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PCS Senior Girls' Golf Team win All-Ireland Silver, by Ava Bloomer.

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PCS Senior Girls' Golf Team win All-Ireland Silver, by Ava Bloomer.

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We had a great day up in Milltown Golf Club. We travelled bright and early to get ourselves set up. We were nervous starting off and seeing the other competitors, but once we got going those nerves faded away. We returned back to the clubhouse after our round of eighteen holes and waitied for the presentation to start.

We couldn't believe it when we got called up in second place, as we went in with the mindset to just enjoy ourselves.

This has been an experience we will never forget.

Thank you everyone for all your support - it means a lot and is greatly appreciated!

Ava Bloomer, Ruth Lohan and Ciara Kenny.

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'My Transition Year Adventure' by Sarah Lily Morrissey

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'My Transition Year Adventure' by Sarah Lily Morrissey

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My T.Y. Adventure

My year started off in Delphi back in September. For me it was ok. It was not the best. Certainly, I enjoyed the activities, but the food was awful, and the waiting around was annoying.

Our next adventure away from family was to Barcelona. For me it was amazing. I really enjoyed every moment of it. I loved the food. I loved the drink. And how cheap everything was. The best part was the city at night. I loved seeing all the lights and the water fountains. The beach was amazing. The sand was soft, and the day and nights were warm. The hotel was lovely, and the place was clean and just fantastic.

It was the first time ever on a plane and I loved it. My favorite part was taking off. I loved the roar of the engines and the feeling of being pushed back into your seat by the G forces, like a formula 1 car. It was amazing, would definitely love to do it again. The city lights were amazing. The smells were amazing. We blared out music and we had a ball. I would recommend going with friends.

The highlight for me has been either the musical or Barcelona. I will be honest - I really wanted a main part and had I not gotten any main part at all I would not have enjoyed it as much. I loved having a spotlight on me and I loved putting on costumes and having my makeup done. I reveled in the singing and acting in front of an audience. It was the best thing I ever did. I was so proud, and my family were too. A highlight at the end was going into the audience to get pictures taken and being complimented.

It was, quite simply, amazing.

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PCS Head Students' Speech to the School, Parents and LC Class of 2023 at the Graduation Mass, May 19th

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PCS Head Students' Speech to the School, Parents and LC Class of 2023 at the Graduation Mass, May 19th

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By Hannah Killeen and John Dervan.

Thank you to all the teaching staff, ancillary staff members, parents and relatives for attending our graduation night. Your continued and unconditional support has been the key to our growth and success throughout our time at PCS.

Reflecting on the last 5 or 6 years, is a tremendous task, as we sit in our school gym tonight. How will words truly encapsulate our journey at Portumna Community School? Tonight, however, is a night filled with memories, music and magic as we gather to celebrate the incredible young people we have become. Looking back on old photographs and sharing laughs over stories we thought were long forgotten is a testament to the importance of our time here. This school, this community, has given every one of us the space to spread our wings, become the best versions of ourselves and achieve our personal bests.

Every student sitting alongside me has been inspired by the unique characteristics and knowledge of the teaching staff here, so much so that you may see a couple of us back here in a few years! Upon reaching this day, I am brimming with pride and positivity as we move forward with the next chapter of our lives. I can wholeheartedly say that there is no other group of people I would rather have spent these last 6 years with. Our experience as students has not only been defined by academic, sporting, and creative success; but by the irreplaceable memories and cherished friendships we have forged and shared.

5 years, 8 months or 2086 days ago, each one of us walked into this gym and were greeted by our respected year-heads, our principal Mr. Long and our chaplain, Ms. Dunne. As we sat together in this very place, looking around at unfamiliar faces, anxious about the unknown and what the future may hold, we were told one thing over and over again: that these next six years would fly. As we are gathered here tonight, 6 hard-fought years later, I can say with confidence that for all of us, they have certainly flown.

Throughout our time here, we have had the honour of being under the guidance of some of the best. Mr. Kelly and Ms. Fogarty were here to welcome us on our first day, as well as our chaplain Ms. Dunne, former principal Mr. Long and former deputy Mr. Coughlan. The turbulence that was our unconventional Transition Year was steered by Mr. Fallon and Mr. Smith, who ensured we got the most out of the experience despite everything.

