Issue 2, May 2009 Nothing miserable about Les Mis!€¦ · Nothing miserable about Les Mis! ... We...

1 Continued on page 2 and 3

Issue 2, May 2009

Nothing miserable about Les Mis!

My life has been one long musical journey. In a moment of weakness, in an exhausted state after the Wizard of Oz, I was hoodwinked by Ms Molamphy and Mr O’Riordan into doing Les Mis. But alas, I thought that musical journey had come to an abrupt end. It was a heart-stopping moment when the musical score for Les Mis arrived in the staff room. I had never seen such difficult music. Ms Molamphy and I searched in vain for some easy phrases or melodies… anything remotely resembling key C or G would do fine, perhaps some easy rhythms, or notes that were not impossibly high or low for the singers. But all to no avail.

We introduced the score to the orchestra in September, and the production team (Ms Doherty, Ms Molamphy, Ms Ryan, Ms O’Dea and Ms Costello) went into full steam ahead. At the beginning, the sounds emanating from E5 on Wednesday afternoons were not pretty, and it would have been easy to give up. After a week or two, one orchestra member, who shall remain nameless, but we all know who he is, worked out the accompaniment to the main theme tunes. This must have taken man hours of hard work, but it was so worthwhile for the team. Soon, melodies were being exchanged, advice on how to simplify the score was given, xylophones purchased,

Portmarnock Community School Newsletter, May 2009 Issue 2D

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keyboards, strings and percussion added, and we were up and running.

The auditions took three weeks in November. Students were painstakingly called back and recalled to make sure we got the best cast possible Many talented students disappointed at first, but we quickly settled into a rehearsal routine and disappointment turned into fun and teamwork.

The backstage and woodwork crew got to work shortly after the Christmas holidays, the stage was built and the school assembly hall was transformed into a scene from the streets of Paris, 1815

The weeks running up to the show now seem like a distant blur and it was impossible to imagine we would be up to performance standard in time. The chorus numbers ‘At the End of the Day’ ‘Drink with Me’, ‘Master of the House’, ‘Do you hear the People Sing’, resounded throughout the school. The corridors were a flurry of costumes, make-up, props, spotlights, sound desks, set-designers, artists, stage builders, microphones, stage hands, performers and the odd teacher or three!

Teachers and parents came on board to bake cakes, organise front of house and raffles, take photographs and videos, and a sense of organized chaos prevailed. Needless to say, all activities occurred after school hours, as we felt it was essential not to disturb the normal running of school life. The management of the school were wonderfully understanding and patient as dress rehearsal time approached.

True to form, the dress rehearsal was a disaster, with many of the principals having sore throats. Opening night arrived, we put our nerves aside, the show opened with the Chain Gang, and magic descended on Portmarnock Community School. To say ‘you could hear a pin drop’ would not be an exaggeration. A stunned and amazed audience were ‘agog’ and ‘aghast’ at the brilliance of the students.

As the conductor, I felt the show was going very well, and we were well rehearsed. The Lovely Ladies were beautiful, Fantine’s death was heart-

wrenching, Little Cosette sang a lovely ‘Castle on a Cloud’, and Gina and Adam brought the house down as the hilarious Thénardiers. The audience held their breath for “Stars”, Anthony was a true leader as Enjolras, and Josh, Rebecca and Susan sang a magnificent ‘Heart full of Love’.

In the second act, Susan’s rendition of ‘On My Own’ was enthralling, Gavroche sang ‘Little People’, and Jack was wonderful in ‘Drink with Me’. When Ryan stood up to sing ‘Bring Him Home’, a hush descended on an awestruck audience, to be matched quickly by the brilliance of Conor’s rendition of Javert’s suicide, due to his unbending principles of justice being shattered

by Valjean’s mercy.

Josh and Rebecca followed with ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’ and ‘Every Day’, and the final scene of Valjean’s death was breathtaking. The show ended with full chorus emerging from the mist as ghosts, singing “Do You Hear the People Sing”.

Imagine my surprise. Silence. Not a sound from the audience. Then, suddenly, rapturous applause, the loudest I have heard in my entire life, with people leaping to their feet and shouting for more. We could not hear ourselves singing our finale song ‘One Day More’.

