Newtown Review

Principal’s Welcome 2
Calendar 3
The Review Team 4
Interviews 6
1st Form 10
2nd Form 12
3rd Form 16
Transition Year 18
5th Form 28
6th Form 30
Head Boy and Head Girl Interview 34
What They Will Remember 35
Class of 2017 36
Opinion pieces 38
Mock Referendum 41
Sport in Newtown 43
Sports Interviews 46
Hockey 49
Lifesaving 54
Rugby 55
Orienteering 56
Lion’s Club 57
Art in Newtown 59
Music in Newtown 62
Competitions 66
Quotable Quotes 70
Old Scholars 71

1
 As I write this introduction to this year’s review the office windows are open wide and the Leaving and Junior Cert
candidates are outside enjoying the sun on their lunch time break from “the exams”. The sun is shining and the heat
is incredible and has been for two weeks now….Can this be summer? And yet the review is covered in snow!! And
snow is probably the main memory and reference point for everybody this year and will be for years to come….. “Was
that the year of the snow?” So what did happen in the year of the snow? This edition of the review will be our
reminder, and thank you to the editorial team and contributors and to Aaron Corless for collating and guiding the
whole process.
This classroom is the core of our daily activity, and possibly the area least reported in reviews over the years as it is a
constant. This year the new Junior Cycle changes came into full effect in the classrooms with teachers adapting to the
new specifications in their subjects culminating with CBAs (Classroom Based Assessments) for the relevant subjects.
New terminology and new assessment and grading practices will take time for everyone to get familiar and
comfortable with. The staff have been very busy with training for the new programmes and also in their participation
in working groups to lead learning specifically in the areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Assessment. My thanks to all
for the great progress over the year.
Outside the classroom many great activities took place; the choirs’ trip to Prague; the Senior girls retaining their
national Orienteering title, the 2nd year ski trip, the TY Cycle without age initiative , winning national YSI awards, the
Minor boys Hockey Munster title win, 4 hockey players gaining international honours, the Inter Girls hockey team
league and Cup double and the determination of the Senior Boys rugby. There is much I have not mentioned but these
are just a broad flavour. One of my personal favourite moments was a Tuesday lunchtime during Literacy week when
about 12 students gathered to read poetry in the library. After the first scheduled recitals took place, with many being
self-composed pieces, people started to volunteer to recite their favourite poem or something they wrote to the
gathering. Just a lovely occasion to share together. Revealing emotions and thoughts through poetry. Poetry can often
express succinctly where too many words will otherwise fail to communicate our feelings. At its heart it helps us to
understand each other and this can lead to more understanding relationships.
I will finish on relationships, as this, I believe is at the centre of education and what we do at Newtown. The snow
brought communities together, built relationships, as people worked together for the common good and so it should
be in school life. The pages ahead are full of memories and friendships, some forming, and in the Old scholar’s pages,
many forged and lasting. We may not always agree, but we can all strive to understand and appreciate the “good in
everyone” and work for the good of everyone. Enjoy the pages ahead and thank you to all of you who contributed to
school life over the year
In Friendship
Keith

2
August: 23rd: Chamber and Girls Choirs fly to
28th: First years arrive Prague to compete in The Young
29th: Boarders return Bohemian Festival
30th: School starts 24th: Multiple marches take place across
America to protest for better gun control
September:
5th: International Bacon Day April:
6th: Pope Francis arrives in Colombia for a five day 11th: Senior girls win Cup final against
visit Kilkenny College
8th: Head girl and boy are announced 17th: Newtown swimming gala
10th: Hurricane Irma reaches America 20th: Avicii passes away suddenly
30th: Old scholars weekend 23rd: Kate Middleton gives birth to third
child, Prince Louis
October: 25th: Newtown students compete in the
5th: World Teacher’s Day Orienteering all Irelands in Emo Court
16th-17th: School closes due to Storm Ophelia
25th-27th: Senior boys hockey All Irelands May:
29th: Dublin Marathon 8th: The Clan 1500 metres
31st: Halloween! 11th: Newtown holds its own referendum
on the 8th amendment
November: 19th: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
20th: Universal Children's Day marry in Windsor Castle
23rd: Thanksgiving 25th: Ireland votes to repeal 8th
Amendment in historic referendum
December:
1st: Rosa Parks day June:
12th: The annual Cross Country is run 1st: Clan sports day and Country Market
14th: Newtown Christmas Dinner take place, Green clan wins the clan shield.
21st: Newtown Christmas concert. School breaks up for Summer!
22nd: Christmas holidays! 4th: Volcano erupts in Guatemala
25th: Santa visits 6th: State Examinations commence

