Mercy Ballymahon News

May 9, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

GAA

Hard luck to our Senior Boys who had a disappointing defeat against Moyne C.S. in the McGee Cup Final last week. Well done to the same team on their win over Mercy Kilbeggan in the Leinster League semi-final. They now proceed to the League Final in the coming weeks. Thanks to coaches Mr Nerney and Shane Kenny.

Basketball

Well done to our 2nd year boys’ basketball team who recently won the semi-final of the plate with a nail-biting, extra time, 1 point victory against C & P College, Kilcullen. They showed tremendous nerve in extra time to come away with the victory. Unfortunately, they lost out in the final by 2 points in a very exciting game against Coláiste Íosagáin, Portarlington. Thank you to coaches Mr Guerin and Mr Gately.

TY News

Last week our students enjoyed kayaking on the Royal Canal in association with Longford Sports Partnership. Many of our TY girls also enjoyed a boxercise class with Mags from Longford Sports Partnership. Meanwhile, students participating in Gaisce this year completed their Adventure Journey which included a walk at Corlea Bog Amenity and a sleepover in our school gym.

Fun in the Sun! Mercy Ballymahon students enjoy kayaking on the Royal Canal with Longford Sports Partnership.

Trócaire Talk

Last week we welcomed Joe Murphy, a volunteer from Trócaire, to talk to our 6th, 5th and TY students. He stressed the importance of how one person's actions and contributions make a big difference, the work of Trócaire, the benefits of volunteering, and other global injustice topics. We thank Joe for sharing his knowledge and passion for positive change for the future.

Mercy Ballymahon students Ava Breslin, Pharrell Philips and Alanna Moorhead present Joe Murphy, a volunteer with Trócaire, with a cheque for €400.

State Exams

Well done to our Junior Cycle Home Ec Students and our Leaving Cert Music students who recently completed their practical exams. Best of luck to our Junior Cycle Music students who will complete their practical exams in the coming days.

Mercy Ballymahon News

April 23, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

JCPA

Congratulations to our Junior Cycle Class of 2023 who received their JCPA (Junior Cert Profiles of Achievement) last week. The JCPA records student achievements in a number of assessment elements undertaken over the junior cycle, including their grades in the state examinations.

Smiles all round as Mercy Ballymahon students receive their Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement!

CEIST Conference

Orla Manning (TY), Kyle Bermingham (5th yr) and Laoise Hanly (5th yr) attended the CEIST Leadership Conference on DCU’s St.Pat’s Campus Drumcondra on Wednesday last. The students learned about the great initiatives which are happening in other CEIST schools around the country and picked up some great ideas which we could adapt to our school.

Hi Digital Programme

Well done to Transition Year students Erin Donnelly, Niamh Chester, Sarah Skelly, Leah Bawle, Jude Assiaw Harnett, Jane Mulvey, Grace Kelly, Orla Manning, Nicole Phelan, Subi Deko and Mirabel Joseph who are working with participants of the Vodafone Foundation Hi Digital course each week at The Yard Hub in Abbeyshrule. The TY mentors have been helping the eager learners to improve their digital confidence when using their devices.This is a fantastic initiative, aimed at narrowing the digital divide in a society that is becoming more and more technology dependent. Thank you to John Kelly from The Yard Hub in Abbeyshrule for facilitating and to Mr Seery for organising.

TY News

Congratulations to David Rosolowski who secured 2nd place in the National TY Short Story Competition with his story entitled "The Sicilian Vendetta ". A fantastic achievement David, well done! All TY students recently enjoyed a trip to Dublin Zoo. Thank you to Mr Seery for organising and to teachers Mr Sammon, Mr Nerney, Ms Colgan and Ms O’Donoghue for supervising on the day. Last week, students enjoyed a fascinating talk from Gambling and Addiction counsellor Tony O’Reilly (aka Tony 10). Thank you Tony for sharing your story and raising awareness about gambling and addiction. Congratulations to all our students participating in the Big Idea Competition. They have completed projectson diversity and inclusion, cost of living, and mental health. We now look forward to the Big Ideas Showcase Event on the 10th of May.

Athletics

Sligo ATU hosted a North Connacht Track & Field event on Thursday last. We had students represent us in a number of disciplines including javelin, long jump, shot put and sprints. Events were run off as heats and while we were successful in securing 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in our heats, we will have to wait for the top times to see if we have progressed to the Connacht finals.

Mercy Ballymahon News

April 8, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

Easter Raffle

A huge thank you to all families who supported our annual Easter Raffle which took place on Friday March 22nd. There were fabulous prizes on offer including hampers and vouchers. Winners were as follows: 1st Prize Gerry Griffin, 2nd prize Geraldine Nevin, 3rd prize Oliver Farrell, 4th prize Matthew Gillen, 5th prize Elaine Murray, 6th prize Seamus Mulvihill, 7th prize Sean Nash and our winning seller was Rebecca Barry. All funds collected will be used in the development of our school pitch. We thank you all for your contributions.

Equestrian

Huge congratulations to our Equestrian team who competed in Coilóg in the All Ireland Inter Schools Equestrian Final on Sunday 24th March. Our Open Team (consisting of Katie Duignan, Ella Duignan, Calum Duignan and Grace Egan) placed 2nd and placed 4th in Ireland in the overall league, meaning they qualified to represent our school in Balmoral in May. In the individual classes, Calum also placed 2nd in the 1 metre class and 6th in Ireland and Katie placed 2nd in the 1m10 class. Super days jumping! Thank you to Mr Mulvihill for coordinating our equestrian team. We would also like to thank our sponsor Anthony O’Haire Bus Hire for the support.

Basketball

Last week our 1st and 2nd year boys’ basketball teams secured great wins against the Marist, Athlone. Well done lads and coaches Mr Guerin,Mr Gately and Mr Mahon. A lovely win to start off the Easter break.