Standing ovations every night of the show. Messages of congratulations, cards, faxes, flowers arrived at the school. New friendships were forged. Students who didn’t think they could sing found their voice. Students who didn’t think they could act held the audience in the palm of their hands.

Was it worth all the hard work? Definitely. Does my musical journey continue? Of course it does.

It has been my privilege and pleasure to work with such a talented and enthusiastic group of parents, teachers, musicians, management, artists, technicians and actors.

Now, let’s see what challenges next year’s musical has in store for us… We have climbed Everest by taking on Les Mis this year… Bring on next year’s musical! Vive la musique!

Miss Angela Bury


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Microphone Team: Sound GuysThe microphone (mic) team consisted of Seán

McKiernan, Stephen McCabe, Aoife Murphy and of course, the indispensable Jamie Travers. Among our many jobs/ responsibilities was ensuring the general banter of backstage never faltered: We ordered Chinese, watched Ireland internationals, Stephen ate a banana, and we all just added to the general merriment of backstage!

You may have noticed how expertly the microphones throughout the musical were managed. A highly technical procedure of attaching a clip to a piece of clothing and then sticking the actual microphone to the face with small pieces of (very unsticky) sticky tape required all of our skill, cunning and intelligence. Aoife Murphy’s nimble-fingered dexterity proved invaluable, especially as the lads particularly struggled with the sticky tape: A difficulty that frustrated even the most patient performers, as they were usually just about to go onstage!

With only 22 microphones and with plenty of changes and swaps the four of us were kept busy throughout the week (some would say we were the unsung hero’s of the show…others wouldn’t).

Dress rehearsal saw some unsure moments, but from then on we were cool, calm and under control despite the monumental pressures of having to keep up with which scene was currently on (a surprisingly difficult task!) and also actually knowing when people needed a microphone.

The unlucky one or two unfortunate people who went on stage having forgot to collect their microphone found themselves acutely aware of just how important the mic team were! Thankfully nobody else gained this painfully acquired knowledge!

I think it’s fair to say everybody involved in the musical were proud and delighted to be part of such an amazing production, and the mic team would like to thank all the teachers involved for all their hard work.

The Mic Team were: Seán McKiernan: Team Captain, Aoife Murphy: The Heart and Soul, Stephen McCabe: The “Player”, Jamie Travers: The Singing Section.

Seán McKiernan 5OD


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On the morning of the 5th of April 2009, 53 students and 7 teachers travelling to Lillehammer, Norway, assembled in Dublin Airport hyped-up and all set for the much anticipated, exciting week of skiing ahead. There was an air of excitement as the students brought their baggage to the SAS check-in desk and held their breath whilst waiting for their bag to be weighed – 20kgs is used up very easily when carrying around snow boots, salopettes and various other forms of skiing paraphernalia!! Following the tedious job of checking-in, we floated around the duty-free zone for a while to pick up any bits and pieces we would require for the flight i.e magazines, drinks and a whole lot of junk food. At approximately 12.05, flight SK04604 hoisted off the runway with 53 chirpy students onboard.

On arrival in Oslo, we were greeted by our bus driver Murken, a jolly chap who would take us to our final destination – Hotel Birkebeineren. Prior to our arrival at Hotel Birkebeineren, it was essential that we were fitted out with all of our ski gear at Hafjell Alpine Centre. After the assignment of skis, boots, helmets and ski poles we made our way to our way to the hotel that

would be our “home away from home” for the next 7 days – Hotel Birkebeineren. Room keys were distributed and we were given some time to settle in.

The next morning we were awoken by the sound of the teachers drumming on our apartment door. We marched down to the hotel and polished off breakfast before setting off for our day of skiing.

Ski Trip to Lillehammer, Norway, April 2009

Hotel Birkebeineren – our home away from home.