February:
8th: The winter Olympics begin
14th: School shooting in Marjory Stoneman
Douglas, Parkland
16th: Chinese New Year
28th: School closes due to Snow

March:
1st-5th: School remains closed due to snow
5th: The Oscars Ceremony takes place
14th: Stephen Hawking passes away after a long
battle with motor neurone disease
17th: Ireland secures Grand Slam in Six Nations
final against England
20th: First day of spring

3
Without a doubt this year has not been
without its challenges. Trying to balance
an already full school timetable with the
running of such a big project has
definitely been hard, but as in true
Newtown style it all came together in the
end. Finding staff and students in such a
small school should not be as challenging
as we found it to be! We spent so much
time outside the staffroom that we had
become part of the furniture by the end
of the year. Despite the vast number of
jampacked lunchtimes, it has been very
rewarding to be involved with such an
important student led initiative.
For sure, 2018 was the year of the snow.
'The Beast from The East' transformed
Newtown into a scene not dissimilar to
Narnia. For many students 'The Big Snow'
was a very memorable part of our school
year. This was evident through the vast
number of photographs we received of
Newtown covered in a blanket of
sparkling snow. It was for this reason we
decided to go with a theme for this years
covers; Newtown in the snow.
4
This year we also decided to add an
opinion section where students
could express their thoughts on a
multitude of subjects which they
had strong views about. This was a
huge success as we received some
very thought provoking pieces. These
topics ranged from social media to
nuclear weapons, highlighting the
wide range of ideas that people in
Newtown express and showing that
students have opinions concerning
not only their direct environment, but
also the wider world in which they
live.
The dedication of our team has been
invaluable and we thoroughly
enjoyed working with each and every
member. We are immensely proud of
everything we have accomplished this
year. We would like to thank
everyone who contributed to the
review as without you, there would
not be a review. We would also like to
thank Mr. Corless, our staff editor, for
his assistance during the year. Finally,
we would like to thank the Old
Scholars Association for their
continuous support and guidance
By Caoimhe Lawless and Molly
O'Shea
 Back Row (left to right): Niamh Doyle, Leah Combal, Daniel Evans, Molly O'Shea, Caoilin O'Meara, Maya
Laura, Caoimhe Lawless, Sara McDaid, Izzy Collins, Samantha Foley, Kara Reynolds, Roisin Lynam
Front Row: Ethan McInerney, Ben Johnson, David Gahan

Editors: Caoimhe Lawless and Molly O’Shea

Creative editors: Izzy Collins, Daniel Evans and Caoilin
O'Meara
Staff editor: Aaron Corless

Sports: David Gahan, Sara McDaid, Ethan Past sixth years: Kara Reynolds
McInerney and Ben Johnson Calendar: Caoimhe Lawless and Molly O’Shea
Interviews: Niamh Doyle, Samantha Foley and Photography: Leah Combal and Abi Hennebry
Kara Reynolds Year Liaisons:
Competitions: Isobel Collins, Maya Laura and First form: Niamh Doyle
Roisin Lynam Second form: Maya Laura
Quotable quotes: David Gahan and Roisin Third form: Sara McDaid
Lynam Fourth form: Samantha Foley and Ethan
Art: Niamh Doyle and Caoilin O’Meara McInerney
Music: Daniel Evans and Kara Reynolds Sixth form: Lizzy Swift

