Munster Express Online

Athletics

Congratulations to our cross country team who recently ran very well at the Munster Schools Cross Country in Cork. Of the seven athletes who ran, three qualified for the forthcoming All Ireland finals, Bronagh Kearns and Aine Kinsella in the Inter girls and Conor Rochford in the senior boys. Well done to all involved and especially to team manager Pascal Rochford and Elaine Kearns.

A special mention, to, one of our sixth year athletes, Nicola Power, who has been performing very well over the past few months. At the Glasgow Scottish athletics meeting, Nicola jumped a personal best of 5.76 in winning the gold medal. She also won a bronze at the National Senior Indoors All-Irelands in Belfast. In recognition of her outstanding form she was recently selected for the Irish team at the Junior Celtic Cup in Cardiff. We wish all our athletes the best of luck for the rest of the athletics season. 

Hockey Results

Well done to our Inter A hockey team who qualified last Wednesday for the League Final. In a hard fought and very physical, bruising Semi-Final they overcame Kilkenny College thanks to an Aine Kinsella goal. Having lost 1-0 to Kilkenny College in the cup competition the girls were really up for this match and, thanks to fine play from Aine Kinsella, Tara Doyle and Danielle Kavanagh in particular, they gained revenge over their fierce rivals. Best of luck in the league final.

The School’s First Year team was also in action recently against their local rivals Ursuline. In an exciting match our girls started very well and after a series of attacks on the Ursuline goal they deservedly took the lead through Tara Lacey. Despite numerous chances to score again the Abbey could not find a second and were punished five minutes from time by an equalizing goal from the Ursuline. Despite drawing the match the girls showed a lot of improvement from the previous match against Newtown. Best players for the Abbey were Tara Lacey, Iona Heffernan and Anne Marie Kearney

Seachtain na Gaeilge

Tá na scoláirí agus foireann na scoile ag baint an-taitneamh as na himeachtaí atá againn do Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2010.  Tá gach duine ag iarraidh cúpla focal a úsáid nuair atá an seans acu i rith na seachtaine.  Rinne na scoláirí ón dara bhliain tráth na gceist ar an gCéadaoin agus bhuaigh roinnt scoláirí spot-duaiseanna freisin.  Beidh cúpla tráth na gceist eile againn an tseachtain seo chugainn mar aon le roinnt comórtais Seanfhocail, Filíochta agus Ealaíne srl. Gabhaimís buíochas le gach duine atá ag tabhairt cabhair dúinn Seachtain na Gaeilge a chéiliúradh sa scoil go háirithe an coiste ón Idirbhliain; Fearghal Walsh, Bill Irish, Orla Deevy, Finola Loughman agus Aoife Dunne.  

Beatha teanga í a labhairt! 

Show jumping

Two show jumping teams travelled to Boswell Equestrain Centre on 27th February. The Black Team: Orla Wall, Adam Connolly, Tom Doran and Cormac Kenny were very unlucky to finish on four faults and failed to qualify for the jump off. The Amber Team Aoife Oates, Shannon Maguire, Aisling Oates and Eleanor Kirwan finished on a clean sheet and went into the jump-off. Aoife had a clear round but Shannon just brushed off a pole and they finished on 4 faults.

They had a 5:30am start to be in Bagenalstown for the All Ireland Hunter Trials on the 13th March. Four Teams in total travelled on a lovely dry day for a 8am start to jumping. Team A: Aisling Oates, Shannon Maguire and Adam Connolly had an excellent round just knocking one of the knockable fences. Next out was Team B: John Hoynes, Cormac Kenny and Eleanor Kirwan were unfortunate to have a resusal . The remaining two teams went out very ambitiously but were unlucky out on the course. Team C: Niamh Hennessy, Tom Doran and Kate Kelly and Team D: Eoghan & Gerard Wallis and Lauren Elliott. Katie Foran did very well in the individual section on her first day representing the school. All riders came home safely and are looking forward to the next day out.

Profile: Cliodhna Gahan

Cliodhna Gahan, a 5th year music student in the Abbey, recently released a CD (to rave reviews) in aid of the Haiti tragedy. The CD was a collaborative effort with Paul Grant – local singer/songwriter and has two tracks: ‘Maybe’ (an original) and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’. Well done Cliodhna – let us hope this is the first of many recordings for you! Cliodhna will also be contesting in the Theatre Royal Variety Performance (25th-27th March) as she recently won the WLR ‘Show tunes’ Competition. I wish you the best of luck.

Choir Update

This year, the senior and junior choir have amalgamated and are currently engaged in rehearsing for upcoming in-school events. A lot of students have joined recently as new members and I am delighted to welcome them into the choir. The Choir is open to all students and currently takes place every Thursday lunch-time in the Music room under my baton (Mrs. Lapthorne).

Music Exams

Music students in 6th & 3rd year are busy preparing for their Music Examinations in April. The practical examinations are worth 50% at leaving certificate and 25% at junior certificate level. We wish them the very best of luck.

Music School

The Music School is now in its 7th year of operation. The Music School has had in excess of 400 students availing of instrumental tuition since it began operating in 2004. Many students have taken exams, performed successfully in competitions, set up bands and contributed to school performances as a result of the tuition they received in the Music School. We have been very lucky to have such a high level of tuition available from the Music School Teachers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the teachers involved in the Music School and a special word of appreciation for Colm Ryan who has been involved since the inauguration of the Music School. Colm has composed for in-school events and successfully guided students through music exams and performances. At present there are four teachers giving private lessons on guitar/bass, piano, drums and euphonium. The lessons are given during school hours on a rotation system. If you are interested in becoming part of this Music School in September 2011 please come and see me (Mrs. Lapthorne) before the end of school term. To all the students currently in the Music School I wish them every success and hope they will continue in the future.