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Ballyrafter Equestrian, Piano Competition Win, All-Ireland Final of Scór na nOg, Transition Year Law Day
8th February 2016
Orla Healy, Tara Fitzgerald and Saoirse Curran after the presentation in Ballyrafter
Ard Scoil na nDéise students Excel in Ballyrafter Equestrian Events.
This year’s Annual Ballyrafter Inter Secondary School Championship was held on Sunday, January 31st, 2016. The competition opened with the Novice teams, and it provided some fantastic showjumping entertainment for eager parents and supporters. Lydia Troy (Transition Year) jumped clear in both rounds, and Sarah Power (Transition Year) and Katie Hickey (First Year) were unlucky to have just one down from their rounds. This was a very close competition, with Ard Scoil na nDéise finishing in third place.
Up next was the Open team competition. There were great expectations, as the line up of talent representing the schools was fantastic. The competition was honoured with the presence of Captain Con Power, one of the showjumping all time greats. The jumping lived up to the expectations of the huge crowd, with all combinations going clear in the first round. This made history in Ballyrafter, as never before were there all Zeros going into the second round. This second round proved fatal for most of the combinations, but Ard Scoil na nDéise combinations completed their second round with no faults, which earned them a place in the jump-off. The team showed some guts and determination in the jump off, with all three riders having a go at achieving the fastest time, with an overall second place for their efforts. Well done and congratulations to all three riders, Tara Fitzgerald (5th yr), Saoirse Curran (1st yr) and Orla Healy (Transition yr).
Tara Fitzgerald, Saoirse Curran and Tara Healy, Ard Scoil na nDeise Open team who came 2nd in Ballyrafter
The final event was the individual championship, with all schools being well represented. Ard Scoil na nDéise was represented by the combination of Orla Healy and Ronan and Saoirse Curran and Aherlow Boy. The jumping was fantastic, with some very good combinations going through to the jump off. Saoirse Curran and Aherlow Boy put in a fantastic time of 34.20, and this proved too fast for the rest on this occasion, coming out for Ard Scoil na nDéise the individual Champion of the Inter Schools 2016 in Ballyrafter.
Congratulations to Orla Healy and Saoirse Curran who have been invited to celebrate their achievements in showjumping by the SJAI in the Tipperary/Waterford area, and a big “thank-you” to Ms Pickering who looks after the Ard Scoil na nDéise entrants and encourages them all to give of their best in school competitions.
Katie Hickey, Lydia Troy, Sarah Power, Ard Scoil na nDeise Novice team who came 3rd in Ballyrafter
Caitríona O’Brien wins again in prestigious piano competition in the Feis Maitiú
Congratulations to Caitríona O’Brien, Sixth Year student, who has won the Over 16 Confined Kilshanny Perpetual Trophy for piano in the Feis Maitiú in Cork yet again. Caitríona, who is currently sitting her Pre-Leaving Certificate exams, is a piano student of Maria Condon, and is taking Music as a Leaving Certificate subject in school with Ms Lucey. Caitríona has always been very generous with her time and talents in Ard Scoil na nDéise, playing at all school events during her years in school.
Dearbhla Ní hAllacháin a winner in the All-Ireland Final of Scór na nOg.
January 30th was a big day for the Sliabh gCua Scór na nOg team of Dearbhla Ní hAllacháin (2nd yr, Ard Scoil na nDéise), Séamus and Ellen O’Gorman, Joseph Mannion and Seán Walsh. This group represented Waterford and Munster in the All-Ireland Final of Scór na nOg, which took place before an audience of 1200 in the INEC in Killarney. The Sliabh gCua team, the first Waterford group ever to win the Munster final, was also the youngest team participating, and the standard was extremely high. There was huge excitement when the team was announced as the winner of the All-Ireland Final, and the celebrations afterwards were great. Well done to Dearbhla and all the team!
Transition Year Law Day
On Wednesday, the 3rd of February, the Transition Year class had a very interesting day. We were visited by barrister Clodagh Beresford. We learned all about civil law and why the law is there. We learned about the Constitution and the history of Irish law, such as the Brehon Law. Later we were visited by Garda Adrian Dunne, who explained to us what it is like to be a guard, and also the difference between civil law and criminal law. He talked to us about how the guards work, and he made it very interesting and enjoyable.
After that, we all took part in a mock court case. We were designated different roles in the courtroom, such as judge, solicitor and barrister. We even got to wear black gowns, like they do in court. The jury had a very difficult decision to make at the end of the day! The day was very beneficial, as it helped us to decide if law is something we would be interested in as a career. It was a tremendously interesting day and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone!
Denise Murray, Amy Reynolds (Transition Year)
Caitriona O'Brien, Feis Maitiu winner, photographed at
the Ard Scoil na nDeise music concert last November.
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