To say that our secondary school journey has been a breeze would be a blatant lie. The journey has been fun, enjoyable and worthwhile, but it can also be said that we struggled, fought our own personal battles, and overcame unbelievable odds. If the leaving cert wasn’t such an arduous challenge on its own, as cohort we faced the Covid-19 pandemic, putting our junior cert, and our lives as we knew them on hold. Looking back, it is an outstanding achievement for all of us to get to where we are today. Tonight, we are back in the gym where it all started - we will walk out of these doors in the same manner we entered in 2017 - together. We have faced challenges and overcome them, we have braved the belly of the beast, but most importantly, we did it as one. The sheer resilience, passion, unity and work ethic that the graduating class of 2023 has exhibited over their time here in PCS is to be admired. We have stuck by each other through thick and thin, good and bad, highs and lows and that isn't something many year groups can say. The friendship, respect and comradery built throughout the past 6 years will remain with us for the rest of our lives as we spread our wings and begin a new chapter in our lives.

It would be impossible to talk to you all tonight without mentioning our year head and second mother, Ms. Lohan. Although we began our relationship later in our school years than we would have liked, our two years with Margaret Lohan as our year head have been filled with laughs, hugs, birthday cakes and the odd well-deserved telling-off! Ms. Lohan, you consistently drive us to succeed while also never wavering in your pride and support of us. Your words of wisdom, sense of fun and passion for your students are clear every day. It is safe to say, that there is no one else I would rather have to fight my corner. Ms. Lohan not only inspires us as a teacher but as a role model who continues to display resilience, respect and kindness inside the classroom and beyond. Leaving this school, one thing we will certainly always remember is that: “Manners cost absolutely nothing.”

I would now like to invite Ms. Lohan to receive a token of our year’s appreciation, presented to her by Áine Kelly.

Of course, we couldn’t leave here tonight without giving a very special mention to our inspirational, kind and compassionate principal and vice principal, Mr. Shane McClearn and Ms. Elaine Shanahan Dunne. In 2020, we were lucky enough to be introduced to the new management of our school, or at least that’s what they called themselves. It didn’t take long for the two of them to build personal relationships with many different students in our year, yet whether they were for the right reasons or not is a different question! However, after spending many years under their close supervision, we realised how lucky we were to have such hardworking, understanding and compassionate leaders to see us through our school days. If you haven’t noticed, I don’t think either of them have stopped smiling since tonight began, probably because they're finally going to see the back of us walk out those doors in about half an hour! Regardless of whether they are going to miss us or celebrate our departure, we hope that they remember us, as we will remember so many of the valuable life lessons they have taught us over the years. Not only have they helped us to prepared for our exams, they have left us with qualities that much more valuable, that you won't find in any textbook. They taught us respect, discipline, instilled confidence in us, but above all they have ensured that we achieved our personal best. So, on behalf of the graduating class of 2023, Míle Buíochas, and thank you for everything you have done for us.

This night and our entire secondary school journey would not be possible without the expertise and dedication of the entire staff. Our school community has taught us all the importance of teamwork, collaboration and to represent our school with great pride. We would like to extend a warm thanks Mary Mitchell and Esther in the office, who keep the school running smoothly behind the scenes; to Tom Quinn and Martin Hackett who go above and beyond every day; and to the cleaning staff who we have gotten much closer to the last year thanks to our late evenings in study! To the Music, Religion and Chaplaincy departments who made this celebratory night possible, we wholeheartedly express our gratitude for your time and effort in making this night so memorable.

Although this is the end of our time here in PCS, we will leave here with memories that will last a lifetime, friendships that we cherish and for some, a few outstanding detentions.

As tonight finally draws to a close, I hope that most of you haven't already dozed off. I want to extend one final congratulations to the most diligent, kind and admirable group of people I have ever met. To the class of 2023, I am delighted to say that we have made it! We can finally say that every essay, every project, every late night spent cramming content for some silly exam was finally worth it. There won't be any more differential equations, Macbeth essays or day practicals to worry about for the rest of our lives, and for that we can be grateful.

Not one of us could have completed this journey alone, we embarked on this journey together in 2017, and tonight, on our final ‘last day of school’ we will finish this journey together.

Each and every one of us has been sculpted into the amazing people we are today because of the intelligent, kind and charismatic students you see around you. It has been an absolute pleasure to travel on this journey together and I can safely say that there isn't anyone else in the world we would have rather spent our secondary school days with. We have all made lifelong friends and memories, and we hope that when we walk out of these doors tonight that those bonds and relationships built will stay with us as we begin to spread our wings. I'd like to take this opportunity to invite the Graduation Class of 2023 to stand, and receive the well-deserved round of applause that they have worked tirelessly for over the past 6 years. Thank you.

