Emma McEntee

John Mitchell

My great-grandad, John

Mitchell, was born on the

2nd of November 1897 in

County Leitrim. At the

age of 18 he joined the

old IRA. In 1916 John

was ready to travel to

Dublin with his North

Leitrim IRA brigade, to

fight in the Rising. They

were told, however, that it

was called off and by the

time they heard it was

rescheduled for Easter

Monday, it was too late

for them to travel.

In the years after 1916,

John fought in the War of

Independence. On April

2nd 1920, John was in-

volved in a shoot-out in

Glenade where he seri-

ously injured 2 Black and

Tans. A party of Black

and Tans had been sent 51

miles from Enniskillen,

specifically to capture

John Mitchell. He was

brought to Enniskillen

where they staged a mock

-execution. That is, they

pretended to execute him

but had no bullets in their

guns. This was done as

revenge for the 2 wound-

ed Black and Tans. In

August 1920, John was

interred by the British in

Ballykinlar, Co. Down,

where he was kept until

July 1921 when the war

ended.

Jade Campbell

Thomas Fox

Hello. My name is Jade

Campbell and I am in

T.Y. here in Sancta Maria

College.

My great-grandfather‘s

name was Thomas Fox.

He was born in

Blackrock, Co. Dublin in

1899. At the age of 17 he

joined Pádraig Pearse and

fought for the independ-

ence of Ireland in the

1916 Rising. He fought

alongside Eamonn De

Valera in Boland‘s mill

on Grand Canal Street in

Dublin for a week before

surrendering. They were

then bought to Kilmain-

ham Gaol. The executions

of the leaders of the rising

changed public opinions,

so my great granddad

Tom , was not executed

but sent to Curragh jail.

Yvonne and myself have

concluded that because

each of our great-

grandfathers were close

associates of De Valera,

they are very likely to

have known each other.

And here 100 years later,

we are sitting in the same

class, a stone‘s throw

from the school Pádraig

Pearse founded.

Yvonne O’Neill

Diarmuid Fawsitt

My great grandfather is

Diarmuid Fawsitt. He was

born in Bandon, Co.

Cork , and was a founding

member of the Irish Vol-

unteers in Cork city in

1913. He was a close

friend of Roger Casement,

who went to Germany to

obtain weapons for the

1916 rising. As Diarmuid

was associated with Mi-

chael Collins, he was on

the ‗wanted list‘. There-

fore, he had to go to

America with De Valera

in early 1919.While they

were there, they cam-

paigned and fundraised

for Ireland to win the Free

State. Diarmuid came

back to Ireland in late

1919, and met my grand-

father, his son Kevin, who

was 6 months old by then,

for the first time. Diar-

muid was an economic

advisor for Micheal Col-

lins at the Anglo-Irish

Treaty negotiations in

1922. Beforehand, Miche-

al sent Diarmuid up North

to spy on the northern

government and find out

what they knew.

Lauryn O’Connell

Patrick J Byrne

Petticoat Kate

100 years after the Rising,

I decided there was no

better year to research the

stories of my ancestors,

stories I have been told

for years. I discovered

that I have not one, not

two but three ancestors

who have direct connec-

tions with the events of

the Rising.

My great-great-

grandfather, Patrick J.

Byrne, was a member of

the IRB. His family home

in North Richmond Street

was used as a meeting

place and an armory. It

was raided many times

but the family‘s hiding

places for guns were too

good to be found. His

mother, Alice, would sit

feeding a baby on a chair

with a false bottom that

stored pistols. When the

house was raided she was

always left undisturbed!!

Patrick himself fought in

the GPO and was a

stretcher bearer for James

Connolly when he was

injured. Paddy was sen-

tenced to death, but the

sentence was commuted

to 10 years hard labour.

While he was imprisoned

in England, his fiancé

went over to marry him.

My third ancestor, Pat-

rick‘s sister, Katherine,

was the first woman in the

GPO. She became known

as ‗Petticoat Kate‘ be-

cause she used to tear up

her petticoat and use it as

bandages to wrap up the

wounds of injured sol-

diers. She carried messag-

es from Pádraig Pearse

and Joseph Plunkett to

other Rising leaders under

her hair bonnet.

She was close by when

the priest was hearing

confessions at the back of

the main hall in the GPO,

where Mick Collins had

an ammunition dump. She

missed having her own

confession heard because

she was helping The

O‘Rahilly tend to a

wounded Volunteer.

