May 30^th 2006

Formula 1 in Schools - Irish Champions!!

May 10^th 2006

University Recipients

Two Fifth Year students, Pat Noonan and Brian Fox, have been chosen by U.C.C. to attend their "Summer Academy" course for a week in June. Schools were invited to nominate students who would benefit from and contribute to the success of such a programme. Pat Noonan’s nomination was based on his interest in Political and Current Affairs and his All Ireland achievement in Public Speaking; Brian’s nomination was based on his Sporting Prowess, along with his success in Public Speaking. We wish Pat and Brian the best of luck in University College Cork where they will participate with the select few students from other schools throughout Ireland. 

Irish Soccer International

Congratulations to third year student Daniel Fowler, who has been selected by the F.A.I. for the Irish Under Fifteen Soccer Panel. Daniel will travel with the Irish Squad to Tenerife next weekend where they are due to play Spain and the Canaries . The following Thursday night, they play Turkey at home in Whitehall, Dublin. All the students and staff at St. Ailbe’s would like to wish Daniel the best of luck in these forthcoming Internationals. 

Air Corps Pilot

Congratulations to former St. Ailbe’s student Michael Noonan who recently received his ‘Wings’ at the Army Cadet School in Baldonnell.  

Enterprise Success

Well done to Graham Quirke, Eddie Ryan, Kevin Fox, Eoin Kennedy and Willie O’Neill, all of fourth year, who travelled to Wales ( 3rd-5th May) as part of their prize for their success in the County Enterprise Finals last March. The product, designed and manufactured by the boys themselves, was a Candle Holder consisting of steel rings and very suitably entitled ‘Ring of Fire’.  

Photography Competition

Five students from St. Ailbe’s, Alan Collins, Gary O’Connell, Ciara Ryan, Donna Breen and Jean McGrath, are currently entered into a local Photography competition under the guidance of Art Teacher Ms. Lewis. No final results are known of yet but word has seeped through that the students have been nominated for several prizes.  

Academic/ Sports Awards

Finally, the Annual Academic and Sports Awards Ceremony will take place next Tuesday evening at 7:30pm in the Study Hall. A full report on the proceedings will be available next week.    

March 8^th 2006

Tipperary Vocational Schools must face Cork again

With seven minutes of this Munster Vocational Schools Senior ‘A’ Football Final remaining and leading by four points, Tipperary looked as if they were about to win the title for the first time. But Cork, with their excellent history in this competition, fought back superbly, scoring two goals in the closing minutes of a highly competitive and entertaining match.

Tipperary, winners of the Munster and All Ireland ‘B’ titles and victors over Kerry in the Munster ‘A’ Semi Final, were set back by the opening Cork onslaught, when quick points by Ronan McCarthy and Shane Dromey shot the ‘Rebel County’ into a two point lead. But this was the only time that Cork seemed to have the upper hand, as Tipperary eventually got into their stride. Scores from the excellent Damian McCormack and Daryl Darcy were added to by Tipperary’s scorer in chief, Paul Stone.

With David Buckley, Simon Kelly and Brian Fox dominating in the backs and Sean Fitzgerald and Paddy Codd getting through Trojan work at midfield, one could sense that this Tipperary side were not just to make up the numbers.

The half time lead of one point, 1:3 to 0:5, did little justice to the amount of Tipperary possession in that period. But they soon made amends and stretched their lead to five points with a cracking goal from corner forward Damian McCormack and further scores from Dwayne Burns and the elusive Stone.

It was at this stage that Tipp seemed to relax and there are few Counties better than Cork to take advantage of such casualness in their opponents. Two goals in the space of three minutes from Nicky Flanagan and Dave Scannell rocked Tipperary and now it became the turn of the Premier County to show their mettle. This they duly did and in doing so displayed tremendous self belief and pride.

Extra Time went accordingly, with both sides giving everything. Two further points apiece saw the exhausted teams happy they had survived to resume their battle, probably next Thursday 16^th or Friday 17^th March in Pairc Ui Rinn.

Tipperary: D. McCormack 2-1; P. Stone 0-7 (0-4 frees); D. Burns 0-2: D. Darcy 0-1.

