Transition Year students at St. Anne’s Community College Killaloe have contributed to and taken part in a number of very worthwhile national initiatives in recent weeks. Through the Young Social Innovators project the students decided to prioritize suicide prevention and to give practical expression to their concerns for the wellbeing of themselves and others by participating in the Cycle Against Suicide and the Pieta House Darkness Into Light walk.

While initially the focus of their work was broad and examined issues such as obesity, addiction and youth wellbeing, it was the issue of suicide that the students felt needed an appropriate but powerful expression of their concern for those struggling with their mental wellbeing. And so on Monday April 29^th last a representative group of 7 students and 2 teachers led the Cycle Against Suicide into Killaloe from Nenagh where a larger group of their fellow students, gathered at the Lakeside Hotel, to welcome the cyclists across the Shannon and wished them well on their forward journey to Tulla and Castletroy. This was a fitting follow up to the attendance by 15 students at the recent Cycle Against Suicide Conference at the 3 Arena in Dublin and the school’s designation as an Ambassador School in 2018 for the Cycle Against Suicide event.

Throughout recent weeks the students discussed the role of a caring school and decided to give further expression to their desire to do their bit for suicide prevention and so a sizeable group of them decided to become involved with the local Darkness Into Light event. In co-operation with the local DIL committee and the Killaloe Ballina Family Resource Centre, the students helped on the morning of May 11^th, with setting up the lighting of the route and helping with the stewarding and tidy up afterwards. However, it is through their participation in the walk itself that they showed solidarity to the school and local communities as well as contributing to the work of Pieta House. The DIL event has taken place in the twin Shannonside towns of Killaloe and Ballina for the last 5 years and has become an annual event for the students of St. Anne’s Community College.

Cycling, walking, talking and remembering loved ones are practical and effective ways of creating awareness of suicide prevention and for the students of St. Anne’s a meaningful way to spread the message that it is okay not to feel okay and that it is okay to talk about it and that the power of hope is crucial to building resilience and strength.

Well done to our staff and our students who took part in Darkness Into Light Killaloe Ballina in the early hours this morning to raise much needed funds for Pieta House, Preventing Suicide and Self Harm, a service we are very grateful for, for our students.
This amazing annual event took off at 4.15am spreading the message of hope, support and community. Even through the darkest of times we must have hope, that little chink of light in the dark. 
Imagine, we have had two major nationwide events within a couple of weeks of each other, highlighting the very same message.
To our students, please remember, we are all in this life together, let’s help to build each other up, not tear each other down, and please remind all the adults in your life to do the same, because sometimes we forget too 😉 😍
#DIL2019 #ittakesavillage #bethechange #thatshowthelightgetsin#itsokaynottobeokay #askforhelp

St. Caimin’s, Shannon, St. Joseph’s, Tulla and St. Anne’s, Killaloe came together with 10 teams to play chess at St. Anne’s, Killaloe on Tuesday 9^th April. Transition Years Students welcomed the teams and kept the scores. Pawel Luber ensured the tournament ran smoothly with all chess matches played under his watchful eye. There were some very close contests between players with the tension building towards a great final contest. St. Caimin’s won the Junior competition and St. Joseph’s won the Senior Competition. Well done to all who participated. Ms. McDonnell, Ms. O’Sullivan and Ms. Corbett supervised the event and thank you to all teachers for giving their time to run such an enjoyable event.  

Tara is a leaving cert student here in St. Anne’s and is also a very talented dancer and musician. She works extremely hard to balance her academics and commitment to her extracurricular activities. She has now qualified for the World Irish Dancing Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, which take place over the Easter holidays.

She dances with the prestigious Flynn O’ Kane Academy of Dance based in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. Tara trains three times a week, and more frequently coming up to major competitions. Needless to say, she is working tirelessly towards this massive week coming up while simultaneously balancing it with her studies.

It also has to be mentioned that she is a member of Cailini Lua, an up-and-coming all girl trad band. All members of which are St. Anne’s pupils (Katie and Laura Donaghue, and Lydia Hayes) and these girls have a bright  future ahead of them. We wish Tara the very best of luck in America in two weeks time. 

Best of Luck Tara, the school and wider community are very proud of your achievement. 

Missionvale Reflection 2019 – Devlin Staunton

In March 2018, myself and four other students, were chosen through an interview process to go to the Missionvale Care Centre in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In September we began our fundraising, receiving many amazing donations through bake sales, quiz nights, a GoFundMe page, bag packing and even kind anonymous donations. We fundraised throughout the year until February, when we began the long journey to Port Elizabeth.

