Ursuline November Prayer Service
On Tuesday, 25 of November the Ursuline students and staff held their annual service of remembrance in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall. Thanks to Fr Jim who presided over the prayers and spoke of the importance of rituals that recall those we loved in life. In the weeks prior to the service students prepared for it by making paper mâché tree branches, one for each class in the school and one for staff. Then multi-colouredbeech leaves, containing the names of the dead, were glued onto the braches and presented at the altar at the beginning of the service. Fr Jim told the congregation a story about the Kerry writer John Moriarity coming home on the death of his mother and the small rituals and words that brought great comfort to him and his father at that time and in the days, weeks and months after. Junior Orchestra added to the solemnity of the occasion with the opening piece Nearer My God to Thee and A Million Dreams and Aoibhín Rae, Fifth Year, captured the essence of the theme with her moving rendition of Falling Leaves by Eva Cassiday. The First Year Choir sang the closing hymn Heal the World, a lovely sentiment on which to end the service.
Ursuline school choirs and orchestras are now busy preparing for the annual Christmas Carol Service which will be held again this year in the Cathedral of the Assumption. This is a collaborative event featuring the Ursuline Secondary School, Scoil Angela, Thurles Community Orchestra and musicians and performers from St Angela’s Academy of Music. All are welcome to this festive Christmas feast for the ears so save the date, Tuesday, 16 December at 7pm.
Ursuline win inaugural Junior Development Munster Final
Congratulations to Ms Hogan, Ms Kelly and the Ursuline Junior Development team who won the inaugural Munster Final of this new grade on Wednesday, 26 November. They beat St Mary’s, Nenagh with the game played in Thurles Sarsfield’s grounds. Many thanks to Sars for providing their facilities. Conditions were tough with the sides 0-1 level at half-time. Ursuline got a new wind in the second half and pulled ahead to finish convincingly 3-5 to 0-2. Well done to all who played as part of this team on the day and in the games that qualified UCT for the Junior Munster Development Final.
Poetry Aloud
The Ursuline had five representatives in the All Ireland semi-final of the Poetry Aloud competition in the National Library on Tuesday, 25 November. Congratulations to Cáit Browne, Sixth Year who qualified for the final for the third consecutive year and to Catherine Walsh in First Year who also qualified for the Junior Final. The other UCT entrants included Amy Reidy and Anna Keane, TY and Aoibheann Durack, Third Year. Thanks to Ms Regan and Ms Purcell who helped prepare the students for their poetry recitations.
Hockey
The Ursuline Senior Hockey players were out against Loreto Clonmel on Friday, 28 November. They notched up a win thanks to a hat trick from Grace Ormond and her tally was added to by Lily Duffy and Lucy Duggan with a goal apiece. There was outstanding teamwork to be seen throughout all quarters with efficient passing. This connective play from start to finish put the UCT girls in a dominant position from the off. Well done everyone.
Well done to the Ursuline Minor C1 team who played Newport on Tuesday, 25 November. It was a great display of skill from everyone with goals scored by Olivia Lynch, Penny Townshend, Ava Quirke, Kate Duffy and Emma Condon.
Congrats to the Ursuline First Year Eagles team who had a fantastic 2-0 win over Laurel Hill on Tuesday, 25 November. They showed incredible teamwork and determination with a rock solid defence. The First Year Sharks team were also out last week against Newport to play their opening league match. It was Newport’s day but the each UCT player gave tremendous effort in what was a close encounter.
Well done to the Ursuline Junior C Hockey team who beat Laurel Hill Secondary 2-0 on Tuesday, 25 November. It was a tough game with both goals only coming in the last quarter. The mid-fielders Sarah Schofield, Millie Kearney, Clodagh McLoughney, Helen Cahill and Ciara Ryan worked tirelessly in attack and defence, getting up and down the pitch with Julianna Duffy making several great saves in goal. The 0-0 deadlock was finally broken with ten minutes to go. A brilliant tackle by Phoebe Ryan found Ciara Keating-Walkinup the right who played a reverse sweep pass to an unmarked Sarah Schofield, after she made a run from deep. Sarah showed superb composure to control the ball, round the Laurel Hill keeper and flick the ball on her upright reverse to net herself a cracking goal. The girls continued to apply pressure on the hit outs earning several corners and creating loads of chances. The second UCT goal came from a corner with five minutes to go thanks to a brilliant strike from the top by Ciara Keating-Walkin. Well done to all involved.
LGFA
Munster Senior A Football
The Ursuline Senior A footballers put in an unbelievable performance against Loreto Clonmel on Friday, 28 November. The standard of football was incredibly high with Loreto having a reputation as a strong school with a proud footballing pedigree in the Munster A Division. The Ursuline girls were unfazed by this and went there to play their best brand of football. The game was level with two minutes remaining until Loreto went in front and UCT could not find the break-even score. Best of luck to Loreto in the Munster A semi-final.
The Senior A Football team has been outstanding and particular mention must go to the eight Sixth Year students on the team. They have given so much to school football down the years and in return they have so many memories to look back on. Special thanks to Ellen Ryan, Sophie Coughlan and Amber Bannon who drove this team on all year.
U14.5 Football
The Ursuline U14.5 Footballers had a great win against St. Augustine’s, Waterford last week in their Munster A competition. They have trained hard this season and it showed on the pitch with many fine performances especially from captain Aifric Mockler who scored an impressive 2-3. Shona Murray got UCT off to a dream start as she rattled the back of the net in the opening minutes and later followed up with a point. Goalkeeper, Ciara Laubsher, and the six backs were influential during the first half to keep the opposition at bay. Young First Year players Kate Gaule and Lauren Lonerganmade fantastic contributions, with 2-2 and 2-1 respectively. The match ended 8-9 to 6-9 with Holly McNamara 1-0, Beibhinn Pamplin 0-1 and Jennifer Collins 0-1 being the other Ursulines to get on the scoresheet. This team now face Loreto Clonmel with a Munster Semi-Final spot up for grabs
First Year Football
The Ursuline First Year Footballers had an excellent outing to Templemore last week despite the tough, cold conditions. There was fabulous football played by both sides with Ursuline midfield duo of Beibhinn Pamplin and Mary Ryan, in particular, doing a lot of heavy lifting. Katie Mai McGonigle was impressive in defence and Kate Gaule put 1-4 on the scoreboard. Isabel Maher and Áine O’Neill captained the team and they showed massive ability and skillthroughout. Well done to all players who have made a great commitment to training since they started in the school.