Petticoat Kate made her

escape up Bolton street to

home, even though she

was stopped twice by

British soldiers on her

way.

Students of Sancta Maria College

recount the experiences of their

relatives who were involved in the

Easter Rising of 1916.

S A N C T A M A R I A C O L L E G E , B A L L Y R O A N , D U B L I N 1 6 .

H t t p : / / w w w . s a n c t a m a r i a c o l l e g e . c o m

E m a i l i n f o @ s a n c t a m a r i a c o l l e g e . c o m

Sancta Maria College News

Volume 14, Issue 4 Summer 2016

Prefect Team Junior Art Award Tidiest Class Punctuality and Attendance

Senior Sports Spirit of Sancta Maria College Senior Music Best Junior Cert.

Sancta Maria College Awards Ceremony 2016

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Our last Newsletter for this academic year!

Again, you can see and read all of the wonderful events and achievements which have been engaged in and

enjoyed by our students.

Last night we celebrated the Transition Year class of 2016 here in the College Hall. It has been an-

other successful T.Y. Programme and our students received many awards for all their endeavours. Tonight

we will acknowledge and honour the 6th Years at their Graduation Ceremony. It is their last formal gath-

ering as the class of 2016. We wish them and all the 3rd Year students the very best as they make their fi-

nal preparations for their State Exams which commence Wednesday, June 8th.

We are grateful to our neighbouring school, Coláiste Eanna for accommodating us so generously for

the duration of the State Exams.

Thank you all for your support throughout the year and for helping us to raise much-needed funds for

our building project. We look forward to occupying our new building in the next academic year and also

to enjoying some of the refurbishment of the existing school building. Sincere gratitude to the work of the

Parents Association throughout the year. We wish you all a happy, care-free summer and we look forward to receiving you back at the end of August, P.G., and to

welcoming our new cohort of 1st Years.

Best wishes,

Ms. Rowan, Deputy Principal

Art Department

Congratulations to Annie Chen

from Second Year, whose entry

―The Anatomy of a Fairy‖, won

first prize, Junior Section, in the

"Visions of Leonardo" Art com-

petition. This prestigious compe-

tition is organised by The Sun-

day Business Post in conjunction

with The National Gallery of

Ireland. The College will receive

€2,500 in prize money. Thanks

to Ms. Mc Auley for her encour-

agement and preparation of the

students for the competition.

Athletics

The annual West Leinster Schools Athletics competition was held in Morton Stadium in

Santry on 19th and 21st April. The students of Sancta Maria College did the school proud

while collecting a huge haul of medals. Theresa Addo won gold in the Triple Jump and sil-

ver in the Javelin. All of the following won bronze medals - Catriona Kirwan in Hammer,

Sinéad Doyle in Discus, Helen Vysotska in Walk, Louise Morohan in Triple Jump, Grace

Dent in Discus and Kelly O‘ Callaghan in Hurdles. On Thursday Sinéad Doyle won silver in

200 Metres and Rebecca Mukoko won bronze in Shot Putt. A number of students were nar-

rowly pipped into fourth place- Megan Thompson in Steeplechase, Erika Doyle in Minor

1,100 metres and the Under 16 Relay team comprised of Tamara Uncanin, Roisín Cusack,

Aliyat Egbeyemi and Chimdimma Uduckukwa. The College Senior team, Sinéad Doyle,

Caitriona Kirwan, Fiona Banville, Alisha Crowe, Megan Thompson, Helen Vysotska, Lau-

ren Walsh, Theresa Addo, Aicha Abada and Caroline Nyampandu finished in second place

overall out of 28 schools. Well done to all competitors and Coach Ms. Dunleavy.

Lunchtime Concerts

This annual event was held on the week of 11th to 15th of April. It was a wonderful opportunity for students

to showcase their talents to a very large and appreciative audience as well as preparing for the Leaving Certif-

icates examinations. The performers were Leah Allman – Flute, Lauren Byrne – Guitar and Voice, Ciara-

Anne Carroll – Voice, Amy Fox – Voice, Ni-

cole Kelly – Voice, Kate McGovern – Voice,

Aimee Barton – Guitar, Aoife Doyle and Leah

Allman – Treble Recorder and Flute Duet,

Clare Keating – Voice, Danielle Mangan –

Voice, Amanda Goronska Tin Whistle, Emer

Keogh – Voice, Rehab Salim, Jade Daly and

Shivangy Tohani – Voice, Bronagh Stack –

Voice, Tara Buckley – Piano and Voice, Rachel

Manning – Voice.