   On arrival it was hard to believe we would be going somewhere where families lived in shacks, or tiny compact houses with little to no food or water, sick and dying. We were staying in the built up part of Port Elizabeth, brimming with restaurants and shops along a beautiful beach, a perfect tourist hub. The first day we went to the Care Centre, as we drove through all this I began to think the centre was going to be a few hours’ drive away, but as we continued the drive I realised I was very wrong. Not even ten minutes down the road I began to see the change. 30 minutes later we were driving through the Township where shacks, broken down houses and sheds, and rubbish spread as far as the eye could see.

   It was a shocking sight, but not near as surprising as the welcome we got when getting off the bus at the Care Centre. The workers in the Care Centre and any locals around were thrilled to see us including Sr. Ethel. As we got a tour around the centre and met the different people, their happiness and positivity was incredible. They would sing and dance and make jokes and this positivity shone bright throughout the whole week.

   During the week we were tasked with many different things. We would be working in groups in the different sectors of the Care Centre. Whether it was gardening or giving out food, organising clothes or helping to teach the children, every section I worked in is so memorable. I will never forget certain things, like when I was in the Nutrition Centre giving out food and parcels with soap and just seeing the food supply start to get lower and lower. There was a risk that the food would run out but no-one ever lost positivity or was angry or rude. Of course the workers did everything in their power to make sure everyone got something to eat and it was wonderful to see. Another thing I did that will forever stay with me, was when we went out into the Township. It was so heartbreaking to see all the run down homes and rubbish everywhere. Adults and children were wandering around in their bare feet and tattered clothes among dogs, goats and cattle. Families of 10, 11, and 12 are living in tiny compounds the size of a small room. The sick have given up and don’t want to take the medicine although it will help them get better. But again, happiness prevails. They welcomed us into their homes with open arms and smiling faces. We travelled throughout the community with a band of incredible women who not only cared for the people of Missionvale medically but also connected with them on a personal level. They would not only visit them for a quick check up but they would talk to them and make sure they were doing ok. They were truly amazing women.

   The main thing I will 100% never forget is the children. Every morning as they were going to school, if they saw us they would run over and jump into our arms. They had so much energy and were so happy to see us and more importantly were so happy to go to school. It was so heartwarming to see them learning with such enthusiasm although it was early and a lot of them travelled far to get to the Care Centre’s school. We helped them learn and would play with them on their areas and after school teaching them not only with books but with sports also. They were so eager to learn about everything including us as people.

  When we left Missionvale it was so upsetting. The workers thanked us for our help and we thanked them for helping us learn about the completely different world they live in. We said goodbye to the children who seemed heartbroken and of course to Sr. Ethel who is and will forever be a truly inspirational, remarkable woman. She is so strong in so many different ways and is, in my opinion as well as many others, a walking saint. It was an unbelievable, unforgettable trip, a life changing journey, and I will never forget it.

Missionvale Reflection 2019 – James Power.

My experience of Missionvale was just unbelievable. From the 15th of February to the 26th of February 2019 were the most enjoyable life changing moments of my life and will always stay with me. It has been one of the best weeks of my life so far. It all started off in Shannon on the 15th and that’s when our journey to Missionvale began. When we arrived in Port Elizabeth and got settled in and seeing the wealth of the city and knowing we were so close to the Township I was rather confused at how it could change from wealth to severe poverty in such a short distance. I was really looking forward to Monday to just see the Township and get there so I could get my head around the difference.

Driving in that Monday was scary seeing poverty everywhere and kids everywhere going to school squashing into mini-busses first thing in the mornings. What came to my mind was how we could find a way to sort this out for them. For example, getting the rubbish up, getting dogs, cattle, sheep and pigs out of the Township and to house them in a home for themselves? I wondered how, throughout the week, we would get to know the people there and experience the Township more. By the end of the week I just didn’t want to go home. I week was too short helping the people who care so much for everything you do. I continuously said throughout the week that I didn’t want to go home to my teacher but I wasn’t messing. I wanted to stay and help and give more of my time to the people of Missionvale. It’s such a life-changing experience and I would encourage people who are thinking of going to go. They won’t regret one bit of it and hopefully soon enough I’ll be able go back myself.

Missionvale Reflection 2019 – Dylan McMahon.