 Tipperary: G. Harding, D. Buckley, A. Byrne, C. Dooley, B. Fox, S. Kelly, J. Fletcher, S. Fitzgerald, P. Codd, M. Hogan, K. McMahon, D. Burns, P. Stone, D. Darcy, D. McCormack. Subs: N. Lowry for Hogan: C. Grant for Darcy: C. Kirby for Fletcher.

February 22^nd 2006

St. Ailbe’s Scoops BT Young Scientist Award

For the second year in a row students from St. Ailbe’s Vocational School in Tipperary Town received a coveted ‘Highly Commended’ award at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition. The exhibition was held from 11^th to 14^th of January in the RDS in Dublin. This year eight students from the school displayed three group projects. This in itself was a huge achievement as there were 1152 projects submitted for the qualifying round in October of which only 500 projects were selected to go forward to the exhibition.  

Kayleigh Ryan, Mary McDonnell and Suzanne Murphy, 6^th year students, received the award for their project entitled ‘The Effect of Personal Constructs on Social Interaction in Adolescence’. The girls surveyed 60 adolescents to find out how their ideas and conceptions of people in their lives influenced how they interact with strangers. Shana Grogan and Lucy Doyle, both 4^th year students, presented a project called ‘Putting Muscles on Ribs – The Effect of Common Ions on Hair strength’. They were able to deduce that of the ions, copper, fluoride and magnesium only the copper had an effect on the strength of hair. The longer the hair was exposed to water containing copper then the weaker the hair became. Ciara Farrell, Bláthnaid Watters and Catherine Kelly, also 4^th year students, investigated ‘The Electrooxidation of Alcohols in The Hoffmann Voltammeter’. Using a simple electrolysis cell the girls converted an alcohol into propanone, which is used as nail varnish remover. The girls were fortunate to be able to use the facilities in the Department of Environmental Science at the University to perform crucial experiments. This was kindly arranged by Dr. Tom O’Dwyer at UL. 

The students stayed in the Grand Canal Hotel near the RDS for the duration of the exhibition. Pall Ireland on Rosanna Road generously co-sponsored the accommodation costs with St. Ailbe’s and Mr. Paul O’Callaghan, Principal at St. Ailbe’s said that Pall has been sponsoring science related events in the School for many years and their assistance is always appreciated. The girls had a fantastic time at the event and really enjoyed the discos and karaoke, which were organized by BT and held in the BT arena in the evening. The students enjoyed the many attractions at the event including ‘The Theatre of Science’ and the ‘Eating Creepy Crawlies’ exhibit. They met many celebrities including Ray Darcy and indeed the Minister for Education and Science Ms. Mary Hanafin stopped to chat to the girls at their stands. A bus carrying 50 students traveled to the RDS on Friday 13^th to support the St. Ailbe’s students.

St. Ailbe’s has developed a strong tradition of successful participation in the Young Scientist competition and following this year’s event  Kieran O’Dwyer and Valerie Lewis, teachers at the school who coordinate student involvement in the event, have been inundated with project proposals from enthusiastic students hoping to take part in next year’s competition. Staff and students at St. Ailbe’s congratulate the eight students on their fine achievement and for acting as fine ambassadors for the school at this very prestigious exhibition. 

Tipperary Voc. Schools Team 
 that defeated 
         Kerry in the Munster 'A' Senior Football Semi Final in Rathkeale
last week.

January 19^th 2006

Congratulations to all the students from St. Ailbe's who participated in this year's BT Young scientist Competition last week. Once again, St. Ailbe's were the recipients of a 'Special Commendation' award. There will be a further report on the winning team of Kayleigh Ryan, Mary McDonnell and Suzanne Murphy in next week's Nationalist.

Work continues on this year's School Musical. The fourth years are applying themselves extremely well with the Directors and the dates for the evening performances and matinees are to be announced shortly.

Following their success in the All Ireland 'B' competition prior to Christmas, the Vocational School footballers are due to play Kerry in the Munster 'A' Semi Final in early February. Best of luck to all concerned.

The under sixteen Soccer Team have been drawn against Douglas C.C. in the F.A.I.S. Junior Cup. Having already qualified from their group with victories over Cashel C.S. and Colaiste Cluain Meala, hopes are high for advancement in this prestigious competition.

