Category - Sports
Rang a 5 were recently invited to play at the GAA Gaeilge Go-Games in Croke Park, an event which celebrates both the Irish language and Gaelic football. Read more about it below!
Monday June 24th 2024 will live long in the memory of 23 5th class pupils from Ballyconnell NS, for this was the day when they got to play in Croke Park for the first time. Indeed, for many students, this was their first ever time in Croke Park. Imagine that, your first time in Croke Park and you get to play there!
This was all part of GAA Gaeilge Go Games, an event organised by Jamie Ó Tuama, Croke Park’s Oifigeach Gaeilge (Irish Officer). This event is aimed at Gaelscoileanna and scoileanna Gaeltachta. However, each year a select few English-medium schools are invited too. This was our lucky year! Although, it’s often said that you make your own luck. This year’s rang a 5 proved this. They have worked really hard at Gaeilge all year – eagerly speaking the language at every opportunity. This hard work ensured that they were capable of travelling to Croke Park and living their entire day through Irish which is what GAA Gaeilge Go Games requires!
Highlights of the day included a fantastic rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann, led by Limerick’s Aedín Ní Bhriain but ably backed up by Rang a 5 Bhaile Uí Chonaill; a very interesting ‘turas treoraithe’ (guided tour) of the stadium; and, of course, 3 games on the hallowed turf against Gaoth Dobhair (Dún na nGall), Gaelscoil na Rinne (Port Láirge) and, ahem… Ballyconnell NS (Gaelscoil Ard Mhacha decided to go home early!)
The uachtair reoite on the way home weren’t bad either!
Míle buíochas to Edel Butler for taking all of the photos below!
4 th class have spent the year in St Mary’s Hall. They thought it a good idea to find out a little bit more about this important building in our parish and to share what they learned with their school mates.
Our Spelling Bee Champion, Sara O’Grady, recently took part in the Carlow County Final of the Eason Spelling Bee. Read her account below.
We were delighted to welcome our former student, Rosealice Byrne, back to Ballyconnell NS last week to regale our 4 th , 5 th and 6 th class students with details of her recent trip to The Gambia in West Africa.
Cathal and Peter tell us all about their day at the Credit Union All-Ireland Final, Ballyconnell NS’s first appearance at the finals since 2001.
Rang a 4 recently did some planting with Ms Ryan. Sarah tells us more!
Rang a 5 student and team member Florrie Cosgrove regales us with the nerves and excitement of Ballyconnell NS’s recent Credit Union Quiz triumph