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On arrival at Hafjell we were divided into groups with each group having a different instructor and level of ability. Those of us who were beginners snow-ploughed down the bunny slopes whilst the more advanced of the group went straight to the red slopes before taking to the black ones. The morning lessons lasted from 11.15 to 12.45 and were tedious for those who

had no previous experience of skiing, however, by the time the afternoon lessons were complete there were smiles all round as everyone seemed to be really getting into the swing of things. As the week progressed so did our skiing skills and soon even the beginners were taking to the black and red slopes like ducks to water.

Throughout the week we enjoyed many different forms of entertainment from Mr. Dempsey and Mr. Clarke’s magnificent renditions of ‘Grab and Go’, to swimming, bowling, Gran Torino, a ‘wild’ disco, a quiz night, dinner with

the instructors and a presentation of awards on the final evening.

Everyone enjoyed the trip immensely, new friends were made, new skills and abilities obtained and a new country explored. The experience was truly fantastic and we were lucky to have shared it with friends and class mates. The teachers; Mr. Conroy, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Dempsey, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Bolger, Ms. Malone and Ms. McGlynn and all of our Skiskole instructors were extremely patient and good-humored on the trip making the experience as pleasant, enjoyable and memorable as possible.

Thanks Guys (:

Maddy Mc Guinn and Claire Lenihan 4OD

Sarah Grant and beginners ski instructor Kaia

Gordon Brennan and Andrew Maher, Transition Year.

Waiting for the ski lift.

Mr. Clarke, Mr. Dempsey and Ryan O’Shaughnessy


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The Green School’s Committee has made significant progress over the course of the year and we take this opportunity to recount our success.

Through the Green Denim Day and bake sales we raised over a thousand euro and we thank those who participated in these events.

Our Awareness Day for the first and second year students was a big success and even had a surprise visit by local TDs of the area, such as Trevor Sergeant who were all impressed by the event.

Our Fashion Show was suspended unfortunately, due to the musical and orals; however, we have every intention to see it through hopefully in the next year.

A petition has been launched against the Environmental Minister of Northern Ireland to reconsider his policy of banning environmental protection advertisements in Northern Ireland. The petition will be handed around the school and we ask everyone to please contribute and sign it.

A winner for the Carbon Change Competition was decided and the winner will receive their prize shortly before school ends.

The amount of recycling in the school has risen greatly over the last two years; we now recycle over a third of all waste in the school and the county council had to give us another recycling bin to meet the new demand. There are paper bins in all classrooms and a can and battery bin in the assembly hall and we ask everyone to continue

putting rubbish in the correct bins. On a note, we thank the caretakers for going out of their way and removing cans from the ordinary bins into the recycling ones; the gesture is greatly appreciated.

Just recently, the school was short listed for the Young Environmentalist Award for the second year running. Our school is now one of fifty two applicants vying for the award and special thanks have to be given to Conor Traynor and Grainne Kiernan who have worked hard at getting the school into the short list for both years.

Over the last two years the Green-school’s Committee has made significant progress in our goal to achieve the Green Flag for the school. As of yet, we have not achieved it, but the efforts of students and staff have achieved a respectable improvement in the school’s general waste management and environmental awareness. We thank all those who have helped contribute to the improvement and hope everyone will continue to do so in the years ahead.

Alex Byrne 5OB

Green-Schools Committee Progress Update

Conor Traynor, Grainne Kernan, Amy Holden, Stephaine Dillon, and Alex Byrne


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From April onwards, the students and staff of Portmarnock Community School are being asked to Go Green in support of a recycling drive to raise €50,000 to purchase a new incubator for seriously ill newborns in Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

Old mobile phones, iPods, mp3 players and used printer cartridges can be recycled in the school

library.

On average a reusable handset can raise €7 or more when recycled. We need your help to get enough recyclable material to help them reach their goal of €50,000.

It doesn’t matter how old or broken they are, we would appreciate all your efforts.

With every 200 phones collected, the names of all who donated will be put into a draw for a Digital camcorder.

What to doRecycle your old mobile phones, iPods, mp3

players and used printer cartridges using the

orange plastic pockets provided in the library. Here’s why.

123,000 children •come to Temple Street every year so you will be helping to ensure that they will receive the very best of care possible.

You’re providing •recycled items to millions in Third World countries.

