Carol singers delighted packed houses on Wednesday and Thursday in Our Lady of Lourdes Concert Hall with their special Christmas productions. As this event every year attracts very large numbers, all seats were sold out before the two nights performances a week before. The children taking part were a delight to listen to and were so involved in their respective parts in each play, that their enjoyment on the stage gave the audience the same special buzz as they do every year. The acting was super and all of them were so confident that it reflected great credit on the teachers in charge of the productions. Despite the large numbers present it did not deter them from acting out each part to perfection.

This is an event that attracts so many people each year even those children who have left primary school and gone on to further education. Very well done to all those who took part and the teachers in charge of them. It was a very big task to get so, many young children to bring their weeks of practice to such a wonderful conclusion. The accompaniments on the piano was Miss Murphy to whom the children presented a bouquet of flowers for all her hard work. Mr James Roberts, principal was a capable master of ceremonies and returned thanks to all who were involved in the production. Very Rev. G. Jones PP also thanked the children for such a enjoyable evening and complimented those in charge.

‘The Snowman’ was presented by the Junior Infants and the following took part-Snowman Josh Byrne, Sunrays Aoife Clarke, Cian Hazzard, Rebecca Clarke, Jesse Byrne, Michelle Gethings, Tom Connors, Niall Hudson, Jerry Connors, and Chloe Rossiter; snowflakes Sally Connors, Martin O’Connor, Kate Redmond, Darren Doyle, James Fitzgerald, Katie Connors, Christopher O’Brien, Gerry Connors, Chloe White; snow children Kathleen Connors, Joseph Connors, Rachel Kelly, Rikki Morris, Michaela McDonald; stars Jack Murphy, Shauna Kearney, Oran Fitzpatrick, Jade Doyle, Tom Connors, Rochelle O’Reilly, Shane Nolan, Neal Cullen Tobin.

The Sixth Class delighted everyone with their beautiful rendering of Christmas Carols and were-Aoife Hughes, Kirkham, Grace Sheehan, Terri Byrne, Eimear Nolan, Margaret Connors, Annie Connors, Emma O’Connor, Muireann Redmond, Georgina Fitzgerald and Ciara who sang-Carol on Greensleeves, Drummer Boy, It came upon a midnight clear, When a Child is born and O’Holy Night.

Miss Keane’s and Miss Spruhan’s Senior Infants performed ‘Songs from Disney’ and taking part were-Mary Poppins Sally Connors, girl Emma Tobin, boy Michael O’Connor, beauty Leah Maher, best Shawn Roche, Cinderella Kate Connors, fairy Godmother Holly Farrell, mouse Shane Power, mouse Mickey Connors, pumpkin Sholagh Cowman, bear 1 Clodagh Mahon, bear 2 Roachel Murphy, King Louis Eoin Kelly, Mogli Graham Long, Sheerkahn Brian O’Power, Simba Lee Conroy, Nala Eimear Doran, Lion King Jack Forrestal, Mickey Mouse Dylan Raleigh and Minnie Mouse Taylor Deane, Mickey Mouse helpers Lizzie Breen, Rachel Slye, Ricky Rellis Conroy, John Dunne, Aishling Power, Conor Kavanagh, Caoimhe Power, Christopher Hallers, Brendan Kavanagh, Gerry Connors, Christopher Forrestal, Donald Duck Paddy Furlong, monkeys Emma Melay, Eoin Hayes and Bridget Connors.

Miss Kehoe’s ‘Three Little Pigs’ came next and taking part were-story tellers Emer Dunne, Becky Raleigh, Mark Lambert, Shane Franklin, Conor Thorpe, Lauren Rellis Dunbar, chorus Emmet Morris, Louise Carton, John Connors, Ryan Cox, introducer John Kinsella, Mammy pig Aine Kelly, Daddy pig Andrew Kelly, sausage Melanie Hallers, pork chop Jodie Waters, rasher Kasper Delaney Peterson, strawman Jamie Farrell, stickman Billy Connors, brickman Shane McCarthy, chief Dean Farrell, hands Anthony Roche, cuff Martin Nolan, big bad wolf Vonel Kelly, judge James Brennan, and children-Tom Bowes and Dylan Murphy. The Sixth Years rendered beautifully another medley of Carols-Rocking around the Christmas Tree, I wish it could be Christmas every day, White Christmas, and We Wish you a Merry Christmas.

