ffStudents from Coláiste Rís, Dundalk who climbed Croagh Patrick on Edmund Rice Day last May Síol Newsletter Edmund Rice Schools Trust • Winter 2017 • Issue 14 Greetings from the Edmund Rice Schools Trust This edition of Síol contains news from These two themes, excellence in learning values and the spirit of Edmund Rice, we many schools around the country. We and teaching and care for everyone, commit ourselves in global solidarity to have accounts of prizegiving, sporting especially those who are disadvantaged, transformational education for justice achievements, distinguished visitors and run through all the events and activities and liberation”. To the themes of justice special events. We hear of the work of our which we share in Síol. Our community and education which we see in our schools for the poor and disadvantaged in of 96 schools shares a common vision schools we have the added dimension of our society and throughout the world. and I hope you find the contents global solidarity. The vision and passion of Edmund of this edition of Síol inspiring and Rice found practical expression in the thought provoking. What does this mean for you? schools he founded for students who There’s a well known quote which Through EREBB, it means that in your would otherwise have been deprived of says “If you want to change the world, school you can connect online with other education. Today our Charter encourages start in your own backyard”. Our schools Edmund Rice schools in 20 countries, us as Edmund Rice schools to work for a are doing just that. But we are also north and south, east and west. It means fairer and more just world. The Charter sharing with and getting inspiration that you can create common projects. says “The hallmarks of an Edmund from our fellow Edmund Rice schools It means you can share your initiatives Rice school are care, especially for those throughout Ireland. and learn from the initiatives of others. who are vulnerable or disadvantaged We belong to a powerful national It means you can put Catholic Social in any way and action for social and network of schools where we share teaching into action by speaking up for ecological justice” (p.19). inspiration and ideas. But we also belong those whose voices have been suppressed. Edmund Rice also saw education to an international network of almost Already quite a number of our schools as the path to achieving full human 300 Edmund Rice schools worldwide. In are involved in EREBB. Why not join dignity and potential for young people. 2014 delegates from schools in different them? The first step is to visit the website Following his vision, the Charter countries and continents met to explore http://www.erebb.org/. Take that step tells us that “The Edmund Rice School how we could tap into this international and you will be amazed at what you see! is a community of people dedicated network and Edmund Rice Education I sincerely encourage you to explore the to the pursuit of excellence in all its Beyond Borders (EREBB) was born. wonderful world of EREBB. endeavours and in all aspects of its EREBB’s vision statement says teaching and learning” (p.17). “Inspired by the teachings of Jesus, Gospel Gerry Bennett, Chief Executive Doon CBS Primary School Leader Cup Winners 2017 Doon CBS confirmed their status as kingpins of primary schools hurling in Limerick Cumann na mBunscol competitions in 2017 by winning their third Leader Cup title in consecutive seasons. Under the watchful eyes of Mr. Moloney and Mr. Heffernan the boys of Doon won the East Limerick hurling crown and retained the blue riband of Primary Schools hurling, the Limerick Leader Cup in thrilling circumstances at Neville Park, Rathkeale. Not a bad achievement for a four teacher school in rural Limerick! The huge efforts of the team members cannot be stated enough. They held over 40 training sessions done outside of school time including on days off and across the Midterms and Easter 2nd Class Pupils 2017 breaks. The boys all endeavoured to always train to the best of their ability, with a wonderful mix of honesty and hard graft Doon CBS welcomed nine new pupils into 2nd class this to improve at their individual skills and team performance. To Septmber. They are photographed here with class teacher crown a successful year sixth class pupil, Tomás Lynch played Elizabeth Dohery and school principal, Joanne O’ Connell. on the Limerick Primary Game hurling team in Thurles, on June 4th. Retaining the Leader Cup was undoubtedly the highlight of a memorable year. The Leader Cup was first contested in 1929 as a competition confined to Christian Brothers Schools, the Primary Game 2017 competition lapsed for a number of years until it was revived in 1996 and a new trophy was presented by the