Reaching the last eight of a national competition is an achievement in itself. The Concern Debating team had done just that defeating six or seven teams since last October. As would be expected at this stage of the competition, the standard of debating in this quarter final clash with Sandford College from Ranelagh in Dublin was outstanding. The motion up for debate was
“that the U.N. is a white elephant”
and the Ursuline team of Clodagh Ni Fhaolain, Roisin White, Dervla Nash and Aoife O’ Sullivan proposed the motion. It was an excellent debate of the highest standard and as the chief judge pointed out on the night, both teams would deserve a place in the final. However, only one team could go through and the judges decided that the motion was defeated.

Gael Linn All Ireland – Thursday

On Thursday, the Gael Linn Debating team headed off for Longford to take part in the All Ireland Final of the competition. Emma Fanning, Katie Doody and Shannon Cleary had to oppose the motion:
“Tá an ceart acu súid atá I gcoinne domhandú”
(they are right those that are against globalisation).

Once again, the standard of debating was very high indeed and in this case the motion was carried.

Cork Examiner Quiz

Senior students, Niamh Ryan and Jayne Kelly and Junior students Ruth Atkins and Jane O’ Quigley took on local competition in the second round of The Examiner’s Pit Your Wits Quiz. The girls made a great start and were leading for the first three or four rounds when the boys from the C.B.S. had a great few rounds and took the lead which they held until the end.

Sport

It was also a busy week for the sporting teams: the Second Year basketball team won its Midland final against St Mary’s Naas so the team will now go on to the All Ireland qualifiers. The Under 16 tennis team of Lorna Flanagan, Georgina O’ Brien, Amy Long and Louise Coman had a first round victory against Hospital, Co Limerick. The Minor B1 hockey team played out a scoreless draw against Castletroy College in the league and the Under 15 B3 suffered a 0-1 defeat by the same opposition. The Senior B travelled to Cork to take part in the League Final against Middleton College and was defeated. The week was then completed with a Cup win for the Junior B hockey and a Minor A victory against Scoil Mhuire in the semi final of the Cup

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URSULINE MUSINGS – MARCH 16, 2009

Sport

It was a busy week for many of the sporting teams in the school last week. The Second Year Basketball team secured its place in the Midland league semi-final by defeating Sr Mary’s, Nenagh by 47 – 4 and then went on later in the week to defeat St Leo’s, Carlow by 33 – 11, thus earning themselves a well deserved place in the final.  The Under 15 B3 team also had a win against Scoil Carmel by 4 -0. .

A Camogie Blitz also took place and the Ursuline team was pipped for a place in the final but a good competitive day was had by all.

Many of the hockey teams were also in action with the Senior A s back to winning form in the Plate competition defeating Laurel Hill Colaiste by 2 – 0 after extra time. The Intermediate team also secured a victory by 1 -0  against the same opposition having defeated Scoil Carmel earlier in the week by 7 – 0. .

Two of the Tennis teams were also in action last week with varying fortunes. The Under 19 B fought hard but was eventually overcome by Nenagh but the Under 19 A team secured a victory against Laurel Hill Colaiste.

Concern Debating

The team had a long journey to Bray last week to oppose the motion that
            “Nuclear Power does not make sense for Ireland”
In a very tightly argued debate against the boys of Presentation, Bray the girls won a majority decision and they now move on to the last eight of the competition and they are already working on the new motion.

Gael Linn Debating

Meanwhile, the Gael Linn Debating team is working hard getting to grips with a motion on globalisation in preparation for the All Ireland next week.

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URSULINE MUSINGS - MARCH 9, 2009 

Tipperary Premier Star Search

Norman Morrissey of Tipp FM came to the school last Tuesday night to audition for the Premier Star Search. There was great interest in this competition amongst the senior students of the school with about sixteen acts in all putting themselves forward. However, as with all competitions, only four acts could be chosen to go through to the next round. Fifth Year students, Aoife Ryan, singing “Arms of an Angel”, and Katie O’ Carroll, accompanied on piano by Cliodhna Bourke were chosen as were Melanie O’Brien, accompanied by Hilary Twomey and Debbie Gleeson – all Sixth Years. 

These four acts will now go forward to the quarter final of the competition which will be held on March 27/28.

Youth Speaks

Published poet and writer, Stephen Murray, visited the school last week to do a poetry workshop with the Transition Year students. He certainly brought poetry to life for the students and having had a workshop in the morning with each of the TY groups, he then did a “Poetry Slam” – where students wrote their own work and then presented it to the group. A member of the group will be chosen to go to Listowel Writer’s Week.

Concern Debate

Having travelled to Waterford on Monday, March 3 last and having successfully defeated a motion on child labour, the Concern Debating team had not even time to draw a breath as members of the team have to travel to Bray this week to oppose the motion that
“Nuclear Power does not make sense for Ireland”
The team is now one of the last sixteen in the competition and the pressure is on with so little time now coming between the various motions.

 Athletics

The Munster Schools Indoor Championships were held in Nenagh last week and those athletes who attended brought home four medals in all. Well done to Ann Marie Hayes who won the 1200 metre Senior girls race in a time of 4.09 and she was followed closely in third place by Ailbhe Carroll in a time of 4.25.  Ailbhe also secured a medal in the 600 metre race coming in second place in a time of 2.00 mins. Nicola Sutton secured the bronze in the same race.

Well done also to long jumpers Lorraine Healy and Silvianne Strapp. Both competed very well and Lorraine just missed out on a medal finishing in fourth place.

Irish Duathalon

Congratulations to Sixth Year student, Ailbhe Carroll, who has been chosen to represent Ireland in the Under 19 Duathalon team. She will be travelling to Budapest, Hungary on May 23 this year. The race will consist of a three kilometre run, followed by a twenty kilometre cycle and then a 3.2 k run to finish.

Ailbhe is a dedicated athlete and spends hours in training each week whilst also managing to balance the time with her studies. She raced her way on to the Junior team with some very fine performances at the start of the year. 

Meanwhile, the Senior Athletics team travelled to Belfast last weekend to take part in the All Ireland Schools competition: Ann Marie Hayes, Serena Moloney, Ailbhe Carroll, Sharon Cantwell, and Mary Prendergast performed very well indeed and were pipped for a medal by coming in fourth place. The competition was won by Loreto Convent, Foxrock.

Hockey

The Senior B team was in action in the Cup competition last week and was looking set for a victory when Villiers scored in the last minutes of the match to force extra time. However, Villiers came through strongly in extra time and scored two further goals. Final score 3-1.

The Minor A continued its winning ways by securing a 4-0 victory against the same opposition and the team is now through to the Cup semi-final.

Basketball

The Second Year Basketball team played the Midland quarter final last Monday against St Mary’s, Nenagh and had a comfortable win by 47 – 4.

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URSULINE MUSING– MARCH 1, 2009

School Obtains Third Green Flag

On the return from the mid-term break, the word arrived from An Taisce that the School had been successful in its bid to gain a third green flag for the school.  The previous two flags were earned for the reduction in the amount of waste in the school and a reduction in energy usage.

The third flag has been earned for the reduction of the amount of water used in the school. The Green Flag committee, under the chairmanship of Sixth Year student, Aisling Barry, highlighted the need for a reduction in water usage from the return to school last September and used the catchy slogan “Slow the flow of H2O” to get the whole school on board. The school also became a pilot school in North Tipperary for the use of hippo bags in cisterns and they certainly have helped in the water reduction project. The water meter indicates a 40% saving.

Obtaining the third green flag is an enormous achievement as not only is there a focus on the water reduction but also on keeping the waste recycled and energy reduced. Great credit is due to the hard-working Green School’s committee, which is drawn from all classes in the school. 

The flag will be presented in the Croke Park Conference Centre on Thursday, March 5 and Aisling Barry and Thoran Sorell will represent the Green School’s Committee at the ceremony.

Both the Junior & Senior Gael Linn Debating teams travelled to Mitchelstown last week for the Munster finals. The Junior team of Michelle Burke, Karine Ronan,  Laura Connolly  proposed the motion
“Caitear go maith le hainmhithe in Eirinn”
Their opponents were Presentation Convent, Mardyke, Cork, Presentation, Thurles and Mercy College, Tralee. A very high standard of debating was in evidence in all the speeches and the victory for the Junior Debate went to the Presentation, Thurles. Well done to them.

The Senior Team’s had to oppose the motion:
“Léiríon muintir na hEireann grá dá dtír”
Emma Fanning, Katie Doody and Shannon Cleary were the members of the team and they fought off huge competition from John the Baptist School, Hospital, Presentation, Mardyke and Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork to earn a well deserved place in the All Ireland final which will take place in Maynooth at the end of March.

Concern Debating

The Concern Debating team travelled to Waterford last Monday to take on Presentation, Waterford. The motion for debate was that
“Child labour is a necessity in the Developing World”
The Ursuline team opposed the motion and the four convincing speeches from Clodagh Whelan (captain), Dervla Nash, Roisin White and Genevieve O’ Mahony convinced the judges that indeed this motion should be defeated. The team is now through to the last sixteen of the competition.

Log on and Learn

This nationwide initiative where Transition Year students teach some of the more elderly citizens some computer skills is now in its second week.

The first week (two groups – Monday & Wednesday) went extremely well with all those who came for tuition going away very satisfied with their evening’s work. In all, twenty five “students” are coming for tuition and each one is taken on individually by a member of Transition Year who have volunteered to do this project after school. The eldest “student” is ninety-five years young!

Apologies are made to the large number of people who applied for a place but were unsuccessful. Unfortunately only 25 people can be accommodated over the two evenings. 

Sport

The Second and First Year Basketball teams had the last of their pool matches last Monday against St Mary’s, Naas. Unfortunately, the First Year team was defeated by 32 – 17.

The Second Years, however, had a great win by 28 – 18 and they will now progress into the Midland semi-finals having won all their pool matches.

