11 November 2022

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award – success for Sinead O’ Reilly

The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is the largest and most prestigious award for young poets aged 11–17 writing original works in English. It is run by The Poetry Society, with the generous support of the Foyle Foundation. The competition is free to enter, and poems can be on any theme, and of any length. Winners are published in an anthology, and benefit from a range of professional development opportunities offered by The Poetry Society.

Over the midterm break, the school received the tremendous news that 6th year student Sinead O’ Reilly was selected in the Top 15 winners. Her success is even more impressive when you consider the volume of applicants – over 6,000 entries with 100 countries represented. Sinead is the only Irish representative. At an awards ceremony in The National Theatre, London, Sinead was recognised as one of the leading poets in the competition. Sinead, who had previously been commended for her work in 2019 and 2020, has been honoured many times for her poetry in various competitions.

Photography by Hayley Madden

The Party

After Jack Underwood

In the room full of people, I want to be the sort of person you’d turn to If you entered the room blindfolded.

Or at least the one who wears shyness like a handwritten invite.

I’d like to have her laugh which erupts like a broken hose fixing at the wrong time,

Or his shoulders which people love to lay their head on.

While my skin is sunburnt sea yours is ice-cubes in grape juice,

and I try to think of something to say but my gut twinges like a dampened string when you walk over,

and sometimes I want to curl my knees to my chest and crawl inside a guitar so I don’t say anything stupid.

Sr. Carmel Swords elected as IBVM Institute Leader

The school was delighted to hear that our former teacher and Deputy Principal, Sr. Carmel Swords, has been elected as Institute Leader for the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), more commonly known as the Loreto Sisters. Sr. Carmel retired from Loreto, Wexford in 2016. She is fondly remembered by many past pupils and has returned to Loreto on numerous occasions since. We wish her every blessing in her new role.

Bullying Awareness Week

This week, 7 – 11 November, marks Bullying Awareness Week. The theme of the week is ‘One Kind Word’. There will be a number of initiatives along this theme:

  • Shout Out Week- students will write a ‘shout out’ praising another student by using a post it
  • Poster Competition
  • 2ndand 3rd years will start the DCU Fuse Anti- Bullying programme which will make them more aware of what bullying is
  • Peer to peer talks
  • Odd Socks Day on Friday, 11 November
  • Meitheal and Cara leaders will continue to check-in with their assigned students

Brief Updates

  • A letter to families has been posted online. It is available to view here
  • The cardiac screening service will return on Tuesday, 15 November to screen those who had their appointments cancelled before midterm
  • The Parents’ Council continue to meet each month. Reports on recent meetings can be found here

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