5
 How long have you been at Newtown?
33 years.
If you weren’t a teacher what do you think you’d be?
An archaeologist.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had
here?
The 2007 rugby trip to Toulouse. It was my son’s senior
team.
If you could change any one thing about the school,
what would you change?
I’d improve the facilities - it will come eventually.
What do you like about your job?
Being around kids means never having to grow up.
What do you not like about your job?
Marking, marking, marking.
How have schools changed since you were a
student?
Manners and politeness of the students has
deteriorated. The decline in the use of the semicolon.
If you were the Minister for Education for a day,
what is the first thing you would change?
Give teachers everything they want, then hide in my
office and give myself a pay rise.
What subject do you wish you could teach?
Art or music even though I can’t do either.
Describe newtown in 5 words or less.
Ramshackle but homely.
6
How long have you worked in Newtown?
11 years this September
What would your day normally consist of?
Well at this time of the year I mark the rugby and
athletic pitches, but my usual jobs are bringing in
the milk and bread at the start of the day, doing
the bins, cutting keys and locks and other
various tasks.
Why did you decide to work in Newtown?
I was originally doing construction but I hated
the last year and I saw that there was a job
opportunity in the school and I enjoy working
outside.
What is your favourite aspect of the school?
The banter with the students and teachers
What do you see as the most important part of
your role in the school?
The three S’s; students, staff and school.
What is the strangest job that you have been
asked to do in the school?
I was asked to pretend to fall off a ladder by the
S.P.H.E. teacher. I had to knock over the ladder in
Glynn and lie on the floor ‘shouting in pain’ to
see what the students of the class would do in the
situation.
Who are your favourite colleagues/teachers
and why?
Bryan Ronan (we bonded from the beginning),
Aoife Noctor (good buddy), Bernadette
Mcgettigan (a pure lady) and Tara Coady (we
travelled with a TY group to Romania together) to
name a few. Also as an afterthought, Sinead
Maher (because she scares me).
What is the most memorable moment of your
time in Newtown?
When my sons came to the school. They also
worked in the school during the summer and it
was really memorable working with my boys.
 What was your first impression of the
Newtown Community?
It had a lovely friendly atmosphere!
Funniest story about Newtown?
A dog was found outside, one of the staff tied him
up outside on this huge rope, so long it let him
run all around the place! Then someone
recognised him and rang his owner.
Fondest memory about your time at Newtown?
When my daughter was here as a student.
What is your favourite thing about working in
Newtown?
My colleagues and the friendly students.
If you could describe the Newtown community
in three words what would they be?
A friendly and welcoming community.
If you were Principal for a day what would you
change?
I would update some of the buildings!
7
What’s your role at Newtown?
I am the conductor of the chamber choir.
What’s your favourite thing about conducting
the chamber choir?
The willingness to learn and enthusiasm of the
students involved.
What is your favourite song in the chamber
choir repertoire?
It's a new song that we are only starting called
Jenny Kiss'd me, by an American composer
called Eric William Barnum.
What’s the choir’s greatest strength?
The choir always work at the challenges I set for
them, be it warm ups or the rep. This year we
sang in English, Irish, Latin, German and
Russian.
Highlight of your year with chamber choir?
Competing in Prague and Cork.
What’s your funniest story about chamber
choir?
Watching them doing star jumps and planks
during warm ups.
Best thing about the kids in chamber choir?
They all love singing, which is the very
important when being in a choir.
What are your plans for the future with
chamber choir?
To expand the choir and hopefully double in
size. More performances and competitions and
hopefully some sort of exchange program and
masterclasses.
What would you say to people who want to
audition for choir next year?
Don't be nervous, it's lots of fun, come along to
one of our rehearsals toward the end of the year
and see for yourself. We rehearse on Monday
from 6-7 in Mountmellick.