Three hockey teams had a successful “day out” in Limerick last week against Laurel Hill, Coláiste. The Under 15B1 and the Junior B1 had victories by 3-0 and 1-0 respectively while the Under 15B2 played out a scoreless draw.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – FEBRUARY 9, 2009

Soroptimist Public Speaking

Fifth Year student, Mary Moran travelled to Clonmel last Saturday to take part in the Regional Finals of the Soroptimist Public Speaking competition.  Mary was one of two speakers from Tipperary to represent the county in these finals.  Her chosen topic was “Fantastic Elastic” and she acquitted herself very well though she did not proceed to the next stage of the competition.  As well as giving her prepared speech, she was also given two minutes to come up with an impromptu speech on the subject of “Food Glorious Food”

First and Second Year Public Speaking

Meanwhile the speakers of the future are busily preparing themselves for the in-house public speaking competition. The topic is “that Technology is destroying our love of reading”  and those interested will give their thoughts, either for or against, in preliminary rounds this week.

MHAI Public Speaking

Aisling Barry, Nicola Sutton and Caroline O’Connor, members of the Mental Health Public Speaking team, will also be in action this week in the Regional Final in Nenagh.  Their topic is “idealised images of beauty lead to dissatisfaction with self”.

Concern Debate

The four members of the Concern debating team, Clodagh Ni Fhaolain, Roisin White, Aoife O’Sullivan and Genevieve O’Mahony are busy putting the finishing touches to their speeches opposing the motion that “ George W.Bush was good for Africa”.  Their opponents , in this the first of the knock-out debates, are Loreto Secondary School, Clonmel.

IMTA Team Maths Quiz

Three teams of Leaving Cert high level Maths students took part in a quiz in the Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel recently.  This is an event that takes place each year and is organised on a national basis by the Irish Maths Teachers Association (IMTA).  Not only is this a competitive and social event, it also enables and encourages  students to revise.  The three participating teams were Team1 : Laura Maher, Aisling Hogan, Claire Bowden and Lorraine Healy 2: Heather Gordon, Ann Marie Harte, Claire Rhatigan and Ailbhe O’Keeffe.  3: Fiona McGrath, Marie Tynan, Libby Ryan and Aoife Walsh.

Munster Camogie Final

The Junior Camogie team made the long journey to Ballincollig, Co.Cork last Friday to take part in the B section Junior Camogie Final.   Despite the inclement weather conditions and very competent goalies on both teams, the team was in flying form and the journey was worthwhile as they emerged convincing winners by a scoreline of 4-7 to 0-4

Co. Tipperary Athletics

For the eight consecutive year, the Athletic teams secured the Co. Tipperary Schools trophy once again.  Out of approximately eight Tipperary schools participating, the Ursuline teams were very convincing winners.  The two Senior teams came first and second with fine performances from many of the athletes : Serena Moloney, Ann Marie Hayes, Marita Moloney and Ailbhe Carroll notably.  The Intermediate and Junior teams both came second and the Minor team came first.  Well done to all the athletes who performed so well on the day.  Next up is the Munster Championship which will take place in the next few weeks.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – FEBRUARY 1, 2009

Gael Linn Debating

Well done to the Senior Debating team of Emma Fanning, Katie Doody and Shannon Cleary who travelled to Roscrea last week to argue about the relevance of the Curriculum to today’s students. Four teams, tow proposing and two opposing, argued for and against to a very high standard and one of each has now gone through to the next round: Ursuline and Hospital.

The Junior team had received a bye and they will take part, like the Seniors in the Regional finals in the next few weeks.

In House Public Speaking / Debating

The First and Second year students are honing their public speaking / debating skills in preparation for an In-House competition that will commence shortly.  Students will have to argue either for or against the subject “that Technology has destroyed our love of reading”.

Log On, Learn

Transition Year students are taking part in a nationwide initiative to help the older members of the community to become “computer literate”. It is a collaborative initiative from Intel, Microsoft and An Post.  Some Transition Years have volunteered to give one-to-one tuition to those aged 60 and over, using the computer facilities in the school.  Over eight consecutive weeks, the senior citizens will learn some computer basics and word processing and they will also learn how to surf the net to book flights, do on-line shopping and of course to keep in touch with their nearest and dearest by
email.

For any Senior Citizen who is interested, contact the school and look for the TY Co-ordinator.

Circle of Friends

Following a lovely prayer service over the Intercom to mark St Angela’s Day, the entire school community left the school premises as a practice fire drill and then very quickly they formed a “circle of friends” right around the school. This was to highlight the School Council’s anti-bullying message. The Council also held a crazy sock day to coincide with the event and prizes were given for the most imaginative socks, using the Anti-bullying logo: “everyone is welcome into our circle, no matter what shape she is”

Sport

There was a good start for the Second year basketball team as it started its league campaign last week, defeating St Leo’s Carlow by 43 – 11. The First Years however did not manage a win in a low scoring match and they were defeated by St Leo’s by 24 – 6.

The luck was not with the Senior A team as it travelled to Limerick to take on Crescent Comprehensive in the first round of the Cup. Conceding an early goal, the team settled well and dominated the match for long periods. However, they could not get the goal past the very skilful Crescent goalie.

Minor B1, Under 15 B1, Junior B, Intermediates all notched up victories in their respective leagues and the Junior B3 team played out a scoreless draw against St Anne’s, Tipperary.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – JANUARY 25, 2009

Charities Committee

Well done to the Sixth Year members of the Charities Committee who recently raised € 250 for the Tallaght Children’s Hospital. They organised a table quiz for the whole of the First Year and it was a very enjoyable experience for all. The questions included everything from general knowledge to sport and from pop music to geography.

The quiz also provided a nice opportunity for the First Year classes to socialise together as the Sixth Years had arranged the teams in such a way that there was one person from each of the class groups at a table.

Catholic Schools’ Week

Catholic Schools’ Week takes place right around the country and further a-field from January 26 – 30. The Religious Education Department has been busy marking the occasion with special prayers and a great emphasis is being placed on the Cross as the central symbol of our faith.

School Council

On January 27, the feast of our Foundress, St Angela Merici, the School Council organised a “circle of friends” around the school.  This is the culmination of the School Council’s anti-bullying message that operates in the school. Last year, the Council initiated a competition where students could design a logo and a motto on the theme of bullying. The winning logo and slogan was
“Everyone is invited into our circle no matter what shape she is”.
Subsequently, the Council got a badge made of this logo and motto and students who wish to wear it sign the anti-bullying charter.

Sport

The temperature is rising now as many of the Hockey teams prepare for the first rounds of the various Cup competitions. The spotlight is on the Senior A this week as the team starts its cup campaign. They have been training especially hard in preparation for first round opponents - Crescent Comprehensive. They had a good challenge match against Loreto, Kilkenny and the most pleasing aspect of it was that they scored 3 goals against a very solid defence.

The Senior B team had a 4 – 1 victory in its first round cup match against Laurel Hill, Coláiste. The Under 15 B1 continued its winning ways in a league fixture against the same opponents, winning by 2 -0.  The Intermediate team also had a league victory against the Presentation, Thurles by 4 – 1.

Meanwhile the Minor B1 and B2 teams were pitted against one another in the league Section 1 of the B group. The B1 team ran out winners by 3 – 0 although the match was much closer than the score-line would suggest.  The B1s also had a victory against Crescent by 1 – 0 in the league.

The Second and First year Basketball teams are busy preparing for the start of their competitive season and they have had challenge matches in preparation. The Second years had a win over the Presentation, Thurles – a good start as they prepare for competitive action this week. 

Four Badminton teams travelled to Clonmel last week to take part in the Co Tipperary competition. The Senior team emerged as winners in its section and will now go forward to the Munster section. The Junior team was beaten in the final and so will miss out on a place in Munster.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – JANUARY 12, 2009

Young Scientist

There was great success for one of the school’s two entries in the BT Young Scientist competition held in the R.D.S. last week.

Well done to Harriet Byrne, Fifth Year student who won the Senior Biological Section and received a trophy and € 300 for her project on “Metallic Bacteria”.  In her project Harriet investigated how aluminium and iron affected the growth of bacteria in the colon and she came up with some interesting results vis a vis some of the foods we are eating on a daily basis.

Harriet will display her project in the school this week as will the project of the other participants: Samantha Ryan and Emma Ryan. They investigated the “chemical attraction” between people.

X-Factor Final

With all students well settled back to school after the Christmas break, memories of the X-Factor final on the day of the holidays have dimmed. It was a very competitive final and there was a very high standard. The Overall winner was Martina Flanagan, a sixth year student, who performed the hit song “Hot and Cold” and the announcement of her win brought the entire student body to its feet – a popular winner indeed.

The Senior winner was Cliona Bourke who performed a dramatised monologue adopted from Frank O’ Connor’s short Story, “First Confession”. The Junior winners were a second year group with their sketch “Unfair City”.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – DECEMBER 7, 2008

Ursuline X-Factor

The run up to Christmas has now become synonymous with the start of the X-Factor talent competition, organised by the School Council. Entries this year are at about the same level as last year, the biggest entry ever.

Last Wednesday during lunch-time, the X-Factor got off to a good start with plenty of variety: solo singers, duets and a sketch from Room 13 entitled “Unfair City”.  The only rules for the competition are that the students present their contribution themselves and that there is no help from the Teachers! The four judges, two Sixth Years, two teachers, were suitably impressed with the opening day’s presentations. The competition will continue weekly during lunch-hour.

Jersey Day

The Charities Committee raised money last week for the Ursuline Mission in Kenya, in particular for a project being organised by Sr Clare Ursula who is running a school for young girls which trains them in hairdressing etc.

All students were allowed wear a jersey of their choice over the school track suit and they paid for the privilege: Tipperary hurling, Munster Rugby, Ireland Rugby, Moycarkey-Borris, Toomevara, Sarsfields and a few Kilkenny jerseys were the order of the day and the school was awash with colour and much money was collected for the worthy cause.

Under 16 Munster Hockey

Well done to Antonia McGrath who was part of the Munster Under 16 hockey team to take part in the Inter-provincial tournament held in Kilkenny College over the last weekend.