Road Safety

We thank members of An Garda Síochana from the Roads Policing Unit Longford who spoke to our 6th year pupils about Road Safety last week. The talk raised awareness about the importance of wearing your seatbelt. An invaluable presentation for both drivers and passengers.

TY Activities

Well done to TY students Grace Kelly, Mirabel Joseph, Julia Rosolowska, Aoife Bannister, Nicole Phelan, Subi Deko, Orla Manning and Katie Doyle who represented the school in the National Finals of the LEGO League Champions competition in Dublin last weekend. A fantastic achievement. Last week, all TY students visited TUS Athlone where they enjoyed a campus tour and sports day. Thanks to teachers Ms O’Neill, Ms Walsh, Mr McCormack and Mr Gately for accompanying them. Students also visited Lough Key in Roscommon where they enjoyed Boda Borg and orienteering. Thank you to their teachers Ms Costello, Mr Mulvihill, Mr Burke and Ms Gilleran for joining them on the day.

After School Study

The final team of After School study will begin after Easter on Monday 8th April and will run until Thursday 30th May. All registration details can be found on the school’s website.

Mercy Ballymahon News

March 19, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

Seachtain na Gaeilge

Last week we celebrated Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024. Activities took place in all Irish classes including céilí dancing, quizzes, poster competitions and more. On Wednesday, 6th year students attended the ‘Caith Amach É’ workshop in preparation for their Irish orals. On Thursday, we had our annual Lá Glas. Students dressed in green on the day and a prize was given to the following students who put in a special effort: Freya White (1st year), Rebecca Casey (2nd year), Caolán O’Hanlon (3rd year), Mirabel Joseph (TY), Sarah Keegan (5th year) and Femi Olajide (6th year). A huge thank you to all musicians and Irish dancers who performed on the day. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

Lá Glas celebrations at Mercy Ballymahon - Students Sarah Maguire, Isabel Finn, Emily Ryan, Shauna Maguire, Rebecca Casey, Anna Mulvey and Maeve Flood performing for staff and students in the lead up to St. Patrick’s Day.

English Trip

Last week Ms Gaffney's and Ms Fitzmaurice's 5th year classes travelled to Dublin's historic Gaiety Theatre to see a production of their Leaving Cert Single Text, John B. Keane's "Sive". A fantastic day was had by all.

**Mercy Ballymahon students enjoyed a production of their Leaving Cert Single Text *Sive* in Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre last week.**

Agricultural Science

5th and 6th year Ag. Science students had a great day last Thursday on their Ag. Science trip to David Beattie's Sheep School in Cavan, Michael Cadden’s Lely Robotic Dairy farm in Cavan and Donal Brady's Rotary Dairy and Piggery in Longford. Thanks to all the farmers for giving invaluable information to the students and allowing them to have a tour of their farms. Thanks also to Ms Murphy for organising.

TY Activities

Well done to all our TY Students who participated in the Student Enterprise Programme this year. A special well done to Edie Hogan and Hannah O'Sullivan who picked up an award for the best business report while Carla McGrath, Ellen Hawes and Sophie Warnock came second overall for their 'self-care boxes'. Last week, TY students completed a First Aid course with Franky Wright. Meanwhile, TY students Grace Kelly, Mirabel Joseph, Julia Rosolowska, Aoife Bannister, Nicole Phelan, Subi Deko, Orla Manning and Katie Doyle are busy preparing for the National Finals of the LEGO League Champions competition which will take place in Dublin next weekend. We wish them the very best of luck.

Athletics

Well done to TY student Robin Óg Murphy and 6th Year student Aisling Lane who are competing in Dudince, Slovakia, at the European Racewalk Tour. This event can be used as a qualifier for the European Youth Championships later in this year. Results to follow.

Soccer

Hard luck to our U19 boys soccer team who suffered a disappointing defeat on Wednesday last against Kilbeggan in the West Leinster Soccer Final.The game finished 3-3 after extra time but we unfortunately lost out on penalties. Hard luck to the lads and thank you to teachers Ms Noone and Ms Quinn.

Easter

All families have been given a Raffle card for our annual Easter Raffle which will take place on Friday March 22nd. There are fabulous prizes on offer including hampers and vouchers. All information can be found on our social media. School closes for the Easter Holidays next Friday March 22nd. School will reopen on Monday 8th April. We wish everyone a lovely Easter break.

Mercy Ballymahon News

March 13, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

International Day

On Friday 8th March we celebrated our annual International Day. Nearly 30 different countries were represented on the day by our student body. In the run up to the day, students engaged in international cookery demonstrations, class quizzes and language lessons. A huge thank you to Ms Fox and the student council for organising the week’s events. We are very lucky to have such a diverse school community.

Retreat

Last week our 3rd years engaged in a religious retreat with The Holy Family Mission. The retreat provided a wonderful opportunity to explore their questions of faith and meaning while engaging in interactive games and activities.Thank you to Mr Jones for organising.

Geography News

Our first year Geography students enjoyed a trip to the Marble Arch Caves in Co. Fermanagh last week to undergo investigations of caves and rocks as part of the Geography curriculum.Thank you to teachers Ms Curley, Ms Casey and Ms McLoughlin for accompanying them. Thank you also to Joe Flaherty TD for taking time out of his busy schedule to speak to over 75 senior Geography students on urban change in our local area last week.Students enjoyed an informative and enjoyable talk and learned vital information for human geography. Thank you to teachers Ms Casey, Ms Curley and Mr Tansey for organising.

