Sport

Girls Basketball for the Regional Finals by beating U16 Colaiste Na Mi and Gormanstown. They were beaten by Marist Dunkalk in a Congratulations to Ms. Carr and the closely fought final. Thanks to Mr. U16 girls’ basketball team who beat Dempsey for coaching the teams. Monaghan in Street to win the Regional A final. On Saturday January Football National Flag Ceremony th April 2016 Issue 13 16 they qualified for the All Ireland Boys Quarter Finals, which took place in Tallaght on February 8th in this game 1st Year Mr Walsh, Matthew Bermingham, Owen Fallon and Vilma Marcos were presented with the Irish the girls were beaten by . Our first year boys have played in Proclamation Pack at Croke Park by President Michael D. Higgins. Commemorating the 1916 Well done to them on their excellent blitzes organised by Longford Co. th progression through the competition. rising on Tuesday 15 of March a ceremony incorporating raising of the National Flag, reading Board. The boys have been very Upcoming Events the proclamation and singing our national anthem took place in the school. Our own U16 Girls Football Team - All-Ireland Finalists 2016  29 April—Holiday (School proclamation was also read. As this day coincided with Seachtain na Gaeilge, the day was known football team who have had a fantastic championship to be held in Hungary in closed) as “Lá na físe”. There was also a concert of Irish music, song and dance organised by the Irish July next. year. Having won the Leinster Final,  2 May—Bank Holiday (School department for first years. Photos and video by Mick Conlan. Video at www.youtu.be/xdyY_vbYh-8. they went on to beat Scoil Mhuire Equestrian closed) Ballinasloe in the All-Ireland Semi Final. Our Open team consisting of Chris On Saturday March 12th we travelled to  24 May—TY Graduation Whyte, Derek Shaw, Kevin Manning Nenagh to play Rathmore in the All and Clare Shaw took part in Longford  24 May—Annual Awards Ireland Final. It was a fine day for Interschools competition held in Ceremony football and a good crowd travelled the rd nd Mosstown on April 3 . They came 2  25 May—6th Years BBQ journey. Unfortunately, on the day the after a jump off. girls played a team who had lost an All-  26 May—6th Years Ireland the previous week and were not Graduation Mass in the form to lose another. They simply Soccer  3 June —School closing for proved to be better than us on the day. Congratulations to the Senior Boys’ Summer Holidays We look forward to the progress of this Soccer Team who won the West team and feel that we will yet enjoy All Leinster Final against Ireland success. Thanks to their Community College. Hard luck to the coaches Mr. Bohan and Ms. McCann. U15 boys’ soccer team who lost the West Leinster final to Mullingar U16 Girls Basketball Team - All-Ireland Quarter Finalists Swimming Community College and the U17 boys Healthy School competitive in all games and would like Congratulations to all our students who soccer team who lost the West Leinster Health promoting Week was celebrated at Mercy Secondary School with a variety of activities. There was an exercise activity at final to Strokestown. Thanks to their 1st Year to thank Damien Sheridan and Paddy competed in the Connacht Schools the end of first class each morning. Fruit tasting was provided at break-time, a healthy meal competition, Couch to 3k started O’Connor for organising them. Coaches Mr. Culbert and Mr. Burke. at lunch time, a poster competition, TY students organised volleyball tournaments for second and fifth year students and Congrats to the first year girls’ basketball for first years. Thanks to Caroline Ferry who spoke to all second year students regarding healthy eating. Thanks to basketball team who won the Regional U14 Ms. Carr the co-ordinator and the Health Promoting committee for organising it. We are well on our way to achieving the Health final on Wednesday April 6th. In the Our U14 boys are preparing for the Co Promoting Flag next year. final they beat St. Louis Longford schools competition. In our Carrickmacross. Well done girls. . first game we play Ballymahon Thanks to Ms. Carr for coaching the Lá Glas Vocational School and then proceed to teams. play the winners or Granard Vocational Lá Glas was celebrated during Seachtain na Gaeilge. Thanks to Ms. Malone and the music department who entertained all the school with a concert of traditional music and song. Thanks to all the students and staff who dressed in green and donated €2 to raise money for charity. This year we raised €634. Easter Raffle

Thanks for all the generous contributions to our Easter raffle, we raised a total of €2740. Well done to our winners of the Easter Draw: first prize: Gerety family, second prize: Ellen Koons, third prize: Julieann Ryan, fourth prize: Linda Kelly and fifth prize: Mark Mc Cormack. Sellers prizes went to: Cian Hartmann, Sarah Horan, Caitlin Farrell, Orla Keane and Cora Norton. Thanks to all who supported the Easter raffle fundraiser. Thanks also to Steve & Marie Peters and Get Fresh for sponsoring the prizes and to Parent’s Council who organised the event. Also thanks to Ms. Donohue for sponsoring Easter eggs for each class Senior Boys Soccer Team who won the West Leinster Final group in the school. Thanks to Breda Greaves who represented the Parents’ Council at the raffle on 16th March.