You’re preventing pollution by keeping millions •of items out of landfills.

Last year our school collected over 650 phones for the Jack and Jill Foundation and this year with your help we are hoping to collect 750 phones which at €7 each would raise approximately €5,250 for Temple Street Children’s Hospital who we’re sure has helped you and your families at some stage.

We’ll all be Going Green… Will You?

Sarah Fitzgerald 4OD and Claire Lenihan 4OD

Go Green for Temple Street

Maria Keane (Librarian), Sarah Peppard, Danielle James, Claire Lenihan and Sarah Fitzgerald all from Transition

Year.


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Isteach chun na hAfraiceIn éineacht le 32 dalta ádhúla eile roghnaíodh

mise chun páirt a ghlacadh sa tionscadal san Afraic Theas i mbliana. Ba í an aidhm a bhí againn i mbliana, t e a c h d í l l e a c h t a a thógáíl i mbaile Lu s i k i s i k i , s e o m r a ríomhaire a chur ag obair i Scoil an Chroí Nafa (Sacred Heart S c h o o l ) le fiche r í o m h a i r e nua, naíolann a pheinteáil agus clinic leighis a reachtáíl. Tár éis míonna de shíorphleanáíl agus bailiú airgid, cainteanna faoin mbochtaineacht, sláinte agus sabháílteacht agus SEIF, agus ár gcúig instealladh, bhíomar réidh le dul.

Tar éis 39 uaire crua ag taisteal, ag tosú an-luath maidin Aoine, shroicheamar Myboyti Lodge, ár gcuid lóistín don tréimhse, ocras agus tuirse orainn ach muid ag tnúth le dul i mbun oibre.

Thosaigh ár dtionscadal maidin Dé Luain le cuairt ar Scoil an Chroí Naofa. Anseo chonaiceamar na fadhbanna. Bhí níos mó ná seachtó dalta i rang amháin agus múinteoir amháín in éineacht leo. Bhí a gcúid éide scoile sean agus stiallach agus ní raibh ach cupla píosa páipéir acu le scríobh orthu. In ainneoin seo, ba dhaoine athásacha iad. Chuir siad fáilte mhór romhainne agus bhí searmanas mór ar siúl sa scoil. Chan siad amhráín dúinn agus chanamar amhráín dóibh freisin. Thug an príomhoide caint dúinn chun a bhuíochas a ghabháíl linn.

Maidin Dé Máirt thosaíomar ag obair. Bhí grúpaí difriúla árbh fhéidir linn páirt a ghlacadh iontu gach lá. Chuaigh grúpa amháin go dtí Scoil an Chroí Naofa chun an seomra ríomhaire a chur suas agus ceachtanna Béarla, staire, eolaíochta, ceoil

agus damhsa a thabhairt do na daltaí fad is a mhaisigh grúpa eile na seomraí ranga.

C h u a i g h grúpa go dtí an láithreán tógála freisin agus grúpa in éineacht leis na dochtúirí agus na haltraí go dtí an clinic leighis agus grúpa go dtí an naíolann a

tógadh anuraidh. Rinneamar rudaí difriúla gach lá agus thug sé seans maith dúinn eolas a chur ar gach gné den tionscadal.

Bhí an-bhrón ar gach duine nuair a bhíomar ag imeacht ‘na bhaile. Ní rabhamar ag iarraidh ár gcairde nua a fhágail. Dá mbeadh seans againn d‘fhanaimis ann ag obair i Scoil an Chroí Naofa. Ach ní raibh. Bhí orainn slán brónach a fhágáíl lenár gcairde san Afraic Theas.

Ar an slí abhaile d’eitlíomar go dtí Capetown. Thugamar cuairt ar Table Mountain agus ar Robben Island. Ba anseo a d’fhoghlaimíomar faoi stair na hAfraice Theas agus Nelson Mandela. Tar éis sin thugamar aghaidh ar Éirinn.

Turas iontach a bhí ann agus gan amhras, d’fhillfinn ar an Afraic Theas arís. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le Mr Fitzgerald as an turas seo a reachtáil.