Gaelic Football

Well done to our Senior Boys who had a one point win against St. Mel’s college last week. Meanwhile, hard luck to our U16 Boys who were defeated in the North Leinster Shield Final against O'Carolan College, Nobber. Despite leading by four points at half time, we couldn't overcome a strong breeze in the second half. Well done to the lads for their effort and commitment all year. Commiserations also to our 1st year boys who were defeated by Moyne CS and our U14 girls who lost out to Rochfortbridge last week.

Soccer

Hard Luck to our U15 Boys Soccer team who lost out to St. Michael's College, Dublin, in the Leinster Quarter Final. The lads lost out on a scoreline of 4-2 with our goals coming from David Rowan and Ryan Kenny. Thanks to coaches Ms. Beirne and Mr. Flynn.

Junk Kouture

Well done to our 5th Year student Laura Glancy who took part in the Junk Kouture Regional Finals in the Helix in Dublin last week. Her amazing design was titled ‘Warrior’. Well done Laura.

Mercy Ballymahon News

March 1, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

Senior GAA

It was a sad end to a wonderful journey for our Senior GAA team and management who faced Tarbert Comprehensive, Kerry, in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Saturday last. The team travelled to Clarecastle GAA, Co. Clare, where they were marginally defeated in extra time after a fantastic come back in injury time. Huge congratulations to the whole panel for all they have achieved this year and thank you to their dedicated coaches Mr Nerney and Shane Kenny for all the time they have given to this team throughout the year.

Athletics

Congratulations to Robin Óg Murphy and Ryan Kenny who represented the school at the Connacht cross country final last Wednesday. Both have now qualified for the national finals, Robin Óg finishing in 6th place and Ryan finishing in 10th place. Thank you to Ms Fox and Ms Moran for coordinating athletics in the school.

Interschools

Well done to Katie, Ella and Calum Duignan who represented the school at Boswell Equestrian Centre on the 17th February and Ower Equestrian on the 18th February. At Boswell, they placed 4th in the Open team while Katie placed 1st and Ella 3rd in the 1.10. At Ower, they placed 1st in the Open teams, with Katie placing 1st in the 1.10. Katie, Ella and Callum Duignan and Grace Egan also represented the school on Sunday last at Wexford Equestrian Centre. Results to follow. Thank you to Mr Mulvihill for coordinating the school’s equestrian team.

2nd year retreat

On Wednesday last our 2nd year students enjoyed a religious retreat with An Tobar Nua. The focus of the retreat was on developing the student's overall well-being and encouraging faith in an interactive, relatable, fun and contemporary manner. The aim of the day was to inspire young people to discover meaning, value and purpose in their lives. Students really enjoyed the interactive games, quizzes and music. Thank you to Mr Jones for organising.

TY work experience

Last week our Transition Year students engaged in a week of work experience. A huge thank you to all employers and businesses who provided our students the opportunity to work in various places of work. Without you, our students would not receive such invaluable experience.

Mercy Ballymahon News

February 27, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

Leinster Champions

Well done to our Senior GAA team and now Leinster Champions who were victorious in the Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior ‘C’ football championship final on Friday last. Earlier last week they defeated Coláiste Bhríde Carnew in the semi-final on a final score of 0-15 to 0-09 before taking on Dublin’s Gaelcholáiste Reachrann in the final. The match took place at St. Loman’s 3G Pitch, Mullingar, and ended on a final score of 3-08 to 1-07. Huge congratulations to the whole panel and to their dedicated coaches Mr Nerney and Shane Kenny.

LEGO League Champions

Huge Congratulations to our TY Regional Champions ‘Team Garfield’ who were crowned overall winners at the TUS Athlone Regional Finals of the First Lego League on Thursday last. The team consisted of TY students Grace Kelly, Mirabel Joseph, Julia Rosolowska, Aoife Bannister, Nicole Phelan, Subi Deko, Orla Manning and Katie Doyle. The team will now represent the school in the National Finals in Dublin in March. Well done to all involved and thank you to Mr Seery for accompanying the girls on the day.

Mercy Ballymahon TY students Grace Kelly, Mirabel Joseph, Julia Rosolowska, Aoife Bannister, Nicole Phelan, Subi Deko, Orla Manning and Katie Doyle who were overall winners at the TUS Athlone Regional Finals of the First Lego League on Thursday last.

Interschools

Well done to Katie, Ella and Calum Duignan on placing first in the Open Team category of the Interschools Competition at Broadmeadow Equestrian Centre last week. Special mention to Katie Duignan who placed 1st in the Open individual. A fantastic day of jumping for all involved. Thank you to Mr Mulvihill for organising.

Afterschool Study

Term 4 of Afterschool study will begin after Midterm on Monday 19th February and will run until Thursday 21st March. All registration details can be found on the school’s website.

Mercy Ballymahon News

February 12, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

Ceiliúradh Ceist

On Thursday 1st February we celebrated Ceiliúradh Ceist, an annual celebration in CEIST schools. This year, the theme of the celebration was ‘Home, School and Parish – Working together.’ A number of activities took place throughout the day which fell on the feast of St. Brigid. We welcomed staff and service users from St. Christopher’s in Longford to our school and they enjoyed making St. Brigid’s crosses with our students. Mr. Rob Halford (CEIST) also visited our school. We also marked the day with the opening of our school walkway - ‘The Mercy Way’. This walkway has been created in memory of former school principal and teacher Sr. Mary Kerrane. It was made possible by a very generous donation from Mr. Joe Kerrane, Sr. Mary’s brother, which helped towards the funding of the walkway. Sr. Mary was a very keen walker throughout her life and we feel it is a fitting tribute in her memory. Joe’s wife Monica and nephew James Hamm attended the opening. Also in attendance were Ms. Teresa Fallon, Chairperson of BoM, Sisters of Mercy- Sr. Assumpta Falkner, Sr. Úna Purcell, Sr. Dympna Cassells, Sr. Maura Faye and Sr. Maura Conlan. Fr. Liam Murray blessed the walkway and Niall Dowler, who did the construction, was also present .

