Medal Presentation

The School held its GAA Medal presentation function on Tuesday night last  for the victorious teams of the 2010 to 2011 school year . Presentations were also made to students who were members of victorious Inter-County teams over the past twelve months. Guest of honour was recent past-pupil and Captain of the victorious Tipperary Minor football team, Liam Mc Grath .

Welcoming the guests, Acting Principal Mr Butler, congratulated all the medal winners and their families. He paid special tribute to staff members who prepare teams every year in spite of the increasing demands being placed on their time and in spite of the  growing number ofchallenges involved in running a successful games programme in the school.

Mid Board Chairman, Mr Mattie Ryan congratulated the school on its recent successful Whole School Evaluation and praised all those involved in games in the school.  Referring to Drom and Inch’s recent County Final victory, Mr Ryan said   it shows that if, in the face of failure, you continue to persevere, success will come at last.

Mr John Costigan  spoke of the long tradition of games in the school and made a link between the success of various school teams and  success for Tipperary inter-county teams - the most recent example being  Our Lady’s victory in the Mc Gabhann  Cup in 2011 and the central involvement of  four members of that team in Tipperary’s victory in the Minor All Ireland.

Mr. Hugh Coughlan in his speech recaptured vividly  the drama and magic of the Tipperary Minor victory and especially the victory over Kerry in the Munster Final.

Medals were presented to the Mc Gabhann Cup,  Munster Senior Football champions; the  Kinane Cup, U16 ½   Munster B hurling champions;  the  Westcourt Cup (Rice Cup Shield) winners, and to the U16 ½  Munster  B  Camogie Champions.

Finally presentation were made to  Liam Mc Grath, John Mc Grath, Colin O’ Riordan and Alan O’ Riordan who were prominent in  Tipperary’s All Ireland Minor Football victory; to Elaine Fitzpatrick, Maria Curley, Niamh Treacy and Kate Kashman  who were part of the All Ireland winning, Tipperary U 14 Ladies’ Football team ; to Ann Eviston, Mairead Evistion, Eimear Cahill and Niamh Treacy who won All Ireland hounours with the Tipperary U 16 Camogie team; and to  Anne Evistion who won player of the year in the All Ireland minor Camogie final.

The function was followed by refreshments in the school’s social area. Thanks to everyone who attended the function and to Ms Kinane and her Home Economics students who prepared the refreshments.  Thanks to Mr Noel Fogarty and Ms. Teresa Brennan and Mr. Paul Fogarty who helped organise the function.

Basketball

Well done to the  U16  Basketball team and to their Manager, Ms Fitzpatrick on the team’s victory Rathmore Grammar School Belfast on Tuesday last. The score in the game was 42 -14 in favour of Our Lady’s. The team now play Causeway Comprhensive School, Kerry in the quarter-final.

Harty Cup

The Harty Cup team played a useful challenge against Johnstown V.S. on  Wednesday last. The performance of the team was very encouraging with all players and subs very much on form.  This game gives a boost to the school’s confidence as we face a very strong Waterford Colleges’ team in the crucial final round of the group stages  of the competition. Only a win will do in this game which is fixed for November 16^th.

First Year Parents Information Evening

The school hosted it annual information evening for parents of First Year students on Monday last. The purpose of the evening was to give parents and guardians an update on the progress  of the first year group and to provide a forum to discuss issues of concern. Mr Butler first addressed the  meeting  and reported that all first years are settling in very well as a group and doing well in school. He referred to national research on the experiences of  First Year students in secondary school and said that the findings from the school’s own research were broadly in line with the national experience.  He  gave a short presentation on current trends and priorities in education  that would affect the experience of  this Year’s first years as they went through the school. These include  proposed changes in the Junior Cert and  the  Department of Education and Skill’s Literacy and Numeracy initiative.  Acting Deputy Principal, Mr Paul Fogarty   gave an overview of systems used by the school to support students including the  Merit system, Carideas and the Code of Behaviour.  Yearhead, Mr. Seamus Bourke gave a brief outline of his role  with the First Years and congratulated parents on how well the group were doing.  Finally, Guidance Counsellor, Ms Karen Starr spoke of her role in relation to first years and encouraged parents to contact her if there were any difficulties. Afterwards, over tea and refreshments, parents had a chance to meet members of the year team and discuss issues of concern to them.  Thanks to parents and staff who attended the meeting.