Danielle James 4OW

An Afraic


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All-Ireland Grand Final Trinity Phil 2009

In November and December last year in Trinity College, workshops lead by internationally experienced competitive public speakers, were attended by students from our school. The workshops introduced students to the various forms of public speaking, practical methods for researching and developing a cogent and articulate speech. Competitive Rounds began in February of this year. Each round took place over one day. During that day students participated in four separate rounds: two Parliamentary Debating rounds, and two Impromptu rounds. The top speakers overall from each round qualified for the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Evan Davis won the Junior category for the second year in a row. He received the 3rd place overall. This is the first time a junior has won in the ‘overall category’. Evan did very well in defending his title and winning over very experienced debaters and has a very bright future in both public speaking and debating. The benefits of debating and public speaking are many.

Business and Professional Women’s Association

(BPW)The Business and Professional Women’s

Association, BPW International, was founded in Geneva in 1930 by Dr Lena Madesin Phillips, USA. The association will celebrate 80 years of growth

and development throughout the world in 2010 with the theme ‘Building on a solid foundation for our future’. Every year the organization has a Public Speaking competition for young women. In 2007/08 a team from Portmarnock reached the final, and we also reached the final this year. The members of the team were Catherine Healy, Rebecca Broni and Georgia Finlay all 5th year students. Well done to them.

Catherine Healy Reaches Final of UCD L&H

Also a huge well done to Catherine Healy who reached the final of the UCD L&H debating competition, a huge achievement on her behalf. Catherine did very well to reach the final of such a prestigious competition with huge talent displayed by all competitors.

I would like to encourage all students who are interested to get involved in debating and public speaking. It is an excellent skill to have and all of us, at one stage or another, will be called upon to speak in public. I have seen students grow hugely in their confidence both as speakers and as people. I have enjoyed working with all students involved and I have found my involvement hugely rewarding and I would like to thank all students for their co-operation and inspiration.

Miss Brídín Delaney

Success in Debating

Pat O’Riordan (Principal), Evan Davis and Brian Dobson

Catherine Healy, best speaker.

Rebeca Broni, Georgia Finlay and Catherine Healy, finalists in the BPW.


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At first I knew nothing about Les Mis, at all. It was utterly unknown to me. It was not until I spoke to my aunt who is the biggest fan I have met so far, that I understood what we were undertaking.

We began in late September with our singing rehearsals in C2, long before auditions were even thought about.

Ms. Bury came up with an innovative schedule and placed it on the wall in C2. Being the character she is, she volunteered four of us to keep it up to date. The aptly named ‘Wall Paper’ made from, you guessed it...wallpaper(!), was always the focus of the room. That was up until it was taken down for the set to go up.

Everyday we worked harder and harder, and when the parts were announced there was joy and some tears.

Up until mid-term it was the same story, constantly stepping up our performances and getting better, repeating Acts and Scenes until we knew them inside and out.

When the fourth years went to Africa, people were needed to fill in for the principles. Well done to myself and Sam Earlwood who filled in for Ryan and Josh as Valjean and Marius, respectively, for the two weeks of the trip.

I feel that Les Misérables, was a massive undertaking for everyone including the teachers. We had no idea what to expect and I think that we were all amazed at what we achieved.

Personally Les Mis was one of the best undertakings of my life. I tried things I never

thought I would have done and surprised myself and my family. I must give a massive thanks of appreciation to Ms Bury. Without her push to take part, her belief in me even when I doubted myself, I would not have had this wonderful experience.

Thank you to all the students, with whom I made unbreakable and lasting friendships, the teachers for who we have so much respect and for our parents who had to endure countless renditions of each and every song.

Conor Traynor 50C

Some Personal Thoughts on Les Misérables


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I am Virginia, a Spanish student improving my English in Ireland during this year. I wanted to talk about my work experience during Transition Year as it was a really good experience.

Before I came to Ireland I did not have anything similar to work experience in Spain, so I was really excited when I realised we would be doing it here.

This activity gave me the opportunity to realize how working will be in the future. I thought that working would be

fun but it is not any better than going to school. Working is much more tiring and boring.