Opening of ‘The Mercy Way’ walkway at Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon in memory of former principal and teacher Sr. Mary Kerrane.

**Back row: James Hamm, Rob Halford (CEIST), Martha O’Reilly, Fr. Liam Murray, Gary Kenny, Teresa Fallon (Chairperson of BOM), Niall Dowler. Front row: Joe Kerrane, Monica Kerrane, Josephine Donohue.**

Back row: Mr. Rob Halford (CEIST), Martha O’Reilly, James Hamm, Fr. Liam Murray, Gerry Griffin, Sarah Maguire, Sr. Dympna, Gráinne Minogue, Sr. Úna, Jane Mulvey, Teresa Fallon, Niall Dowler, Josephine Donohue, Gary Kenny. Front row: Joe Kerrane, Monica Kerrane, Sr. Maura, Sr. Assumpta, Sr. Maura.

Athletics

Congratulations to all athletes who participated in the North Connacht Cross Country Event in Ballymote on Tuesday 30th January. Four of our athletes have qualified for the Connacht final; Conor Murtagh, Kevin Óg Murphy, Robin Óg Murphy (2nd - intermediate girls) and Ryan Kenny (3rd - minor boys). Well done to everyone and thank you to Ms Moran and Ms Fox for organising.

Gaelic Football

Well done to our U14 boys who had a one point victory over St. Ciarán’s Kells in the North Leinster semi-final last week. The final score MSS Ballymahon 2-09 to St Ciaran’s 3-05. The boys will now play in the North Leinster Final this week against St. Mary’s Drogheda. Meanwhile, best of luck to our U14 LGFA team who will play Scoil Mhuire Longford tomorrow.

Safe Pass

Last week nineteen of our senior students had the wonderful opportunity of completing Safe Pass Training, in association with the Construction Federation of Ireland. This consisted of a one day safety awareness programme which is mandatory for construction workers. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are very grateful to have received this fantastic opportunity. Thank you to Mr Seery for organising.

Basketball News

Well done to our 1st and 2nd year girls who were victorious again last week, both teams beating Our Lady’s, The Bower. Well done to the team and coaches Mr McGivney and Ms Nally. Well done also to out 1st years boys who secured a fantastic win against St Mel’s. Final score 39 -15.

Afterschool Study

Term 4 of Afterschool study will begin after Midterm on Monday 19th February and will run until Thursday 21st March. All registration details can be found on the school’s website.

Mercy Ballymahon News

January 30, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

Basketball News

Well done to our 1st and 2nd year girls’ basketball teams who won competitive games against Tullamore College last week. They displayed great teamwork and shooting. Well done to coaches Ms Nally and Mr McGivney. Unfortunately, the U19 team lost in the Midlands A Plate final against a very strong Pipers Hill College team. The girls can be proud of their efforts and gave everything they had from start to finish. Thank you to coaches Mr McGivney and Ms Cribben. Meanwhile, our U16 boys basketballers beat Rochfortbridge in the final in Portlaoise. The boys demonstrated some excellent composure in the final few minutes in a tight game with often 1 point separating the sides to win on a scoreline of 35-27. Well done to the lads and their coaches Mr. Guerin and Mr. Gately.

Mercy Ballymahon’s U19 girls’ team who played in the Midlands A Plate final last week pictured with coaches Ms Cribben and Mr McGivney.

Soccer News

Well Done to our U15 Boys’ Soccer team on winning the West Leinster Cup last week with a 1-0 victory over Oaklands College, our only goal coming from Ryan Kenny. The lads now progress to the Leinster Competition. Thanks to Mr Flynn and Ms Beirne for their continued hard work with the group.

Mercy Ballymahon’s U15 Soccer team who won The West Leinster Cup last week.

Catholic Schools Week

Last week we celebrated Catholics Schools Week 2024, focusing on various communities of service; Community of Friends, Our School Community, Our Family Community, Our Local Community and Our Faith Community. During the week our 5th years enjoyed an excellent retreat with An Tobar Nua. We are also preparing for Céiliúradh Ceist on Thursday 1st February, the theme of which will be ‘Home, School and Parish – Working together.’ Thank you to our religion department for their work in preparation for this.

TY News

All TY students are engaging in sports leadership workshops in association with Longford Sports Partnership. Thank you to Brendan for facilitating. Last week, TY classes also completed a Law workshop in the school when students engaged in a full day workshop about how our legal system works and also participated in Mock Trials.

Parent Teacher meeting

Thank you to all parents of 1st years who attended our Subject Learning Review Meeting on Thursday last. Our next meeting for parents will take place on Thursday March 7th for parents of Transition Years.

Mock Exams

Mock exams began on Friday January 26th for Leaving Certs and will begin on Thursday February 1st for Junior Cycle students. Well done to our 1st year students who made cards for their 6th year ‘buddies’ to wish them luck in their mocks as part of the ‘Best Buddies’ programme. Thank you to Ms Fox for organising.

Mercy Ballymahon News

January 22, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

GAA

Congratulations to our Senior Boys GAA team who had a fantastic victory against St. Ciarán’s Kells in the North Leinster Final last week. The game took place at Multyfarnham GAA grounds and ended on a final score of 1-7 to 1-5. The lads now advance to the Leinster semi-final. We wish them and their coaches Mr Shane Kenny and Mr Nerney the very best of luck.

Bí Cineálta

Last week we celebrated Bí Cineálta week. Bí Cineálta is the Irish for Be Kind. Throughout the week we stressed the importance of being kind to each other and to ourselves. Students engaged in RE lessons focusing on kindness and compassion while students, parents and teachers were surveyed on the school’s anti-bullying policy while Student Council Members shared important ‘Thoughts for the day’ on the intercom. Teachers gave commendations to students throughout the week noting their positive behaviour and kind gestures. The classes which came out on top of the leaderboard in each year group were 1B, 2A, 3E, TYB, a joint win for 5B,5C and 5D, and 6C.

