West Side Story
Congratulations to all who were involved in bringing the magic of West Side Story to stage in the Ursuline’s Sr Ursula Memorial Hall. The opening weekend performances on Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 October were spectacular and a real musical treat for audiences. The classic Leonard Bernstein score, with delights such as the sublime Tonight and the edgy Latin Influenced America, brought to life the tragic love story of Tony and Maria, played by Molly Burgess and Grace Mahon respectively. Sheena Wright stepped into the role of the sassy Anita with Isabelle O’Connor as her fiery but ultimately doomed lover Bernardo. Cáit Browne was convincing in her tough portrayal of Jets leader, Riff.
There was a host of other characters from the rival New York gangs, with plenty of great acting, singing and dancing from all principal parts.
Ms Erica Flanagan has certainly proved her directorial credentials in her second year at the helm of the Ursuline School Show taking on such a big production and making it a huge success with a cast of over 230 students. The music and vocals was in the very gifted hands of Musical Director, Ms Joan Butler, helped by her colleagues in the Music Department, Ms Deborah Quinn and Ms Hannah Crowley. West Side Story is a show renowned for its dancing as much as the music and storyline and between Rosalie Butler, Director Erica and Sixth Year leading actress Sheena Wright this year’s choreography was energetic, graceful and full of melodrama.
There are so many talented people who give their time generously every year to make the Ursuline School Show a reality, the Art teachers, Ms Delahunt, Ms Hackett and Ms Spillane who paint the set. Ms Egan, who is a one woman props department. The Home Economics Department of Ms Nash, Ms Gaynor and Ms Coffey who take charge of costumes. Mr English, Mr McGlynn and Mr Heaney in the Technology Department who are involved in set design and construction, helped every year by Tommy Sweeney, Jack Gleeson and Antony Kirby. Then there is all the members of staff who supervise back stage, help organise the raffle prizes and hampers and the teachers and students who volunteer for front of house duties. Thanks also to the office staff Eileen, Bernie and Tarcelina who do the amazing administrative wonders needed to pull off a show like West Side Story. The caretaking and cleaning staff who make sure the school is looking it’s best for the visitors and manage traffic in the grounds during the night time performances. A special mention to all the local businesses and parents who donated through sponsorship and raffle prizes, it helps so much in enabling the school to run the show each year. The School Show is such an important Ursuline tradition and the management team of Ms Gleeson, Mr Kirby and Ms Tuohy have continued to support this endeavour unequivocally. It’s been a brilliant run of six performances and everyone is now looking forward to a well earned mid-term break.
Ursuline BT Young Scientist 2025 submissions
Six Ursuline TY teams have submitted initial stage project ideas for the 2025 BT Young Scientist Competition. The teams include Robyn Lee, Rosie O’Brien and Ruth Phelan; Grace Eiffe; Clodagh O’Dwyer and Róise Glynn; Emma Kingston and Abigaile Hayes; Ella Frend and Julie Johnson and Ava Scally, Libby Corcoran and Leah Brannigan. Best of luck to them and fingers crossed they’ll be picked to continue their investigations in greater depth and present their findings at the final in the RDS in January.
Irish Olympiad of Experimental Science
Well done to Sastika Gothandan, Jessica Sheffield, Sarah McGinley and Katie O’Brien who all took part in the Irish Olympiad of Experimental Science on 5 October.
Camogie
The Ursuline Munster Winning 7s team played in the All Ireland 7s final on Wednesday, 16 October. The team and panel, in the company of Ms Hogan and Ms McGrath, traveled to the Meath GAA Centre of Excellence. It was a day of great camogie and mixed fortunes. They ceded two group games to Loreto Kilkenny and St Patricks Maghera but had a win over Connacht champs Pres Athenry.
Equestrian
Huge congratulations to Ursuline’s Evie Kennedy who won the 143 Working Hunter Pony of the Year at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham last weekend with her 15-year-old gelding, Little Dromineer Phoenix.
The Ursuline had a fantastic turnout from the school team who competed in the TRIEquestrian Interschools 1m Open Team Competition at Mullingar Equestrian Centre. The girls performed amazingly on their first outing of the year with Alanna Fagan, Fifth Year and Juliana Duffy, Second Year, putting in clear rounds. They were very unlucky to miss the jump-off, but what a great effort!
Katheline Lynam also had a clear round in the Individual 90cm– well done!
Hockey
Well done to the Ursuline Minor Yellow team who beat Villiers 3-1 last week. The girls went a goal down in the first five minutes through a well taken short corner from Villiers but they grew into the game and dominated possession, scoring three lovely goals from play. Also well done to the Minor Red team who beat their Villiers counterparts 4-1 on the same day . Some fantastic goals were scored and it was a huge team effort. This is the Red team’s second win of the season. Well done to all the yellows and reds. A great hockey day out was had by all.
The Minor Pink team were in action on Friday, 18 October against Newtown in Waterford. They won this League encounter with some lovely displays of hockey.