Our journey began in Shannon Airport as we embarked on our quest to go and support Missionvale in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The flights were long and we were all tired from them. We arrived in Port Elizabeth on Sunday the 16th of February and received a very warm welcome from the people of the Care Centre and the Township. There were smiles all around and everyone was so exhausted from the flights but this welcome made us all forget about the tiredness we felt and cheered us all up and re-energized us. We spent the day at the lodge all 32 of us getting to know one another and everyone got along which was great, it was like we were one big family. We also visited the tree where Sr. Ethel had started Missionvale and from where it all began.

We then got our working clothes on and had an early start on the Monday morning, having to be out of the lodge at 7:00 a.m. We left the lodge and were prepared to see the poverty we were told about and were expecting people to be unhappy in the uncertain conditions they lived in. However it was the opposite. Everyone was so happy and grateful for what they had. Sister Ethel and her community workers greeted us at the Missionvale gate and were singing and dancing and it was so nice to see the joy they had as they knew we were here to help in any way possible. We all got our badges and were put into our working groups and set off on the different tasks we were assigned to whether it was being in the garden or out into the Township. We all set out with the same ambition and frame of mind, which was to help as much as we could at Missionvale. Everywhere you went to work the community workers that were in charge and there helping Sr. Ethel were so nice and looked after every single one of us. It was great to see these people so happy and positive towards life and so grateful for things that we take for granted at home in Ireland.

As the week went on we learned new things, whether if it was how to say hi in the Afrikaans language, or learning from and about different personalities or even learning how to play chess with the young children in the primary school. I can tell you now that they beat me and also every one of us who thought we could beat them. It just shows that these kids are being well educated thanks to Sr. Ethel and her volunteers. It is great to see this because it gives some of these kids a future or a dream in life which they might achieve if they work hard for it and also inspires me to work hard for things at home whether it’s in school or on a hurling field. While I was in Missionvale I made a friend called Soso, who was a young man in his twenties and he was so interested in our own cultural sport of Hurling, and wanted to teach this sport to the young kids. I think this is great because these young

kids will know the Irish culture and be able to play our sport.

As the week drew to an end things became emotional having to say our last goodbyes to all the new friends we made with all the staff and kids. None of us wanted to leave as we all wished we could stay. Unfortunately though we couldn’t and we would have to return home. However, we all knew individually we had left something behind, whether it was our friendly smile, or our positive attitude or even donations like hurleys and clothes. We knew we did all we could to help these people who live in abject poverty. This journey has been a real eye opener to me personally. It has thought me so many life lessons and has showed me anything is possible in life just like sister Ethel proved to everyone who doubted her. She is such a magnificent person and I am so privileged and honoured to say I have met her and talked to her. She is such an inspiration to so many people. What Sr. Ethel has done for these people in poverty is truly outstanding. She has given them all a dream and hope and I think that is the best gift anyone can give to another person. I personally hope to return again and continue to help Missionvale Ireland and Sr. Ethel to make it a better place for those living in it.

Missionvale Reflection 2019 – Alison McGee.

I can honestly say that the week I spent in Missionvale has been the most challenging, humbling, life-altering experience I have participated in to date. However dramatic it sounds, every minute I spent there was a revelation. It is hard to put into words the unquestionable effect this trip had on me, but I will do my best. It was an eye-opener that gave me new insights into poverty, wealth, privilege, joy, hope and love. The Missionvale Care Centre is the epitome of hope.

On our first day driving to the Centre there were various things that caught my attention along the route. I cannot emphasize enough the contrast between wealth and poverty. You look out the window and one minute you see beautiful houses along the beachfront, KFC, McDonalds, next minute, there are piles of litter so high they could pass as buildings. You see animals roaming around; cows, dogs, goats. You see shacks and find it incredulous that these dwellings are actual houses where people live. You notice the wires coming from every direction where the people have tapped into the electricity poles. The graveyards with a blanket of rubbish creep up on you as you drive by. Yet among this poverty, singing emerged. We arrived at the Care Centre, looked outside to a welcome bursting with song, gratitude and happiness. One thing that I couldn’t get over while on my trip was just how tactile everyone was. As we got off the bus every person wanted to hug you or hold your hand and honestly it made me feel so welcome and appreciated. My first day consisted of a tour around the centre and a brief history, working in the gardens and working in the youth centre. We walked to the tree where Sr. Ethel began this amazing journey with this community 31 years ago. We were told about the story behind the tree and everything it represented. This tree is the embodiment of the Missionvale story, which is why it is one thing I’ll never forget.

