Ursuline’s Vision Zero wins Award at the World Junk Kouture Final in Dublin.
It was a whirlwind week for Ursuline Fifth Year students Tara Johnson, Caitín Cussen and Christina Whelan. The team behind Vision Zero scooped the Sustainable Development Goal award at the World Junk Kouture Finals in Dublin on Tuesday, 4 March. Their creation, made from seat belts, high viz jackets and using a macramé knotting technique, had a very strong road safety message. Their desire to reduce the number of fatalities and accidents on Irish roads led to them getting the Sustainable Development Goal Award.
On Wednesday morning the team returned to rapturous scenes of excitement and support from their friends, peers and teachers in the Ursuline. They spoke about the amazing journey they’ve had with Junk Kouture and how they made friends with students from other countries and counties through the competition. On Sunday, 9 March they appeared on Virgin Media’s Ireland AM programme. They were interviewed, along with a select number of Junk Kouture World finalists, by Ray Foley and Síomha Ní Ruairc about their dress and the inspiration for it. They did themselves, their families, their communities and the Ursuline Secondary School proud.
Junk Kouture Regional Final, Dublin
Aswell as winning a World Junk Kouture award the Ursuline had three TY teams competing in the Southern Regional Final of Junk Kouture on Thursday, 6 March. The teams included ‘Fool Me Once’, modelled by Grace Everard and made with teammates Suzy Murphy and Isobel Flynn. The used neck ties in the main outfit and incorporated a cage and broken love hearts to reflect the theme of domestic violence and the havoc it wrecks.
‘Chrysalis’ is the brainchild of Ursuline TYs Katie Coonan, Georgia Murphy and Leah Costello Corry. Their monochrome, butterfly, floaty creation used an array of materials including a shower curtain, leatherette offcuts, a branch of a tree and rubber industrial floor covering and seals. Their ensemble shines a light on the necessity for promoting positive mental health. They booked a place in the national Junk Kouture Final along with fellow TY team ‘Presence Pitch Player’.
‘Presence Pitch Player’ is a black and gold outfit made using the steamers that are released in Croke Park on All Ireland Final Day. Katie Flanagan, Sinéad O’Dwyer and Jessica Fogarty Quinn reflects the importance of the GAA in people’s lives. The girls were greatly influenced by Tipperary hurler Noel McGrath, his recovery from cancer and return to club and inter-county competition. Many thanks to Noel who came into the Ursuline on Wednesday, 5 March to meet the three girls and talk to them and other TYs about what the GAA means to him and others. He wished them luck in the Junk Kouture competition and it must have been good because they booked their spot in the All-Ireland Final.
Ursuline Junior A Footballers bag All-Ireland Final place
Massive congratulations to the Ursuline Junior A Football team who have secured a place in the All Ireland Final after beating Connacht champions High Cross College, Tuam in the All Ireland Semi in Banagher on Wednesday, 6 March. Ursuline choose to play with the strong breeze in the first half and were trailing by six points at half-time. UCT 0-5 Tuam 1-08. But the comeback kids, under the management of Mr Rob McLoughlin and assistant coach Ms Eimear McGrath, had kept their best play for the second half. Once Claire Fitzgerald raised the green flag the Tipp girls gathered momentum. By the eighth minute they had levelled the scoreboard at 1-08 all. They notched up a flurry of points and Sophie Moynihan’s shot on goal hit the target to put UCT in a strong 2-11 to 1-08 position. Tuam seemed to raise their game again with ten minutes to go but at that stage the Ursuline Juniors had done irreparable damage. The final score in Banagher was Ursuline 2-14 High Cross College, Tuam 2-09. This is an incredible achievement for the students and their coaches to achieve an All-Ireland Final placing in the School’s first year playing up in the A division of LGFA. They now look forward to the final on March 20.
Post Primary Schools Cross Country All Ireland Final
Well done to all the Ursuline athletes who qualified and competed in the All Ireland Cross Country championships in Ballybrit, Galway on Saturday 8 March. Órla Pamplin, Second Year and Alana Spillane, Fifth Year represented the School in the Junior and Senior races.
In the Intermediate competition Eleanor Kiernan, Caoimhe Slevin, Maedbh Lonergan, Annie Flynn and Eadaoin Carroll raced well over the tough course.