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'Au revoir, à bientôt', a few farewells and a whole heap of gratitude...

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'Au revoir, à bientôt', a few farewells and a whole heap of gratitude...

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This June amongst all the business and busy-ness of the end of term and the great ramp-up to State Examinations, some of our community are moving on to fresh fields, either temporarily or for the foreseeable future.

We'd like to wish them all the very best of luck in the next chapter, whether they are coming back to us after a wee break, or on to new adventures. You have all touched our lives in countless ways, and you will be missed. To the staff - you've been great colleagues and brought energy, experience and great good humour to the place.

And to students on to pastures new, we salute you with the time-honoured 'See you laters, alligators!' You have made an impression in all our hearts and will be sorely missed.

Lastly, of course, to our LC Class of 2023 - all I will say are the wise words of an indigenous First American chief with whom I had the good fortune to work: 'Once when you were children, you cried out for milk. Now, go out into the world, and be milk.'

The door is always open and the kettle on; may the road open up before you to bring you back to us one day - stay in touch and let us know how ye get on! And may a corner of your heart be forever yellow and green...

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My stand out experience was definitely the musical.

I would normally be a bit shy around my peers and quite reserved, but the musical brought me out of my shell.  Getting to preform on stage with my friends was a dream come true, and thanks to the amazing people behind the scenes I had the confidence to go up there and give it my all.

The environment was both professional and fun and I had many laughs backstage.  I would recommend that all future TYs get involved with the musical as much as possible; you won't regret it.

Lily Rose McAuley

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Today started off fabulously.
At the beach, sprinting after seagulls. I had an ice cream cone in my hand, and the sun at my back.
Then, things took a turn for the worse. A stinging sensation shot up my leg! I had been stung by a weaver fish.

Have no fear, a taxi's here.
A taxi spun around the corner and I hopped in. It took me to the hospital where I was promptly shoved in a VERY unnecessary wheelchair.

Prodding and Poking.
After a long wait, I finally made my way up to the examinations room. Multiple doctors poked and prodded my foot, shining torches on my shin. They produced an extremely long tweezers and pulled the stinger out of my foot. They then shoved my foot into a bowl of SCORCHING water. Were they trying to cook my alive?

Hobbling home.
After my foot was cooked perfectly al dente, the doctors sent me home. I hobbled over to a taxi and hopped in. We sped around the sharp corners and made it back to the apartment. The swelling had gone down greatly, so walking wasn't too much of a struggle. Two floors up on the lift and I entered the welcoming apartment.

Home at last!

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Senior Soccer Panel v. Belmullet in the Connacht Shield Semi-Final

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PCS Senior Soccer 2022-23 by Jack Dolphin.

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PCS Senior Soccer 2022-23 by Jack Dolphin.

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This year Senior Soccer was reintroduced  into the school as a competitive sport. There was high demand for it in the senior years, so we were keen to take a competitive stance. For our first match, we played Oughterard. It was our first game in the FAI Schools’ competition, and we were drawn against one of the best teams in the competition. Unfortunately, we lost to the tough men of Connemara, but for our first game of the season we were pleased we’d played so well together; we’d made a strong start upon which to build.

Our next match was against Glenamaddy Community School. In the first half we took the lead with a great through-ball into our striker, who swung a pass across the pitch straight into the winger's path. leaving him to bury it into the back of the net. After an excellent performance we won 4-3 - our first win of the season!

Our 3rd match of the season saw many more improvements to our cohesion and communication but we ended up narrowly losing to a strong St. Cuan’s side.

However we had done well enough to have made it through to the Shield quarter-final and we were playing  Glenamaddy CS once more. A riveting game, it went to penalties as Jakub Wysocki slotted away the fifth on-target penalty for PCS, then our goalkeeper Eoghan Ward O’Meara made the hero’s leap to save Glenamaddy’s fifth, and win us the game.

We were through to the semi-final and we were facing a tasty Belmullet side. We took the lead early on with a mighty Michael O’Sullivan half-volley. Unfortunately, 15 minutes later Belmullet struck back with a very well-taken free-kick.

In the second half the ball gets hit up the pitch into an accelerating Tyler Hannigan who easily outpaces the defender to scoring a well-driven goal into the back of the net. After an off-field incident involving advice the referee did not appreciate, our performance dipped, and in the 80th minute Belmullet burst through our defensive line to equalise. Things then went from bad to worse; within two minutes of the restart, a rejuvenated Belmullet had the ball and hit it long. A cruelly unfortunate bounce took it over the keeper’s head and the full-time whistle went. 3-2 to Belmullet at the finish.

