Ashton Digest May 2016

Proclamation Day was celebrated with grace and dignity.  Students, staff and invited guests paid respectful and dignified attention to most interesting and informative presentations, co-ordinated by Mrs. Carmel Murphy, Maths Department. She informed every one of the historical background and context of Ireland’s history over the centuries up to 1916. Presentations were made by Muireann O’Callaghan and Alannah Bertwistle on their direct family connections to the events of 1916.  Dr. Alicia St. Leger related what it was like at Cork Grammar School during 1916, simultaneous with World War 1 atrocities in Europe. Head Girl Ali Lynch and Head Boy Stephen Jermyn read the original Proclamation.   This was followed by Meg Lynch, Senior Cycle, reading the ‘Proclamation for the Future’, which she wrote herself. Third Year students, Lily Thornhill and Ian McCutcheon read an Irish ‘Guí’, accompanied on the feadóg mór by Seán ó Riordáin, which Ms. Creedon compiled.

Student Council representatives Katherine Roynane and Nathan Whiting presented the history of the Tricolour, which has proved most interesting for the student cohort, followed by Eoin Meikle 6th year, playing the evocative ‘Mise Éire’ on the French horn.  Ceremonies concluded with the raising of the national flag by Robert Neff, Katy May O’Sullivan, Sarah Jere, Stephen Jermyn, accompanied by 1^st year student Eric Ryskulov on the saxophone, playing the ‘Last Post’, supported by the Ashton School Choir, led by Ms. Mary O’Brien, and Mr. Peter Stobart, Choirmaster St. Finbarr’s Cathedral.     It was a beautifully choreographed ceremony, during which, we remembered those who participated in so many ways, reflected on the impact of Irish history, and re-imagined the Ireland of the future, completed with poise, dignity, and élan.

Practical and oral examinations are ongoing at present, and we wish all students the best of luck.

Students in Mr. Geaney’s Spanish class have once again achieved major success, being awarded second prize in the Post Primary School’s Language Initiative.  5^th Year students had to promote the Castilla Y Léon region in Spain, with a three minute video which was compiled by Cian Murphy and Reece O’Reilly Butler, done with great skill and ingenuity, much to the delight of their teacher, Mr. Geaney.  They will now travel to Salamanca in Spain in the summer and study Spanish for one week at a language school as part of their prize.  Hearty congratulations to all involved.

Ashton U14 school soccer team returned victors from their Easter participation in the Blackpool Challenge Cup. Ashton played teams from Scotland, Ireland, and England, captained by Aleksa Nicin, they beat Bonnybridge AFC, Scotland, 5-0 in the final.  Coaches Ian Cunningham, Aidan Buckley, Steve Bermingham and Dean Lynch, were thrilled with the win, and congratulated the students on their exemplary skills and obvious potential for the future.

The Minor Boys hockey team came 4^th in Ireland in the John Waring Cup, which was played in Belfast, after several games of skilful hockey, and lots of hard work in preparation.  This comes on the back of the same team winning the Munster Minor Cup against Midleton College 2-1, in a thrilling performance of hockey.

1^st year Girls hockey team, won the Munster Division 3 in a hockey blitz recently, beating six other South Munster schools, with superb displays of hockey, hosted by Ashton.

The Senior A Girls beat St. Angela’s 2-0 in the Plate Semi-Final, as we look forward to many more exciting games in the future from these dedicated young women and men.  Well done to all.