TY News

TY students from Mercy Ballymahon pictured with representatives from Center Parcs Longford Forest after engaging in a HR workshop.

All TY students are engaging in coaching workshops in association with Longford Sports Partnership. Thank you to Brendan for facilitating. Last week, TY classes also received a school visit from Paul Cleary, Educational and Community officer at Dogs Trust Midlands. Center Parcs Longford Forest and their HR Department also visited the school to facilitate a workshop on how to complete job application forms and CVs. An excellent opportunity for our students, many of whom hope to do work experience in Center Parcs.

Gael Linn Debates

Comhghairdeas to Cara Taplin, Evie Higgins and Sandra Stasiowska who participated in Gael Linn’s debating competition in Coláiste Pobail Átha Luain last week. Students competed against Athlone CC, The Bower and Roscommon CC. Maith sibh a chairde! Thank you to Ms Fox who mentored the students.

Mock Exams

Information regarding Mock exams for 3rd and 6th years has been uploaded on our school website and social media platforms. Please check timetables for the exams which begin this Friday January 26th for Leaving Certs and Thursday February 1st for Junior Cycle students.

Mercy Ballymahon News

January 15, 2024 Mercy School Ballymahon

LGFA

Commiserations to our U16 LGFA team who lost out to a strong Eureka Kells side in the Leinster Final on Thursday last. Well done to the girls and their coaches Ms Duffy and Ms Gilleran. It is a fantastic achievement to make it to the Leinster Final and we are all very proud of you.

GAA

Well done to our Senior Boys GAA team who had a great win against St. Mary’s Drogheda in the North Leinster Semi-Final last week on a final score of 2-9 to 1-5. The lads now advance to the North Leinster final next week to face Kells. We wish the lads and coaches Mr Shane Kenny and Mr Nerney the best of luck.

Basketball

Well done to our U16 boys who had a strong win over Pipers hill of Kildare on Thursday and now march on to yet another final for this group. The boys were victorious on a scoreline of 43 to 27 with some excellent displays all round. Thanks to coaches Mr. Guerin and Mr. Gately. Well done also to our U19 girls team who had a fantastic win over The Bower, Athlone, on a score line of 45 to 38. Well done to the girls and coaches Ms Cribben and Mr McGivney.

TY News

Last week all TY students took part in a hands-on driving education programme! Students had the opportunity to drive a vehicle with a qualified instructor and are also learning about changing wheels safely, experiencing ‘Beer Goggles’, using Sat navigation systems, the driver theory test, buying & taxing a vehicle & much more. Thank you to Bootcamp Driving School Longford and Irish School of Excellence for facilitating. Students are also enjoying coaching training with Longford Sports Partnership. Thank you to Brendan for facilitating.

Subject Learning Review

Thank you to all 5th year students and their parents for attending our subject learning review meeting last week. Our next meeting will take place on Thursday January 25th for 1st year students and their parents.

Mock Exams

Information regarding Mock exams for 3rd and 6th years has been uploaded on our school website and social media platforms. Please check timetables for the exams which begin on Friday January 26th for Leaving Certs and Thursday February 1st for Junior Cycle students.

Mercy Ballymahon News

December 5, 2023 Mercy School Ballymahon

School Walk

Last week we had our annual school walk. This is an annual fundraising event for our school. Students and staff enjoyed a 5km walk along our walkway on the school grounds and the Royal Canal Greenway. Thank you to everyone who sponsored our students.

GAA

Well done to our U16 boys who made an excellent start in the championship last week with a 3-09 to 0-09 victory over Athlone Community College. Well done also to our U14 footballers who advance to the semi-finals of the championship after a hard fought encounter versus St. Oliver’s, Oldcastle, last week. Final Score: Mercy Ballymahon 6-04 Oldcastle 3-09.

Mercy Ballymahon’s U16 boys who started their championship last week with a victory over Athlone Community College.

Soccer

Well done to our Senior boys soccer team on their convincing win against Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, last week. Captained by Dan Devlin, the lads fought hard but were held at bay by the Strokestown defence. A beautiful ball from Josh Kelly set up the first goal for Rian O’Boyle. Not long after, O’Boyle returned the favour by crossing the ball back to Josh for the 2nd goal of the match. Into the second half, Mercy were showing dominance in midfield with players like Taylor Slevin making a big difference for them offensively. Coming up to the conclusion of the match Cormac McGann displayed excellent technique, flicking the ball over his defender and finishing them off with one last goal. Huge thanks to their coaches Mrs. Noone and Ms. Quinn. Final Score: Strokestown 0-3 Mercy. Report: Thomas Gallagher, TY.

The B¡g Idea

Lucia Hoystead, Lily Leonard and Demi Deko (5th Year), along with their teacher Mrs Beirne, attended the Big idea Accelerator Programme 2023. Having won the overall category of Hidden Poverty and received an award for their achievements, the team were invited to attend the event. Their idea for the development of an app, Incognation, was to build an online community and provide information, resources and support for people experiencing hidden poverty. It was a wonderful event that involved meeting the MP Maria Walsh and other mentors to continue the development of their idea. Team Immoderate did a fantastic job on their pitch and received positive feedback from three representing judges.

Local History Trip

Last week our Senior History class visited Ballymahon Library. This building, built 1819 - 1926, by the architect Samuel Mullen, was designed to fulfil two specific roles, that of courthouse and market house. The market house was situated on the ground floor and the court house, including solicitor's and judge's rooms and courtroom, was located on the first floor. Thank you to Ballymahon Library for having us and to our history department for organising.