I worked in a clothes shop and at the beginning it was really exciting. Meeting new people, seeing all the new clothes in the stockroom, taking some phone calls...but after a few days it began to be the same all over again and it became a routine.

So anyway... you better enjoy your time in school!

Virginia Jurado 4OR

Work Experience, an interesting experience

This is a picture of a Pharaoh’s eye. I painted the picture in my art class for the Gaisce module. Kevin Ward 4OD

Pharaoh’s Eye

Virginia at work


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Have you ever wondered why something happens? Ever wanted to find out other peoples opinions on a certain topic? Ever wanted to design or invent something?

If so, maybe you could!

This is the perfect time of the year to start thinking and developing an idea for a project for next years BT Young Scientist Competition.

You’d be surprised how even the simplest idea can make it through to this prestigious competition.

Plus there are many other science based competitions to enter all of which have fantastic prizes and look great on your future CV.

If you think you may be interested, talk to Ms. Clynes in K11 before the summer holidays.

Calling all ‘Young Scientists’

On March 11th we ran a nationwide 1st year Maths competition in the school. Over 300 schools participated. Congratulations to Ina Caul and Govan Joliffe Byrne both from 1OD whom are through to the All Ireland 1st year Maths Competition Final to be held on May 15th. We wish them the best of luck.

Miss Shirley O’Brien

Maths CompetitionPhotograph of the Coast Road, by Ian Connolly 4OD.


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When I went to Auschwitz and took these photographs, I felt really sad because I saw how Jewish people lived in the concentration camps. The most horrible thing was the room where people were incinerated. You could see the scratches from their nails on the walls. That was really shocking.

Joana Mosio 10L

Auschwitz


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An Podchraoladh is déanaíTá an dara heagrán de Ceol Spórt is Chuile

Shórt le cloisteáil anois ar shuíomh na scoile. San eagrán seo tá Conor Traynor agus Alex Byrne ag caint faoi Scoileanna Glasa agus an obair iontach atá ar siúl acu. Tá Amy Holden ag tabhairt eolais ón Afraic chugainn. Is féidir éisteacht lena bhfuil ar siúl i dteach Jack agus tá ceol binn álainn againn ó Maria Coughlan. Bígí ag éisteacht agus bígí ag caint liom.

Niamh Cronin 5OK

iceol arísTá iceol ar ais. Cloisfidh sibh scoth an

cheoil ó ghrúpa traidisiúnta na scoile arís ar an bpodchraoladh seo. Tá an grúpa ag seinm le chéile leis na blianta anois agus tá an-bhuíochas ag gabháil do na ceoltoirí óga seo a bhí fial flaithiúil lena gcuid ama ó chéadleag siad cos thar thairseach na scoile seo. Gabhaimid buíochas ó chroí le Niamh Cronin, Maria Coughlan, Ailbhe Lawlor, Stephanie Dillon, Sean Mangan agus Gary Corrigan agus ar ndóigh le Ms Mc Glynn a thug treoir, spreagadh agus misneach dóibh i rith an ama. Ar an bpodchraoladh seo casann siad ceol aobhinn Albanach a thógfas do chroí lá buí Bealtaine

Mr Pat O’Riordan

Ó Lámh go Lámh agus ó Neart go Neart

Tá an LámhCheardaíocht beo anseo sa Phobalscoil gan amhras. Tagann grúpa daltaí le chéile ag am lóin gach Máirt faoi stiúir Ms Maguire chun scileanna lámhbhróidnéireachta a fhoghlaim agus a chleachtadh. Tá muid ag foghlaim conas greamanna bróidnéireachta difriúla a dhéanamh agus tá gach duine againn ag baint taitnimh as an obair. Ar mhaith leat scil nua a fhoghlaim. Bhuel Bí linn ar an Mháirt.

Emily Kremer 1OH agus Sarah Louise Flemming 1OG

Ag fanacht is ag feitheamh le foighne

Is é crann na foighne an crann is airde sna Flaitheas. Sin a deirtear agus tháinig an seanfhocal sin chugam nuair a chonaic me na grianghrafanna seo le déanaí.