The Senior A and Junior A hockey teams had mixed fortunes in the league. The Senior A won its match against Scoil Mhuire, Cork by 1-0 while the Junior A went down by the same margin against the same opposition. The Under 15 B2 and Minor B2 lost to Villiers by 0-1 and 0-2 respectively. However the two Minor B4 teams were successful against Villiers by 3-0 and 2-1.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – DECEMBER 1, 2008

Liturgy for the Holy Souls

Staff and students came together to celebrate the Liturgy for the Holy Souls last Wednesday. The students had been preparing throughout the month of November for this liturgy and the theme they chose was “We remember with Love”. Each student and staff member contributed a piece of material – a symbol of all those who had died and whom they had loved – and all the pieces were brought together into a lovely patch-work spread.

During the Liturgy, students place the completed patch-work on the cross and the Chamber and Cecilian Choir provided the beautiful music for the occasion.

School Council

Chairperson of the School Council, Suzanne Smyth and the Vice-Chairperson, Claire Rhatigan also “unveiled” a flag they made up of a logo and motto to underline and reinforce an anti-bullying message: “Everyone is welcome into our circle, no matter what shape they are.” The Council has been working on this theme for some time now, spurred on by the sad and tragic story of Leanne Wolfe in Cork.

Green School

Since the beginning of the year, the Green School committee have been working very hard ensuring that we deserve our two green flags for Recycling and Energy.  Added to this the committee is determined to achieve a third green flag for the school and the project is to reduce the amount of water used in the school. The motto for the water initiative is “Stop the flow of H2O”. 

In order to heighten awareness, the committee, under the chairmanship of Aisling Barry, held a Green School Action Day last week. All students were allowed wear a green accessory for the day and  there was a display of all their work during lunch-time which proved to be very successful.

Debating/Public Speaking

The Concern debating team had its second debate of the year against Our Lady’s Templemore and the team proposed the motion that “The Bebo generation cares little for the Developing World”. Clodagh Whelan, Roisin White, Dervla Nash and Genevieve O’ Mahoney were successful in convincing the three judges that they were right!

The Mental Health Public Speaking team had its first outing against Thurles C.B.S. Aisling Barry, Caroline O’ Connor and Nicola Sutton spoke about how “prejudice begins with you and me”. They too were successful and will now go on the next round of the competition.

Sport

The Minor B1, B2 and B3 hockey teams all travelled to Limerick last week to fulfil league obligations against Laurel Hill Colaiste and they returned in high spirits having completed “the treble”. Minor B1 won by 3-0, B2 by 1-0 and B3 by 5-0.

The Junior Camogie team had a win in the first round of the Plate competition.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – NOVEMBER 22, 2008

ESB Girls Interprovincial Hockey

Three students, Mary Kate Burke, Edwina McGrath and Rosie Shanahan had the privilege of being chosen to represent Munster in the Interprovincial series at Under 18 level last weekend. Munster hosted the competition in Garryduff, Cork.

The competition took place last Saturday and Sunday and the three girls got lots of game time, especially Rosie and Edwina who played in all four matches. However, it was not a good weekend for Munster going down by 1 goal to 4 against a strong Ulster side in the first match. Munster fared better against Leinster playing out a 2-2 draw. On Sunday, the team had a good game against the South East and defeated them by 3-1 but went down by 3-0 to a very strong Connacht side that finished second in the competition. Ulster was the overall winner of the series.

Meanwhile on the home front, Senior B, Junior B2 and U15 B1 hockey teams had a successful day in Limerick against Laurel Hill Secondary School, winning all matches.

Badminton

Three teams participated in a warm-up tournament before the competitive season kicks off after Christmas. Senior, Junior and Minor teams travelled to Clonmel with the Senior team faring the best by reaching the semi-final against Loreto, Clonmel.

Gaelic Football

The Senior Gaelic Football team had a very comprehensive win over opponents Boherbue in the championship and they now find themselves with a Munster semi-final place.

Soroptimist Public Speaking

Three students took part in the County Tipperary section of the Soroptimist Public Speaking competition last Saturday in Clonmel. Twenty students participated from eight schools around the County. Kate Bugler, Mary Moran and Jane O’ Brien were the Ursuline representatives. Kate spoke about what Europe has meant to us, Jane spoke about “respect for life – from cradle to grave” and Mary chose to speak on “Fantastic Elastic”. Her speech concentrated on the popularity of plastic surgery and was obviously pleasing to the judges as she was one of the two chosen to go on to the Regional Finals of the competition after Christmas.

Good Luck Jessie

Best wishes to Jessie Buckley as she opens with preview nights in Trevor Nunn’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.  Jessie has been rehearsing for this role for the last four weeks and is enjoying the challenge of Sondheim. The show proper opens on December 3 in the Chocolate Factory, off the West End and is billed to play until March.

L.C.V.P. 

Three LCVP students organised a raffle in aid of two organisations: Bothar and Tipperary Millennium Orchestra and divided the proceeds of € 1,335 between the two of them after successfully raffling a signed Sunderland F.C. jersey which was donated by Chairman of Sunderland, Niall Quinn.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – NOVEMBER 16, 2008

Entrance Exhibition Awards

Well done to six students from the Leaving Cert class of 2008 who were rewarded for the excellence of their results by U.C.D. and Trinity College. At a ceremony in the O’Reilly Hall last week, Ciara O’ Connor, now studying Psychology, received a € 1,300 bursary and the opportunity of on campus accommodation. Next week, Ruth Brennan (medicine) and Jennifer White will receive High Achiever Awards.

Trinity College will recognise the excellence of the results of Doireann Hanley, Cliodhna Mahon and Jean Anne Sutton in  the equivalent ceremony in the next few weeks. Well done to all six students. 

Public Speaking / Debating

It was a busy week for all those participating and interested in Debating and Public Speaking. About twenty students attended the Workshop in Trinity College last week. The workshop was organised by the Trinity Philosoph Society for second and third level students and concentrated on the skills required for good debating and speaking. What the students found most beneficial was the emphasis placed on the impromptu speech and the art of rebuttal – the most important traits of the good debater!

Gael Linn Debating

The Junior and Senior Irish debating teams were in action on Monday last in the first round of the Gael Linn debates. The senior team of Shannon Cleary, Katie Doody and Emma Fanning successfully proposed the motion that
            “Tá óige na tíre seo millte ag a dtuismitheoirí!”
against Cashel Community School, John the Baptist, Hospital and Loreto Fermoy.

The Junior team of Laura Connolly, Karine Ronan and Michelle Burke had to oppose the motion that
            “Tuilleann réaltaí RTE a gcuid airgid”
and they too were successful in arguing their case against the presentation, Thurles and Cashel Community School.

Concern

The Concern Debating team is also busy preparing their speeches on the Bebo generation not being particularly committed or caring about the problems of the Third World. That debate will take place next week.

Science Week

As well as taking part in in-school and in-class science quizzes, Second and Transition Year students went to the T.I. for workshops. Thirty-five Second Years did the Computer Games workshop where they were encouraged to get involved in the process of building a computer game. Sounds like a lot of fun for the students…and it was. However the serious aspect of the Games was emphasised and the students were exposed to the science behind computer games development and the Technology used in developing game art, audio and programming. The most pleasing aspect of the workshop for the students was that they were brought through a complete games design and development life cycle and the workshop ended with the release of their first credited computer game.

Thirty TY students took part in Schoolbots competition. They had to build a software robot and then destroy the rest of their opponents. The entrants used the Java programme and the skills involved introduced the students to the fundamentals of computer programming using the medium of a game. 

Transition Year

The TY students have also been kept busy in other ways in the last week. They attended Psycho Spaghetti – a comic journey inside the teenage brain. This was written and performed by Gerard Carey and the consensus amongst the students was that the whole experience was “brilliant”!

They also attended Alone it Stands in Limerick - a wonderful opportunity on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Munster’sfamous win over the All Blacks. 

Sport

The Senior A, Junior A and Minor A travelled to Limerick last week for a league fixture against Laurel Hill, Colaiste. Senior A and Minor A won by 2 – 0 and the Junior A played out a scoreless draw. The Intermediate team had a 2 – 1 victory over Loreto, Clonmel as did the Junior B 1s who were in fine scoring form as they put nine goals away against the same opposition. The Minor B3 team suffered the only loss of the day 0 -1 and the U15 B3 played out a 3-3 draw.

The Senior B team was also in good scoring form last Friday against Crescent in Limerick putting five goals past the Crescent goalkeeper. The Minor B 2s however were unlucky to lose by a single goal against the same opposition.

The luck was not with the Senior Basketballers as they were beaten by two baskets in a low scoring game against Rochford Bridge. The Cadette team was beaten more convincingly by 10 – 35.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – NOVEMBER 9, 2008

Ragtime

Many thanks to all attended this year’s production of Ragtime and came in such large numbers. Now the costumes have been put away, the stage has been stripped and all is as if it never happened! Great credit is due to all the parents who ferried students in and out to rehearsals and to the performances. Many thanks to all who helped in any way and a special thanks to all the Staff without whose support it would not be possible to stage a production.

Congratulations to the Presentation on its wonderful production of Fiddler on the Roof and best wishes to the C.B.S. who are, most likely, in the final stages of preparation for Disco Inferno.

Concern

Amidst all the hub-bub surrounding the show, the Concern Debating team slipped quietly away to Birr Community school to take part in the first round of this year’s debate. The Concern Debates highlight Third World issues and give to those participating such an understanding of all aspects of life in the Developing world.

Clodagh Whelan (captain), Roisin White, Aoife O’ Sullivan and Dervla Nash successfully opposed the motion against Birr Community School that
            “Genetically Modified Foods are essential in the fight against world hunger”.
They have now received the motion for the second debate and this will take place in the next two weeks.

Forum for Europe

Since the return after the break, three Transition Year students travelled to Nenagh to take part in the Forum for Europe public speaking competition. Emma Killeen , Roisin O’ Connor and Michelle Kennedy spoke as a team about their “Vision for Europe”. Having been successful in this Tipperary section of the competition for the last two years, the girls had the challenge of making it three in a row. This was not to be however and the Presentation, Thurles will represent the County in the Munster competition.