Science Quiz

On Friday 17th November our 2nd year students took part in our annual junior science quiz held in our school canteen. A number of rounds were completed and overall the winners were Maria Glennon, Lisa McMonagle and Olere Momoh. In 2nd place we had Iggy Klimski, Adrian Bochenek , Lukasz Podlecki and Kornel Pianka. In 3rd place we had Armandas Labasauskas, Szymon Pietkiewicz , Kamil Wilkosz and Oliver Hajdrich. Well done to all.

Christmas Exams

Christmas exams began for our 5th years last Friday December 1st while our 1st and 2nd years started their exams on Monday. Best of luck to all students.

Think Languages Week

Last week we celebrated #ThinkLanguages week, an initiative to celebrate languages and cultures and to promote foreign language learning. Throughout the week, TYs participates in activities such as an opening ceremony, webinars, a nationwide interactive quiz, multicultural art classes, international cookery classes, dance classes and language taster sessions conducted by our own TY native speakers.

Mercy Ballymahon News

November 27, 2023 Mercy School Ballymahon

Leinster Final

Congratulations to our U16 LGFA team who had a fantastic win against Coláiste Íosagáin, Stillorgan, in the Leinster semi-final last week. The girls now progress to the Leinster Final; details to be confirmed. Thank you to their coaches Ms Duffy and Ms Gilleran.

GAA

Well done to our Senior GAA team who secured a win against Moyne CS last week. Final score Mercy Ballymahon 3:13 to Moyne 1:15. This result means we top the group and await a draw to see who we play next. Well done to the lads and their coaches Mr Nerney and Mr Shane Kenny. Our U14 boys had a very competitive and useful game against Ballymahon Vocational School last week.Many panel members made big impressions on the game and have given Mr. Kenny and Mr. Jones selection dilemmas ahead of Thursday’s Championship quarter final.

Basketball

Congratulations to the U16 boys who defeated Ballymahon Vocational School last week by narrow margins. After a tight first two quarters, the boys pulled away with some excellent 3 point shooting from Ben O’ Shea and Rory Murtagh. The boys now march on with a home tie in the semi-final. Thanks to their coaches Mr. Guerin and Mr. Gately.

Art Trip

Our talented 5th and 6th year art students enjoyed an incredible graffiti art street tour in Dublin City last week. Starting at The Grand Social on Liffey Street and winding through the vibrant streets, we delved into the rich histories of Street Art and Graffiti, exploring the nuances that make each form unique. From colourful murals to thought-provoking tags, our students got an immersive 2 hour journey, culminating in Love Lane, Temple Bar. Thanks to Alternative Dublin City for an enlightening experience and to their teachers Ms Cribben and Ms Noone.

Science Quiz

Well done to nine of our 6th year students who took part in the Annual ISTA Regional Science Quiz, held at TUS Athlone on Thursday 16th November. Our team of Shauna Maguire, Tobiasz Gajdoes and Kieran O’Dowd took 3rd place and after a nail-biting tie break. Meanwhile, our team of Hugh Denniston, Roughan Featherstone and Daniel Cox qualified in 4th place. Both teams qualify for the National finals, to be held in Trinity College Dublin on the 2nd December. Our final team of Emma Gibson, Saran Satish and James Gillen narrowly missed out on the final coming in just 1 point behind those in 4th place. An excellent evening for our scientists and their teachers Ms Noone and Ms Gilleran .

Mercy Ballymahon students Shauna Maguire, Hugh Denniston, Tobiasz Gajdoes, James Gillen, Roughan Featherstone, Kieran O’Dowd, Emma Gibson, Saran Satish and Daniel Cox who participated in the Annual ISTA Regional Science Quiz in TUS Athlone on Thursday 16th November. Pictured with teachers Ms Noone and Ms Gilleran.

Christmas Exams

Christmas exams will begin for our 5th years this Friday November 1st while our 1st and 2nd years will start their exams next Monday 1st December. Timetables are available on Google Classroom and our social media. Best of luck to all students.

College Awareness Week

Last week we celebrated College Awareness Week, 2023, a national campaign which aims to promote the benefits of going to college, to help students of all ages to become college-ready and to showcase local role models. Thank you to our Guidance Department for organising a great week of activities. Students received talks from Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Cavan Institute, ATU Sligo and Maynooth University and more.

Mercy Ballymahon News

November 20, 2023 Mercy School Ballymahon

Enrolment

Our Application for Admission remains open on our school website www.mercyballymahon.ie. Closing Date for Applications is this Friday the 24th of November @ 5:00 PM.

LGFA

Congratulations to our Senior Ladies football team on a hard fought match last week against Meán Scoil Mhuire, Longford. Our girls came out victorious by 3 points after a tough game. Meanwhile, our U16 Ladies will play Coláiste Íosagáin, Stillorgan, in the Leinster semi final this week. Well done girls and coaches Ms Curley, Mr Shane Kenny and Ms. Colgan.

GAA

Our Senior GAA Boys secured a win against Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan last week.

After a very strong first half display, the lads managed the second half well to hold out for a 10 point win. They play Moyne this week in round 2 of the championship.Well done to the lads and their coaches Mr Nerney and Mr Shane Kenny. Meanwhile, Our 1st Year boys had a very enjoyable morning’s football at a Longford GAA blitz in Longford Slashers last Thursday. Thank you to Damien Sheridan and Paddy O’Connor for organising and a special thank you to our fantastic TY GAA Future Leaders for assisting with all of our teams.