Overall, for our first year playing competitive soccer for PCS, the season was a resounding success. To get to a Connacht Shield semi-final then only lose to a cruel bounce, all within a few months of starting? Portumna is back on the soccer map, and we will return for next year’s campaign hungry to improve and with even stronger performances. The mission? To bring back a trophy for our efforts.

Many thanks to Mr. McClearn for letting us run out for the school, and of course to Mr. John ‘The Gaffer’ Enright for all his time and effort helping to make our dream of playing for the school a reality.

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Ailbhe Kenny, Michael O'Sullivan, Daniel Donohue & Mark Cox after their well-deserved 2nd place in the Galway heats which earned them a place in the All-Ireland

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PCS at the All-Ireland History Teachers' Association of Ireland JC Table Quiz, by Daniel Donohue.

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PCS at the All-Ireland History Teachers' Association of Ireland JC Table Quiz, by Daniel Donohue.

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We were through to the finals up in Dublin. We'd been preparing for the past week and were slightly nervous, but we gradually settled down and waited for the quiz to start.

After the first round we realised that the questions were going to be easy and the competition was going to be close. On reflection they were way easier than the Galway heat in which we came second.

As the rounds went by we kept within a couple of points of the leader and had remained around 3rd or 4th spot. At the break at the half-way point, we reviewed our strategy, but it was working. We stuck with it and it came to a tiebreaker - we were told there was a clear winner but a tie for 2nd and 3rd, so we had to answer extra questions. The tiebreaker questions were even easier than the rest, oddly, and we got all the tiebreaker right. For a finish it didn’t matter to us as we had finished 4th, 2 points behind 1st and only 1 point behind 2nd and 3rd.

It was a very enjoyable experience. I like quizzes and am good at them. Next year we will enter the Senior Competition!

Daniel Donohue.

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Date: 29/03/23, 5.37pm, Zara Walsh

Eventing - the work, competing & the hype!

1: “The work”
The work you have to put in is absolutely MEGA! Obviously, you have to look after & care for your horses, but you also have to train, six days a week, in dressage, showjumping & cross-country. Not only on one horse but six or more, all while going to school five days a week. I will say it is not easy, but when the work pays off, it feels incredible.

2: “Competitions”

I will be honest here & say that there are many “🤬 ” and ignorant eventers out there who think they know it all and own the place, when at the end of the day, you never see their names in the top 3! That aside, there are also many very supportive & understanding eventers;  this makes the sport so much more uplifting. The competitiveness is thick in the air at big events like the National Champions competition, but this also focusses me to try even harder!

3: “The hype”

I must say, the buzz of eventing is unreal. When you’re nearly done your cross-country course, you're still clear, you have got a 25.23 (which is a really good score!) in your dressage test under your belt along with a clear round in the showjumping, and all of this means you will probably be in the ribbons... this is the most AMAZING feeling in the world, and nothing feels better than this for me. When I am competing it feels like nothing else matters in the world other than what is happening right now!

Please like and leave a comment!

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The life of a high-jumper and shot putter

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The life of a high-jumper and shot putter

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1. The work
Many people think that high-jumpers show up at competitions and jump without very much training. This is extraordinarily naïve as all athletes must train extremely hard. Personally I train for two hours, three days a week. I strongly believe that you have to put in the work to see results and I follow this by training as often as I do. I have been training and competing for high-jump for roughly five years and now I am finally seeing an improvement.

2. "High-jumpers can't do shot putt!"
So many people believe this is true. They think that high-jumpers can really only do other jump events such as triple jump or pole vault and shot putters can only do events such as the discus or hammer. This is false information. I do these two events and although they are very different, I still compete at a high level for both. I qualified for the All-Ireland for shot putt and was just 5cm outside qualifying for high jump. This is proof that these two events can be done successfully by the same person!

3. Competition
Before competitions you get butterflies in your tummy. I find it's a weird feeling and it’s hard to explain. It's like a cross between nerves and excitement. I check in for my event and when I sit down my legs won't stop shaking. They call my name and when I take my first jump/throw, the nerves go. At this point I get a surge of energy. It's just me and the ball or me and the bar. It feels as though nothing else matters. There is only one thing I can think about and that’s the competition.

Leave a comment!!!

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End-of-Year Message from Principal McClearn.

