LCVP Trip to Avoca Handweavers
On Wednesday, 14 January, Mr Duffy's and Mr O' Toole's 5th Year LCVP classes headed to Avoca Handweavers, which is Ireland’s oldest mill as part of their LCVP coursework. The students were given a guided tour of the mill by the very informative tour guide Shauna and saw the talented weavers in action.
The students were given demonstrations of how the loom operates by Martin, a fourth-generation weaver and both Cillian and Hanna were also called upon to showcase their weaving talents. The students were told about the history of the handweavers, how 30% of the fabric is still made on hand looms, the impact of Covid on the business and all about the different products that are made and sold there, as well as many other interesting pieces of information.
The students were then shown where all the products are individually hand checked using a special white light before sold/stocked in shops. The students then enjoyed some hot chocolates and coffees in the café before heading back to write up their Summary Reports on their very worthwhile visit to the Mill. Thanks to all the very welcoming staff in Avoca for their hospitality and help on the day.
Art Exhibition
5 Eske held their Art Exhibition on Wednesday, 14 January, where they showcased their wonderful canvases. They created paintings inspired by their favourite artists. They worked very hard, not only on producing the artwork but also on organising the exhibition itself. They were delighted by the number of people who came to support them and ask questions about their creations. Thank you to everyone who came along and showed their support
TY Road Safety Initiative
On Wednesday, 21 January, TY2 and TY3 Transition Year Students attended the ‘Just 1 Life’ presentation in Bray’s Mermaid Arts Centre. Members of An Garda Síochána, Wicklow Fire Service, Wicklow County Council, and Wicklow Rotary Club provided the students with invaluable information in relation to Road Safety and the need to act responsibly on our roads.
Also, Dr John Legge, Consultant in Emergency Medicine from St. Vincent's Hospital, provided an overview of the health complications arising from serious road traffic collisions.
Students came away with a keen awareness of the dangers of speeding, drink/drug driving, and mobile phone use. Impactful stories were shared from the locality, and invaluable lessons were learned.
Lidl Serious Support Schools Programme
On Wednesday, 21 January, the First year girls had a visit from Hannah Tyrrell as part of the Lidl Serious Support Schools Programme, an initiative with the LGFA to boost teenage girls' participation and confidence in sport by focusing on physical and mental health, reducing drop-out rates, and empowering them through workshops. Hannah will visit again and take the girls for a pitch session.
Senior Girls GAA
Having topped their group, CCM Senior Girls faced Coláiste Chraobh Abhann at home in the Leinster knockout round. It was a fantastic performance from the CCM girls as they never let their opponents settle into the game from the very first whistle. Our forwards contributed excellently and took some great scores while our midfield and backs worked tirelessly to keep the opponents at bay. Final score 8-20 to 0-04 for CCM.
Scorers:
Brooke Byrne 5-07
Millie Phelan 1-06
Reece Hughes 1-01
Annabell Killeen 0-02
Freya Renwick 0-02
Kayla Renwick 1-00
Aoife Hunter 0-01
Lily Neville 0-01
First Year Basketball
The First Year Boys put in a strong performance in a closely fought 15–12 loss to Greystones Community College on Monday, 19 January, showing great effort and teamwork throughout. They stayed in the contest from start to finish, working hard at both ends of the court.
There were standout performances from Aaron Farrington Da Cunha and Robert Thompson, who both contributed big scores. Greystones edged ahead with a few crucial baskets in the final quarter, but our lads showed real heart and came close to forcing a draw with a late three-pointer. A great effort all round, with plenty more to come from this team.
On Tuesday, 20 January, CCM made a strong start against east Glendalough, leading by two points after the opening quarter thanks to excellent teamwork and communication. EGS responded in the second quarter with five quick points, but CCM showed great composure to fight back, leaving the score at 11–10 to EGS.
The third quarter was fiercely contested, with both teams matching each other in attack and defence. A late scoring burst from EGS saw them edge ahead 15–10 going into the final quarter.