Swimming Championships which were held in Longford in January. Athletics Gerry Quinn won 2 gold medals for Congratulations to Oisín Lane first year 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly. on reaching the All-Ireland School Jimmie Byrne won a bronze medal in Athletics final held in Sligo racecourse 100 metre freestyle. A team of in March. He came 13th in the Séadhna Ryan, Ryan Shannon and Tom Connaught finals. Flanagan won silver in the Junior medley and the freestyle Relays. Mercy Secondary School 1st Yrs Girls Basketball Regional Winners 2016 Patrick Flanagan, Ciarán Madden, Jimmie Ballymahon Boys Basketball School and Lanesboro CC. Mr. Kenny Byrne and Gerry Quinn has taken over the team and training is also won bronze for the Co. Longford 1st Year progressing well. Senior Relay. Orla Ryan Well done to our 1st Yr boys’ basketball and Sorcha Harrison Girls also competed. Thanks team who reached the All-Ireland play- Principal: Ms. Josephine Donohue offs involving 16 teams. Mercy U14 to Ms. Honeyman for helping with the teams. Ballymahon hosted the event on April Our U14 girls are continuing their Deputy-Principal: Mr. Micheál Walsh 17th. Our boys won two out of three of Congratulations also to Leinster campaign on Wednesday April Gerry Quinn on his their games beating Coláiste Baile an 20th with another game on Tuesday Chlár and Ballyhaunis Community achievements at the 26th. Ms.Cribben and Mr.Bohan have 2016 SU International/ Tel. 090 6432267 School and lost their last game to been putting the girls through their Pipers Hill . Thanks to their coach Mr. David McCullagh paces and there is great interest Memorial competition Fax. 090 6432615 Dempsey. among this age group. in Bangor. Gerry set a nd 2 Year U16 new Irish Junior record and qualified for the nd Our 2 Year boys’ team also qualified Congratulations to the U-16 ladies European Junior E-mail: [email protected] 1st yrs Boys Basketball Regional Winners 2016 Website: www.mercyballymahon.ie www.mercyballymahon.ie Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon Page 2 Issue 13 Page 3

Students Achievements Transition Year Activities

TY students continued their Irish Dancing came up with the Congratulations to Aaron Farrell module in January and February with characteristics of good and not- who received his prize at G.M.I.T. Mairead Casey. This module concluded so-good relationships in the for achieving the third highest with a TY ceili before the mid term break. domestic situation. Martin Mulvey facilitated a First Aid Three barristers from , grade in Ireland for Junior Cert HL course for all our TY students in January. employed by Public Access to Technology 2015. Students will receive their First Aid Certs Law, presented a workshop on when they graduate from TY at the end of Law to our TY students. This Congratulations also to his May. proved to be a very educational teacher, Mr. Seery. Michelle Reilly from St Christopher's met and enjoyable day which concluded with each class with the new volunteers for Youth Buddies, who were: Kerryn O'Sullivan, enacting a court case. Congratulations also to our past Michaela Quinn, Rebecca O'Halleran, A group of our TY girls took part Lauren Guinane, Denny Hebron, Brittany in a Volleyball coaching session, Aaron Farrell receiving his prize at G.M.I.T. pupil Cathal Hughes who received Meares, Ruth Noonan, Emma Campbell, organised by Ms Carr, in scholarship at DCU. Aoife Kavanagh, Louise Grogan, Carol Ann conjunction with Volleyball Yorke, Molly Fox. There was a particularly Ireland. These new volleyball positive response from students this year. coaches will share their knowledge and skills with the Debating Team Noel Greene and his friend Justice spoke with students about the important work of students from our local Primary the Simon Community and to raise Schools. On completion of Well done to our senior debating team awareness around this important, and these coaching course unfortunately, very