News

The Star of the Sea athletics team took part in the Cumann na mBunscol Dublin athletics competition in Santry during June.  This event concluded a successful season for the athletics squad.  Each athlete represented the school with pride.  We were delighted to see pupils return to Star of the Sea with medals.  This is a testament to the training and practice that they participate in throughout the year, both in school and outside of school.  We are always thankful to Mr Collins and Ms O’Hara who run our athletics programme.  Participation levels in third to sixth classes were at an all time high this year.

Our senior and junior hurlers commenced training in November of 2023 and practised throughout the winter, ably coached by Ms Murtagh, Mr O’Maonaile, Mr Collins and Mr O’Brollacháin.  Both our senior and junior teams played skilful hurling across a series of competitive and friendly matches during April, May and June.  The season culminated in our senior team playing in Croke Park.  We had an exceptional team this year, with some performances en rout to the final that will live long in the memory.  The boys received huge support in Croke Park from fellow pupils, parents, family members and others in our community.  It was a day that will live long in the memory and, alas, the boys did not emerge victorious following another brave and committed performance.

It was with sadness that we wished a happy retirement to our school chaplain, Fr. Cormac McIlraith.  Fr. Cormac was a gentleman to all during his years in Sandymount and we will all miss seeing him around the school and the locality.  Our Star boys attended Fr. Cormac’s final mass in St. Mary’s Star of the Sea parish church and presented him with a card.

Tá an bród orainn i Scoil Réalt na Mara. We have been awarded the Gaelbhratach Flag for platforming Gaeilge mar teanga labhartha and nurturing a deep respect for our national language amongst pupils and staff.

The Gaelbhratach scheme was founded in response to the need to create natural opportunities to speak Irish outside of the classroom and Irish lesson time. The scheme was officially started in the 2012/13 school year at primary level and the following year at post-primary level.Ever since, the scheme has influenced every kind of school all over the country – from urban and rural schools where there is a need to breathe new life into the language, to Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools in which Irish is the main everyday language.

Bunaíodh an scéim Gaelbhratach mar fheagairt ar an ngá atá ann le deiseanna nádúrtha a chruthú chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt taobh amuigh den seomra ranga agus den cheacht Gaeilge féin. Cuireadh tús oifigiúil leis an scéim sa scoilbhliain 2012/13 ag an mbunleibhéal agus bliain níos déanaí ag an iar-bhunleibhéal. Ó shin i leith, tá an scéim i ndiaidh dul i bhfeidhm ar gach saghas scoile ar fud na tíre – ó scoileanna uirbeacha agus tuaithe ina bhfuil gá le beocht a athchur sa teanga iontu, go Gaelscoileanna agus scoileanna Gaeltachta ina bhfuil sí mar phríomhtheanga laethúil.

We had a little celebration of Irish music and dance as we hoisted an bratach (the flag) for the first time.  The flag now flies proudly in front of the school.  We pay tribute to Ms Mulhern, our Assistant Principal, to the boys who have made a conscious decision to use Gaeilge timpeall na scoile and especially to the boys who participated on our Coiste Gaeilge (Irish language committee) throughout the 2023/2024 school year.

The Lego Competition was a big success this year.  Run by the Parents Association and judged by Lucy Rainey of LUCA Architecture, this year there were more entrants than ever before.  Lucy Rainey gave a fascinating presentation to the boys at a school assembly about the work of an architect.  The boys were fascinated as Lucy described why and how she trained as an architect.  Suitably inspired, the boys turned in some creative masterpieces of construction.  Every entrant received a prize and one boy from each class received an extra prize.  Thanks to all who assisted with this competition.

As part of a letter writing project, Ms Mannion’s senior infant class walked to the postbox in Sandymount, where they posted their letters!  Well done to the boys on completing this assignment!