Sport

It has been a busy week since the return after the break for the Sports Department. The Senior and Cadette Basketballers travelled to Naas where both teams suffered a defeat. The Senior B and Junior B hockey teams had victories over Villiers in Limerick by 2 – 1 and 6 – 0 respectively.

Meanwhile the Junior Gaelic Football team had a convincing win over Cashel Community School in the Munster Championship by 5-8 to 2-6.  A combined First and Second Year team participated in the Camogie Co Tipperary blitz last Friday and had a narrow victory over Borrisoleigh and a more comfortable victory over Cashel but were defeated by St Mary’s,  Nenagh in the final. 

Bobby

The Sports Department in the school was delighted to be associated with the tribute to Bobby O’ Brien last Saturday night in the Rugby Club. Bobby is part of the landscape of the hockey pitches in the school and he provides great encouragement for all teams from First Years up to the Senior As. He has a remarkable memory and is able to recall goals scored and by whom from many years ago. He also of course ensures that accounts of all matches hit the papers. Well done Bobby and many thanks.

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URSULINE MUSINGS – OCTOBER 13, 2008

Ragtime

The temperature is rising, the pace increases and everything is moving at a frantic pace so as to be ready for the opening night of Ragtime in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall next Saturday night, October 18. The show runs for four nights – Saturday 18, Sunday 19, Tuesday 21 and Thursday 23. Bookings can be made by phoning 0503 22147 (10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.) and early booking is advisable.

Costumes are being made to fit, the set is taking shape and characters, choruses and dancers are putting the final touches to the show. On Monday last, the “skeleton” of the Model T Ford arrived and is now having the final touches put to it by Michael English, Technology teacher. The Model T (circa 1902) is central to the plot of Ragtime as its destruction by the rather racist Fire Officer, Will Conklin, played by Cliona Bourke, brings about the major conflict in the plot.

Sport

The Senior A, Junior A and Minor A hockey teams has their first competitive games last week – all against Mount mercy in Cork. It was a day of mixed fortunes with a loss, a draw and a win respectively. The Senior A started out well and scored the first goal of the game but then conceded two goals, much against the run of play. The Junior As played out a 1 – 1 draw and the Minor As had a comfortable 4 – 0 win.

The Basketball Senior and Cadette teams have also been in action in the Midland League. The Seniors have suffered two very narrow defeats and the Cadettes also lost their opening match of the season.

First Year Parent Meeting

First Year parents attended a meeting in the school last week and met with each of the Class Tutors to review how the students have settled in. A large attendance then elected the two representatives to the Parent Council: Michael Clohessy and Breda Byrne.

Geography Field Trip

The Sixth Year Geography classes travelled to Galway last Friday to complete the field study aspect of their course.  Despite the inclement weather, flooding en route, traffic congestion in Limerick on the way home, due to a Munster Heineken cup match in Thomond Park,  the mission was successfully completed and all returned home safe and sound, if a little later than anticipated!

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URSULINE MUSINGS – SEPTEMBER 28, 2008

Jessie Returns

A great surprise greeted the students and staff of the school recently when I’d Do Anything star, Jessie Buckley, returned to the school to greet everyone and to thank them for the huge support and efforts they had made on her behalf last April and May. Jessie made it to the final two girls in the  BBC programme searching for a Nancy to play opposite Rowan Atkinson in a new production of Oliver.

As all the school gathered for the Opening of the Year Assembly, Jessie “interrupted” proceedings and was greeted by tremendous applause and acclaim. She addressed all the students expressing her feelings about her return. “I never expected to be standing up here addressing you all a year after receiving my Leaving Cert results” she said. She admitted to feeling a little nostalgic standing on the stage which she had graced in leading roles for three years.

She also confessed to always having the dream of starring in the West End, London while at school and encouraged all the students to believe in themselves and follow their own particular dream and to do what they love doing. She had particular words of advice for the Sixth Years telling them that “over stressing” about the exams has a negative effect.

The students then had an opportunity to ask Jessie some questions about her experiences since she left school: the people she met, the difficult days, the joys, the disappointments. She admitted that of all the people she had met in the course of the I’d Do Anything series, working with Liza Manelli was definitely the high point. In answer to the question about what she thought of George Clooney, Jessie quipped that she found him “disappointingly small and thin”.

Many questions were asked about what she is doing now and Jessie filled everyone in on what she has been up to since the BBC programme finished. During the summer she completed a Shakespearean acting course in R.A.D.A. which she enjoyed tremendously and as of the moment she is awaiting news of auditions she has done.

Of course the occasion would not have been complete without a song and Jessie obliged with two songs, “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Take that Look off Your Face”.

Some of those who had participated in West Side Story with Jessie then requested to join her for a song and they went down memory lane with “Tonight” and “Somewhere” from the show.

After the Assembly, Jessie was besieged with request for autographs and she duly obliged.

Ragtime

Meanwhile, the rehearsals for this year’s production, Ragtime, are gathering momentum. Principal characters are learning their lines and songs and the 200 strong chorus are getting into shape for opening night on Saturday, October 18. A lot of work remains to be done but the enthusiasm of the students keeps every one going. Some of the main parts are played by the following:

MOTHER:...............................Aoife Ryan
FATHER:................................Aoife Walsh
YOUNGER BROTHER:..............Georgina O’ Brien
EDGAR:.................................Laura Joy
GRANDFATHER:......................Laura Douglas
SARAH:..................................Alison Burns
COALHOUSE:..........................Melanie O’ Brien
SARAH’S FRIEND:...................Fiona Gormley
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON:......Rachel Willoughby
TATEH:..................................Mary Kate Burke
LITTLE GIRL:..........................Eva McNally
EMMA GOLDMAN:....................Laura Quinlan
HARRY HOUDINI: ...................Aine Ryan
J.P. MORGAN:.........................Ellen Murray
EVELYN NESBIT:.....................Fiona O’ Sullivan
HENRY FORD:.........................Lily Cantillon
WILLIE CONKLIN:...................Cliona Bourke

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URSULINE MUSINGS – SEPTEMBER 14, 2008

All students are now well settled back for the new academic year and with the issuing of Junior Cert results last week, all thoughts of last year are put to one side. Congratulations to Junior Cert and Leaving Cert students on their wonderful results. The Class of 2008 are now heading off to all parts of the country and indeed further a-field to start on their careers and we wish them well. They enjoyed their last opportunity to be together at the end of August at their Debs/Graduation Dance when they danced the night away to the music of The Paddies.

Hockey Tournament

In a new initiative to get the hockey season up and running, the Sports Department ran an invitation hockey tournament and Senior A panels from Loreto Foxrock, Kilkenny and Dalkey along with Mount Mercy, Cork, Kilkenny College joined the Ursuline Senior A and they had a great day’s play in a round robin competition. The emphasis however was not so much on the winning or losing but rather the opportunity to look at the potential teams for the year and to have a good work out. It was a very productive day and all players are now looking forward to the new competitive season.

School Show

The choice for this year’s production is Ragtime – a musical set in the early part of the last century – 1902. This show was premiered by the Thurles Musical Society in 2004 and proved to be a very popular choice. Given the large cast – two hundred students – Ragtime is the perfect vehicle as there is a need for a very large chorus which is divided into three: upper class Americans, the Immigrant community and the Harlem community. Auditions have just been completed and work will start on production this week to have all in readiness for opening night on October 18.

Study Seminar

The Sixth and Fifth year students started their year with a study seminar/workshop which they found most helpful. The beginning of the year is a good time to re-focus and develop good study practices.

Transition Year

The transition Year students had their first outing of the year when they travelled to Killaloe Activity Centre. There the participated in all kinds of water and land activities: kayaking, canoeing, orienteering, abseiling etc. A great day was had by all.

School Council

With all school councillors now elected, the Council is ready to embark on a new year and under the Chairmanship of Suzanne Smyth, they are full of enthusiasm and ideas to play their part in the life of the School.

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***********2007 - 2008************

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URSULINE MUSINGS

14th MARCH 2008

The end of the second term traditionally brings a frenzy of activity particularly in the area of extra curricular activity. At this time competitions of all sorts come to a conclusion and the school was fortunate to be involved in a myriad of finals over the last two weeks or so, reflecting the high level of participation in sport, music, dramas, debating and creative competitions.

FEIS CEOIL WINNERS

The Senior and Junior Orchestras packed up their two buses with their instruments, a challenge in itself, and headed for the R.D.S. to participate in the School’s Orchestra competition on March 4 last.

The Senior Orchestra consists of fifty plus committed music students, under the baton of Mrs McNally, who first and foremost enjoy playing together. They practice every Monday evening after school and prepare for various events: the school show, Department of Education examinations, School Liturgy etc.

The realisation of a dream came true in 2005 when the Senior Orchestra won the Dorothy Mayer Trophy at the Feis Ceoil for the first time. Now, in 2008, they have won this prestigious trophy again. Their contrasting choice of music for the competition reflected the strength of the orchestra. The stately “Pomp and Circumstance March” by Edward Elgar allowed the string section in particular to display its musicality and the second choice, “Russian Sailor’s Dance” by Gliere, was a total contrast, giving great scope to the percussion section to “show off”.

Commenting on their performance, the adjudicator noted especially the high level of dynamics used by the Orchestra and awarded them the Dorothy Mayer Trophy.

Below a photo of the Senior Orchestra getting ready for their Department of Education exams under the instruction of Mrs McNally.

The Junior Orchestra, under the baton of Ms Farrell, plays a very important part in the whole development of music playing in the school. This Orchestra consists of student from First & Second Year mostly as well as some students from Scoil Angela. They rehearse every Monday at lunch-time and perform at the annual Musical evening in the school as well as taking the Department of Education examination each year. It is at Junior level that they first get the experience of playing together and most students would progress to Senior Orchestra. They also competed at Feis Ceoil but they come up against very strong opponents from St Canice’s Music School in Kilkenny.

