Three Ursuline students attend Remembrance Day Services in London
Ursuline Fifth Years Eimear McCormack, Gillian Aherne and Muireann Meade were involved in Remembrance Day Services and Armistice Day Commemorations in London last weekend. They had the honour of being the first Irish secondary school students to be invited to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph, honouring Irish soldiers who fought and died in World War One. This very special invitation came as a result of the girls winning the prestigious 2023 Malcolm Doolin award which encourages primary and post primary students to research the effects of the Great War on their localities. They shared this first place prize with another Irish school, Loreto Balbriggan. Over the weekend they placed poppies and remembrance crosses at Westminster Abbey at the sites dedicated to the Royal Irish Regiment and the Leinster Regiment. On Friday evening they attended a commemoration in Victoria Station to mark the arrival of the remains of the Unknown Warrior and laid a wreath here too. Other activities over the weekend included seeing the kindertransportmemorial at Liverpool Street Station, visiting the Imperial War Museum, being interviewed about their project and their experiences at the Great War memorial services, seeing PM Rishi Sunak and a bit of shopping on Oxford Street. All of this was thanks to the Western Front Association who haveextended the Malcolm Doolin Award to Irish schools. The students and their accompanying teacher Ms Whelan, who guided and advised the girls on their 62-page winning submission, had an amazing trip to London and felt very privileged to be representing their school and their country at events of such immense historic significance.
Ursuline Sustainable Designer storms Aruba Fashion Week
Ursuline Fifth Year student and fashion designer Genevieve Keane is taking the world by storm with her sustainable haute couture. She was invited to make a bespoke collection of sustainable fashion pieces to showcase at Aruba Fashion Week 2023. She travelled to Aruba in the Caribbean over the midterm break and her original outfits were very well received at this premier sustainable fashion exhibition. Genevieve’s designs were inspired by Greek mythology, with one of her dresses, made from blue plastic materials found on our shores, dedicated to the goddess of the sea, Amphitrite. This young woman is an outstanding ambassador for the Ursuline and the Junk Kouture Competition. She won the 2022 International Junk Kouture Cultural Couture award inAbu Dhabi, modelling her original design Acantha based on St Patrick and the coming of Christianity. She led the creative performance section of this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin along with the patron saint himself. It has been a whirlwind year for this talented designer who is still in school but if the past twelve months is anything to go by there is a bright future in fashion ahead for the Ursuline’s Genevieve Keane.
Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition
On Wednesday, 8 November Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools finalists 2022 Grainne Callanan, Rebekah Smith, Evie Smyth and Kaitlyn Ryan took themselves and their now reared prize winning calves to AIBP in Cahir to see the final stage of the farm to fork process. They got a tour of the facilities and learned about what happens when the cattle are brought to the factory. It was very educational and also lucrative as they picked up their cheque for the five Angus calves that they have looked after and brought to maturity. The students won their prize as a result of their excellent submission on farm safety. They will now be preparing for the final leg of the competition with the overall 2022 winner to be announced next year in Croke Park. Thanks to Ms Hogan who has guided and supported the students at every stage of this competition.
Amber Flag
The Ursuline Amber Flag Committee, which has students from First Year to Sixth Year, organised a ‘Be Kind Week’ with activities designed to promote positive mental health, fun and inclusivity from Monday, 6 to Friday, 10 November. The week started with a poster competition with students submitting designs that highlighted the theme of the week, kindness. On Tuesday there was a lunchtime fitness fun event for Second Years in the Sports Hall. The victorious class was 2C who got goody bags and the coveted title of Fittest Second Year class. The Prayer Room was the venue for mindfulness activities for anyone who wanted to drop in on Wednesday. Treats and well-being go hand in hand and so on Thursday there was a bake sale in aid on Peita House. The week ended with a disco and karaoke for First Years with everyone getting groovy at lunchtime. Thanks to all the Amber Flag members for a jam-packed week with something for everyone and to Ms Loughnane and Ms Coman for all their help in organisingthe events.
Soccer
Congratulations to the Ursuline U19 Soccer team who had a great 3-2 win on Thursday, 9 November against CastletroyCollege in Annacotty. Well done to Grace Murphy who scored two goals and Sarah Bell who also found the back of the net. It was a very tense game with outstanding performances from all players and plenty of grit and teamwork on show.
LGFA
The Ursuline Senior football players have secured a Munster semi-final slot after a comprehensive victory against Loreto Fermoy on Wednesday, 8 November. There were numerous attacks by the forwards which kept adding to the Ursuline tally throughout both halves. Meanwhile the backs were busy repelling Fermoy at the other end, thwarting their scoring opportunities. Scorers on the day included Kate Carr 2-5; Orla Ryan 3-1; Sarah Quinlan 1-5; Caoimhe Stakelum 2-1; Sarah Corcoran 0-2; Danielle Ryan 1-2; Sophie Coughlan 1-0; Maria Ralph 0-1; Alisha Kearney 0-1. Many thanks to coaches Mr McLoughlin, Ms Long and Ms McGrath.
Enrolment September 2024
The closing date for 2024 enrollment applications for the Ursuline Secondary School is Thursday, 16 November. Application forms are available on the school website www.uct.ie or by emailing info@uct.ie or ringing the school office on(0504) 22147.