relevant issue in sessions, students will be who beat Garbally College in their presented with Certs in Ireland today. Concern Debate on January 21st. The Volleyball coaching. The Sadie Wheatley, mini-company mentor, winners of the volleyball team consisted of: Aaron O’Connor, employed by Longford Enterprise Office, tournament were James Foley, came to our school to help students Jimmie Byrne, Katie Higgins and Conor Cillian Flood, Kerryn O'Sullivan, entering the Young Enterprise Aoife Kavanagh, Dennis Hebron O’Brien. They were proposing the Competition. and Ciara Dixon. Thank you to motion that “the Cap 21 climate Our local Ballymahon bank, the Bank of Ms Carr and Mr. McCormack Ireland held interviews for places in our who organised the events. agreements will succeed where others school bank. Bank personnel were Two volunteers from Alcoholics selected from our TY applicants, and they Anonymous came to speak with have failed”. Thanks to their mentors invited Henry Shefflin to launch our Cathal Hughes receiving his scholarship at DCU. our TY students about their Ms. O Reilly and Mr. O Gara. school bank. This banking team have experience of living with an encouraged more students than ever to addiction. As always, these Henry Shefflin during official School Bank opening. Photos by Shelley Corcoran. open accounts. Bank team are manager: genuinely deep talks are Internet Safety Talk Green Flag Aoife Kavanagh and Aaron O' Connor. listened to with the greatest of respect by Rotas of students to the Homework Club students to join their local Bridge Club. Marketing: Emily Doyle and James Foley. our TY students. and to the Day Centre continue each TY students have organised a sponsored Cashiers: Gavin Rynn, Rachel Birmingham week. For the last term, the students who All students received an internet safety talk TY 1 put together a short film as part of sleepover in aid of St Martha's and The green flag committee are busy, as they and Ellen Kelly. take part in the John Paul II Award are their English studies. This film was short Bethany House, Longford. These are two by Pat McKenna on 6th April. Thanks to all visiting Thomond Nursing Home each are hoping to obtain the Green Flag in 2017. TY students organised a TY basketball listed for the All Ireland final. Students homeless shelters run by St Vincent de the parents who attended a similar afternoon. Recycle bins have been placed around the competition in the school gym. from TY 1 visited Galway to view their film. Paul. This sleepover takes place in the presentation on Thursday night. Our Cyber Margaret Larkin presented a straight- school and our Green Flag Committee have Our TY students visited the Arena in Angela from our local Volunteer Centre school gym. talking workshop on “Health for safety committee have been busy carrying Tallaght to support our Junior girls in their gave a presentation to our TY students on Work experience which is a very important spoken to every class about using the recycle Life”. Students found this talk very out an online social experiment whereby over All Ireland final. the importance of volunteering for part of the TY programme took place in bins. educational and thought provoking. 300 students have unwittingly got involved. Charlotte, Domestic Violence expert with everyone. Both the volunteer and the February and also takes place this Longford Women's Link, ran a very person benefits from the volunteer Margaret also presented a workshop on month. We are very grateful to all our worthwhile workshop on Domestic work. "There is no giving without the card game Bridge. Margaret, an All local employers who provide such Abuse. Students worked in groups and receiving." Ireland champion at the game motivates educational experiences to our students. Public Speaking Careers