The last quarter was full of excitement, with both teams trading scores and the margin reduced to 18–16 with two minutes remaining. CCM finished superbly, scoring six crucial points in the final three minutes to seal a deserved 22–18 victory. Outstanding fourth-quarter performances from Emmanuel Adekunle and Dáire Mitchell were key in driving CCM over the line.
Second Year Basketball
The Second Year Boys were involved in a thrilling, high-quality contest against Greystones Community College on Monday, 19 January, narrowly losing 46–45 in an excellent game of basketball. Both teams showed great skill and intensity in a match that went right to the final moments.
Our lads were unlucky not to win, with a few late chances to clinch the game just not falling our way. Simon Lynch and Braxton O’Brien were standout performers in a strong team display.
Both teams now move on to face East Glendalough in the hope of securing a win. Overall, it was a great showing on the first day out.
The first quarter of the Second Year Boys' match against EGS on Tuesday, 20 January, proved exciting, with Braxton O’Brien opening the scoring with a three-pointer in the first 10 seconds. CCM were the stronger side throughout the quarter and went into the second quarter with a five-point lead.
The second quarter saw EGS respond well, outscoring CCM 7–2 to close the gap and bring the score to 9–8 in CCM’s favour at half-time.
The third quarter was intense, with both teams struggling to find scores as fatigue began to show. Despite this, CCM managed to maintain a narrow lead, edging the quarter to bring the score to 16–14.
Going into the fourth quarter, both teams were clearly tired, but CCM played outstanding basketball, showing great composure and teamwork to pull away and secure the win. The final score was 23–18 to CCM.
A standout performance came from Braxton O’Brien, who finished with a superb 17 points, while Michael Adekunle’s tenacious defensive work played a crucial role in limiting EGS and sealing the victory for CCM.
South Leinster Semi Final
Coláiste Chill Mhantáin 5-10
Colaiste Bhríde Carnew 0-8
The CCM Junior Boys’ football team booked their spot in the South Leinster final on Monday, 19 January, after a dominant display again Carnew in tough conditions. The game was slow to get started and CCM led 4 points to 1 before they really took control. CCM broke quickly and some excellent play between Kale Conyard and Alex Mernagh saw the onrushing Harry Butler crash the ball to the net, adding a second minutes later. Alex McKenna, Rhys Behan and Sam Conyard controlled the game from the half back line and the full back line (in particular Harry Messitt) also dealt with any of Carnew’s attacks very well throughout. CCM had a penalty saved before they added their third goal before half-time. Half-time score CCM 3-6, Carnew 0-2.
The second half began with Carnew being awarded a penalty but keeper Evan Lawlor was equal to it and made a great save. Nathan Duffy Gough and Sean O’Brien dominated midfield with two excellent displays and points from the brilliant Alex Healy and Mernagh saw CCM extend the lead. Carnew managed two great two-pointers in the second half but goals from Sean O’Brien and Butler put the game to bed with 10 to go. All subs contributed massively to the win, with some putting their hand up for a starting place in the final.
CCM ran out comfortable winners on the day. They now await their final opponents, who should be known in the coming days. Well done to all involved.
Ultimate Frisbee
Tuesday, 20 January, proved a very busy day in the National Indoor Arena with 24 Leinster teams competing to qualify for the Ultimate Frisbee All-Ireland Championships in April. CCM brought out five teams with 53 players, the biggest showing of any school in the country at this point!
Our outgoing Sixth year team had a brilliant day, just losing one match in the middle bracket division. They were consistently strong with the disc and had super defence, which stopped their opponents from any long throws at all. With five wins against Holy Family, Lucan, Clonturk A and B and EGS and one loss to Hartstown, they took 11th on the day, just inside the top half.
Our combined Fifth year and TY team were also in the middle division and saw four wins against Clonturk A and B, Santa Sabina and EGS and one loss to Hartstown over the day. In their final match of the day, Clonturk were on a roll to come back and take the final win from the lads, but Steven Doyle got an excellent block to stop their score until time went and sealing their 13th place finish.
