Transition Years at Newgrange

Transition Years visited Newgrange recently. Upon arrival they were given sheets with questions about Newgrange which they had to answer throughout the day. A visit to the onsite museum displayed lots of 3D visuals on the history of Newgrange, how it was built and how the people of that time lived.

The group were then shown a short video on how Newgrange was constructed over 5000 years ago, and how it was restored again 4600 years later. Transition years learned that Newgrange was built before the great pyramids of Egypt.
When the video ended pupils left the interpretative centre and headed up to the burial site where they were split into two groups. One group was taken into the passage tomb while the other group explored the grounds. The inside of the passage tomb was much smaller than expected but no less impressive. Before leaving all pupils and teachers entered a lottery to be in with a chance of being present to witness the passage tomb light up during the Winter Solstice on the 21st of December. (by Anna Rooney)

St. Vincent dePaul Food appeal 2016

Well done to all those who contributed to the annual St. Vincent dePaul Food appeal in St. Mary's recently. Ms O. Humphries and her band of willing volunteers were kept busy both before and during school as pupils arrived to donated their foodstuffs.

All food was placed into 20 boxes which were then collected by our local St. Vincent dePaul conference to be distributed before Christmas.

St. Mary's Scholarship winners

Congratulations to St. Mary's students of Leaving Cert 2016 who received scholarships in NUIM, UCD, DCU and TCD recently. Best of luck to all in their studies.