The Minor team included Robyn O’Reilly, Grace Fennelly, Aifric Mockler, Muireann Casey, Carra Molloy, Gráinne Daly and Róisín Maher and they too showed great spirit.
The girls equipped themselves admirably against very strong competitors and had memorable day out. They were able to face the cold conditions more bravely with the help of the new Ursuline dry robes presented to them by Principal Ms Gleeson, the day before their competition. A big thank you to her for her generosity and also for making the journey to Galway on Saturday to support the runners and their coaches Mr McDonnell and Mr Corbett. Making it to the All Irelands is no mean feat and the girls are officially classified as belonging to the top 100 Irish girls in their age group in the country. A special word of thanks to the parents who accompanied the girls to Galway.
Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools All Ireland Final
The Ursuline TY Certified Irish Angus Beef team of Margaret Gaynor, Isabella Jones, Sarah Rochford and Aobha Minogue travelled to Croke Park on Friday, 7 March for the All Ireland Final. They impressed the judges with their comprehensive display that included the research they conducted, their findings and ideas for reducing methane emissions on Irish Beef farms. Fingers crossed now as they await to hear if they have done enough to win five Irish Angus Beef calves. Thanks to their teacher Mr O’Heney who mentored them and travelled to Dublin with them.
LCMUN
The Ursuline had eight TY students involved in this year’s Loreto Convent Model United Nations in Clonmel. Aoibhín Rae, Lucy Danaher, Éabha Cahill, Katelyn Barry, Isabelle O’Connor, Aisling Norton, Teagan White and Ava Scally each represented a nation or organisation that makes up the United Nations. The students took on the job of speaking on behalf of their state on the issues discussed at the conference. Ms Quinn had helped to prepare the girls for the resolutions that were debated over the course of three days. Katelyn Barry, who was speaking on behalf of the United Nations, got an honourable mention and a certificate for her contribution and outstanding performance. Well done to all the Ursuline delegates at this year’s LCMUN.
Rugby
Ursuline Thurles had a great day out at Shannon RFC for the annual TUS 10s Rugby Blitz on Tuesday, 4 March. UCT dominated the group stages conceding only one try across three group games. The forwards made some excellent tackles with plenty of great link up play between Molly Hayes and Orla Carey and top class carries from Róisín Ferncombe, Grace Murphy and Charlotte Butler-Clyne. This great momentum was carried into the knockout stages with an easy win over Salesians Secondary School in the semi-final. The exceptional play of the Tipp squad had earned them a spot in the final against Kerry opposition Coláiste na Sceilge who had been equally impressive in their group fixtures. Unfortunately, they proved too strong and Ursuline had to concede to them in the end. The game concluded 6-2 in favour of Colaiste na Sceilge. It was a fantastic day out with many U14 girls playing with great determination throughout the tournament. A shout out to Sarah Delaney and Molly Quinn who took part in their first rugby fixture in the UCT colours.
Transition Year
Transition Years in the Ursuline were busy last week with a talk on Friday, 7 March by Lt Colonel Joe Gleeson who spoke about the many careers on offer in the Irish Defence Forces. There was a Fencing Workshop delivered by Patrick Dight of Munster Blades Fencing Club. Noel McGrath, Tipperary Hurler was in discussing the importance of the GAA in his life and in life of Irish towns and parishes.
Hockey
The Ursuline Junior As faced a hard-fought second-round Junior Cup match last week. UCT worked hard from the outset but two goals from corners saw Crescent take the win. The Tipp girls showed resilience and determination right to the final whistle with Aoife Roche outstanding at centre-back.
There was an amazing performance from the Ursuline Junior B Hockey Cup team on Tuesday, 4 March as they faced Villiers in Limerick. They were victorious and are through to the next round. There was incredible teamwork and impressive pace on passing throughout the match. The goal scorers were Doireann Lynch, Katheline Lynam, Hannah Byrne and Alison McBearty. Well done to all for the hard work they displayed on the day and the continuous effort being put in at training.
The Minor Yellow Hockey team beat the Presentation Thurles 2-0 in the quarter-final of their Cup match. Well done on a great win.