Basketball
Congratulations to the Ursuline Cadette Basketball team who are South East League Champions. They beat Presentation Wexford in a thrilling finish with UCT leading from the start. The Pres girls came back into the game with a late surge and pushed Ursuline to the last buzzer. The final score was UCT 41 Pres Wexford 37. Well done to all the players and their coach Sinéad.
Soapbox Europe Direct Public Speaking
Well done to Ursuline Fifth Year student, Rosa Ryan, who advances to the All-Ireland Final of the Europe Direct Soapbox Public Speaking Competition. The Ursuline was well represented in the Regional Final held in Portloaise Library on Tuesday evening, 21 November, with a total of eleven competitors. The students spoke for three minutes on the topic ‘There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter.’ Thanks to Ms Quinn who accompanied TYs Holly Kiely, Maria Taafe, Katherese Allen, Emer Commins, Aoife Coyle, Chloe Fogarty, Cáit Browne, Siobhán Down, Lily Murphy and Fifth Years, Rosie Bradish and winner on the night Rosa Ryan.
Poetry Aloud
Ursuline TY, Cáit Browne, has qualified for the National Final of Poetry Aloud. She impressed the judges with her recital of the poem Picking Figs by Ann Tannam. She represented the school in the Intermediate category which had many entries so it was a great achievement for her to be chosen to go through to the next stage.
Certified Irish Angus Beef Competition
The Ursuline has two TY teams chosen to present their projects to a panel of industry experts and judges in Fermoy in February in the Certified Irish Angus Beef Competition. Emily Creagh, Audrey McNamara, Amber Bannon and Ellen Seymour are undertaking a study of controls with in the Beef Industry to mitigate against food fraud, adulteration and promote authenticity. The second team to qualify for Fermoy are Ellen Ryan, Saoirse Ryan, Lilly Kavanagh and Louise McGrath. Through their analysis sexed semen they hope to provide a solution to reducing live calf exports. Both teams will continue their research over the coming months with the aim of presenting their findings and compiling recommendations that will hopefully lead to a place in the National Final in Croke Park later in 2024 and a chance to win five Irish Angus calves.
November Prayer Service
On Wednesday morning the Ursuline school of students, staff and sisters from the community gathered in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall for a prayer service in remembrance of the dead. The Junior Orchestra opened the para-liturgy with the instrumental I Giorni by the Italian composer Einaudi. The prayers, readings and music was presided over by School Chaplain, Fr Jim Purcell, who gave a lovely homily acknowledging how difficult loss is, whether that is a parent, grandparent, friend, sibling, relative or pet. He told a story about a young girl writing a letter to God to let Him know her dog had died and to mind her, play with her and keep her safe in heaven. God wrote back to the little girl letting her know her beloved pet had arrived and that the dog’s spirit was with Him, just as it was in the little girl’s heart. In the final sentence of the letter God tells the little girl that He is easy to find as He is wherever there is love. There is a vital flow of life between the living and the dead and Fr Jim reminded the congregation that God will bring our loved ones with Him. The theme for the November service ‘I still burn bright’ was expressed in music, with the Cecelian Choir and soloist Sheena Wright singing Snow Patrol’s Run, as students from each year group lit candles while also bringing up symbolic cardboard candles to be placed at the altar. These cardboard candles contained the names of those students and staff wanted to pray for during this time. It was a solemn and emotional service but one that brings solace for those who have experienced the death of a beloved. Thanks to everyone who was involved in the service, musicians, singers, readers, those who lit candles or carried up the names of the deceased in procession and of course to Fr Jim for his very touching words.
Soccer
The Ursuline U15 Soccer team won against Cashel Community School last week in the Munster Cup. Goal scorers on the day included Josephine Kennedy, Sasha O’Keefe, Nikki Hayes, Annie Dempsey and Doireann Lynch. Thanks to Holycross FC for the use of their facilities and well done to all players and coaches.
Minor A Hockey
The Minor A Hockey team played Scoil Mhuire in Cork on Wednesday, 22 November and put in a brave performance. But they were just edged out by the Leesiders in a final score of 3-2. Well done to Emma McDonnell who took her chances to notch up two great goals for UCT. It was an excellent team performance considering the Thurles girls were 2-0 down at one stage in the game with Emma’s goals balancing things up, bringing the Ursuline right back into it. Scoil Mhuire pushed into the lead once again and Emma was unlucky not to score in the fourth quarter from a smashing ball sent in by teammate Ailbhe Hally. Well done to all on a great effort.
LGFA
It was an excellent outing on Wednesday, 22 November, for the Ursuline First Year Gaelic footballers who took the bus to Boherlahan to play Cashel Community School. They proved that they have plenty of football in them with lots of skill and talent on display throughout the game. Thanks to Leah O’Connell and Sasha O’Keefe who took on the joint captaincy and were impressive in their leadership of the team. Scorers included Lara Shanahan 4-1; Sarah Genockey, 3-1; Melanie Flannery, 1-1; Leah O’Connell, 1-1; July Kelly, 1-0; Eadaoin Carroll, 0-1; Ella Maher, 0-1 and Sasha O’Keefe 0-1. Thanks to Mr McLoughlin, Ms Long and Ms McGrath for coaching and encouraging the team.