Busy start to the year at St Gerald’s College Castlebar
It has been a very busy start to the year for students and staff at St Gerald’s De La Salle College Castlebar, with with a variety of events that once again reflect the strong Lasallian ethos in the school.
Music Week 2022
St Gerald’s College Music Week took place December 5th-9th 2022, and once again, the corridors were filled with the sound of music!
Each year group provided musical entertainment at break times and it was an opportunity to have some incredible musical talent on show! A really lovely atmosphere was created as both staff and students gathered around to enjoy the music. Alongside the year groups, we have many gifted banjo players in the school and they joined together to perform some tunes at lunchtime, again in the school foyer.
We also welcomed Castlebar Concert Band who performed some beautiful Christmas music to get us in the festive spirit.
Some highlights of the week included:
Graham Sweeney, a singer/songwriter, gave workshops to 2nd and 3rd Yr music students. Graham performed his own songs for the students as well as giving them a great insight into the music industry.
Junior Davey returned again this year and gave bodhrán workshops to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and TY students which again proved very popular! Junior also performed at breaktime in the school foyer with some of our own talented traditional musicians.
Bualadh Beats, our TY percussion workshop in association with Music Generation Mayo, continued with tutor Raphael Dziubinski, with the students learning many different Brazilian and African rhythms.
Eamonn Mulderrig from Mayo College of Further Education, spoke to 6th Yrs about 3rd level studies in Music and possible careers in the music industry.
One of our English teachers, Mr Power, gave a Bass guitar workshop to interested students. Many thanks to Mayo County Library for their assistance in providing bass guitars for the event.
Many other subjects also got on board and had musical themes in their classrooms; the Home Economics Department made musical cupcakes and a delicious piano cake, the Irish Department looked at songs as Gaeilge, the Technology Department made music boxes, the English Department explored the use of rhyme in poetry and song, the Geography Department made up raps about rock cycles, the Science Department investigated the science behind musical sounds, the French Department looked at French pop songs, the History Department explored revolutionary music inspired by the American, French and Irish revolutions in the 1700’s, the Business Department delved into the music industry and the R.E. Department examined religious themes in pop songs. Music really is at the heart of everything!!
All in all, it was a busy, creative and wonderful week of music, song and entertainment in our school! Photos and videos can be found on all our social media, especially St Gerald’s Facebook or on the Music Dept Twitter @SGCMusic1.
Comórtas Díospóireachta an Phiarsaigh
Comórtas Díospóireachta an Phiarsaigh took place in Coláiste Ghearóid Naofa on Monday evening. The senior and junior debating teams have qualified for the regional final of the competition. Bhí caighdeán an-ard ann. Comhghairdeas le: Aodhán Hughes, Fianach MacGabhann, Muiris Ó Clochartaigh, Hugh Bourke, Patrick Garvey, Feidhlim Ó Shea. Ádh mór orthu sa chéad bhabhta eile! Le Chéile Schools Trust District Ireland, Great Britain and Malta Gael Linn.
Irish Maths Teachers Association Competition
Congratulations to our IMTA Team Maths 2023 Regional Competition winners; Al Mahi Tanzeem, John MacMonagle, Tomas Mee, Roan Naughton and their coach Mr Geraghty. The National Finals will generally take place in March.
Careers and College Fair
Many thanks to Ms Geraghty for organising a fantastic Careers Evening . We had a great turnout, with a wide range of universities, training bodies, professional representatives and industry experts present, who were a great help to the many students in attendance.
School of Charity
The LCA class presented a cheque to Mary McHugh of The Cancer Care for Children Ireland . The LCA students raised much needed funds by producing and selling Christmas logs. Many thanks to Ms Heneghan for helping them with this initiative.