HOLYCROSS DRAMA WINNERS

An integral part of the Transition Year curriculum is the participation in the One Act School’s Competition that is part of the Holycross Drama Festival.

Not only do the students perform a play but they also write their own material for it. This process takes quite a deal of time and is the responsibility of the three English Teachers: Ms Slattery, Ms Flanagan and Ms Coman. What is so important here is that all students, without exception, take part on stage in the production as well as being responsible for the writing and formatting of the play.

Ms Flanagan’s group wrote and performed Operation, Confrontation, a comedy set in a hospital. Ms Slattery’s group wrote and performed The Play’s the Thing, on the issue of bullying and Ms Coman’s group wrote and performed Fun, Nick and Jane, a comedy on the issue of teenage partying.

To the delight of all the Transition Year students in attendance at the prize giving in Holycross on March 11, Fun, Nick and Jane was awarded the Best Play and Ms Coman was named as Best Director.

Laura Douglas, Paula Coffey, Serena Molony and Aoife Ryan also picked up acting awards at the prize giving.

Click here to see pictures from the drama festival

GAEL LINN ALL IRELAND JUNIOR DEBATING FINAL

The Junior Gael Linn Debating team travelled to Maynooth on March 13 to participate in the final of that debating competition.

The team of Katie Doody, Aoife O’ Sullivan, Karine Ronan and sub, Shannon Cleary have had some tough encounters en route to the final and have spoken on topics such as sport and the environment amongst others.

The motion for the final debate was awaited with some trepidation and when it arrived approximately ten days before the final, there were some mixed feelings!

The team had to propose the motion that:

“Is maith ann é Bebo agus a leithéid”

Whilst all students are well conversant with Bebo and its likes, arguing for it was a different story entirely but they set to their task, under the guidance of two of the Irish Teachers, Ms Fitzgerald and Ms Bourke.

There were four teams involved in the Junior final which took place in the Glen Royal Hotel, Maynooth: Community School, Dunsaughlin and Ursuline, Thurles proposed the motion and Loreto, Carrick on Shannon and Scoil Chríos Rí, Port Laoise opposed it.

There was a high standard of debating skills shown by all teams and the victory went to Dunshaughlin. The girls received a framed cert for the School and an individual trophy as a memento of their participation in the final.

ALL IRELAND BADMINTON

On March 12, the All Ireland Schools Badminton Finals took place in Gormanstown College and the Under 16 team who had come through the Co Tipperary and Munster section of the competition travelled off at a very early hour on that morning, having to negotiate the M50 traffic at peak hour. They arrived safely and just on time for the parade of schools that took place before the competition proper began.

Hannah Tobin, Claire Hughes, Edwina McGrath and Maedhbh Broderick made up the Under 16 Team and all four are very committed sports people both in school and with their clubs.

The competition consisted of each member of the team playing a singles match and a doubles match. Claire Hughes played the number one spot, followed by Hannah Tobin, Meadhbh Broderick and Edwina McGrath. The doubles partners were Claire Hughes & Hannah Tobin – number one and Maedhbh Broderick and Edwina McGrath – number two. The team had to play the winners of Ulster (Bloomfields, Belfast), Leinster (Wesley) and Connaught (Strokestown) and the Ursuline girls proved indomitable on the day as they did not lose a single match and so they were crowned All Ireland Under 16 Champions.

ALL IRELAND ATHLETICS

On possibly one of the wettest days of the year so far, Saturday, March 8, the three intrepid athletics team, with their coach, Mr McDonnell, set sail (literally) for Loughrea, Co Galway to participate in the All Ireland Cross Country Athletics.

The Senior, Intermediate and Junior teams had come through the Co Tipperary and Munster Championships as the winning school. This was not the school’s first visit to the All Ireland Championships as they have been frequent participants there over the last five years or so, and actually winning the competition in 2005.

In absolutely dreadful conditions, where the main winner was the mud and the muck, the three teams acquitted themselves admirably and the School finished in overall fifth position.

The Senior team of Tara Rhatigan, Jennifer White, Niamh Hennnessy, Catherine Prendergast, Ailbhe Carroll and Elaine Kennedy finished the 2,5000m race in seventh place overall. The Intermediate team of Serena Molony, Ann Marie Hayes, Mary Prendergast, Sharon Cantwell, Lorraine Healy and Jacqui Hughes also finished strongly. Serena Molony in particular finished in 13 th place and missed out on the All Ireland team by one metre as the top twelve are selected. The Junior team competed over 2,000m and Fiona McEnery, Elaine Fitzgibbon, Sarah Healy and Seona O’ Flynn finished in ninth place.

The finishing position of each participant earns points in the overall scoring and added together it gives the overall winning school.

MUNSTER HOCKEY

The last two weeks of term saw the culmination of many of the league and cup competitions. With thirteen competitive teams in hockey, it is little wonder that there were so many matches needing completion by the end of term.

With a relatively young and inexperienced Junior A team it was a remarkable achievement that they reached both the League and Cup finals. Unfortunately, the greater experience of the opponents, Crescent Comprehensive, for both of these fixtures saw them carry off the spoils.

The Senior, who had rather unluckily been defeated in Round 1 of the cup, found themselves in the Plate Final against Presentation, Bandon and they too were defeated by a single goal.

There was better fortune for the Minor A cup team who defeated Bandon Grammar school in the semi-final and they will progress to the final which will be played after Easter.

BASKETBALL SEMI-FINALS

The First and Second Year Basketball teams were involved in semi-final of their respective cup competitions. The Second Years were pitted against St Mary’s, Naas and they were defeated but the First Year team has fought its way into the final, defeating Rathangan. This final will also take place after Easter.

SCOIL AILBHE FASHION SHOW

Transition Year Art students participated in the competition aspect of the recent fund-raising fashion show for Scoil Ailbhe and they came away with the top prize.

Niamh Everard modelled their entry “Super Woman”. Along with Niamh, Katie McCormack, Danielle Nolan, Claire Ryan and Orlaith Fitzgerald created this costume out of completely re-cyclable materials: plastic knivesand forks, a mirror, cardboard, a builder’s hard hat helmet, old material, aeroboard, tops of cans and plastic beer caps.

The costume represents the modern woman. The mirror on the helmet represents her inner and outer beauty. The warrior aspect of the costume represents her strength as a woman whilst the knives and forks symbolise the domestic aspect of her life as well as her business life. The skirt, with a layering of aero-board eggs represents her fertility. The shredded underskirt depicts the fast and sometimes roller coaster element of the pace of her life.

MISSION WEEK

In the midst of all the frantic competitive activities of the School in the final two weeks of term, the Sixth Year students kept their eye firmly on those who are less fortunate than themselves in the Third World including those who have no opportunities for a basic education.

Lunch-time activities took place all through the week and included a novel Dodge Ball match between Sixth Years and Staff, a tug of war between Staff and Sixth Years (which Sixth Years won!), cakes, popcorn and sausages on sale and the very popular auction. There seems to be no limit to the ends groups of students will go to secure a lunch with “a sailor” or some of the male members of Staff!

The culmination of the week’s activities took place for one hour on the last day of term entitled “Child’s Play”. The whole school participated in a series of games that we all played as young people: hop scotch, skipping, egg and spoon races, wheelbarrow races, dancing, obstacle races, throwing the wellie etc.

The entire Sixth Year group took responsibility for the organising of the events and they ensured that class groups kept moving so as to participate in as many activities as possible.

As is usual, the generosity of the Staff and Students to Mission Week was extraordinary and the amount raised by the Sixth Years well exceeded anything that had been raised by any other group. In all €12,000 was collected and after Easter, the money will be distributed to those charities they have ear-marked.

Click here to see photos from mission week

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URSULINE MUSINGS

24th FEBRUARY 2008

Stad le Céile

The School was delighted to welcome the Stad le Céile group to the school last week. Stad le Céile is a national organisation against drugs and alcohol abuse. The team was led by Senator John Hanafin and included medical and legal experts in the area of drugs.

Detective English delivered a clear and simple message to the Fifth and Sixth Year students informing them of the legal implications of being caught in possession of drugs: everything from prison sentences to an inability to travel to countries like the USA and Australia. Dr Brian Maurer, renowned cardiologist, outlined the harmful and sometimes fatal results of taking drugs to the students.

The team then presented the students with the Stad le Céile emblem badge which indicates “No” to drugs by the wearer.

 Mental Health Public Speaking – Regional Final

The Mental Health Public Speaking team will be in action this week in the South Eastern Regional Final. Having come through the Co Tipperary stage of this competition, the team has to move to the South East to progress. Unfortunately there is no regional final in this area. So, Sinead Fitzgerald, Aisling Barry and Jennifer Tierney will travel to Kilkenny to take on the Kilkenny and Wexford winners. The topic that the team will speak on is:

“Being valued is an essential factor in positive mental health”

Pit Your Wits

Doireann Hanley, Emma Sutton, (Seniors), Genevieve O’ Mahoney and Niamh Ryan (Juniors) successfully came through the supplementary first round of the Examiner “Pit Your Wits” quiz. Having been just pipped at the post in Round 1 by two points, the Ursuline girls took this opportunity of progressing to the Second Round by defeating the Cistercian College, Roscrea.

International Hockey

Transition Year student, Edwina McGrath, spent her mid-term break representing Ireland in Under 16 hockey. The tournament took place in Manchester and was a mini-competition against the English counterparts.

Training took place each morning for two hours before each match and the series was played over three games. Edwina played in two full matches and the second half of the third one. The Irish squad consisted of four girls from both Connacht and Leinster, seven girls from Ulster and two girls from Munster. Unfortunately the team lost all three matches though they were close affairs. This series was in preparation for the European competition which will take place in Holland over the Easter holidays and Edwina is hoping that she will be selected.