Mercy Ballymahon’s Senior GAA team who defeated Mercy Kilbeggan in the opening round of the championship last week. Photo Credit: Thomas Gallagher (Transition Year, Mercy Ballymahon)

Basketball

Congratulations to our Under 16 girls for delivering a spectacular performance against Presentation Kilkenny last week in the Midlands Regional semi-final. While the game didn't swing in our favor, the girls' effort remained commendable. The first quarter saw us trailing 15-7, and a resilient second quarter resulted in an 8-8 tie. Despite Presentation Kilkenny pulling ahead later on, our substitutes showcased a solid effort. Overall, the girls' performance this season was exemplary, revealing significant growth in skill and confidence. We eagerly anticipate the opportunities and progress that the next season will bring. Special thanks to their coaches, Mr. McGivney and Ms. Cribben.

Shoebox Appeal

A huge thank you to all students and staff who took part in Team Hope’s Shoebox Appeal, an annual campaign which delivers gifts to children affected by poverty. Thank you to teachers Ms Beirne, Ms Cribben, Ms Fox and Ms McGovern for organising the appeal in the school.

College Awareness Week

This week we are celebrating College Awareness Week, 2023, a national campaign which aims to promote the benefits of going to college, to help students of all ages to become college-ready and to showcase local role models. Thank you to our Guidance Department for organising this week’s activities.

Mercy Ballymahon News

November 13, 2023 Mercy School Ballymahon

TY Work experience

In November, We Remember

This month, as a school Community, we would like to remember all those belonging to you who have died. We have shared a link on our social media where you can add the name of a deceased loved one.If you would like your loved one included please add their name. We will add these names to our Remembrance Book and a mass will be offered for all our loved ones.

Shoebox Appeal

Gael Linn Debates

Well done to Junior students Michaela Hand, Mya Killian and Evie Higgins as well as 5th year students Sarah Maguire, Laoise Hanly and Áine Ní Mhuirí who participated in Gael Linn’s debating competition in Coláiste Pobail Ros Comáin. Maith sibh a chairde! Thank you also to our junior team subs Mia Tully and Cara Taplin and teachers Ms Fox and Ms McGovern who accompanied the students.

Green Schools

Well done to Nikol and Jessica Zimocha on their successful application to the Green Schools Ireland #AndSheCycles Ambassador Programme. They attended a training session in Dublin last week where they examined the barriers to cycling and worked on designing a campaign to create change.

Sports News

Best of luck to our U16 girls basketball team who are in the semi-final this week. The team had an incredible performance against Tullamore College before midterm, securing a comfortable victory. Best of luck to the girls who now face Presentation College, Kilkenny.

English Trip

This week all 6th year English classes attended a performance of Hamlet in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone. We hope that the students and their English teacher Mr Farrell, Ms Gaffney, Mr McGivney, Mr O’Gara and Ms Duffy enjoyed the performance of the Leaving Cert text.

Sports News

Well done to our U19 soccer team who had a great win against Rochfortbridge last week. Thank you to coaches Ms Quinn and Ms Noone. Well done also to our U14 boys who faced Athlone CC last Friday. A powerful 1st half performance was enough to see them advance to the Quarter finals of the championship. Final Score: Mercy Ballymahon 3-10, Athlone C.C 3-04.

B!G IDEA

Mercy Ballymahon students Lucia Hoysted, Lily Leonard and Demi Deko pictured with Mr Niall Finneran, Ms Rachel Beirne and Principal Ms Josephine Donohue after being presented with their award for winning the category ‘Hidden Poverty’ in the B!G iDEA competition. Also a member of Team ‘Immoderate’, and missing from the photo is Taisiia Nosova.

Mercy Ballymahon News

October 20, 2023 Mercy School Ballymahon

Open Night

We look forward to welcoming 6th class pupils and their parents/ guardians to our school this Thursday 26th October at 5:30pm for our Open Night. Application for Admission can be accessed from 27th October on www.mercyballymahon.ie. Deadline for enrolment is 5pm on Friday 24th November 2023.

Junior Cycle Results

Congratulations to our Transition Year students and some 5th year students who received their Junior Cycle results last week. Well done to all students on your fantastic effort in the run up to the exams. We are delighted that your hard work paid off.

Learning Review Meeting

Thank you to all 2nd year students and their parents for attending our subject learning review meeting last week. Our next meeting will take place on November 9th for 6th year students and their parents.

Sports News

Our U16 girls basketball team secured a fantastic victory against Sacred Heart School in Tullamore last week. Our U19 girls showcased incredible determination, even though they didn't secure the win. Thank you to their coaches, Mr McGivney and Ms Cribben. Hard luck also to our Senior LGFA team who lost out to a strong Bower side on Friday last and thank you to their coaches Ms Curley and Ms Colgan.

After School Study

Students who would like to take part in after school study should sign up on the school’s website. An excellent way to complete homework or carry out study in a quiet, supervised space and also to prepare for upcoming Christmas exams!

Maths Week

Last week we celebrated Maths Week 2023. Transition Year students hosted a maths quiz on Thursday and students took part in daily maths problem competitions. Thanks to our Maths Department for organising.

Shoebox Appeal

Students and Staff are invited to take part in Team Hope’s Shoebox Appeal, an annual campaign which delivers gifts to children affected by poverty. Donation Day will take place on November 8th. Please contact Ms Beirne, Ms Cribben, Ms Fox or Ms McGovern if you would like to participate.

Mercy Ballymahon News

October 19, 2023 Mercy School Ballymahon

Open Night

We look forward to welcoming 6th class pupils and their parents/ guardians to our school on Thursday 26th October at 5:30pm for our Open Night. Application for Admission can be accessed from 27th October on www.mercyballymahon.ie. Deadline for enrolment is 5pm on Friday 24th November 2023.