Limerick Leader to Tomás Lynch played on the Limerick Primary Game Hurling the 15-a-side ‘A’ hurling champions. team in Thurles in June 2017. Br Paul Oakley, President of the Council of Edmund Rice Education Australia visits ERST The Edmund Rice Schools Trust was delighted to host Br Paul Oakley, President of the Council of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA), at the ERST office on 25th October. Br Paul met the ERST team and also visited Prof Anne O’Gara, President of Marino Institute of Education and Justice Peter Kelly, Chairperson of Members. ffPic from left to right: Gerry Bennett, Chief Executive of ERST, Br Paul Oakley, President of the Council of EREA, Professor Anne O’Gara, President of Marino Institute of Education. Síol Page 2 Doon CBS Primary School Communion Sexton St Retirement ffFirst Communion class with teacher Ms. Elizabeth O Doherty ffThe Board of Management of Scoil Iosagáin, Sexton Street, Limerick Limerick leader cup with retiring Principal, Mr. Patrick Hanley. ffChairman of Scoil Iosagáin Mr. Seamus Bermingham making a ffDoon CBS captain Kevin Maher receives the Limerick Leader Cup from Joe presentation to Mr. Patrick Hanley on the occasion of his retirement Lyons PICTURE: KEITH WISEMAN An taisce Sean Hartigan of An Taisce, presents pupils of Doon CBS Primary School, Cathal Quinlan, Mark Ryan and Alan Tobin with a certificate for paticipating in the Leaf Programme. This programme is sponsored by and in association with An Taisce. Bumbleance At a Parents Council of meeting of Doon CBS Primary School, the idea of raising money for Bumbleance was raised by Carmel Cummins. A total of €265 was raised though a non-uniform day in the school and a raffle. Bumbleance started in Nov 2013. A girl named Saoirse had Batens Disease. When Saoirse became very ill she found it difficult to speak. She called her disease bee. That’s why its called Bumbleance. Saoirse and her brother Liam passed away from this disease. Saoirse’s father designed the ambulance. There are lots of fun items in the ambulance to entertain the children such as PlayStation, t.v. and books. Jim Burke from ffPhoto: (Left to Right): Jim Burke (Bumblrance) Carmel Cummins (Parents Bumbleance accepted the cheque from Carmel and all the pupils Council Doon CBS Primary School), Joanne O’ Connell (Principal Doon CBS had an opportunity to look around inside the ambulance. Primary School). Front Row: Sean and Philly Mc Donnell, school pupils. Winter 2017 Page 3 Doon CBS Primary School Naas CBS, Co Kildare Rice Cup Presentation to Br. Patrick O’Connell. At the recent Rice Cup A.G.M. Mr Paul Dolan of Nenagh CBS made a beautiful presentation to Br O’Connell to mark his continuous involvement in Rice Cup over a number of years. Br.O’Connell started teaching in Templemore CBS in 1967 and straight away got involved in schools hurling and the Rice Cup. In 1969 he trained Templemore CBS to victory over Charleville CBS in which Mr Paddy Kelly (Vice-Chairman, Rice Cup) was a player. In 1984 Br. took up the role of secretary of the Rice Cup up till 2013 where he took up the role of Chairman. We all have great memories of the competition and we are all deeply grateful to Br. O’Connell for his work up till now and for the foreseeable future. The Rice Cup is an Under 14 post primary schools hurling An Club competition involving Christian Brothers Schools in Munster and Kilkenny. The competition is called after Blessed Edmund Rice, who founded the Christian Brothers in 1802. The Rice Beachairí Cup competition began in 1944 to commemorate the centenary of the death of Blessed Edmund Rice. Naas CBS The Beekeepers Club of Naas CBS. One fine day in late Autumn of 2015, we had an interesting and intriguing visitor to our school in Naas CBS. Gerry Kehoe came to talk to students in TY and members of the Green Schools committee at Naas CBS secondary school about all things wild and natural around Naas. His talk ranged from Otters, Bats, Naas Tidy Towns, The Naas Wild Food Festival and Bees. ffPhoto Left to right. Paul Dolan, Nenagh CBS, Br. Patrick O’Connell, All of our students loved Gerry’s talk. Some of the students, Nenagh CBS and a native of Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick, and Paddy Kelly, myself included were very interested in some of Gerry’s ideas. Kilmallock, Co. Limerick and former teacher at Abbey CBS Tipperary Town. Especially Bee-keeping. Gerry asked the boys to consider doing a beekeeping course in Naas library in Spring 2016 and then to start a bee keeping project. After much research, information School Attendance Award gathering and fact finding, I was happy to ask our school principal, Mr Ben Travers if the school would consider having a couple of hives in a safe area on school grounds.