Christmas Carol Service
The Ursuline Secondary School, in collaboration with Thurles Town Orchestra, Scoil Angela and St Angela’s Academy of Music hosted a beautiful Christmas Carol Service in the Cathedral of the Assumption on Tuesday, 17 December. A video of the event has been viewed over two million times on social media platforms TikTok, Instagram and Facebook,with lots of praise for all the singers and musicians who participated in this special ceremony. In particular Hannah Murphy’s rendition of O’Holy Night seemed to capture the meaning and spirit of Christmas for so many who viewed the clip. Well done to all involved including the musicians of the Ursuline Senior Orchestra and Thurles Town Orchestra, the Scoil Angela Choir, the Ursuline Cecelian and Chamber Choirs, soloists, readers and all those who organised this fabulous Carol Service
Christmas Mass
On Thursday afternoon, 19 December the students and staff of the Ursuline Secondary School gathered in the Cathedral of the Assumption for the last School Mass of 2024. The Christmas Mass is a highly anticipated part of the Liturgical calendar of the School. Christmas Carols filled the Cathedral including Adeste Fideles, Away in a Manger and Ding Dong Merrily on High. Cecelian Choir sang these and many other traditional carols accompanied by the musicians of Senior Orchestra. The offertory was a haunting rendition of Don Oiche Úd I mBeithil played by All Ireland winning uillean piper Muireann Meade, accompanied by the Sixth Year violinists. Following Communion, the First Year students did a graceful movement to Silent Night, sung in German, Irish and English, while holding lighted candles that shone magnificently in the darkened cathedral. Thanks to Fr Jim Purcell, School Chaplain, who said the Mass, encouraging everyone present to speak the language of Christmas, the language of love. Thanks to singers, musicians and readers whose gifts created a beautiful start to the Christmas season for everyone present.
TY Christmas Market
The Ursuline TYs had a Christmas market on Monday morning, 16 December, which was a chance for them to sell their Mini-Company products and earn some cash for Christmas. There was plenty of baked goods for sale and many other items on offer, including jewellery, cosmetics, candles, picture frames, customised socks, Croc accessories, personlised make-up bags badges, posters and lots more interesting gifts at bargain prices. Well done to all the mini-companies on their great efforts to prepare their stalls and on their selling and marketing techniques. Thanks to the TY Business Studies teachers who guided them and advised them in preparation for the Christmas market.
Ursuline Charities Committee
In the final weeks of term, the Ursuline Charities Committee, comprising of students from Fifth and Sixth Year, were busy selling raffle tickets in aid of local Down Syndrome organisation Meitheal 21. The prizes were fabulous hampers of goodies which students and staff were keen to win. Through their efforts in reminding everyone that the spirit of Christmas is in giving rather than receiving, the Charities Committee raised €1,100 and presented a cheque to Meithealjust before the Christmas break. Thanks to all who supported this worthy cause.
UCT Christmas Fun
There was plenty of Christmas fun in the Ursuline in the last week of the term. There were parties for Fifth and Sixth Years organised by their Year Heads Ms Molony and Ms Frend. They exchanged Kris Krindle presents as a year group with everyone bringing in a €5 gift and then getting a lucky dip on the day. The students provided lots of baked goods and Santa Claus himself arrived to give out the surprises.
On the last day, Friday, 20 December there was the traditional UCT X-Factor with lots of classes and groups getting up to dance, sing and perform some parodies. It included the traditional rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas hosted by Ms Erica Flanagan with volunteers from throughout the school who sang the various lines encouraged by the vocal audience participation. There was an opportunity for the Religion teachers to make a ‘holy’ show of themselves by competing against each other in a UCT version of the recent TikTok sensation Names in Bible Song. Well done to all those who danced, sang and sketched with enthusiasm and to the Fifth Year School Councillors and their Year Head Ms Molony who organised the event for everyone’s entertainment
Camogie
The Ursuline Senior A Camogie team are through to the Munster Colleges Final following a win against Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher on Wednesday, 18 December. The final will be played on Saturday, 11 January.
LGFA
Congratulations to Issy Carr, Sophie Coughlan, Louise McGrath and Margaret McGrath who have been selected for the Tipperary Minor Football panel 2025. Rosanna King has been picked to play U16 Football for her home county, Wexford and Grace Fennelly will line out with the Laois U14 Football team in the coming season.
Christmas Hockey
The last hockey training sessions of the year are always fun in the Ursuline with students dressing up in Christmas garb to play team games in a festive way. It was a highly enjoyable and energetic end of term for all players and thanks to the hockey coaches who organised Christmas hockey.