Tógadh iad lá an toghcháin san Afraic Theas le déanaí. Na sluaite ó chuile chearn den tír i scuainí ag fanacht is ag feitheamh le foighne, agus mian amháin ina chroí ag gach duine. Vótá a chaitheamh. Difear a dhéanamh.

Tá an vóta againn sa tír seo le fada an lá agus níl aon amhras ceapaim, ach go bhfuil sé neamhiontach againn anois. Is fiú féachaint ar na grianghrafanna seo mar sin agus machnamh a dhéanamh ar thábhacht an vóta inár saol.

John Boyle 5OD

Ceol, Spórt is Chuile Shórt


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Four times in the past ten months, the Irish government has targeted our Overseas Development Aid (ODA) funding. So far, E195,000,000 has been cut.

The current economic climate has hurt many. There have been unfair measures taken by the government and in response, there has been public outroar. People out marching, protesting, furiously writing to newspapers and angrily ringing radio shows. Standing up to protect their rights.

But who, I ask, is making a fuss about the ODA cuts? Apart from those in the development sector, they’re generally seen as ‘inevitable’ and ‘justifiable’, ‘fair’. And consequently, our leaders see overseas aid as a ‘soft spot’.

I’m angry because while there has been an 8% fall in national income, aid funding has been cut by 22%. I’m angry because over the past few years, our politicians have stressed the importance of fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals. But with recent budgetary readjustments, it’s now virtually inconceivable that we’ll make the 0.7% UN target for 2012. I am angry, so angry, because our government sees overseas aid as charity to be turned on when we’re feeling ‘generous’, and turned off when we’re feeling the pinch.

Our aid is saving lives. This isn’t about statistics. Irish aid programmes are currently supporting those most vulnerable people through the provision of life-saving nourishment, clean water, sanitation facilities, flood defences, medication and shelter. Because of cuts, thousands of programmes will have to be stopped. It seems hard to imagine that the decisions taken in Leinster House over the past few months will have a direct impact on the lives of people in refugee camps and shanty towns around the world but they will and people will die as a result.

Because of financial turmoil which they have

had nothing to do with, an additional 53 million people around the world will fall below the poverty line. While our leaders pour money into bailing out the banks, as the financial fat cats skip and dodge the system, several other European countries have actually stood firm and retained

their promises despite sliding national revenues.

Our aid is meant to be a practical expression of a deep and lasting commitment to fighting inequality, oppression and poverty wherever it exists in times of crisis more than ever. We have commitments concerning targets and percentages which now ring hollow. That ever overused word ‘fairness’, a word which, according to Brian Lenihan “must be the cornerstone of our efforts at renewal”, is being twisted to suit the political agenda, with the “no votes in overseas aid” mentality reigning supreme.

We are part of the global village, citizens of the world. We can’t turn inwards and simply mutter, “ah but we have our own to take care of”. That’s a lack of compassion. It’s as simple as this, communism fell, neo-liberal capitalism, in all its unregulated greed, now seems to be falling. We need a new open, equal, compassionate system with strong, moral values. Does our government realise that this nipping and tucking of ODA will be the difference between life and death for many people benefitting from Irish aid all over the world? They talk about ‘necessary steps’ and spout excuse after excuse, they know the price of everything, and the value of nothing. Most of those who attempt to justify cuts in areas such as social welfare and aid by listing our global standing in ‘social provision’ polls are on salaries so enormous that they just can’t understand the monstrous injustice of poverty, the desperate plight of those who were left behind during the boom.

Catherine Healy, 5OK

Overseas Development Aid Cuts are Dangerous, Disproportionate

and Grossly Unfair


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Beidh lá eile ag an bPobscoil Peil Ghaelach

faoi 18

Bhuamar craobh scoileanna an chontae anuraidh ach i mbliana ní raibh an ráth céanna orainn. Rineamar ár seacht ndícheall ach níor éirigh linn an corn a ardú.

Roimh an Nollaig bhuamar ar Phobalscoil Íosa agus ar Choláiste Eoin. Tús iontach ba ea é agus d’éirigh linn áit a bhaint amach i gcluiche leathcheannais an chontae agus i gCraobh Laighin.