When you first arrived at Newtown, what
were your initial thoughts?
I thought the campus was really nice and there
was a lot of space here. Also the unbelievably
creaky floors in the dorms!
Would you advise taking a gap year?
For sure! There isn’t another way I would have
been able to travel to 10 countries in 7 months
without having a place as a 'homebase'.
What is your favourite memory of the year so
far?
It’s a tie between Hurricane Ophelia and 'The
Beast from The East'. Both involved extra time
off and lots of fun activities.
If you could describe Irish people in 3 words,
what would they be?
Grand, outgoing and interesting.
If you could change any one thing about the
school, what would you change?
The red carpet in the staff dorm, I mean who
thought that was a good idea?
Are schools here very different than they are
where you’re from?
Definitely, I only had 4 periods a day! Testing
and exams are super different too and there are
so many more breaks here.
What is the most important thing you’ve
learned from Newtown and the people here?
Patience, in all situations and that the Irish
people are as genuine and friendly as everyone
says they are.
What are your plans for the next few years?
As of right now, I’m hoping to work on a cruise
ship for a while and then go to Australia for a
year. After that I have no clue.
8
What was your first impression of the
school?
I thought it was big and seemed nice. I was
excited to start first year here.
Do you think Newtown is different from
other schools? Why?
Yes, we have boarders here and it’s cool to get
to know people from other countries. I’d never
heard of a Quaker school before Newtown
either which also makes it very different.
If you were principal for a day, what’s the
first thing you would do?
I would start the day later so I don’t have to
talk to people in the morning and get rid of
homework.
What is your favourite class and why?
English, I like the teacher and she gives us
food sometimes.
What 3 words do you think sum up
Newtown?
Unique, friendly and relaxed.
Do you do any extracurriculars? Do you
think students should get involved in
extracurriculars in school?
I do hockey and I think students should get
involved in extra activities because it’s really
fun and a great way to make friends.
Why did you decide to come to Newtown?
My sister goes here and I liked the idea of a
smaller school than the other secondary
schools in Waterford.
What advice would you give first years
coming to Newtown next year?
Get involved in some of the extra activities,
they make it easier to get to know people and
also don’t be late to class.
 Why did you decide to come to Newtown?
My sister came to the school before me and she
really enjoyed the experience, so I decided to
come for 2 weeks in transition year to try it out. I
really liked the school and felt a good
atmosphere.
What was your first impression of the school?
It was very good - dorms are like a big family
because everyone cares about each other. I also
liked how the teachers treat students like an
adult, which is different to my experience back
home.
What was the hardest thing for you, coming to
a new school in a different country?
Leaving my friends....and the food!
. The lunchtime league is a league held within
What is your favourite memory from the year
so far?
The clan cross country, I found it fun and there
was a strong sense of community.
Do you think that there is anything that makes
Newtown special or different from other
schools?
Yes, being a Quaker school. They give us time in
the morning during collect to think for
ourselves, to answer questions and give us ideas
to think about.
Would you advise other foreign students to
come to Newtown?
Yes, as we are like one big family and they will
feel at home.
After having been in Newtown, knowing your
experiences and looking back, would you
come to Newtown if you got to decide again?
Yes I would. I find that here, I maximise the free
time I have as I am always busy and have stuff to
do. There's a good balance between free time and
study at the weekend too.
9
What is Longball United?
We are a fully professional football team
(within the school).
Why did you, as a team, start playing soccer?
When we saw the level of talent on show in the
school, we knew it would be a sin not to start a
team.
What is the lunchtime league and who
decided to start it?
school between three teams from different year
groups. The captains and founders of the teams
created the league to inhibit fair play.
What is happening for the rest of this year?
We have our cup final with another team Tiki
Taka coming up.
Star player of the year?
Jeffrey, scoring 5 goals in 4 games.
Where do you see Longball United in the
future?
Making our way through the ranks.
Will it be able to continue next year without
the current 6th years?
Yes, there are upcoming third years.
Has playing soccer with other students in
other years created a better sense of
community/friendship?
Yes, although it causes friendly competition, it
brings people in their year together and allows
people to put aside their differences.
Back Row (left to right): Alex Papathomas, Peter Keappock, Luke Denny, Oscar Stumpf, Azuolas Cernius, William Miller, Fabio Rossetti, Charlie
, Dylan Breen, Milo Curran, Obed Obode
Middle Row: Charlie Shaw, Glenn Carr, Anita Thompson, Joshua Harvey, Alexander Camon, Luka Lawlor, Callum Bowlby Traynor, Ana
Viladomiu, Katie Earl, Zara Notley, Saoirse Delaire Staines, Sophie Bascone, Kate Nolan, Hannah O'Connor, Luke Hogan Staunton, Callum
Dooley-Cullinane, Eavan Li, Ben Kingston
Front Row: Reanna Cody, Maggie Hennebry, Charlie Beresford, Ivan Kennedy, Harry O'Shea, Malachy Shute, Naoise Duffy, Isabel Griffin, Clara
Cleere, Katie Lanigan, Hana Bousseiri, Yvette Sullivan, Lorna Hardiman, Sophie Reid, Axelle Ievers, Carlota Gomez Trabancos, Sarah Eogan, Ella
Eustace, Jenna Caffrey, Siomha Hartery, Katie Lanigan, Amelie O'Kelly Brown, Robyn O'Sullivan, Anna McGuire, Juno Douglas, Sorcha Nutty,
Julie Stokes, Harriet Thompson, Molly Swift, Sophia Lawlor