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End-of-Year Message from Principal McClearn.

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I'd like to thank everyone for your co-operation and hard work during the year, which has culminated in our end-of-year activities and Week 30 Summer Assessments.

I'd like to wish all our students who are sitting State Examinations this June the very best of luck, on behalf of all the staff.

I want to wish everyone in our school community a pleasant and sunny summer holiday.

Mr. McClearn.

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Juvenile Hurling 2022/2023

We arrived back on 1st September 2022 eagerly awaiting the upcoming season after falling short to Mountbellew last year. This year we felt more confident in our ability as we had all had a year to get used to each other. Portumna Community School pulls in a myriad of parishes and clubs, for example Lorrha, Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry, Portumna, Eyrecourt and Killimor. All these teams have big rivalries and to be sharing the jersey together with each other was a mighty challenge, but we managed to get through the year without anyone killing each other thank God.

Our year started off in November when Mr. Lynch and Mr. Madden, our managers, told us about their ambitions for us this year and how they thought with hard work and discipline we could very well win it out. They would not be alone training us, though - TYs Oisin McNulty and Andrew Canning gave up their time to help them train us after school.

We wasted no time and got to work. Our first outing was on 25th November 2022 against the Bish in the Winter League where, thanks to Nathan Mannion, who scored a hat-trick, we managed to win by 3-09 to 1-12. Even though we were without our first years and third years for this game, we did really well. They would join us later in the year.

We had no more games for the remainder of the year. When we returned in 2023 our first game of championship was against Pres College Athenry on 25th January. It was a cold harsh day for hurling, but the boys managed to pull through and beat the Pres by 1-6 to 6-6.

We were dealt a major blow before our next game. Our wing-back Cian O’Brien injured his knee playing a club game for Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry. This injury would see him out for the rest of the season. Luckily, we had good squad-depth and had players to fill the gaps, but this was a major loss. It was a month till we had our next championship game against Seamount, Kinvara - a win here and we would qualify for the semi-finals. Everything went right that day for us and thanks to first year Darragh Hayes, who scored 3-3, we won comfortably 6-16 to 0-04.

Our last game was against the Bish who came out fighting, raring to have another go against us after their disappointing loss against us earlier in the year. The fact that they needed a win to qualify for the knockout stages added to the excitement. It was a tough match, and a miserable day did not help either. The match was close and when the final whistle blew the teams could not be separated and it ended a draw on a scoreline of 3-8 to 2-11. This meant we were through and since we finished first, we would play the second placed team of the other group, which was St Cuans.

The game was in Ballinasloe on 28th March. It was tightly contested - thanks to Iarla’s frees we managed to keep up to them. We were not at our best and luckily, we managed to get the lead right near the end but unfortunately, they won a free in the last puck of the game and scored it sending the game to extra time. We were disheartened and could not believe we had to play an extra 20 minutes but after an encouraging speech from our managers we went out with a new hunger in our hearts. Cuans were not able to keep up with our new intensity and we pulled ahead. The game finished 1-24 to 0-22. We could not believe we were in a final and the tough game in the semi-finals really stood to us in the final.

As we had approached the final, we got some lovely gear off Mr McLearn for which we were very grateful. We would play Clarin College, Athenry in Killimor on 18th April. There was a great atmosphere as the school had organised a support bus. We expected a tight game but due to a great team performance we were ahead 2-10 to 1-02 by half time. In the second half we really took control. The final whistle blew, and we had won by 4-15 to 1-05. There were great celebrations after the game seeing our captain Padraig Dermody lifting the cup.

After the trophy presentation we were treated to a Supermacs by Mr McClearn. We got a great welcome home by the student body and staff. The celebrations lasted a long while more and it was a great honour to be a part of this talented team.

Hopefully next year I will be writing about our success in the Junior competition!

Aaron McDonagh.

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The Mechan Way to Chili con Carne - by Sadhbh Mechan

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The Mechan Way to Chili con Carne - by Sadhbh Mechan

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or Attack of the Onions at my Home Ec. Practical

I remember being so stressed out while preparing my table and apron the day before my exam. But I was happy to miss a class of French for it. I labelled my apron with my exam number, placed all my bowls on my desk and wrote my “menu” of what I’d serve.

On the day of the exam, we had to be in the room for 9am. I had my hair in space buns and had to leave the mascara for another day. My friend Emily reassured me that I would do great.