Best of luck to the St. Ailbe's Ladies Basketball Team who play their Regional Final this week in Waterford. The girls have prepared diligently and are hopeful of a result. A match report will be available next week.

The annual 'Build a Bank' competition got underway in St. Ailbe's recently. Interviews were held by the local A.I.B. personnel and the following students were appointed - Manager, Eoin Kennedy; Assistant Manager, Kevin Fox; Tellers, Eddie Ryan and Ciara Farrell; Marketing Manager, Amy Flynn; Auditor, Catherine Kelly. Last Year the School advanced to the finals of this competition and hopes are high that they can go one step further this year.

December 6^th 2005

St. Ailbe's reach Munster Senior Semis
St. Ailbe's are through to the Munster Senior Football Vocational Schools' Semi Final by virtue of a hard earned win over a well organised Abbeyfeale side at Bruree last Tuesday. Trailing by nine  points with a little over a quarter of the game remaining, it looked as if the Tipperary Town school were exiting this competition at the quarter final stage. But with wins over Ennistymon, Askeaton and Scoil Ruain, Killenaule in the earlier rounds, this side once again displayed tremendous courage and pride by hauling back the large deficit and just edging in front before the final whistle. Goals from Stephen Quinn, Eoin Kennedy and Wayne Barry and some well executed points from Ned Lowry, Raymond Roche, Graham Quirke and Kevin Fox ensured St. Ailbe's had qualified for the penultimate stages in Munster. With six of the St Ailbe's staring on the County Vocational Schools' Team recently, hopes are high for the next test against either the champions of Cork or Kerry.

Apart from the above mentioned, St. Ailbe's were well served on the day by Kieran Ryan, Pat Noonan, Christopher Kirby, Darren McCarthy, Karl Greaney, Cian O'Raghallaigh, Christopher Doyle, James Ryan, Richard Childs and Brian Fox.

November 28^th 2005

St Ailbe’s enjoy good win in Munster Senior Cup
On Thursday 24^th November St Ailbe’s U-18 rugby team took to the field in the second round of the Munster Senior Cup against Waterpark College from Waterford.

Although Waterpark College would have been considered the more traditional rugby school St Ailbe’s were well deserved for their 24-17 win.

St Ailbe’s started brightly with tries from Pat Noonan and Christopher Doyle leaving the score at 10-0 to Ailbe’s before a lapse in concentration and poor tackling allowed Waterpark in for a try between the posts. This was a wake up call to St Ailbe’s and some brilliant ball carrying by brothers Kevin and Brian Fox led to Waterpark conceding a penalty 5m from their own line. Captain Sean O Connor took the ball into a maul from the penalty and his brother Adrian was on hand to peel the ball and Blast over the line for a try which was converted by Richard Childs leaving the score at 17-5 at half time.

In the Second half St Ailbe’s had a very stiff wind blowing into their faces and Waterpark rallied to give a much better performance but St Ailbe’s scored the first try through Pat Noonan which was converted by Richard Childs. From here on in Ailbe’s absorbed huge pressure in defence with Waterpark using their considerable size advantage in their pack to get back into the game bringing the score up to 24-17 with 2 minutes to go. Matthew Ralph pulled off what was surely a match saving tackle on the Waterpark number 8 and Mark Greene who had put his body on the line with brilliant defending throughout the game was on hand to kick the ball into touch leaving St Ailbe’s worthy winners at 24-17.

Coaches Johnny Lonergan and Michael Doyle also had much praise for the performances of Eddie Ryan, Edmond Peters and Wayne Barry. St Ailbe’s now advance to the quarter finals of the Mungret Cup where they will face Middleton College.

November 3^rd 2005

On the weekend of 21^st to 24^th October the St Ailbe’s rugby squad travelled to Glasgow on our first ever rugby tour out of Ireland.

