Gaisce Outdoor Pursuits, Lucy Holmes in Scotland, Best wishes to Exam Students, Paintings

11th April, 2016

Niamh Lenane, 5th yr, recipient of the Waterford City and County Council Arts Office Prize at the Artifice Art Exhibition in Lismore, photographed with her Art teacher Mrs Mary Foley.	Allanah Carey, Transition Year, photographed with her painting at the Artifice Art Exhibition.

Gaisce Outdoor Pursuits

On Monday the 14th of March, the Transition Year students headed away on the long awaited Gaisce trip. It was meant to be one of the highlights of Fourth Year and so we were all excited as we headed off. We were staying at a youth hostel in the Wicklow Mountains. We arrived in the afternoon and had to walk up a hill to the hostel. We soon realised there is quite a difference between hotel and hostel as we stepped into our small rooms with six plus beds crammed in.  Not to mention sharing the bathrooms with girls from six other rooms! However we got over ourselves fairly quickly as we were faced with the task of dressing our own beds. Here the lack of basic housekeeping skills became embarrassingly obvious.

We went out to complete a 10k hike just as it was beginning to get dark. With headlights at the ready we headed off on what turned out to be an enjoyable walk that didn't take all of our energy and will to go on!

The next day was quite a different story. We had a 25k hike to complete! Was it as hard as we expected? Yes. Were we full of aches, pains and blisters? Absolutely, yes. But was it worth it? Looking back, yes it was.  It was an experience not to be forgotten. It all started fine but as the day went on so did the height of the mountain. When we were shown the peak of the mountain that we were aiming for we were sure our tour guide was joking. But surprise, surprise a couple of hours later we were at the top looking down. The way down wasn't half as bad, although it was a repeat of the journey up. What is it they say, “It's all in your mind”.  We were very surprised to be told we were actually a very good group and finished the hike in a very good time. Going on the whining we did you would find this hard to believe! 

On Wednesday we all packed up and we did some not so tiring activities, archery and climbing walls. We were all exhausted coming home, but also had made memories for life. 

Eileen Fitzgerald, Transition Year

Lucy Holmes, 2nd yr, member of the Irish Junior Girls Cross Country team, photographed in Scotland with Mary Ashe, Vice President of the Irish Schools Athletics Association.	Jeanne Harrington, 3rd yr, Junior winner in the Ard Scoil's Got Talent competition.	Mrs Anne Fogarty, Chairperson of Parents' Council, presents Sophie Hodnett, 1st yr, with two tickets for the Rihanna concert, first prize in the Ard Scoil Fun Run draw.

Lucy Holmes on the Irish Cross Country team in Scotland

Having been placed 5th in the Junior Girls All Ireland Cross Country Championships Lucy Holmes, 2nd yr, qualified for the Irish Girls’ team competing in Scotland before Easter.  The standard was very high, but Lucy held her ranking within the Irish team of eight girls, and it was a great experience for her. Well done, Lucy!

Sarah Walsh, 5th Year, photographed with her painting at the Artifice Art exhibition.	Eve Keating, Transition Year, photographed with her painting at the Artifice Art Exhibition.

Best wishes to Junior and Leaving Certificate students

From Monday, April 11th to Friday, April 22nd the Junior and Leaving Certificate students have Oral and Practical sections of their state examinations.  We wish them all the best of luck.

Niamh Lenane, 5th Year, winner of the Waterford City and County Council Arts Office Prize 2016, photographed at the presentation ceremony. On the left is Mrs Mary Foley, Niamh's Art teacher.	6th yr students in disguise, competing in the Ard Scoil's Got Talent competition.

Molly Canning, Transition Year, photographed
with her painting in the Artifice Art Exhibition

home | about us | academics/services | policies | extracurricular | news | calendar | contact

Ard Scoil na nDéise
Convent Road, Dungarvan
County Waterford, Ireland
Tel: (058) 41464
Fax: (058) 44801
E-mail: [email protected]