The Second Class of Mrs O’Rourke performed ‘Hosanna Rock’ and taking part were-Mary-Nicole Gethings, Joseph Farrell, shepherds Dean Conroy, Mark O’Connor, Thomas Power, Danny O’Brien, and Tom Connors, Inn Keepers Matthew Doran, Jonathan Murphy, Roy Hudson, angels Katelyn Fitzpatrick, Emer Carton, Hayley Browne, Ann Rellis, Rebecca Kearney, Helen Connors, Nan Connors, wise men Cathal Fitzpatrick, Eamon Kearney, and James Dunne, narrators Gina Mernagh, Cora Steemers, Becky Foley, Jamie Redmond, Katie Dunne, Conor Creane, Elizabeth Nolan Hayes, Lauren Doyle, Nicole Fortune, Rebecca Mahon, Maeve O’Loughlin, Jonathan Morris.

All present agreed that the evening was a most enjoyable one.

CHRISTMAS IN BUNCLODY: The holy season of Christmas was observed in the usual happy manner in Bunlody. For weeks preceding the feast businesses in the town were busy looking after their numerous customers, who had decided to get some shopping done early, but despite this the streets were packed on the last week, especially on Christmas Eve with the last minute shoppers who had forgotten to get this and that, that they may need over the long holiday weekend. The shops were greatly stocked with everything that one needed and accommodated their clients by remaining open later at night. The coloured lights all over the town gave a brilliant sense of a Christmas feeling. The Post Office dealt efficiently with large mails and Bus Eireann carried a large number of visitors who had returned to spend the festivities with their families and friends. There were many joyful scenes at the bus stop where they were deposited. The Churches had very large congregations at the ceremonies in the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, St. Paul’s, Kildavin and Clonegal where all the clergymen were extremely busy dealing with their respective flocks. On Christmas Eve Bunclody was packed with people all in to enjoy the company of their friends, many of whom were from overseas and they had not seen since last year. It was a pleasant sight to see people so happy and despite celebrating there was no sign of any kind of trouble or drunkenness. The Feast of Christmas was as usual well and truly celebrated in an enjoyable time in Bunclody.

MASS: The entire schools students accompanied by the teaching staff attended the Annual Christmas Mass held in the Church of the Most Holy Trinity on Wednesday last. The ceremony was performed by Father Lawless. The principal of the FCJ Convent, Sister Madeline Ryan spoke to the congregation of students and wished them all a very happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

ALL-IRELAND TECHNOLOGY/ ENGINEERING: Well done to Miriam Nolan, Bunclody Vocational College who produced the ‘Best Engineering Project in the Country’. Miriam won the Perpetual Young Engineer Award when her Leaving Certificate Engineering Project was deemed to be the best in the country. She is the first female student ever to receive this award. The awards were presented at the recent Annual Engineering and Technology Teachers Conference held in Cahir House Hotel, Co. Tipperary. This was not the only award for the Engineering Department, this year Marie Doyle won a gold medal for her Junior Certificate (higher level) Technology Project at the area final earlier this year. The project was selected from a very high standard of entries submitted from Carlow, Wexford and Kilkenny schools. At the national finals Marie took the much coveted third place with stiff competition from a collection of projects from schools nationwide. Her awards follows success last year by T. Tyrell, Alan Owens, and Declan Tobin who won national awards for their Technology and Engineering Projects. Congratulations to the students and their teachers Mr Murphy and Mr McAssey.

SOCCER: The girls soccer team from Bunclody Vocational has started training and it is hoped that they will be playing Enniscorthy Vocational College after Christmas.

January 2004 will also see the camogie players getting back into action with games against Adamstown and Enniscorthy Vocational Colleges.

NEW ERA PROJECT COMPETITION: It is coming to that time of year again when 1st and 2nd years get a chance to show their talents. The New Era project competition will be starting in the New Year. This will involve students choosing a subject area that they enjoy and doing a project in the form of a model, poster or portfolio. A school competition will be held in the Bunclody Vocational College in April 2004 and winners get to go to an award ceremony in UCD in May to show their work and receive their awards. Ms Ryan will be taking names and details of entries during the month of January 2004.