I found it easy to integrate with the children. Every time they saw any of us they would run so fast you’d think their legs would fall off. I loved that when they would see you, they would smile and wave, sprint towards you, jump up and wrap their hands around your neck. It hit me with a feeling of joy like I’d never experienced before. The children wanted to know my name and they would keep repeating it until they had perfected it. They wanted to take pictures of me and of themselves and of their friends. Once or twice I talked to some of them and they would say something that was quite hard to hear. One boy asked me if both my parents were alive and was utterly shocked when my answer was yes. It’s hard to understand and believe how death could be such a normal thing to children so young, but it is. On our last day in the Centre we were saying goodbye to everyone and all of the kids were scrambling to get something to remember us by. One of my friends, Malayzi, asked could she have my socks so she would never forget me. A thing as mundane and simple as my socks was all this girl wanted. I’ll never forget that.

One thing that really struck me was, one day, we went on home visits with the community care-workers and we went to one particular house where the woman living there was dying. She was near to death, perhaps a few weeks from it, but she invited us into her home and into her room where she couldn’t move much because she was bedridden. She used so much energy explaining to us, through tears, how happy she usually is, sitting up and making jokes. However she apologized for her appearance and form because on that day she was in too much pain. I couldn’t understand how someone would apologize to foreign strangers for not being in a better mood, but that’s the way these amazing people are. They care about us even though they don’t know us.

My week in Missionvale consisted of singing, laughter, tears, guilt and appreciation. Singing every morning at devotions was incredible. The workers in the Care Centre would sing songs of hope and thanks to God and anyone who has helped them. Laughter usually followed anytime we attempted to sing a song, but there was one or two good renditions of Travelling Soldier and Ireland’s Call. Our last day in Missionvale was characterized by tears, tears of joy, thanks and sorrow. Guilt was something I felt a lot of. Guilt and privilege were hard to deal with when you saw how little the people had but how happy they were to have it. However guilt is a useless emotion if dwell too much on it. I tried to turn my guilt to appreciation for everything I have.

Finally Sr. Ethel, she is a walking saint and the epitome of greatness. She is kind, loving, formidable and strong. She has built a community like no other. My week in Missionvale has been one of the best times of my life.

St. Anne’s Community College Killaloe (3-14) v (0-19) Clonakilty Community College

Corn Risteard Ui Mhathuna Group E (19 C H) Round 3

Tournafulla 12:30 PM

On Wednesday, St. Anne’s Senior boys continued their campaign with another win in the group stage of the Munster Hurling Championship. They had a hard fought win against Clonakilty Community College with a score line of 3-14 to 0-19. St Anne’s took control early in the first half when a high ball was sent into the full forward, Dylan McMahon, and he scored a brilliant point over the heads of the full back line. This started St Anne’s purple patch early in the first half, with follow up points from Eoghan Power, Davy Boland and more from Dylan McMahon. Clonakilty only managed 4 points during the opening 10 minutes. 15 minutes into the first half, a dirty ball dropped in around the square, only to be won by Dylan McMahon, who fought well and had a superb finish into the bottom corner of the Clonakilty net. This brought the gap to 1-5 to 0-4. Clonakilty came back at us but brilliant defence was shown by Mike Gough and Tommy Walsh. Clonakilty only managed to score 2 points because of the wonderful defence. Shortly after, Kian Donnelly scored a wonderful point from the 45. Following this, Kian also scored a well worked goal when Darren Bowe and Eoghan Power showed great work rate to supply a ball into Kian that he then struck from the 21 yard line and it nestled into the top right corner of the net. This was followed by a dry a spell from St. Anne’s. Clonakilty took advantage of this, and managed 5 points on the bounce. The gap between the teams was narrowing with the score line of 2-7 to 0-11. 25 minutes into the first half, as it looked like Clonakilty had fought their way back into the game, a super goal came from Dylan McMahon shortly followed by another brilliant point from Kian Donnelly. This brought the half time score to 3-8 to 0-11.

