Ashton School.

As the warmer temperatures of Spring, and the sunnier days of March beckon, we take pleasure in the beauty of Nature and all that it bestows upon us, for which we are grateful.

School life proceeds at speed in any regular academic year, and this year is no exception. Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate students sat their ‘Mock examinations’ at the end of February, and were glad of the experience this gave them, as they look ahead to state examinations in June, in which we wish them luck in all their preparations.

Transition Year students have been very busy attending Forensic workshops, doing historical and Cultural walks around the city in French and Art classes as part of the completion of curricular modules of learning. In the Forensic Fun Workshop, students considered how to solve the JFK assassination, and the world’s largest diamond heist, each of which they found extremely challenging, yet great fun. They also had the experiential learning dimension of having finger-prints done, learning about autopsy theory, photographic analysis, alarm technology and DNA. What an exciting workshop!

All TY students are eagerly looking forward to, and planning ahead, for the Sponsored Cycle which will be held in aid of Focus Ireland on April 8^th, 2022 on the Greenway in Dungarvan. It is a whole Year event, and has proven to be one of the highlights of the TY year for students over recent years. We wish them lots of luck as they prepare for this worthy event, and let’s hope the sun shines on the day, and they really enjoy the cycle. Co-Ordinated by Mr. Carey.

Ms. Una Montague, daughter of famed literary Irish poet John Montague, recently visited Ashton school to present the school with a portrait of the Poet Laureate. It was indeed an honour and privilege to meet her, and for the school to be the recipients of such unique and rich artistic heritage, commissioned by former President of UCC, Professor Gerry Wrixon.

John Montague lectured in English Poetry through the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s in the Department of English in UCC. Many of the teaching staff of Ashton over the years, would have been inspired by his teaching and his deep insights and keen interest in the work of Samuel Beckett. John Montague’s lectures were always a pleasure to attend, delivered in a convivial, relaxed fashion, imbuing his students with a love of the written word in it’s various forms, focusing specifically on Poetry. His prolific poetry writing was of the stature, that it is consistently on the English Leaving Certificate Curriculum, and is keenly appreciated by students, for its striking imagery, and aesthetic language. While the literary world, especially that in Cork, is much diminished for his departure from this world to his eternal resting place, his influence on the Arts, in particularly Poetry, still lives on in his memory, and those of us lucky enough to have met him.

In Hockey: At present the Boys Hockey Teams have started the preparations and training for their participation in the Cup Challenge games. Inclement weather, or not, training goes ahead, match dates are fulfilled, such is the commitment of both players and coaches. Likewise, the Girls Hockey Teams have been putting in consistent training on some terribly wintery evenings, showing their true grit, determination and love of the game. Players and coaches deserve enormous appreciation. They are also presently participating in challenge games, as they prepare for the upcoming Hockey season. We wish them all luck in all they do

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