Meanwhile on the domestic hockey front, the Senior A, Senior B, Junior A and Minor A all enjoyed victories last week. The Minor A progressed to the Cup semi-final, defeating Crescent by a single goal. The Junior A team had a league encounter with Laurel Hill, Coláiste which they also won by 1 -0 . The Senior B’s victory was more comprehensive defeating the same opposition by 3 – 0. The Junior A team has an important Cup semi-final this week against Mount Mercy, so good luck to them.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

10th FEBRUARY 2008

Two Munster Titles

Two more Munster titles were added to the previous two won earlier in the term. The Junior Gael Linn Debating team is already through to the All Ireland Debating competition which will be held in Maynooth on March 14 and the Senior A hockey team has secured its Munster league title. Added to that now is the Athletics Team. Following a very successful Co Tipperary competition, winning Best School, the winning streak continued when they carried off the Best School in the Munster Championships last week.

Three teams participated: Senior, Intermediate and Junior. The Senior and Junior teams were placed second and the Intermediate team secured first place with Serena Molony coming home in second position. The three teams will now proceed to the All Ireland Championships to be held in Loughrea on March 8

The Second Munster title last week went to the Under 16 Badminton Team. Playing in a round robin competition against the representative teams from Waterford, Kerry, Clare and Cork, the series went right down to the wire and the Ursuline team pulled off a terrific victory in the last game against the Cork team. This team has an All Ireland appointment in Gormanstown College on March 13.

Best wishes to Edwina McGrath, an outstanding sports girl, who will spend her mid-term break with the Irish Hockey team in Scotland in a tri-nations tournament.

Second Year Debating

The in-house Second Year debating is every bit as competitive as if they were in an All Ireland championship. After many weeks of competition, the final took place last week and the motion before the house was that:

“Today’s society is obsessed with success”

Proposing the motion were Jane Bugler, Anna Brennan and Lily Cantillon and opposing it were Louise Bourke, Sarah Fitzgerald and Shannon Tuohy. In a very close encounter, the adjudicator, Ms Coman, announced that the motion was carried.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

4th FEBRUARY 2008

European Youth Parliament

Four Fifth Year students attended the Munster branch weekend meeting of the European Youth Parliament recently in Cork. Esther Purcell, Sarah McGrath, Aislinn O’ Shea and Ailish Ryan were assigned areas of interest before they departed and then formed committees with other students from all over Munster. These areas included Foreign Affairs, Constitution, Social Affairs and Development.

All sub-committees then met on the Sunday and presented their findings and made their recommendations to a full sitting of the “Parliament”. It was a most enjoyable weekend for the four participants and they are certainly more keenly aware of all matters European than before they went!

Pink Day

The Charities Committee recently organised Pink Day in aid of the Marie Keating Cancer Research Foundation. All students were invited to come to school wearing a pink accessory of some sort and pay for the privilege. The results were amazing and the word accessory took on a new meaning!

All in all, the committee collected a total of € 1,096 for the fund. It proved to be another successful venture and joins the list of Charities being helped by the students this year. Click here for a few pictures of the day.

Speech & Drama

Last week was a busy one for the many students who took the L.A.M.D.A. Speech and Drama examinations. All levels were taken but it was the number of Gold Medal candidates that was quite astounding. Eighteen students took their Gold medal exams and all of them were successful with many even gaining a Distinction. Great credit is due to them all but in particular to the Sixth Years who were busy preparing for their mock exams.

Athletics

Once again, the School retained the Co Tipperary Cup for the best school in Athletics. There were two Senior teams and they came first and second. Of the three Intermediate teams who entered, two of them came home in first and second place respectively. The Junior team finished in second position overall. Though the Minor team did not get a medal place, they too performed well.

Teams: Senior (Placed Runners): Elaine Kennedy, Tara Rhatigan, Niamh Hennessy, Catherine Prendergast, Jennifer White, Emma Fanning, Ailbhe Carroll and Emma Ryan. Intermediate Team: Serena Moloney, Ann Marie Hayes, Lorraine Healy, Jacqueline Huges, Mary Prendergast, Sharon Cantwell. Junior: Sarah healy, Elaine Fitzgibbon, Fiona McHenry and Ciara Fitzgerald.

The winning Senior and Intermediate teams have now qualified for the Munster Championships.

Basketball

The First and Second Year Basketball teams have had a successful start to their league campaigns. The First Years have defeated Rathangan and St Leo’s Carlow while the Second Years also defeated St Leo’s. Both teams are in action again this week against Summerhill, Athlone.

Hockey

The Minor A team finished its league campaign playing out a 3-3 against Crescent, Limerick. This draw gave them a joint second position with Bandon. The Under 15 B1 team had a victory over Crescent as did the Minor B3 team. The Under 15 B2 however were defeated.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

28th JANUARY 2008

SENIOR A – MUNSTER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

The Senior A hockey team had its final league fixture of the season last week in a crucial encounter with Crescent Comprehensive. The Ursuline girls had a point to prove as they had been narrowly and even unluckily beaten by Crescent in the first round of the Cup before Christmas.

The Crescent team needed just a draw to take the Munster title and the Ursuline team had to ensure the win to claim it. The first half was dominated by the Ursuline team and they scored a well deserved goal. Crescent players applied lots of pressure in the second half in their urgent search for an equalising goal and they threw everything at the Ursuline. The match was sealed when Eve Connors scored the crucial second goal on the break and it gave a well-deserved title to this team who has not lost a single match in the League all season.

There were Cup wins also for the Junior A and Junior B1 teams and league victories for the Minor B1 Minor B2 and Junior B1.

The Camogie team had a Munster semi-final outing against Lismore whose experience showed through and they won the game by 4-6 to 1-3. The Junior Gaelic Football team had a closer encounter in a Munster Quarter final against the Presentation, Tralee. This tie had to go to extra time to be settled and Tralee ran out winners by 5-5 to 4 -10.

JUNIOR GAEL LINN DEBATING – MUNSTER CHAMPIONS

A second Munster title was earned in the form of the Junior Gael Linn Debating team who went to Mitchelstown last week to debate the issue that: “Tá an Tír seo loite ag ábharchas”

This was the Munster final of the debate and the team now proceeds to the All Ireland Championship which will take place in Maynooth the last week of term. Katie Doody, Karine Ronan, Shannon Cleary (sub. Aoife O’ Sullivan) successfully opposed this motion against teams from Ballincollig and The Mardyke in Cork and the Presentation Convent in Tralee. Each of the girls received a beautiful stone trophy to represent the win and they are now looking forward to hearing the motion for the final!

CO TIPPERARY UNDER 16 BADMINTON CHAMPIONS

A number of teams participated in the Co Tipperary Championships last week at Under 14, Under 16 and Under 19 level. The Under 14 A team and the Under 19 A team were beaten finalists and just missed out on the opportunity to go to the Munster Championship.

However, the Under 16 team grasped its opportunity firmly. Claire Hughes, Edwina McGrath, Hannah Tobin, Maedhbh Broderick defeated the current holders of this title and now will represent Tipperary in the Munster Championships on February 7. Loreto Clonmel in fact has held this title for the last thirteen years and they did not relinquish it easily.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

12th DECEMBER 2007

Sports Award

While the minds of the Senior A hockey team are firmly on the tough first round Cup match facing them this week against Crescent,  the School will be honoured with the presentation of the Best Hockey School in Munster award.  The presentation will be made by Mr John Rose, who will represent the Munster Hockey Union, to Mrs Annette Kelly, Head of Sport in the school.

Whilst the school was very successful last year in terms of winning, this award is even more valuable in that it recognises the level of participation in hockey in the school. The School has the largest number of teams participating in competition throughout Munster. It also acknowledges and recognises the organisation and administration of hockey and the sporting behaviour of all the players.

The award is also highly valued as it is because the School was nominated by the Schools’ Branch of the Munster Hockey Union.

The Senior Gaelic Football team met Dun Iascaigh, Cahir last week in the final of their competition. Whilst the team played very well and had a lot of possession, the players were not able to find the back of the net and they lost the match by 1 – 6  to 0 -3.

The Minor A and Minor B1 hockey teams had a 6 -0  wins over Laurel Hill, Colaiste while the Minor B3 team played out a 1-1 draw against the same opposition. The Intermediate team also had a convincing league win against Scoil Carmel by 6 – 1. The Under 15B however was defeated by 4 -0.  The Junior B2 team had its first league match of the season against Villliers, Limerick which they lost 3 – 5. The Minor B2 team also suffered a 0 -2 defeat by the Presentation.

Concern Debating

Ruth Brennan, Recie Davern, Aisling Barry and Roisin White travelled to Ballyhale in Co Kilkenny for the final debate in the round robin section of the competition. They successfully opposed the motion that:
            “Ireland is demonstrating a genuine commitment to tackling global warming”
Having won all three of the opening round debates, the team now proceeds to the knock out stage of the competition which will take place after Christmas.

Forum on Europe

The winning team of Transition Year students from the Tipperary Section of the Forum on Europe Public Speaking competition travelled to Cork to take part in the Munster final last week.  The victory went to Ballincollig.

Christmas Activities

The School Council is busy organising some lunch-time activities in the School this week. The highlight, no doubt, will be the very serious debate that will take place between Staff and Sixth Years on the important topic:
            “Were it not for Mrs Claus, Santa would be a dismal failure!
The toss of a coin decided that the Staff team would oppose the motion.

The final of the Ursuline X-Factor will also take place this week and nine acts have been chosen to go forward from the heats: five from the Senior Cycle and four from the Junior Cycle.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

2nd DECEMBER 2007

CECILIAN CHOIR

Members of the Cecilian Choir are pictured with singer, Derek Ryan, as they make a presentation of two cheques for € 2,500 each: one to the Irish Cancer Society and the other to Cystic Fibrosis. Also pictured in the photo are Musical Directors of the Choir Ms Mary Rose McNally and Ms Joan Farrell and a representative from the Irish Cancer Society.  This was the proceeds from the recent Millennium Knights Concert that took place in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall.

ANIMAL MAGIC

As a part of Science week recently, Animal Magic visited the school and all First Years attended a workshop on the habitat and habits of some more unlikely animals.