When the room was ready, the examiner got us to sign a sheet and wait at our tables. We all wished each other luck with happy glances at each other. As she explained the principles of how she expected our behavior to be, confidence began to grow, and I was raring to go.

When she told us to begin, I started by washing my hands to stay hygienic. Everything was going according to plan until something stopped me in my tracks. My eyes were watering. What was this? Sickness? Sadness? No, this was something that I hadn’t factored into my performance.

Onions. They were awful - my evil vegetables were clearly out for vengeance. But wait, this wasn't solely targeted at me. Glancing around me, I noticed to my chagrin that others were beginning to suffer because of my onions. I was wiping my eyes aggressively, trying to prevent a flood in the classroom. I threw the onions into the pan and covered them in minced meat, shielding the rest of the class from their horrors. We were saved.

Now that everything was going to plan again, my mission to make my Chile Con Carne was back on track. I won’t bore you with all the details, but I was one of the first to finish. My Chile Con Carne was in a beautiful Mexican dish and my rice was in a cute white bowl on the side with twisted, sliced cucumber to make it look professional.

I had a slight problem while washing up, though...

I created a layer of overcooked, crusty, glued to the pan rice, and that was not coming off anytime soon. I scrubbed and scrubbed and... you guessed it, scrubbed. As you probably already know, it still was not coming off. I found it funny when I gave up even though the examiner had a go and put hot water in it (I did that too already I'm not that bad) but she eventually gave up too and totted back to her desk at the front.

When we had to leave the room for the examiner to taste everything, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Whether it was because they did amazing things or they could just be happy to get it over and done with, everyone was pleased with themselves, as they should be. Ms. Murtagh came along and asked how things went. Everyone said good but I told her about my tragic rice incident (did not tell her that it was still on the saucepan) and she told me “As long as it looks good on the plate it’s fine.” that reassured me a lot and I was happy with my overall performance.

As we went back into the classroom to clean up, we were all tasting each other’s food and I can say that Abigail’s cookies were a hit.

Overall, this experience was a bit scary but very useful to build confidence, character and even if you mess up, it even gives you a funny story to tell. I cannot wait to start cooking again.

The Mechan way to Chile Con Carne - Recipe

You will need:

500g of mince beef

1 red pepper

1 yellow pepper

1 tin of sweetcorn

½ tin of red kidney beans

1 cup of rice

1 large onion (maybe a snorkeling mask for chopping them)

1 tin of tomatoes

2 tbsp of tomato puree

1 tsp basil

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp garlic granules

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp chili flakes

1 tsp chili powder

Utensils

2 wooden spoons

Wok

Wok lid

Saucepan

Saucepan lid

Cup

Serving bowl

Serving plate

Hob

Instructions

Chop up all your onions and cook in your wok

When onions are 90% cooked add in your mince

When mince is fully cooked add in your vegetables

Add a cup of rice and 2 cups of water into your saucepan and start boiling

After 10 minutes, check your rice and add you tomato puree, tomatoes and seasoning into your wok

When the rice is cooked, turn off everything and place food in serving bowls

Optional: place a twisted cucumber slice on your rice and Chile Con Carne

(WOULD HIGHLY ADVISE USING A PROPER RECIPE AS THIS COULD BE FAULTY AND YOU MIGHT DIE FROM ONION INHALATION!)

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Want some top-tips for summer listening from the Pop-picker extraordinaire? Music, Maestro!

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TY Barcelona Trip Review by Victoria Radon.

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TY Barcelona Trip Review by Victoria Radon.

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Our trip began on Tuesday 11th April at 4am and we departed for Dublin Airport. Our flight to Barcelona was at around 10am and we arrived in the sunny country of Spain at around 1pm. Our first day consisted of a guided tour, then we went to the hotel in Salou for dinner and to rest before our second day.

The second day was when we went to Montserrat where we explored the area and cathedral inside. We then went back to the hotel to swim and went downtown to explore Salou and do some shopping in the area. Lastly, we went to see the beach.

On the third day we all went to Port Aventura where we went on various attractions such as rollercoasters and many more, we then returned to the hotel, had a bite to eat and went bowling.

On the last day we packed, left the hotel, and then made our way to a science museum. After exploring it for a couple of hours, we then went to a shopping center to do our last bits of shopping before heading for the airport. We then got a flight back to Dublin and arrived back in Portumna safely at around 1 am.

Victoria Radon.

