As we are on the countdown to the Christmas holidays, we can look back at a great term in Ashton. One of the highlights was our annual Prize Day ceremony. This event gives the wider school community the opportunity to celebrate school life, academic success and sporting excellence.

This year’s ceremony included a musical performance by the Ashton School Choir, accompanied by Ashton’s music students, under the direction of Dr. Mary G. O’Brien. Reports of the academic year 2023/2024 were given by students Millie O’Mahony, Freya Fitzgerald, Patricia Gulca and Conor Langley, together with Head Students Zoe Fahy and Michael Turner. Sarah Chambers and David Hrihorov, two other Head Students, congratulated the award winners and gave sound advice to younger students on setting and meeting personal goals whether in school, sport or the arts.

The Rochelle Trophy, awarded for excellent results in the Junior Cycle Examinations, was presented jointly to Ruadh Stapleton and Kornél Bagi. The Des Deasy Memorial Trophy for Engineering was awarded to Callum Kirwan. The Cox Perpetual Trophy for European Languages was presented to Zach Coakley. Brian Puchalak received the Burke Trophy for Technical Subjects, while the Corn Mhic Uistin award for Irish language and culture went to Eamon Cronin. Nicola Sullivan was presented with both the Corn an Amhairginigh award for written Irish and the Shereen Gokul Memorial Trophy for Girl’s Hockey. James Taylor was awarded the Andrew Chambers Memorial Trophy for Boy’s Hockey. Laura Barry was presented with the Ashton School Players Award for her Contribution to the Performing Arts. The Citizenship Award for Senior Student of the Year was presented to Abigail Carlaw. Aurelius Weber-Shevchenko received the Citizenship Award for Junior Student of the Year.

Congratulations to these students and to all the other prize winners who received awards based on exam results and other significant academic achievements.

In other news, Third Year Geography students, accompanied by Mr. Casey, Mr. Hobbs and Ms. Murphy, recently went on a fieldtrip to West Cork. They explored coastal erosion at Inchydoney beach as well as learning about economic activity at the Clonakilty Pudding Factory. Ms. O’Meara’s Fifth Year Home Economics students and TY Food Safety and Hygiene students visited the Macroom Buffalo Farm. Students focused there on the processes around the production of dairy foods. Students thoroughly enjoyed their visits as well as food tasting at both establishments!

In hockey, our Senior Boys Hockey team recently took part in the All Ireland Schools Tournament in Dublin. While results didn’t go Ashton’s way, our young squad can be proud of their performances. In soccer, Leah O’Leary Callender represented Ashton and Munster in the 2024 FAI Schools Under 15 Girls’ Interprovincial series held in October. This tournament is the first step in the process of selecting the FAI Schools International Development Squad. A superb achievement. Well Done Leah!

Preparations for the TY musical, “Singin’ in the Rain”, are well underway. It will be staged in Ashton from January 14^th-16^th 2025. Tickets will shortly be on sale at the school office. It is advised to get tickets early as the show is certain to be a sell-out.

Finally, as we approach Christmas, we would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and all the best for 2025. Nollaig Shona Daoibh go léir!

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