URSULINE X-FACTOR

The heats of the 2007 X-Factor, organised by the Fifth Year School Councillors are proceeding well and there is a record number of entries this year. Every Wednesday at lunch time, many young hopefuls take to the stage: dancers, singers and budding actresses. Once the heats are over, the four adjudicators (two members of Staff and two students) will decide on the acts to go forward to the final, which will take place on the final day of school before the Christmas holidays. 

VISIT TO ARAS AN UACHTARAIN

Third Year students from Room 8 travelled to Dublin last week to visit Aras an Uachtarain. They were present for the presentation of four seals of office to new Ambassadors, after which they got a short tour of the Aras. They also enjoyed some light refreshments before they headed to pay a visit to Collins Barracks.

TRANSITION YEAR

The three Transition Year groups went on their first week’s work experience last week and enjoyed their varied experiences immensely. Many thanks go to all those employers who accommodated them for the week.

Now that they have returned to school, they will participate in a Drama Workshop under the watchful and talented eye of Margaret McCormack.

SPORT

The Senior Basketball team travelled to Rathangan to play their Midland semi-final last week and as has been the case in all their big matches, the luck was not with them and they were defeated by 43 – 36.

The Under 15B1, Junior B1 and Minor B1 hockey teams all had comprehensive victories over opponents, Loreto Clonmel by 4 -1, 3- 0 and 5- 0 respectively.

Meanwhile the Senior A is working and training very hard in preparation for the first round of the Cup against in form team,  Crescent Comprehensive.

Congratulations to sisters, Edwina McGrath and Antonia McGrath who were in Galway last weekend as members of the Under 16 Hockey Munster squad. They were participating in the Inter-provincial series which affords them a tremendous opportunity to participate and play hockey at the highest level.   

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URSULINE MUSINGS

25th NOVEMBER 2007

Tráth na gCeist

A large number of Second Year students travelled to Nenagh last week to take part in an Irish table quiz, organised by Conradh na Gaeilge.

It was a particularly successful day as out of the twenty one teams that participated, the Second Years came first, second, third and fourth in the competition.

 CONRADH NA GAEILGE TRATH NA GCEIST WINNERS

Back: (left to Right): Clodagh Ryan, Jenni Carroll, Simone Strapp, Jane Holohan, Ciara Fitzgerlad, Aisling O’ Connor, Eimear Nolan, Eva McNally, Sarah Fitzgerald, Ruth Kelly, Eileen Ryan, Aisling Fitzpatrick, Karine Ronan, Shauna Meaney, Aimee Power
Front Row: Orla Phelan, Maeve Herlihy, Shauna Bourke, Laura Joy, Emer O’ Driscoll, Amy Marnane

UCC Entrance Scholarship

Congratulations to Leaving Cert 07 student, Hazel O’ Sullivan who has just learned that she will be the recipient of an Entrance Scholarship from UCC as a result of her excellent results in Leaving Cert. Hazel, in fact, got the maximum points possible i.e. six hundred points and she has started her studies in Medicine in UCC.

Forum on Europe

Three Transition Year students represented the school in the Forum on Europe Public Speaking competition held in Nenagh last week. This is a competition to raise awareness amongst students of European issues, particularly issues around the four rights guaranteed by the EU to all its citizens. Nicola Sutton, Emma Sutton and Ella Marie Stapleton were chosen from the four participating Tipperary schools to go on to the Munster stage of the competition. 

Cheerios Childline National Breakfast

On Friday last all First Year students took part in the Cheerios Childline National Breakfast event to raise funds for Childline and to do so in a way that encouraged sociability as well as highlighting the advantages of the healthy breakfast option. .

Cereal, yoghurts and fruit were the order of the day for the students and all contributed € 3 for the Childline cause and raised € 353 in the process. It proved to be a very successful occasion on all counts and gave the students an opportunity to socialise over a healthy breakfast. A big thank you goes to the Hayes family from Tipperary Cheese, company for the yoghurts, Thurles Creamery who donated the milk and Dunnes Stores who donated the cereals. 

Click here to see more about our breakfast.

Basketball

It was a question of “so near and yet so far” for the Senior Basketball team last week when they travelled to Dublin to take on the Loreto, Swords in the All Ireland quarter final of the Cup. Sadly, they were defeated by one basket (Final score 66 – 64). It was a defeat that was hard to take as they played so well and were leading quite convincingly at the end of the first quarter and also by a lesser margin at the end of the third quarter. It was a mark of how well the team played that though they were the losers, Freda casey was awarded the Most Valuable Player Award.  They must now concentrate and focus for another big match in the coming week: the Midland League semi final.

Hockey

Senior A, Junior A and Minor A were all in League action against Bandon Grammar School last week with a draw, a win and a loss being the respective results. The Senior A, undefeated this season, played their first drawn match. The Junior A had a convincing 6 – 0 win and the Minors, playing their first competitive match of the season, went down by 2 – 0. The Senior B team also suffered a 1- 4  defeat at the hands of Villiers, Limerick.

Gaelic Games

There was a victory for the Junior Camogie team in the quarter final of the Championship against Borrisoleigh by 4-5 to 1 -2. However, the Junior C Gaelic Football team was comprehensively beaten by St Anne’s, Tipperary.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

19th NOVEMBER 2007

Debating

The Gael Linn Junior and Senior Debating teams proceeded to the next round of that competition when they successfully proposed (Senior) and opposed (Junior) their respective motions.

The Senior team of Emma Fanning, Mairead Fitzgerald and Rachel argued against having Debs dances and along with Birr Community School, they go forward.  They overcame the arguments of Glenstal and Cashel Community School.  The Junior team of Katie Doody, Shannon Cleary and Karine Ronan also got through, arguing that Ireland is winning the fight for the preservation of the environment.

Ruth Brennan, Recie Davern, Aisling Barry and Clodagh Whelan had their second debate in the round robin section of the Concern competition and they successfully opposed the motion “that celebrity led campaigns do more than good.” They defeated High School, Clonmel.

Choirs

It was a busy week for the Cecilian and Chamber Choirs. The Chamber Choir provided the music for the Liturgy for the Holy Souls last week and enhanced the service beautifully. The theme for the Liturgy was “ I am with you always, till the end of time”. Representatives from each class in the school put together an image of this theme by remembering all their departed loved ones, using autumn leaves as their symbols.

The Cecilian Choir was privileged to be a part of the Millennium Knights Concert last Saturday night. They backed several songs from the three “Knights” – Derek Ryan, Sean Costello and Niall Wolfe. The Tipperary Millennium Orchestra provided the music for the occasion opening the evening with the Overture from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. It was also wonderful to welcome back past-pupil, Jessie Buckley as a soloist for the concert.

Transition Years

The Transition Years travelled to the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny last Tuesday night to attend the Reduced Shakespeare Group and they thoroughly enjoyed the presentation of som many great classics in record time!

Sport

The Senior A had their third successful league outing of the season, defeating Presentation, Bandon in a home match. The score was 2 -0. The Minor B1 and Minor B2 also had wins in the league against Laurel Hill, Secondary School by 3 -0  and
2 –0 respectively.

The Minor B4 reached the finals of a seven aside competition but were beaten by hosts Kilkenny College.

The Gaelic Football team defeated Carrick on Suir in the Senior Championship last week by 6-4 to 4-6.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

11th November 2007

Entrance Exhibition

Gemma Gordon, and Sophie O’ Riordan, two students who completed their Leaving Certificate in June 07, have just received notification that they are recipients of the Trinity College Entrance Exhibition Award. These awards are presented to first year college students based on the excellence of their Leaving Cert results. The awards will be presented in Trinity at a ceremony at the end of November.

Phil Speaks

Fifteen Fifth Year students and three Transition Years attended a day-long debating and public speaking workshop In Trinity College last week. Workshops also take place in NUI Galway and Cork and for the first time this year, Belfast is hosting one. The workshop is aimed at second level students in order to foster the development of speaking skills within schools.

The workshops are taught by top University debaters and the day covers all aspects of speaking: Impromptu, Parliamentary, Debating and Public Speaking.

High Achievers Concert

Alsion Burns, a Second Year student performed at the R.I.A,M, concert held in Killarney last Sunday. Alison was chosen to sing, having received excellent marks in her RIAM Voice examination last May. Alison’s choice of song for the concert was “Music Box Dolls” from the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Debates

This week will be a busy week for the various debating teams. The Concern debaters have their second outing of the year against the High School Clonmel and they will propose the motion “that celebrity led campaigns do more harm than good in the Developing world”.

The Junior and Senior Gael Linn debating teams have their first outing against Glenstal, Cashel Community School and Birr Community College this week.

The Senior team will propose “ba ceart deireadh a cur le hócáidí “debs” and the Junior team will oppose the motion that “tá an troid ar son chaomhnú na timpeallachta á cailliúnt again in Eirinn”.

Sport

It was a busy week for sport with league and cup fixtures in Camogie, Hockey and Basketball to be completed. The Senior Camogie team had a tough draw against Coachford in the first round of the Championship and was defeated by 2-7 to 1-4.

The Intermediate hockey team notched up one league victory and one draw during the week: 0 -0 against Rockwell and 8 -0 against Castletroy. Junior B1 and Under 15 B1 both had wins over Castletroy College also, 4-0 and 3-0 respectively. Minor B3 played out a scoreless draw against the same opposition and Minor B1 suffered a 0 – 3 defeat.

The Senior and Cadette basketball teams both enjoyed wins in the quarter finals of the league against Edenderry.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

5th November 2007

Archbishop Clifford’s Visit

The Archbishop Dr Dermot Clifford visited the school in the week before the mid-term break. A prayer service took place in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall with all staff and students and the Archbishop addressed the gathering and spoke on the theme of love.

Evita

The curtain came down on another production in the school and all has returned to normal. Many thanks to the huge crowds that came and attended the show over the four nights. The support from the audiences was much appreciated by the large cast.