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Darkness into Light Walk, May 6th, 2023, by Maedhbh Cowan

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Darkness into Light Walk, May 6th, 2023, by Maedhbh Cowan

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In the early hours of the morning on the 6th of May, people of Portumna and the surrounding area made their way to the annual ‘Darkness into Light’ 5k walk in  Portumna Forest Park. The event is hosted in Portumna every year since 2017 to raise money for the suicide–prevention charity Pieta House.

A group of TY’s helped organize the walk by setting out the candles and marshalling the walk. It was a beautiful, fun and productive way of getting involved in the community and it is all for a great cause.

Portumna Forest Park is an ideal venue to host this event and the community has embraced it by attending the walk, wearing yellow t-shirts and even some local coffee shops open at five o clock in the morning to serve breakfast to all those involved.

The walk is a beautiful way to remember those we have lost to suicide and a way to show people in dark times that there is help for them out there.

Maedhbh Cowan.

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My Summer Album Recommendations by DJ Abigail Conroy

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My Summer Album Recommendations by DJ Abigail Conroy

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I live and breathe music. My tastes stretch over a wide range of styles, and it changes pretty much every second day. I’ve been obsessed with musicians, songs and the music industry ever since I developed ears, so you know you can trust my recommendations. Here are my top summer album recommendations.

1. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – The Smashing Pumpkins

Despite the depressing name, this album is perfect for creating new memories or looking back on old ones. There are also a whopping NINETY-SEVEN SONGS on the album, so you’re bound to find something you like. My top songs on the album are 1979, Tonight, tonight and Thirty-Three. The songs are really beautiful and nostalgic, perfect for those cool summer evenings. You can listen to it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTi0H2XF69Q

2. Hunky Dory – David Bowie

This is THE summer album. It’s perfect for dramatic road trips to exciting places with the volume TO THE MAX. The song Changes must be screamed at the top of your lungs during a drive with friends. It’s a transcendental experience. Here’s the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a_hBAx3ioE

3. Maggot – Dazey and the Scouts.

This is an iconic Riot Grrl album best suited to screaming and dancing with friends, with my top song being Groan. I love this album but have a personal vendetta against this band. Why? Because they dropped this absolute MASTERPIECE then completely disappeared. So don’t get too attached to the band, because you will probably never see them again. You can listen to them on Spotify.

4. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey

This album is beautiful. It’s one of my zero-skips albums because all the songs are so perfect. If I had to choose my favourites (a gun to my head would be necessary) they would be National Anthem, Off to the Races and Diet Mountain Dew.  You can listen to it here:

youtube.com/watch?v=X-VdHRROubI&list=PLrKqYl7FgK1SYT46S4UxrmnBcd9cLhixu

5. Grace (Legacy Edition) – Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley is a musical god. His songs are a religious experience. The legacy edition of Grace is amazing because it has a bunch of extra songs, one of these being a cover of Lana Del Rey’s The Other Woman, and don’t even TALK to me about Lover, You Should've Come Over. This playlist is quite sorrowful, so it’s suited to being played after you have dropped your ice pop on the ground and are watching it melt away. You can find it here:

youtube.com/playlist?
list=OLAK5uy_kwpfRB56ThszEloyBpqEYIHwEiHXt_Z_s

I really hope you give these albums a chance, or at least try some of the songs I’ve listed. Enjoy your summer and don’t drop your ice pops!

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Your theme song of 2022-23:

Oh Lord, Won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin

Your favourite part/time of each week this year:

Being in the Art Room with students.... always!

Catchphrase of the year:

Bish, Bash, Bosh…Knock it out Mate!

Person you secretly most admired all year:

My daughter for keeping her head down and getting on with it in her usual sassy way!

Who you'd like to thank most, and why?

My friend and colleague Anne Keane for being the Lady she is

Sound will you most miss from PCS:

My squeaky runners on the corridors

What you will be wearing this summer:

Naught but a flower in my hair!

If you remember one thing from your time at PCS, it will be:

The genuine emotion from students when I told them that I was not returning next year.

Your advice to incoming 1st Years, in a sentence:

Be Brave, Have Fun. Learn, Grow, Make New Connections, The Year WILL fly.

The one word that best sums up your experience of PCS:

Creative

What you are going on to next:

Starting with being at Steward at Glastonbury Festival and after I'm not sure but it's definitely going to have FUN in it!

What would you most like us to remember you for/as:Single line text.

My creative vision, my candid responses and my steady hand.

Where you want to be in 5 years:

Retired!

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Interview with Ms Reidy

Your favourite part/time of each week this year:

Last class on Friday with my 5th years, they definitely helped me get the Friday feeling

Who you'd like to thank most, and why?