The TY team had an OUTSTANDING day! Playing the current All-Ireland women’s champions, Santa Sabina, they ended up winning sudden death to take their first win. This tempo would continue throughout the day, seeing them take the scalps of EGS, Holy Family and Clonturk, despite picking up a serious injury on the team. Their final, for 9th place, was against Hartstown who had previously take down two CCM teams. But the standout moment of the day was seeing Rahim Ahmed throw a stunning backhand the entire length of the court to Karl Uhlemann to take the win and secure 9th place.
Our Fifth year team was in a tough pool, starting off the day against last year’s All-Ireland winners, St Fintan’s. It was a brilliant start for the lads who went 4 nil up, but Fintan’s showed their experience and composure, shutting the lads out of the rest of the match. This didn’t temper their spirits though as they went on to beat Holy Family, securing a spot in the quarters. They lost to Fintan’s, but through sheer determination, calmness on the disc and some lovely scores from Max Free, Conor Coffey, Finn Richardson and Cillian Czwalina, they pulled it back to 6-4. They were now headed to the 5th place match against CCM’s first team, confirming that at least one CCM team would be headed to All-Irelands.
Finally, our first team started the day off against Gonzaga, eventual winners and a very quick, well-drilled team. It proved a bit too much and the lads lost by 3. However, the most incredible moment of the day was when Charlie Seery Freir, our only junior player of the day, managed to take down the wobbliest disc, which had been defended by not one, but two Gonzaga players, seeing an important score to get the momentum going. They would go on to win against EGS, putting them into the semis. They faced off against Fintan’s and stayed close but couldn’t best them. They played a handy game against John Scottus, nearly bageling them.
Finally, match of the day for CCM was our top two teams facing off. It was an intense, passionate and very exciting match to watch with lots of fabulous throws from both sides and some incredible discs plucked from the air by defensive players. However, the first team showed our Fifth years just why they were on the first team, taking a convincing win of 9-5. These two teams came 5th and 6th on the day, with the first team qualifying for All-Irelands. Well done to all the lads who were just brilliant to work with and a pleasure to watch play.
East Leinster Cross Country Championships
The East Leinster Cross Country Championships were held on Wednesday, 21 January, in Phoenix Park, Dublin, in very challenging conditions. Persistent rain and strong winds made for a tough day’s racing, but the students showed great determination, resilience, and school spirit throughout.
There were several strong individual performances. Summer Fitzsimons finished 6th in the Inter Girls race, while Sadhbh Fitzsimons placed 14th in the Minor Girls’ race. In the boys’ events, Aaron Fitzsimons secured 10th place in the Senior Boys’ race, and Charlie Carpenter finished 9th in the Junior Boys’ race.
The Junior Boys’ team achieved an excellent 5th place finish, with the team comprising Charlie Carpenter, Jamie Carpenter, Seán Brennan, and Daniel Leonard.
All of the individual results mentioned have qualified for the Leinster Cross Country Championships, which will take place in a couple of weeks. We wish them the best of luck as they prepare for the next stage.
U17 Boys’ Soccer
On Thursday, 22 January, CCM travelled to Greystones to face Templecarrig in the semi-final of the Wicklow/Wexford Division One knockout phase. The players started brightly and competed well throughout the opening stages, creating chances and showing great determination against a very strong opposition side, however it was Templecarrig who took the lead through a penalty after twenty minutes. CCM responded well and scored a penalty of their own before half-time through Harry Butler. Harry also rattled the post with a wonderful strike from 30 yards and CCM were very unlucky not to score the rebound as it bounced out to our striker who missed the target.
Templecarrig were clinical and led 2-1 at half-time, however the game was finely balanced. CCM again began fast early in the second half and a free kick from 25 yards from Alex Mernagh hit the post, the second of four times CCM would hit the woodwork, and Templecarrig capitalised to break forward and convert 3-1. Not to be disheartened and through the introduction of substitutes, CCM continued to push, and Harry and Alex both hit the post and crossbar again. On another day, with a bit more luck, the outcome could have been very different.
Templecarrig finished the game off with a flurry of quick goals and a disappointing end to the campaign which saw CCM go unbeaten up to this point. We look forward to regrouping and going again next year.