There was great excitement on Friday night the 7^th of March as our quiz team of Florrie Cosgrove, Maddie Cahill, Cathal Butler and Peter O’Shea headed to the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny for the Chapter Final of the Credit Union Quiz. This represented a first appearance at Chapter level for the school since 2018.

Our ‘Fab Four’ would face stiff competition from St Fiacc’s NS, Bennettsbridge NS, Mooneen Roe NS, Bunscoil McCauley Rice, Gowran NS and St Canice’s Co-Ed. All of these schools would have won their local area quiz in early February.

At the half-way point (five rounds), St Fiacc’s led the way on 27 with Bennettsbridge second on 24. Ballyconnell were joint third with Mooneen Roe NS and Bunscoil McAuley Rice on 23 so we knew it was all to play for!

When the results were announced, we all waited with bated breath.

‘And, in second place and going through to the All-Ireland Final are… Ballyconnell NS!!’ announced the scorekeeper.

Cue delight for the Ballyconnell students and parents. This is the first time since 2001 that Ballyconnell NS will be represented in the Credit Union Quiz at the All-Ireland Final – almost a quarter of a century! The final will take place on Sunday April 6^th in the RDS in Dublin! Well done to St Fiacc’s NS who finished in first place on 47 points, 2 ahead of ourselves. They also qualify for April’s final.

Well done to Cathal, Maddie, Florrie and Peter – éacht thar na bearta atá ann! This is a fantastic achievement, one which will live long in the collective memory of the school.