The Christmas Vigil was celebrated by Father Paul Butler in Kilmyshall Church, on Christmas Eve when a large congregation was present. Mass on Christmas was celebrated with the blessing of the toys for the children.

PARISH READERS: The Bunclody have asked that parish readers to implement the following basic points. Make sure you are in the Sacristy in sufficient times before Mass to ensure that you are comfortable with the Readings.

Introduce the Readings simply by saying ‘A Reading from the Prophet’ or ‘A Reading from St. Pauls’ etc. Encourage all parishioners to answer the Response by using a different tone of voice. Now that the congregation have missalets there should be no problem with this. Check the Missalet before Mass and use the Alleluia verse printed there.

ENTERPRISE: This years LCVP Enterprise students from Bunclody Vocational College are well on their way with their mini and some not so mini businesses. All business plans have been typed up and sent off to the Celtic Enterprise Group which are hosting the 2004 Young E n t r e p r e n e u r s Competition. As usual the students have come up with new and interesting products such as garden benches, made by Mark Slye, Raymond Malone, James Hendrick, Terence Murphy and Liam Tobin. These boys have spent a lot their spare time assembling these benches under Noel Ryan’s patient supervision. Fifth year Engineering teacher Mr Jay Murphy has shown James Hall, Matthew Kavanagh, Eoin Hogan and James Birmingham how to use the milling machine to make signs for doors and houses entrances. (Even the College have an order in for one). One of the best sellers is a video copy of one of the biggest events in the school year ‘Grease’ which was held in Kilmyshall Hall some weeks ago. This is being done by Maria Doyle, Amanda Doyle, Cathriona Kavanagh, and Amy Lynch. If anyone would like a banner of a favourite soccer club’s emblem get in touch with Paula Ryan, Maria Lancaster and Lisa Ryan, who are making large painted banners. Sara Treacy, Grace O’Brien, Pauline Tobin, and Roisin Ronan are all busy typing, printing, cutting, pasting, and taking photographs of interesting subjects to put a class year book together. ‘Names and Frames’ is the idea of Celine Hayden, Lisa Doyle and Lorraine Jordan. It involves framing explanations of peoples Chrisitan Names. They have just ordered extra frames to keep up with the demand. This year students will be contributing a share of their profits towards funding their Debs which takes place in the summer of 2005.

TRIP TO WATERFORD: Recently a group of Fifth Year students from the Bunclody Vocational College went on an educational trip to Waterford Institute of Technology. They had the opportunity to see stands from all areas of science and engineering and to get advice on all the courses available in the Institute. They saw many great displays, one of which was the round of robot wars.

As part of the exhibition the students were allowed on board the LE Niamh, docked on the quays and were given a guided tour of the areas on the ship, and were also told of details of the ships most recent mission. Students were also given information of careers, in the navy, and what qualifications were needed to join.

A very enjoyable and interesting day was had by all.

CAREERS: Leaving Certificate students from the Bunclody College attended a Careers Exhibition in Enniscorthy in October. They are presently undertaking a ‘Career Investigating’ as part of the LCVP programme. A questionnaire will be given out.

CUP DOUBLE FOR BUNCLODY: Bunclody Soccer Club recorded a Cup Double last Sunday when their A team beat Fastnet Rovers by five goals to one in the Neil O’Sullivan Cup. This puts Bunclody in the last sixteen of this Cup competition. The whole team played very well, and the goals were scored by Rory O’Brien (2), Timmy Halpin, Kieran Redmond and Clive Murphy. Bunclody’s Senior team beat Adamstown by three goals to one in the Billy Browne Cup and the goals here were scored by Peadar Cowman (2) and Jason Rothwell. A really good all round team performance ensured Bunclody kept their unbeaten tag after sixteen games. Manager Tony Halpin, and Seanie O’Leary were delighted with the performance and go into the New Year unbeaten and focus on the 5th round of the Leinster Junior Shield, with Clare United on January 18, 2004. Congratulations to Nan Leary, Kiltealy who won E2,600 in the Soccer Lotto. The ticket was sold by Chrissie Fitzgerald. Donal Weafer from Coolafancy won a car in the South East draw but opted to take the cash instead and was presented with a cheque for E11,000 on Wednesday last by Committee member Ger O’Hara in Westons premises. The club would like to thank everyone who helped the club in any way throughout the year and to wish everyone a very happy and Peaceful New Year. 

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