In the senior section ―An

Indian Chief‖ was submitted

by Carylle Sanchez from

Sixth Year.

Sports Day and Sponsored Walk

Sports Day and Sponsored Walk took place on Tuesday 17th of May. Thank God for the glorious weather!!

The meticulous planning of Ms. Dunleavy and her team of Fifth Year Games Committee led to a perfect sports

day. Thanks to the Parents‘ Association and Ms Mitchell for all their hard work planning and executing the

Sponsored Walk. We are very grateful to all who walked an the day and especially to those who collected

sponsorship money The total raised to date is €2,500 in aid of the College Building Fund.

World Champion x 4 !

Congratulations to Second Year student

Shauna Page who swept the boards at the

World Kenpo Karate Finals in California,

U.S.A this month. The medals were awarded

for ―Form‖, Individual Fighting and Team

performance. The Tiger on the medal repre-

sents bravery, power, and physical strength.

The Dragon represents quintessence, fluidity,

and agility, but also spiritual strength. The

shape of the crest represents the structure of a

house. The walls and roof are curved to keep

evil from intruding.

Parents’ Association

The Parents Association would like to announce the results of their very successful

―Copper Collection‖. Over five hundred euro was raised for the new school development

fund. A special word of thanks is due to Derbhla Quinn for all her efforts. A sincere thank

you to the Parents Association for serving refreshments on the night of the Sancta Maria

College 1916 Commemoration.

1916 Commemoration Ceremony

The Sancta Maria College Community— students, relations and past pupils presented a

Commemorative celebration of The 1916 Easter Rising on 21st April. Students presented to

the audience in narrative, music, song and dance the historic events of 1916. The First Year

Choir under the guidance and direction of Ms. Mitchell and Ms. Mc Carthy provided a

beautiful medley of songs related to 1916. Léigh Reiltín Walsh amach Forógra na

Poblachta as Gaeilge. ―Easter 1916‖ by W.B. Yeats was read by Helen Vysotska accompa-

nied by Phoebe Pan on violin The Prefect Team read a selection of narratives outlining the

stages of the Rebellion. A selection of students recalled relatives who played a role in the

1916 Rising. ―An Interview with Pádraig Pearse‖ as imagined by Grace Manning in 3rd

Year was a very insightful piece of writing composed under examination conditions. Declan

O Rourke‘s song ―Children of 1916‖ was sung by Olamide Olao from 5th Year. Sancta Ma-

ria College students have a proud tradition of Irish dancing and Ms. Doyle prepared a selec-

tion to perform on the night. Former students Sinead Scully and Eimear Leddy returned to

the College to recite and sing a special rendition of ―Mise Éire‖. The walls of the hall were

adorned with project work undertaken by First, Second and Fourth Year History Students on

The Women of 1916, The Locations of the Rising and the Children of the Rising, respec-

tively. Thanks to the teachers in the History Dept., Irish Dept., Art Dept., Music Dept., Eng-

lish Dept., and all who assisted in this excellent evening of entertainment. Thanks to the

staff who looked after admission and Programme production.

Fighting Words Workshop

On a beautiful sunny day in April, members of the

Creative Writing Club attended the much anticipated

Fighting Words Workshop on Dublin‘s Russell Street.

On entering the modern space, students were greeted

by a group of enthusiastic volunteers who would sup-

port them in their writing for the next two hours.

Students began by creating a group narrative which

they later developed into their own unique stories. It

was refreshing to see the depth and range of voices

that emerged from one common starting point. Pieces

scattered with humorous dialogue complimented the

tense atmosphere created by vivid descriptions of the

unknown.

Overall, the Fighting Words experience was invigorating and has undoubtedly inspired our

talented students to continue writing with ardour.

Causey Farm

Bhí lá iontach ag muintir na hIdirbhliana ar an bportach i gCo. na Mí mar chuid de Sheach-

tain na Gaeilge i mbliana. Ag bacáil, ag rince agus ag léim sa phortach!