Science Foundation Ireland

Congratulations goes to Carmel Lennon from last year’s Leaving Cert group who received a Science Foundation Ireland scholarship at a ceremony recently in the Alexander Hotel in Dublin . The SFI, with support from Dell, awards research driven scholarships to encourage more young high-achieving women into engineering. Carmel started in Engineering in September and will now received € 2,000 per annum to help her with her studies. She also received a lap top and most importantly she is assigned the support of an active researcher throughout her undergraduate career. Also, she will be given the opportunity of at least one summer research internship in a laboratory or in an industry in the course of her degree. The award was made by Minister for Enterprise , Trade and Tourism, Micheal Martin.

Science Week

The Science Department is busily preparing for Science week which will be held from November 12 – 16. Among the activities will be a whole school quiz and students are honing their skills in preparation for it!

Music

From the eight students who auditioned for the Royal Irish Academy High Achievers Concert, three were chosen for the Munster Concert which will take place in Killarney on Sunday next, November 10.

Two students auditioned for the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland recently. Mary Rose Dwan (Cello) and Annette Slattery (Viola) are currently awaiting the results of the audition.

The Cecilian Choir and several members of the Senior Orchestra are also busily preparing for a Concert to be held in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall on November 17. The Concert will feature well-known singer, Derek Ryan and our own past pupil, Jessie Buckley as a guest soloist. The proceeds will go to Tipperary Hospice and Cystic Fibrosis and it promises to be a feast of music.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

14th October 2007

Sport

The competitive sporting season is now well underway and a good start has been made in all sports with just one blip!

The Senior A and the Junior A hockey teams travelled to Cork to take on Scoil Mhuire in the first of their league fixtures. The Senior A had a comfortable 2 – 0 victory with both goals coming from the stick of Roisin Moroney. The Junior A managed even more goals in its comprehensive victory. The Senior B and Intermediate teams had winning challenge games in preparation for the start of their leagues.

In basketball, The Senior and Cadette teams played St Leo’s in Carlow. The Senior team paid the price for a nervous, edgy start and though they dominated the match they never fully recovered from that shaky start and the final score was 20 – 25 in favour of Leo’s. However, they put things to rights for the opening match of the Cup competition when they defeated Salerno in Galway . The Cadette team has started very strongly notching up league wins against St Leo’s and Summerhill, Athlone.

The Senior Gaelic Football team also had a good first outing when they defeated Ard Scoil na Deise, Dungarvan by 2-6 to 2-5.

Geography Fieldtrip

This weekend,the sixth years went on their annual fieldtrip under the guidance of Ms. Callinan, Ms. Hedigan, Ms. O'Sullivan and Ms. Tuohy. On Friday they undertook a study of the erosional processes at work on the beach. On Saturday they visited the Cliffs of Moher, Ailwee Caves and a portal dolmen at Poulnabrone. A great trip was had by all. Click here to read more about our fieldtrip.

The Visit of Mog

The Transition Year students enjoyed the visit of Mog, the car safety demonstration vehicle. This demonstration will hopefully prove to be very worthwhile and valuable at a time when issues around young drivers and road safety are a huge talking point. The demonstration took the students through all of the safety issues involved in driving and the consequences of careless driving.

Concern Debating

The Concern Debating team, Ruth Brennan, Roisin White, Clodagh Whelan and Recie Davern are putting the finishing touches to their speeches as they prepare to take on the Loreto, Clonmel proposing the motion “that overseas development aid is a waste of money”. This is the first debate of the year and we wish them the best of luck.

Evita

The final touches are being put to the set, the costumes are being fitted and all will be in readiness for this year’s production: Evita. The show tells the story of the meteoric rise to fame and power of the Argentinian peasant girl, Eva Duarte, and it is told from the point of view of the narrator, Che Guevara who has many questions to ask about the methods she uses and the power she wields, particularly over the ordinary, working people of Argentina .

The song “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina ” is only one of a series of beautiful songs from the pen of Andrew Llyod Webber. “Another Suitcase and Another Hall”, “High Flying Adored”, “Night of a Thousand Stars” and “You Must Love Me” are almost as well known.

The booking has now opened for the four night run of Evita which will take place in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall on Saturday, October 20, Sunday, October 21, Tuesday, October 23 and Thursday, October 25. Although there is great capacity in the Hall, booking is advisable as the early trends from the booking suggest full houses each night.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

7th October 2007

Transition Year

The Transition Year students have been kept very busy in the last few weeks and have been involved in a myriad of activities. Interviews for the re-establishment of the School Bank have taken place and the responsibility for the running of the bank and the balancing of the books will rest on six students from T.Y.

They also enjoyed a photography workshop given by Sadie Flanagan and a new interest has been sparked in them as they are busy viewing potential subjects for photographing.

Five of the TY students are attending the Spiritual Dance course which takes place weekly in St Patrick’s College and this group are enjoying the experience immensely.

On Thursday, October 11, MOG will arrive to the school. Who is Mog? Mog is a fully operational vehicle with complete manual and visual access to all mechanical and electrical components. It is part of a package designed to improve road safety and its objective is “to instil in the minds of drivers and would-be drivers the limitations and frailties of a motor vehicle and dispel the feeling of invincibility behind the wheel.”

Concern Debating

The Concern Debating team for 07/08 has been chosen and the four students involved are busily preparing for their first debate against Loreto, Clonmel when they have to propose the motion “that overseas development aid is a waste of money”. Ruth Brennan, Recie Davern, Roisin White and Clodagh Whelan are looking forward to this first debate and are honing their skills in preparation for the event.

High Achievers

Based on the results of examinations taken in various musical instruments last May, eleven students have been awarded High Achiever status by both the Royal Irish Academy and the Leinster School .

For the R.I.A.M. Sarah Connellan and Emmet McNally (Alto Sax), Laura Fennelly (Recorder, Damian Sweeney (Flute), Laura Quinlan, Alison Burns, Georgina O’ Brien and Rachel Willoughby (Voice) were recognised. These students attended auditions in Killarney recently as part of a regional series of auditions and 350 students will be chosen from 35,000 to perform in High Achievers Concerts throughout the country.

The leinster School of Music also awarded High Achievers to Elaine Fitzgibbon, Aine Blake and Sinead Crone for Piano.

Three students also received high achiever status in the R.I.A.M. Public Speaking examinations: Ellen O’ Donnell (Grade 8), Catherine and Mary Prendergast (Grade 8 and Grade 6). They will receive certification at the High Achievers Concert.

Evita

Activity in preparation for the opening night of Evita is reaching a climax as all aspects of the production start to come together. Sets are being built and decorated by the Art Department , rehearsals are intense, tickets are being prepared and posters circulated. The booking will open next Monday, October 14 and can be made by contacting the school by phone 0504-22147 during office hours or by calling to the General Office at the school. The show will run for four nights: Saturday, October 20, Sunday October 21, Tuesday October 23 and Thursday, October 24.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

22nd SEPTEMBER 2007

Opening Mass

The opening of the year school Mass took place in the Cathedral last week and the students participated at all levels: preparation of Liturgy, choir, orchestra and art work. The theme for the school year is “Today stretches ahead of me. What it will be like is, with God’s help, up to me”. The celebrant, Fr Hennessy stressed this theme is in homily, encouraging the students to do their best every day.

Transition Years

The Transition Year students had their first outing of the year to Killaloe Activity Centre. There, they participated in all kinds of land and water activities: kayaking, surfing, orienteering, Jacob’s ladder. This is a day that gives the students a perfect opportunity to settle into their new curriculum and to form friendships and bonds so essential for effective team-work in the course of the year.

They have also been busy testing the “market with a view to setting up their mini-companies

Evita

The show has now been cast so it is full steam ahead to ensure everything will be ready for opening night on October 20. Evita chronicles the rise to fame in Argentina of the simple peasant girl, Eva Duarte. The story is told almost entirely through music, written by Andrew Llyod Weber and Tim Rice, and includes the popular numbers “Don’t Cry for me Argentina”, “Another Suitcase, Another Hall”, “You Must Love Me”.

The cast is as follows:

Eva Duarte Peron: Kate Lineen,

Che Guevara: Mary Kate Bourke/Rachel Willoughby (alternate nights),

Augustin Magaldi: Laura Quinlan,

Juan Peron: Aoibhinn Foley/ Melanie O’ Brien,

Peron’s Mistress: Aoife Ryan.

Sports

The Senior A hockey team had a challenge match last week in preparation for the competitive season ahead and also to give an opportunity to make the final selection of the Senior A panel for the year. They took on Loreto Kilkenny and recorded a 2 – 1 victory over them. The Junior A and Minor A also had challenge matches against Kilkenny College and both teams had comprehensive victories , 6 – 0 and 4 – 1 respectively.

In Basketball, the First Years had a friendly against the presentation and the Seniors played Heywood College , Ballinakill. The leagues for Senior and Cadette Basketball begin this week and the first opponents for both are St Leo’s, Carlow.

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URSULINE MUSINGS

SEPTEMBER 2, 2007

Ursuline Graduation/Debs Ball

The final occasion for the class of 2007 took place just before the return to school. Almost all of the 2007 class returned to the school and were presented with their Graduation Certs in a short ceremony in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall.

There was a great atmosphere of excitement as all the girls met up – some for the first time since they had completed their Leaving Cert. Exchanges of congratulations and catching up on what the CAO had to offer were the order of the day. After the presentation of certs, all then adjourned to the Anner Hotel where the girls and their partners danced the night away to the music of Whitewater, followed by a disco.

School Show

For the other students it was not quite the same as they returned to start the hard work for the year ahead. As is usual at the beginning of the academic year, thoughts turn to what show is going to be staged at the end of October. We are indeed very privileged to have secured the rights for a production of Andrew Llyod Weber’s Evita. So very shortly now, it will be all systems go for this production and already the students are signing up and getting prepared for the auditions.

Sports

It is also a busy time for the Sports Department as they get training in full swing in preparation for the selection of the many and varied teams that will be representing the school throughout the year: in hockey, camogie, basketball, gaelic football etc.

As for all the Teachers…they have all returned and it is like never having been away!