On Saturday 22^nd we played a club side from Helensburgh  RFC just outside Glasgow. The Helensburgh side were a high quality team containg 5 Glasgow Districts representative players and also 5 more County players. St Ailbe’s were resplendent in their new kit and took to the task of playing high quality rugby straight from the kick off. The match was played at a very high tempo with St Ailbe’s taking the lead early and never losing it throughout the game. St Ailbe’s ran out 39-10 victors with tries from Captain Kevin Fox, Willie O Neill, Willie Barry, Pat Noonan, Raymond Roche and Brian Fox. Richard Childs scored 2 conversions and one penalty with Pat Noonan also scoring a conversion. St Ailbe’s coach Johnny Lonergan also made special mention of the performances of man of the match Willie Barry and also Eoin Kennedy who dominated the lineouts despite this being his first time being lifted.

The boys also had many other activities in a very busy weekend including a visit to Celtic Park and the Glasgow Science Centre amongst others. Arriving safely and tired back in Shannon on the Monday afternoon the only question on the boy’s lips was “where are we going next year”?

October 20^th 2005

Pride of place this week goes to fourth year student, Catherine Kelly, who became an All-Ireland Schools’ Equestrian Champion last week. Catherine, along with Seamus Crowe (third year) and Holly West (second year), competed in the Senior Individual Jump/Cross event held at Ballyhyland Equestrian Centre, Portlaoise. When her moment arrived, the St. Ailbe’s all-rounder produced a faultless display to secure a victory that will live long in her memory. Congratulations Catherine. Many thanks to the teachers involved, Ms. Lewis and Ms. Landers, for giving up their weekend to support our students at the event.

With the proposals for the forthcoming Esat Young Scientist Competition due, St. Ailbe’s refurbished science labs were a hive of activity with students putting the finishing touches to their entries. St. Ailbe’s has developed a proud tradition of competing strongly in this annual science challenge and we wish the students involved every success.

The Rugby trip to Scotland took place last weekend. A more detailed report will appear in next week’s news.

Well done to the Senior Footballers who have qualified for the Munster Football Quarter Final. Following a hard earned victory in the second round over Askeaton Community College, St. Ailbe’s have been drawn against last year’s Munster Junior winners, Scoil Ruain, Killenaule. With playes of the calibre of Brian Fox, Ned Lowry, Graham Quirke, Eoin Kennedy, Christopher Kirby, Wayne Barry and Christopher Doyle, St. Ailbe’s have a very promising team for the next two years but are well aware of the difficulty they will face in overcoming Killenaule.

The Ladies’ Football team played out a thrilling draw with the Ursuline Convent, Thurles recently. Played in wet and windy conditions, St. Ailbe’s, led by Stephanie Walsh up front, came from six points behind to draw level minutes before the final whistle. Well done to all concerned. Training continues twice a week and all are welcome.

The Ladies’ soccer team had a good run out against a very skillful Cashel Community School last Thursday. At the end of a very entertaining match, Cashel ran out narrow winners despite St. Ailbe’s hitting the post twice and missing a penalty. Best for Ailbe’s were Stephanie Walsh, Ciara Ryan, Martha Roche and Keisha Hannon.

Seven students from St. Ailbe’s took part in a debating workshop in Clonmel Highschool last Thursday. Organised by the University College Cork Philosophical Society, it was designed to aid students in their preparation and performance for forthcoming debates. Hopefully, we can see a repeat of last year’s success when the school competed in the Euopean Youth Parliament finals in Dublin Castle.

September 26^th 2005

Congratulations to all our students who performed so well in the Junior Certificate exams. Smiling faces were very much in evidence on results day, as little brown envelopes revealed grades of the highest standard. Well done to all concerned.

Fifth year students underwent a day-long study-skills course last week to help them focus their minds for the forthcoming Leaving Certificate. Students, many of whom having completed a very successful fourth year, found the course to be of great benefit in structuring their time for evening study and study time at home.

Training continues for all upcoming competitions each day at lunchtime and after school. The senior footballers played a very exciting challenge last Friday against Killenaule and continue their preparation with another challenge this week. The senior and junior hurlers both have Munster championship matches in the forthcoming weeks and are preparing diligently under the guidance of Mr. Kelly.

The first year soccer team line out in a blitz in the crescent on Wednesday. With a lot of talent on view at training, expectations are high of a good performance. There will be more detail on this in next week’s report.

September 20^th 2005