Scoil na gCailíní celebrates 100 years of Education in Castleblayney!
A week of celebrations took place at Scoil na gCailiní as the children and their families experienced a variety of
activities to celebrate the contribution the school has made to the life and education of the people of Castleblayney.
On Monday, Fr. Walsh blessed our fantastic new Buddy Garden. The sun shone at just the right time as everyone held hands to acknowledge the importance of friendship in our lives. Parents, BOM, garden designer Michael Carroll, staff and children all joined together to celebrate such a welcome addition to our playground.
Everyone then got a slice of our huge birthday cake with 100 years proudly displayed in cream and strawberries.
On Tuesday a very special mass was celebrated by Fr. Walsh in the convent chapel. Invited guests included past pupils, teachers, staff, priests and sisters of the convent. The choir under the guidance of Vera Muldoon and Bernadette Ward were angelic; Fr. Walsh’s homily was inspiring and a message of congratulations was read out from Bishop Liam McDaid. This mass was followed by the unveiling of a commemorative stone at the front of the school. This unveiling was performed by our oldest past pupil: Bridie Maguire.
A reception in the school led to the telling of many stories – and many fond memories were shared on the night. Everyone had an opportunity to wander round the school and view the memorabilia on display. The school had been transformed! There were photos, projects, displays everywhere and they brought many a tear to the eye as past pupils found themselves in the rolls and in photos.
Wednesday was the day for the present day pupils. They were greeted on arrival to school by Sister Gráinne Murtagh in full Sr. of Mercy regalia!! She ushered the girls into the GP room where they were brought back in time by the famous Tommy McArdle who gave the girls an insight into what life was like when he was a boy.
It was then time to get into their house teams and begin the LOL Day. (Learn Out Loud). Each team attended 5 different classes during the day: they looked up the 1901 and 1911 census and researched past pupils on line. They attended a class with Pauline Tilson of the County Museum who gave them a flavour of life 100 years ago; they learned set dancing, did art lessons and sat at old-fashioned desks in a classroom done up as it would have appeared 100 years ago. There the girls learned to write and read old Irish writing. All children had a real sense of being brought back in time.
On Thursday we had a very interesting history trail around Castleblayney led by Mrs O’Driscoll. This was followed by an open night for all of Castleblayney to visit the school and be transported back in time. The museum classroom proved a big hit, as did the photographs, roll books and old copy books.
By Friday we were all exhausted but we had one final activity to do: to celebrate our 100 years the children released 100 balloons into the air to cheers and the sounds of Happy Birthday Scoil na gCailíní! What a week!
Thank you to everyone who helped make the week such a success.
Commemorative Stone
Blessing of Buddy Garden By Fr Walsh
Oldest Past Pupil Bridie McGuire
Sr. Pius with her class
New Buddy Garden
Donate your unwanted Driver Theory Test CD/ Book and Rules of the Road booklet
Youth Work Ireland Monaghan`s Youth Information Service would like to appeal for donations of unwanted Driver Theory Test CDs/Books and Rules of the Road booklets.
Youth Work Ireland Monaghan understands that for many young people, learning to drive is an
important milestone. However, accomplishing this milestone brings with it many expenses. Youth Work Ireland Monaghan, therefore appeal to people in the Carrickmacross and Castleblayney area, who are finished with and no longer need their Driver Theory Test material, to donate them to either of the Youth Information’s Centres. Ideally, the most up to date Official Theory Test Book and CD (5th Edition) would be of benefit. Lyndsey Maguire from Youth Work Ireland Monaghan states that “In order to provide young people with the most up to date information on learning to drive, it is important that we have the latest edition of both the Theory Test Book and CD available to them”.
When enough copies of both the Driver Theory Test book and CD have been donated, Youth Work Ireland Monaghan’s initiative is to run a pilot service, where young people in the Carrickmacross/ Castleblayney area will be able to borrow any of the material from each of the Youth Information Centres. A small deposit of €5 will be requested on borrowing the material which will be reimbursed when the material is returned.
Donation of the theory test CD/Books or Rules of the Road booklets can be left into either of Monaghan`s Youth Information Services- Carrickmacross Youth Information Centre or Castleblayney Youth Information Centre. Youth
Clean up in Castleblayney
Castleblayney Tidy Towns Committee has made a strong plea this week to all sections of the local community
to engage in a huge effort in the coming days to improve the appearance and general images of the town in readiness for the arrival of the judges next month.
National tidy towns adjudications begins on June 1st and the committee is asking business leaders, resident groups, and the general public to do everything they can to tidy up any unsightly areas, eliminate the appearance of litter and give thought to making various areas around the town tidy, neat and as colourful as possible.
The annual competition is organised on a national basis by the Irish department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in order to honour the tidiest and most attractive cities, towns and villages in Ireland.
So come on Castleblayney everyone try and do your bit for Tidy Towns.
French Celebrations A Great Success
31 visitors from Marseillan in Southern France arrived in Castleblayney for the weekend as a follow up to the
recent official twinning of Castleblayney.
The Mayor of Marseillan, Yves Michel, who was leading the French visiting group to Castleblayney for the weekend, decided to celebrate his 50th birthday in the town with a party of his French friends along with the many new friends made in Castleblayney.
The Mayor visited various businesses including St. Mary’s Hospital in the town and also enjoyed a boat trip on Lough Muckno.
By all accounts a good time was had by all.
Who Wants To Be A Thousandaire Comes To Castleblayney
Do you fancy a chance of winning €1,000? Well, 8 lucky people will have the chance to do so, as Castleblayney
Faughs get ready to host the hugely popular game show in the Glencarn Hotel on Saturday 8th June as part of their fundraising drive for the ongoing development of St Mary’s Park.
The format of the show matches that of the TV show with contestants answering a series of questions to win money as they build up to the €1,000 question. At any stage they can call it a day and take the money won and of course they will be able to call on 3 lifelines should they need assistance in the form of 50/50, Ask the Audience or Phone a friend! The show has taken place throughout the country and the club are very excited to be able to ...bring it to Castleblayney. The show is presented by Pallas Marketing who provides a very professional stage show and provides their own Chris Tarrant to sit in the host’s seat. There is sure to be lots of talk about this over the coming weeks in the build up to the show.
Tickets are now available from club sources and are sure to be snapped up. The tickets provide entrance to the show on the night plus the chance to be drawn out on the night and sit in the hot seat with the chance of winning the €1,000. You also have the option of nominating someone to take the seat for you to answer the questions, so any brain boxes out there are sure to be popular over the coming weeks!
As mentioned the show is a fundraising event for the ongoing works at St Mary’s Park which is currently undergoing construction of a 2,000 plus spectator stand in addition to the newly laid Prunty pitch. This is an enormous undertaking from the club and is reliant of the ongoing support of the town’s people and wider GAA community, which has been brilliant to date. So please support the night and get your tickets early, it could be you taking home the money on the night!
The event has been very kindly supported by 8 main sponsors and the club would like to acknowledge their contribution to making the show possible: Acorn Life, Ned Kelly’s, McGuigan Motors, Heineken Ireland, Doohamlet Construction, Mallon Solicitors, Carna Transport and Coyle’s Pharmacy. Many other businesses have also pledged to support the night and will be advertised on the night. We look forward to seeing you on the 8th June!
There is still some large screen digital advertising space available for the show, please contact Bob O Donnell on 0876025027 for further information