Well done to Emily Farrell from Transition Year who competed in the All Ireland final of the Soroptimist Public speaking competition on A major priority at this time of year is to February and March was hectic for all Aeronautical Apprenticeship. Amaka Aja- people as friends on line knowing nothing assist the 6th years in making final students applying for HEAR and DARE. All Nwachuku (LC student 2013) shared the about them apart from them being a Saturday March 5th held in the Mansion house Dublin. Emily was decisions about their next step after the supporting information had to be with the challenges and successes she faces as “friend of a friend”. During our Cyber one of eight National finalists and she spoke on the topic of Leaving Certificate. CAO by April 1st. Students and their she nears the end of year 3 of Medicine in Safety week the results of the experiment "Empowering Women". She performed very well on the day, So many students and their families parents are all now gearing up for Poland and Michael John Harney (LC were shared with the full school and the applying for grants through SUSI. student 2013) spoke passionately of his reactions of the students were brilliant. It delivering a flawless "Prepared" speech and also excelling in her believe that only path to take is that of the CAO and higher education but many Every week we have at least one career pathway through FETAC and how he is is safe to say they will ensure to know "Impromptu" speech on the topic " Being young is over - rated". One students are now opening their minds to talk, this year so far we have had near 20 now a 2nd Year Student of Criminology in people before accepting them as friends overall winner was announced and even though Emily did not take the world of possibilities through FETAC/ colleges/institutions present to our UCC. in the future! students. Past Pupil Presentations are by Our TY Cyber Safety Ambassadors carried Lá Glas 2016 home the trophy on this occasion, we are all very proud of her PLC Courses, apprenticeships and the world of work. far the greatest hit. Paddy Grogan (LC out a very successful social experiment achievement in getting this far in the competition and the way in student 2015) spoke about his love of his whereby proving that students accept which she represented the school. Sincere thanks also to Ms. Gaffney who worked with Emily as she prepared for the Thank you to the following people for competition. their contribution to our Newsletter: Students Enterprise Award Ms. Josephine Donohue, Mr. Micheál Walsh, Mr. Gerry Griffin, Ms. Kate Mercy Secondary School had Mini-Company set up by Ellen Bohan, Ms. Siobhan O’Neill, Ms. Ruth Catholic Schools Week three entries to the Co. Kelly and Catherine Healy. Gaffney, Mr. Colm Burke, Ms. Rachel Longford Student Enterprise UniCom is a mini company set Ryan, Mr. David Dempsey, Shelly Our school celebrated Catholic Schools Week Feburary 1st-5th, with activities including Corcoran (photos), Award ceremony held in the up by James Foley and Aaron O (photos), David Mc Cormack (photos). decorating the school corridors with spiritual posters. We also paused for a moment to reflect on the “Thought for the Day” each day and 2nd years organised an Adoration shopping centre in Longford on ‘Connor. Congratulations to A special thanks to Aoife Kavanagh of the Blessed Sacrament in our school Oratory. Spiritual inspirational cards were Wednesday last. Wooden Emer Tyrell who won the best Emer Tyrell, Emma Donohoe, Victor st th Shaw, Louise Grogan, Carol-Anne made by our 1 year students for their 6 year Best Buddies wishing them good luck Wonders is a Mini-Company interview for Wooden Wonders. Yorke, Kerryn O’Sullivan, Rebecca in their Mock exams. Thanks also to Fr. Liam who blessed St Brigid’s crosses made by founded by Emer Tyrell and Thanks to their Mentor Mr. O’Halleran and Anne Smyth for their the Transition year students at a prayer service. As this is the Year of Mercy, our Eitvile Lengvinaite. Crumbs is a Burke. dedication in writing the Mercy student body is being challenged to complete all corporal and spiritual works of Ballymahon notes every week. Mercy.