Student Council

Well done to all students who were elected to this year’s student council following our online Student Council Election. Class representatives for this year are Jonathan Kolawole Ajisafe, Ezechiel Mpoyi Eduardo, Fionn Duggan, Andrew Murphy, Matheus Alves dos Santos, James Ugboko, Lukasz Podlecki, Elisha Groarke, Alex Doherty, Tommie Donnelly, Naoise Golden, Nickyanna Killian, Hanna Dobrucka, Ali Murphy, Thomas Kilduff, Gemma Whyte, Daire Farrell, Riain O' Hanlon, David Gogan, Edie Hogan. Daniel Taplin, Kyle Bermingham, Demi Deko, Laoise Hanly, Shauna Flood, Muna Aguneche, Femi Olajide, Cormac Mc Gann, Emily Devine and David Cowan.

Leaving Cert History

Our sixth year history classes visited Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, last week. Students learned more about the figures involved in key events such as the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War. Thank you to Ms. Casey and Mr. Tansey for organising

Basketball

Well done to the under 16 and under 19 girls basketball teams who put up a good fight against Portlaoise and the Bower in the Division A league last week. Unfortunately we were up against strong Portlaoise teams losing both matches on Tuesday. The U16 girls bounced back with a great win against the Bower on Thursday. The U19 girls also fought hard but lost out narrowly. Best of luck to both teams going up against Tullamore this week. Thanks to their coaches Mr McGivney and Ms Cribben.

Mercy Ballymahon News

October 16, 2023 Mercy School Ballymahon

Open Night

Basketball News

Congratulations to Kacper Baran, 6th Year student, who has made the Irish U18 Basketball team. We are very proud of his basketball success at school, club and national level. We wish Kacper the best of luck over the next few months as he represents our country.

GAA

Well done to our Senior Boys GAA team on a comprehensive win against Lucan CBS in the Senior Boys Leinster League last week. Final score: Mercy Ballymahon 4:21 to Lucan CBS 1:07. Thank you to their coaches Mr Nerney and Mr Shane Kenny. Well done also to all players who represented their own clubs in county finals last weekend.

Mindfest

Last week we celebrated ‘Mindfest’ in the school. The focus of mindfest was on small things we can do every day to look after our mental health, such as physical activity, kindness and gratitude. Thank you to our Guidance team for organising a fantastic week and to our Transition Year students who helped organise activities such as dance classes in the sports hall.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Thank you to Patricia Flynn, local Breast Cancer Ireland Education & Awareness Coordinator, who visited our school last Wednesday. Staff and students in TY, 5th and 6th year were given the opportunity to attend this important awareness talk.

Mercy Ballymahon News

October 2, 2023 Mercy School Ballymahon

Primary School Blitz

On Friday 22nd September we welcomed pupils from 13 local primary schools to our school for a student led GAA Superblitz event. Our Transition Year students organised the gaelic football event as part of The Future Leaders programme, a programme “designed to encourage maturity, initiative, responsibility and leadership skills in pupils.” Students led the planning of the event and took on various roles on the day such as referees, umpires, scorekeepers, photographers, videographers, refreshment managers and more! A huge thank you to pupils from Scoil Eoin Naofa, Ballymore, St. Matthew’s NS, Ballymahon, St. Mel’s NS, Ardagh, St. Dominic’s NS, Kenagh, Moyvore NS, Milltown NS, Cloontagh NS, Scoil Bhríde, Glen, Fermoyle NS, St. Mary’s NS, Newtowncashel, Lenamore NS, Tang NS and St. Sinneach’s NS, Colehill who attended on the day along with their teachers and SNAs. On the day, students were addressed by TY student Conor McHugh who highlighted the important GAA motto of “Give Respect, Get Respect”, before participating in a group warm up, led by TY students Edie Hogan, Evelina Orovaite and Sarah-Ellen Hughes. A series of 11-a-side and 7-a-side games followed. Moyvore were victorious in the 7-a-side league, the winners of the 11-a-side plate were Tang, while the shield went to Kenagh. The 11- a-side cup title went to Ballymore after a tight battle against Fermoyle NS. Player of the games awards were presented after the matches to Ethan Donnellan (Fermoyle) and Grace Reilly (Tang). Matches took place over five pitches on our school grounds as well as, thanks to Ballymahon GAA, on Leo Casey Park. After the games, primary school pupils and TY students enjoyed a well deserved treat of chips and goujons, prepared in our school canteen! Thank you to school management, Ms Donohue, Mr Kenny and Ms O’Reilly, teachers Ms Curley, Mr Jones, Ms McGovern and Mr Sammon, our school caretaker John and our SNAs who assisted TYs with the planning and running of the day. The event was hugely successful and we commend our Transition Year students for the fantastic teamwork and leadership skills they displayed on the day.

Student Council

Well done to all students who were elected to this year’s student council following our Student Council Election last Wednesday. The elections took place on Google Forms last week. Thank you to Ms O’Donoghue and Ms Noone who facilitated the election process. Thank you to Mr Jones and his TY class for podcasting live throughout the event which was streamed to all classrooms.

1st Year Blitz

Our 1st Year boys performed excellently at the Longford GAA 7-a-side tournament on Thursday 21st September.. Our 3 teams played some fine football on their first outing for the school. Thanks to Paddy O’Connor for organising.

Hospice Coffee Morning

Last week our staff enjoyed Bewley's Coffee Morning in aid of Longford Hospice. We are delighted to have raised €700 for this very worthy cause. Thank you to Ms Daly, Ms Gaffney, Ms Minogue, Ms Casey, Ms O'Donoghue and all other staff members who were involved in organising the event #togetherforhospice.

Higher Options

Our Leaving Cert students had a great day out in the RDS at Higher Options on Thursday 21st September. Higher Options provides an opportunity for up to 30,000 students to speak to representatives from 3rd level institutions from Ireland, the UK, Europe and further afield . Students enjoyed informative talks on the day, including an address by Minister Simon Harris. Thank you to our Guidance teachers Ms O’Neill and Ms Walsh for organising.