Maths Week 2025
The children in Ballyconnell NS had lots of fun during Maths Week 2025, which this year, took place from 13th – 17th October 2025!
Category - Language
Bhí an halla dubh le daoine ar an Máirt, an 7ú Márta, do Thráth na gCeist Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2023.
Our annual Tráth na gCeist to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge has become a real annual highlight in Ballyconnell. Indeed, last year’s marked the first time pupils from different classes had congregated together after the lifting of Covid restrictions. Thankfully, all those srianta (restrictions) have stayed very much in the past. Buíochas le Dia!
This year’s Tráth na gCeist saw 22 teams from Rang a 3, 4, 5 agus a 6 compete to be crowned Tráth na gCeist winners for 2023. Agus a leithéid de chomórtas! And what a competition it turned out to be!
Throughout the six babhtaí (rounds), all teams scored well and the lead changed hands on numerous occasions. Going into the last picture round, no one could be sure who has going to take the title.
The last babhta was, as always, a picture round, this year it was based on Pixar films (plus An Cailín Ciúin). Some teams were caught out with Finding Dory, with many writing Finding Nemo instead!
After 6 rounds, we had our buaiteoirí (winners). The team of Ella O’Neill, Elliot McCarthy, Éire Sheils, and Tadhg Jackman were victorious. Behind them, we had a tie-break between three teams for 2nd and 3rd place.
The múinteoirí chose what they thought was a very difficult question for the tie-break. ‘How many pupils are in Ballyconnell NS?’ Remarkably, all three teams got the answer correct! We would have to go níos casta (harder)! ‘In what year did Mrs Dolan arrive in Ballyconnell NS?’
That separated them! Saoirse’s team of three reckoned 1989, which was the closest to the correct answer, an answer which we’ll not reveal on a public forum such as this. It was, however, post-1989!
In second place then, we had Saoirse Cahill, Reuben Wilson and Rory O’Leary. In third place, we had Maeve O’Toole, Emma O’Grady, Darragh Coleman-Murray and James Doyle. Maith sibh go léir! Well done everybody!
Míle buíochas to Ms Doyle, Mr Byrne and Ms Dagg, who were the Máistrí na gCeisteanna, to Ms Ryan, who collected answer sheets, and to Ms Burke, who corrected and took grianghraif (photos). Here’s looking forward to Tráth na gCeist 2024!












The children in Ballyconnell NS had lots of fun during Maths Week 2025, which this year, took place from 13th – 17th October 2025!
On the 1st of October it was National Tree Day, Joanna Donnelly planted a tree at the front of the school with some of the members of our Parents Association.
Ballyconnell NS took part in GOAL Jersey Day for the 5th time. Sixth class led GOAL Jersey Day on Friday October 10th. We raised €375.75! Míle buíochas to everyone who contributed so generously.
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.