Faraoir, d’fhág muid slán le Craobh Laighin nuair a chailleamar an cluiche ceathrú ceannais ach bhíomar fos beo i gcraobh an chontae. Bhí cluiche leathcheannais i gcoinne St Declan’s Cabrach i mí Márta againn agus rinneadh a lán traenála roimhe. Cheap mé féin go mbeadh seans iontach againn.

Ar ar an drochuair bhí St Declan’s níos aclaí ar an lá aus cé nach raibh ach cupla pointe idir na foirne leathshlí tríd, bhí an ghaoth leo sa dara leath agus níor éirigh linn breith orthu.

Buíochas mór dár mbainisteoirí Mr Mc Govern agus Mr Mc Nieve a bhí ag stróiceadh leo i rith na bliana. Féadaim a rá leo go mbeidh lá eile ag an bPobalscoil.

John Boyle 5OD

Message from the Principal

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

It never fails to surprise me about the number of activities that take place in PCS outside of normal class time. I would like to register my appreciation of the all the work put in by staff, students, parents and past pupils. In this month’s newsletter you will read about a wide variety of interesting activities that have already taken place in addition to exciting plans for next year.

I draw your attention to the article about the Young Scientist competition inviting students to submit their ideas to Ms Clynes who has kindly offered to help anyone who wishes to enter this competition. We are very interested in promoting Science in PCS. We have had our labs refurbished recently, had an excellent Subject Department Inspection report published not too long ago (available on DES website). One of last year’s Leaving Certificate students, Gordon Haire, now studying Medicine in UCD, received an award for obtaining the highest marks in Leaving Certificate Chemistry and close contacts have been established with the Physics Department in TCD…the list could go on and on. They all bear testimony to a very dedicated PCS science staff.

In keeping with the innovative ethos of the Science Department, PCS looks forward to hosting a Science summer camp for younger people in July 2009. Further details will be made available in the coming weeks about this interesting project.

Finally, I must commend our examination students who are completing their project work, practicals etc in a very calm manner. As the written papers approach I would encourage them to keep their heads down as only a few short weeks remain before they are completely finished …and relaxation!

Pat O’Riordan, Principal


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Your photography, artwork, paintings, poetry, songs,short stories, or any other piece of creative work.

Publication in the [email protected]

Next deadline: Monday 18th May Please send your news to: [email protected]

Ingredientes para 4 personas:

6 o 7 patatas medianas•

1 cebolla•

un pincho de sal•

aceite•

6 huevos•

Receta para hacer tortilla de

patatas Se pelan y se lavan las patatas

(se calcula una patata grande por persona). Se cortan en láminas no muy grandes.

Se fríen las patatas en aceite abundante. Para hacer la tortilla es muy importante que las patatas estén blandas y no crujientes. Para eso hay que freírlas a fuego bajo y en una sartén tapada durante unos 10 minutos.

En un recipiente grande (por ejemplo una ensaladera) se baten los huevos (se calcula un huevo por persona). Se echa sal.

Cuando las patatas ya están blandas, se sacan de la sartén y

se escurren de aceite. Entonces se mezclan bien con los huevos batidos y se deja reposar unos 5 minutos.

Mientras la mezcla de los huevos y las patatas reposa, se pica media cebolla en trozos muy pequeños y se fríe con un poco de aceite durante 5 ó 10 minutos. Cuando está lista, se echa a la mezcla.

En una sartén un poco profunda se echan 2 cucharadas de aceite. Cuando está caliente, se echa la mezcla de las patatas, los huevos y la cebolla y se fríe a fuego medio.

Después de un par de minutos en la sartén se da la vuelta a la tortilla (utiliza un plato). Es conveniente echar un poco más de aceite a la sartén cuando se da la vuelta porque si no, la tortilla se puede pegar. Cuando la tortilla está hecha por los dos lados, ya se puede comer.

¡Buen provecho!

Virginia Jurado 4OR

Receta para hacer tortilla de patatas

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Issue 2, May 2009 Nothing miserable about Les Mis!€¦ · Nothing miserable about Les Mis! ... We...

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