4th Year Gaisce Challenge

We left the school at nine o clock and with high hopes of the rain holding off. We reached the

hostel and began the hike which was quite difficult. We set off reluctantly as the hostel was

so comfortable. The first two hours of the hike were the hardest as it was mostly uphill. It

started snowing as we started the second half of the hike. It was surprisingly enjoyable. The

views were incredible and the walk was in a really scenic area. When we reached the hostel

again, after a 5 hour hike, we were relieved to say the least. We had two hours free time and

then cooked an... interesting dinner. We all chatted and watched a movie and then headed up

to our amazing rooms to get some well deserved rest. The hike the next day was a lot wetter.

Overall it was a really worthwhile and challenging experience. I feel that everybody bonded

very well on the trip. The beautiful views were a superb bonus.

Camogie

Commiserations to Sancta Maria College Senior Camogie team who were defeated in the

Dublin Colleges Final. They came up against too strong an opposition in Scoil Chaitríona

but battled to the end. Outstanding players include — Nicola Mc Carthy, Sarah Lambert

and Grace Dent in goals. Pictured below are the three Sixth Year students with their coach

Ms. Dunleavy and the Sancta Maria College team

The Women Of The Rising

Lucy Reason

The women of the rising

The unknown army

A crucial piece in our history

And yet they stand forgotten.

From countesses to counter hands

Nurses to wives

Markievicz brandishing her gun

O‘Farrell a flag.

From the women who took bullets

To the women who carried the surrender

Women who bid goodbye to their Irish men

on both sides of the barricades

Some fighting for Ireland‘s freedom

Some for that of Europe.

Irish blood spilled by Irish hands.

The women who braved the bullet peppered

streets

For the lives of their unborn

To the safety of the Rotunda.

The nurses who kept working to deliver life

While the same was snuffed around them.

A country forged in bravery and courage

While some of the strongest

Remain forgotten.

More red than green Anna Mc Crory

Risings and Rebellions to break my chains- Have only caused My people hurt and pain- My children travel to Escape but long to re-turn, To the bruised and battered streets of their longed for home, Irish- Not English- we're Not the same- But, how can I claim That, when I'm fading away? My language like sand, slipping through my weathered hands- Tying me to the Queen of another land, Those half finished projects like daggers to my eyes, scalding tea curing all But not my ignored demise Oh come back my children I desperately plead. But Bloody Sundays gone, make me more red than green.

Lucy Reason and Anna McCrory, members of the Creative Writing Cub, composed and read

the poems below as part of the College 1916 Centenary Celebration Night.

Student Enterprise Awards

Congratulations to Uliana Slepukhina

from Fifth Year who represented Sancta

Maria College at the Student Enterprise

Awards in Tallaght I. T. Uliana received

the Enterprising Spirit Award. Her com-

mitment and standard of workmanship

was truly outstanding. Well done Uliana!

Poland Trip

On Sunday March 20th at 4 a.m. a group of 55 students and 7 teachers met at the airport for

our flight to Krakow, we were all tired but really excited. When we arrived at the hotel we

dropped our bags and went to the nearby shopping centre, Galeria Krakowska for lunch.

That afternoon we went on a walking tour of Krakow, it was beautiful and the history was

really interesting. The next morning we again woke really early for our bus to Auschwitz.

There were three camps, two of which we visited Auschwitz I and Birkenau. It was a really

surreal but also very worthwhile experience. That evening some members of the group went

to see the markets in the town square. The next day we got up around 8 a.m. which felt like

a lie in! We went to Galeria Krakowska for some shopping and then that afternoon we visit-

ed the Schindler Museum. The display was all about WWII and the Holocaust and contained

some of the belongings of Oscar Schindler who helped save over 1,000 Jews during the

Holocaust. On our last day, the Wednesday we went to the salt mines. We walked about

2km of the mines but in total there are about 250km of passages and corridors. It was amaz-

ing to see all the statues and chapels made out of salt and even more amazingly there were

kiosks and gift shops with wifi 200 metres underground. Later that evening we flew back to

Dublin, all exhausted but in agreement that the trip was a brilliant experience. Thank you to

all the teachers and staff who made this experience possible for us.

Irish Schools Inter Provincial Swimming Finals

Congratulations to Niamh Coyne, Robyn Lynch, Jenny

Zhai and Hannah McEneaney who represented Sancta

Maria College and Leinster at The National Aquatic Cen-

tre on Sunday 8th May. The team won Bronze medals in

4x50 Medley and Freestyle Relay. Niamh Coyne also

won Silver in 100 Breaststroke.