Scoil Aireagail Transition Year 2009/2010
Sport
Hurling
In Senior hurling competition, transition years Peter Kenneally and Richie Phelan played a major role in the team’s success this season. Congratulations to Peter, who was also a member of the Kilkenny Vocational Schools Hurling panel that reached the All-Ireland final, losing out to Tipperary.
The U16 hurling panel have also had a great year under Mr. Walsh, reaching the Leinster final against Wicklow Schools, losing by just 2 points. The panel included transition years William Moylan, Richie Phelan, and Peter Kenneally.
Soccer
In soccer, the Senior Boys panel lost 2-0 to Tullow in the Carlow-Kilkenny League, Division 1 final. This was a great first season in the top division for the lads, and some of our transition years were important members of the panel. These were goalkeeper Ian Frisby, who had an outstanding season, Jonathan Murray and Emmet Frisby.
In Under-16 soccer, the panel have, at time of writing, qualified for the semi-finals of the Carlow-Kilkenny League, Division 2. A number of transition years make up the backbone of this team, including Richie Phelan (captain), Stephen Farrell, Peter Kenneally, and Eoin Doyle.
Many transition years will go on the annual soccer trip to England to see a Premiership soccer match. This year we are heading over to see Wigan take on Arsenal in the middle of April. As usual, this is expected to be a very enjoyable trip, and hopefully the match will live up to expectations.
Camogie
In Junior camogie, the girls did fantastically well to win all their matches and reached the Leinster final where they lost out to Grennan College, Thomastown at the Dicksboro venue in Palmerstown. Well done to transition year students Aisling Shanahan and Marie Murphy who were members of the panel.
Chess
Transition year student Adam Moore was a key member of last year’s chess team from Scoil Aireagail who finished second in the Leinster Schools’ Chess Championships in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, which qualified them for the All-Irelands in Limerick. This year’s competition takes place in the Bridge Hotel, Tullamore on April 14th. Best of luck to Adam and all the other chess players attending.
Drama
Mick
Congratulations to the transition year class who participated in the All-Ireland Transition Year Drama Festival in Macroom, Co. Cork on the 27th of February. After a successful quarter-final performance, they were put forward to the final, where they had an enjoyable day out without success.
The play they performed was ‘Mick,’ written and directed by Tom Hunt, former principal of Scoil Aireagail. It is a true story, based on a young man aged 17. The play expresses the struggles and hardship this man had to deal with throughout his life.
They also performed in competition at Holycross, Co. Tipperary, where transition year student Eric Phelan was named best actor. Well done Eric and to all concerned.
Charity work
Haiti
Our transition years helped to raise a lot of money for the Haiti appeal during the year. They came up with fundraising events like a cake sale, sponsored walk, non uniform day, and loose change collection.
Chernobyl
They have also been working hard collecting foodstuffs and other essential items as part of our annual drive for Chernobyl, where people continue to suffer the effects of the nuclear disaster which occurred there in the 1980s.
The Jack & Jill Foundation
For this charity, our transition year students have been trying to collect 300 phones, old or broken, to raise money so that children with brain damage who suffer severe intellectual and physical developmental delay can have home respite care.
Well done to all our transition years who have voluntarily contributed so much to these worthy causes throughout the year.
Gaisce
The transition years have also taken part in the Gaisce President’s award this year. This involves completing a personal challenge, set by the individual, with the support of the President’s award leader.
Personal challenges set by some of the students included learning to play the guitar and tin whistle, helping out with coaching some of the local underage G.A.A teams, and improving their computer skills.
Log On, Learn – Teaching Older People Computer Skills
Transition year students were involved in offering free one-to-one computer classes for adults from 4:05 to 5:05 pm every Thursday during the school year. This proved to be a great success, so well done to all who gave up their time and volunteered.
Seachtain na Gaeilge
To help celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge, students from Scoil Aireagail went to St. Patrick’s De La Salle Primary School in Kilkenny and played traditional Irish music for the students. They played for four different groups on the day and at the end of the session they had a ceili. The group also visited St. Columba’s Hospital in Thomastown and played music for the patients there. All concerned had a great time so well done to all who volunteered.
Outdoor pursuit
On the 10th March the transition year students enjoyed a day of outdoor pursuit as they climbed Mount Brandon near Graignamanagh. They had lunch at the top, surrounded by spectacular views of the nearby countryside, before visiting the town of Graignamanagh later in the day. A very pleasant day was had by all.
Sean Kelly Centre
After the Christmas break, the transition years attended the Sean Kelly Centre in Carrick on Suir for ten weeks. During this time the group completed various action plans in the gym and many different activites in the pool, as well as a water safety course.
