7 April 2017

Report on LCVP visit out

On 10 February 2017, Ms. Byrne’s L.C.V.P. class went on a visit out to St. Vincent de Paul’s local establishment, Ozanam House, to research a charity that our school has been donating to for a number of years. We, as a class, did a number of fundraising activities in the lead up to Christmas, where the whole school community donated money to our cause. In total, we raised just under €2,500 for St. Vincent de Paul from various fundraising activities.

We were greeted by Ben Doyle, area president, who gave us a tour of the premises and provided us with an in-depth insight to the background of St. Vincent de Paul as a national charity and as a charity local to Wexford. She told us that whatever money is raised in Wexford, stays in Wexford. She explained all about the running of charity. Everything donated to the charity is sorted out and whatever can be resold is brought to their local shop and the rest is recycled. Either way, all money received is used to help people in need. As it can be very hard for people to ask for help when they need it, we found out that St. Vincent de Paul is a totally confidential charity where people’s dignity is highly valued.

At Ozanam House, they have a men’s shelter which is a hostel catering for men in need. This facility really helps men get back on their feet. The house consists of thirty-five rooms that are always fully booked. There are a number of programs and help available to the men if they want it.

We also visited the furniture shop where their sale was taking place. We were amazed at the high quality goods on offer for such a low price. We learned all about their strict quality control procedures in order to ensure future success and maintain their good reputation when it comes to selling any second hand item in their store.

As a class, it was an eye-opening experience. We were totally overwhelmed by the amount of people that donate and the volumes and variety of products that get donated. We learned so much about the running of an invaluable organisation like St. Vincent de Paul.

Senior Football All-Ireland Blitz

 

Loreto Wexford took part in the second annual DCU 7-a side All Ireland Ladies Football competition on Wednesday last. Having taken part in last year’s camogie 7-a side and losing the final, Loreto tried their hand at the big ball this year. The competition consisted of 4th and 5th year players and Loreto’s two teams (evens and odds) who will be the bones of next year’s senior panel.

The goals only competition kicked off as both teams won their opening game. Anna Mulligan for the evens and Niamh Dunne for the odds contributed most of the scores as the Loreto ladies had comprehensive victories over Dominic’s (Dublin) and Maryfield (Dublin) respectively. The second group games saw Loreto’s evens suffer a heavy defeat to eventual finalists OLSS Castleblaney, this year’s beaten Ulster ‘A’ runners up. The Odds played St. Peter’s (not the Wexford school) and on a tightly contested game the odds came out on top, 14-3.

The odds went into their last game v Castleknock CC knowing victory would mean topping the Group going into the Cup semi- final and they duly obliged with a comprehensive 24-4 victory. The odds went into their final game v Mount Sackville in a “winner takes all” contest to play the other Loreto team. Unfortunately, Loreto evens were slow to start and were always chasing the game, eventually losing out 14-6. They went into the shield semi-final v Maryfield and were much too strong for the Dublin outfit, which set up a shield final v St. Dominic’s Ballyfermot. Despite a strong performance in the final, joint captains Niamh O’Connor and Eva Crean didn’t get to lift the shield as hopes of a Loreto double were over.

That left the odds as the last chance for silverware. The Cup semi-final saw them play Mount Sackville and revenge for knocking out their school team mates was inflicted as Loreto odds won 16-9 in what was a much closer game than the score suggests. Also, the panel of 11 players was reduced to 10 as a nasty gash following a clash of heads meant Annie O’Gorman’s participation was over for the day.

This set up a Loreto odds v OLSS Castleblaney final, two strong ‘A’ schools from Leinster and Ulster. The Ulster side were quickest out of the blocks and raced into a 3-0 lead. The 2 hours of football was looking like it was impacting on the Slaneysiders but, led by some phenomenal work from Ann-Maire Bennett, and goals from sister Rachel and Kilmore’s Emma Cousins (2) meant the Loreto girls came in level at half time, 4-4.

After a long day it all came down to the last 15 minutes in what was a pulsating final as the energy level reserves were found by both teams. The second half was end to end, with goals coming from Aisling Halligan and Emma Cousins (2 again) pushing Loreto into a slender lead coming into the closing stages, with the score now 7-6. Castleblaney weren’t ready to lose just yet and their impressive number six smashed a free into the net to level the scores 7-7, despite Loreto having 6 of their players lining the goal. However, Loreto and Emma Cousins weren’t finished either. Unbelievable work from the Wexford girls led by Clodagh Jackman, Niamh Dunne and Maura Molloy in the final moments meant possession was overturned and Cousins was put through for her 5th goal of the final. This was the team’s 108th goal of the tournament, and turned out to be the winner. The final whistle sparked big celebrations from both panels, showing how much the tournament meant for this group of players and they showed the competiveness that will hopefully lead this team to more success in 2017/18.

Loreto Odds:

Sally Walker (St. Johns Volunteers), Sadbh McCarthy (St.Ibars, capt.), Ann Marie Bennett (St. Annes), Rachel Bennett (St. Annes), Emma Codd (St. Martins, capt.), Aisling Halligan (Sarsfields), Emma Cousins (Kilmore), Clodagh Jackman (Glynn/Barntown), Maura Molloy (Blackwater), Annie O Gorman (Taghmon/Camross), Niamh Dunne (St. Martins).

Loreto Evens:

Sadhbh Cullinane (St. Johns Volunteers), Eleanor Lacey (St. Ibars), Zara Power (Adamstown), Kelly McGuinness (Glynn Barntown), Cathríona Roche (Blackwater), Anna Hennessey (St. Martins), Eva Crean (Glynn Barntown, capt), Eve Hession (St. Johns Volunteers), Caitlin Carroll (St. Ibars), Rebecca Banville (Taghmon Camross), Niamh O’Connor (Buffers Alley, capt.), Anna Mulligan (St. Martins).
Showjumping Success

 

Congratulations to Clodagh Jackman who came 10th in the All Ireland  Senior Interschools Hunter Trials Championships 2017 in Bagnelstown on Saturday, 25 March 2017.  Clodagh was riding her pony Imperial Imp. She has also qualified for the All Ireland Interschools Premier 110 Showjumping finals in Mullingar on 8 April 2017.  Well done, Clodagh.

School Tour

95 Transition Year students and 9 teachers head off this Saturday on a 4 day school tour to Italy, visiting Milan, Verona, Venice and Lake Garda. The school wishes the group well and is very grateful, in particular, to the organising teachers.

Easter holidays

The school closes for the Easter holidays this evening and will re-open on Monday, 24 April.

We wish all members of the school community a happy and restful Easter.