                St Anne’s made some changes at half time. Kian Donnelly was moved out from centre forward to full forward, and Dylan McMahon was brought out the field. Clonakilty came back in the second half and controlled play for the first 15 minutes. Although controlling play, they only managed 3 points during this time. St Anne’s made some more changes with Dara King coming on for Robbie Breen. Dara was moved out to midfield and Matthew Power was moved into corner forward. St Anne’s finally responded with a point from Davy Boland. The score line was now 3-9 to 0-14. St Anne’s fought hard in the back line and a brilliant save was made by James Power 20 minutes into the second half, denying Clonakilty their first goal chance. Clonakilty continued to put St Anne’s under pressure but they fought hard and always kept Clonakilty to within a 1 or 2 point gap, due to brilliant defending from the half back line of Sam Loughran, Evan Connolly and Mike Geogh. Clonakilty continued  to progress but scores from Eoghan Power, Evan Connolly, Dylan McMahon and Matthew Power kept St Anne’s in the lead. With one minute remaining in the game, St Anne’s conceded a 21 yard. Due to backchat it was moved directly in front of the goal. Luckily, the Clonakilty full forward struck this chance wide to end the game 3-14 to 0-19.

                This win means that we are now into the quarter final and this is in no small part to a great defensive performance, highlighted by stellar performances from Eanna McNamara, James Hanley and Mikey Gough. Our midfield pairing of Eoghan Power and Matthew Power got through some great work while Dylan McMahon, Davy Boland and Kian Donnelly showed some excellent skills throughout. It was a very workmanlike performance and we are looking forward to the next round.

Man of the Match: Dylan McMahon

Team:  James Power, Eanna McNamara, James Hanley, Tommy Walsh, Mike Gough, Sam Loughran, Evan Connolly, Eoghan Power, Matthew Power, Davy Boland, Kian Donnelly, Darren Bowe, Robbie Breen, Dylan McMahon, Tony Seymour

Substitutions: Dara King for Robbie Breen, Dylan Nolan for Tony Seymour.

Scores:  Dylan McMahon 2-5, Kian Donnelly 1-2, Eoghan Power 0-2, Davy Boland 0-2, Matthew Power 0-1, Evan Connolly 0-1

Although the week just past was mid-term break for many this did not stop the local Ballina GAA community turning out to show its support on Tuesday and Wednesday last for the 4 students from St. Anne’s Community College travelling with the school to Missionvale Township in Port Elizabeth South Africa in February 2019. A GAA camp was organised by Veronica Power and her very able team of Eileen Breen, Brid McMahon, Eamon Power, Brendan McKeogh, Sean O’ Maolain, Conor Maguire, Michael Hurley, and a team of committed teenagers who helped with the coaching of the primary school children and ensured an enjoyable and worthwhile experience was had by all the attendees. Such is the solidarity within the GAA community that county boundaries were set aside as recently appointed Clare GAA Camogie Coach and Clonlara stalwart Ger O’ Connell put the young people through their paces. All involved were foremost in their praise for the Missionvale project and gave of their expertise, time and commitment freely and selflessly over the two day camp.

Both hurling and football skills took centre stage as a variety of drills and matches and skills were demonstrated and the children put through their paces by the coaches and teenagers.

The 4 students travelling with the school, James Power (Ballina), Devlin Staunton (Ballina), Alison McGee (Ogonnelloe) and Dylan McMahon (Clonlara), are themselves no strangers to GAA exploits with James a proud Ballina man and Dylan just fresh from the Clonlara Minors’ victory in the Willie Chaplin Cup. The young children in Missionvale can look forward to a demonstration of hurling, football and camogie from these 4 in 2019.

The generosity of Ballina GAA Club in allowing the use of their facilities and for getting behind the students in their fundraising efforts for Missionvale is strong evidence of the contribution the GAA makes to the local community, its schools and its young people. They can be justifiably proud of the teenagers and young people involved who are a credit to their clubs, schools and localities be that in Tipperary, Limerick or Clare. The example set by the adults who organised and ran the camp is praiseworthy and a fantastic one for the young people to witness. Next on the Missionvale fundraising schedule is a Table Quiz in O’ Donovan’s Ballina on Saturday November 10^th next.

PHOTOGRAPHS:

LEFT TO RIGHT.

Photo Above:

James Power (Ballina), Ger O’ Connell (Clare Camogie Coach and Clonlara), Devlin Staunton (Ballina), Alison McGee (Ogonnelloe), Brendan O’ Brien (St. Anne’s).

Devlin Staunton (Ballina), Alison McGee (Ogonnelloe), Ger O’ Connell (Clare Camogie Coach and Clonlara).

Missing from both photos is Dylan McMahon (Clonlara).