All the staff for being extremely welcoming and sound all year

Sound will you most miss from PCS:

Hearing word that Ms Skelly had brought in biscuit cake

What you will be wearing this summer:

Anything other than my teacher clothes

If I remember one thing from my time at PCS, it will be:

The students/staff

My advice to incoming 1st Years, in a sentence:

Make the most of your time and get involved in everything you can because these will make some of your best memories

The one word that best sums up your experience of PCS:

Warm-in every sense of the word

What would you most like us to remember you for/as:

Genuinely caring for the students and wanting the best for them

Where you want to be in 5 years:

With a notes selection like Ms Kelly

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Your favourite part/time of each week this year:

Doing PE with students and helping students out in An Cuan.

Who you'd like to thank most, and why?

I would like to thank the staff as a collective as they were so kind and welcoming throughout the year.

One person who changed your life for the better:

A young lady who showed determination and growth to become more outgoing which proved the power of always having a positive outlook on life no matter what is thrown at you.

Sound will you most miss from PCS:

The intercom.

If you remember one thing from your time at PCS, it will be:

Locking myself in hand cuffs during the school play.

Your advice to incoming 1st Years, in a sentence:

Make the most of your school years and the friends you make along the way.

The one word that best sums up your experience of PCS:

Rollercoaster.

What you are going on to next:

Not sure at the moment.

What would you most like us to remember you for/as:

A friendly outgoing teacher that is helpful and resourceful where possible.

Where you want to be in 5 years:

Hopefully in a permanent position teaching in Ireland or abroad.

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Your theme song of 2022-23:

Five Years by David Bowie

Your favourite part/time of each week this year:

History, Art and French classes.

Catchphrase of the year:

“I’ll just make it look like I did it like that on purpose.”

Person you secretly most admired all year:

Zara Walsh and Marc Bolan

Who you'd like to thank most?

Everest from Roma and David Bowie

One person who changed your life for the better:

Everest from Roma

Sound will you most miss from PCS:

Zara

What you will be wearing this summer:

My birthday suit

If I remember one thing from my time at PCS, it will be:

Pythagoras’ theorem

My advice to incoming 1st Years, in a sentence:

Branch out don’t limit yourself

The one word that best sums up your experience of PCS:

Slayed

What you are going on to next:

Spread my path of destruction to a different school that lies unsuspecting.

What would you most like us to remember you for/as:

Carpe-ing my diem

Where you want to be in 5 years:

Studying philosophy

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5th Years Lochlann Mechan and Aoibhinn Cowan outside Glenamaddy Community School.

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The 2nd ACCS Conference on Creativity at Glenamaddy Community School, April 2023 - a review by Aoibhínn Cowan.

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The 2nd ACCS Conference on Creativity at Glenamaddy Community School, April 2023 - a review by Aoibhínn Cowan.

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When I was first asked to participate in the ACCS Conference on Creativity in Glenamaddy, I wasn't fully sure what to expect. However, I found it to be a truly interesting and enjoyable experience. While we were there we met many representatives of the various Community Schools that make up the family of the ACCS - both students and teachers - and together we discussed and shared ways in which we were innovating with creativity in our schools.

Creativity was the focal point of this conference; it was fascinating to see how each school approached the job in hand. We were there to showcase our school's creative approach to boosting literacy, and I found many of the visitors to our stand responded very positively to our ideas.

There was a myriad of schools represented from Donegal to Cork, and each one had come to share their unique ways of fostering creativity, whether it was through art, music, cookery, woodwork or coding, to name but a few. We were thrown in the deep end answering probing questions from Principals and ACCS executives at our stand. Lochlann and I had great fun conducting mini video interviews with students on their stands about what they had brought to share.

This conference has not only increased my understanding of creativity and the role it plays in all learning, it has also taught me a great deal about myself. I am more confident in myself and my abilities, especially when it comes to communication and presentation skills. It aslo challenged me with the opportunity to get to know my teachers and fellow students. As I am new to my year group, I haven't known that many people this year, so it was wonderful to chat and laugh with new friends, and to see a more human side (!) to my teachers away from a pedagogical setting.

But perhaps one of the most important lessons that I have learned from going to the conference in Glenamaddy is that our creativity, and by extension ourselves, is not limited or confined in any way, except by our own imagination. There are a plethora of ways that we can express ourselves as the borders of creativity are only as narrow as we make them.

Aoibhínn Cowan.