CRAOBH NA hÉIREANN SAN ÓRÁIDÍOCHT POIBLÍ

MEÁNSCOIL SAN NIOCLÁS PIPPED AT THE POST

Bhí lá mór ag lucht na hIdirbhliana i gCaisleán Átha Cliath an tseachtain seo caite.  Thaisteal an rang ar fad chun tacaíocht a thabhairt do Cháit, Niamh agus Áine a bhí ag iomaíocht ar son na Meánscoile i gCraobh na hÉireann den Óráidíocht Phoiblí.  Ghlac 170 scoil páirt sa chomórtas seo go náisiúnta.  Níor ghnóthaigh ach ceithre scoil áit i gCraobh na hÉireann.

"E-you: My Vision for Ireland's Future in Europe" a bhímar rún acu.  Thug na cailíní ó Mheánscoil San Nioclás taispeántas den chéad scoth, ag cur béime ar na buntáistí móra a bhaineann le ballraíocht na tíre seo san A.E..  Ag deireadh thiar thall thug Scoil na mBraithre, Inis Córthaigh an lá leo. 

I measc na moltóirí bhí Eileen Dunne (Nuacht R.T.É.), Francis Jacobs (Oifig Parlaiminte na hEorpa in Éirinn) agus Niamh Hennessy (Iriseoir Gnó, "Irish Examiner").  Mhol siad ard-chaighdeán na foirne. Dúirt Maurice Hayes (Cathaoirleach- Fórum Naisiúnta um an Eoraip) gur thug sé ardú croí dó bheith éisteacht le tuairimí dearfacha na ndaoine óga i leith an saoil agus i leith na hEorpa.

Tá gach éinne sa Mheánscoil fíor-bhródúil as na cailíní agus as an éacht seo.  Molaimid go h-ard iad.  Ár mbuíochas lena dtuismitheoirí, leis an rang agus leis na múinteoirí a thaisteal leo.  Gabhaimid buíochas speisialta le Áine Bean Uí Uigínn as an obair go léir a dhein sí leis an bhfoireann.

Three students from Meánscoil San Nioclás narrowly missed out on the chance to become All-Ireland Champions in the National Public Speaking Competition organised by the National Forum on Europe.  Transition Year trio Cáit, Niamh and Áine joined three other schools in the National Final in Dublin Castle.  170 schools had taken part in the earlier stages of this competition.

The theme of the competition was "E-you: My Vision for Ireland's Future in Europe".  The girls put in a sterling performance, stressing the enormous benefits of Ireland's E.U. membership. Their suggestion that Ireland promote its knowledge economy, just like the monks of old helped to spread Christianity, was warmly applauded by the packed audience.  They were narrowly defeated by the boys of C.B.S. Enniscorthy. 

The judging panel, consisting of Eileen Dunne (R.T.É. News), Francis Jacobs (Head of the European Parliament Office in Ireland) and Niamh Hennessy (Business Journalist, "Irish Examiner"), praised the high standard of all the teams.  Maurice Hayes (Chairman - National Forum on Europe) said he was "heartened" by the optimism of these young people. 

All at Meánscoil San Nioclas are extremely proud of the girls and their achievements.  We express our gratitude to their parents, fellow Transition Year students and teachers who supported them throughout their journey.  A special word of thanks is due to their teacher and mentor, Áine Bean Uí Uigínn, for her tireless work in preparing the students for this competition.

Pictiúr 1:
Maurice Hayes (Cathaoirleach), Pádraig Ó Neachtain, M.E.P., Cathy Sinnott, M.E.P. agus Áine Bean Uí Uigínn, Múinteoir, le Cáit, Áine agus Niamh.

 
Pictiúr 2:
Eileen Dunne (Nuacht R.T.É.) ag bronnadh na nduaiseanna ar Niamh, Cáit agus Áine, i dteannta a Múinteoir, Áine Bean Uí Uigínn agus Cathy Sinnott, M.E.P.