10
 Not have to do chairs for a week Not be able to skip the lunch queue Start collect at 10am OR Finish
OR Have study hall instead of OR Be kept in until 1:20 at lunch school at 3pm
maths for a week everyday
90 70 80

56
60
60
42
40
28
30
20
14

0 0 0
No Chairs No Maths No Skipping Kept in Start at 10 Finish at 3

Have to do a solo in first year choir Have a bottom locker in the green School lunch OR Packed lunch
OR Make an announcement in lockers OR Have a top locker in
collect Legoland
100 80 60

75 60 45

50 40 30

25 20 15

0 0 0
Solo Collect Bottom Green Top Legoland School Home

11
 Back Row (left to right): Hugo Mullally Staunton, Lily Joy, Mark Wallis, Jude Lee, Niall Vogelaar, Stanley Cann, Hugo Deegan, Sam O'Hara,
Andrew Crosbie, Adam Sweeney, Penny Caraher, Hannah Morgan, Nifemi Ogunlade, Lucy Deegan, Julie Bradley, Fodhla Dunne,
Middle Row: Charlie Caffrey, Finlay Edmonson, Panashe Chikanda, Maebh Dooley, Adrianna Kostka, Hazel Griffin, Anastasiya Doherty, Sinead
O'Loughlin, Pierce Maher, Edward Griffin, Luke Shaw, Karim Bouarroudj, Luc Solan, Isabel Evans, Kyle Martin, Meadhbh Rogers, Loius Bayou,
Emma Parnell, Anisha Dore, Nathan Moran, Holly Tweedy, Reuben O'Callaghan, Sam Fitzgerald, Pedro Materano Romero, Rory Treacy, Tapiwa
Nemhara, Katie Owens, Alex Brady, Ona Montaner, Grace O'Brien, Julie Noonan, Rebecca Doyle, Lilias Maclean, Rachel McGuinness, Alejo
Garcia Maldonado, Gonzalo Cia Jimeno, Jaime Barahona, Cian Fahy, Aaron Padinjarathala, Max Romero McCarthy
Front Row: Arthur Pushkin, Alice Jennings, Kerrie Ezenwa, Melanie Jephson, Flavia Bascone, Isabella Goodall Turner, Sorsha Leonard, Lynda
Gahan, Laura Belton, Molly Green, Lily O'Brien Peterson, Naledi Lelaka, Orla Treacy, Emma McMahon, Isabel Killian, Ben Mitchell

12
 Have a full day of school with no Have all classes outside on a hot
Be in school from 9am to 4pm OR
homework OR Have a half day day OR Have a half day on a
12pm to 7pm
with loads of homework rainy day
80 80 70

56
60 60
42
40 40
28
20 20
14

0 0 0
School for 9 School for 12 Full Day Half Day Outside Inside

Write out 100 lines OR Have a 2 Dissect a sheep’s heart OR Make a Go on the second year trip OR
hour history class rocket ship in science Have three weeks off school

70 70 80

56 56
60
42 42
40
28 28
20
14 14

0 0 0
100 Lines 2 Hour History Sheep's Heart Rocket Ship 2nd Year Trip 3 Weeks Off

13
The second years embarked on a skiing trip for a We were definitely all sad to be leaving but
full week in Andorra this year and enjoyed five also wrecked after a week of jam packed
whole days of skiing at Grandvalira Ski Resort. activity. Most of us slept on the flight home
We stayed in a hotel, called Hotel Andino, near and we finally arrived back at Newtown just
the slopes and all shared rooms with our friends. after midnight.
When we arrived we were all exhausted from the It was a great experience not only to visit two
plane and bus journey yet we were so excited to new countries and experience their cultures
start our trip away. On the first night but also to learn to ski. But as they say, all
we were fitted for our ski boots and helmets. The good things come to an end and even though
first day we went skiing there were a few people we had to leave, we left with lots of good
who had never been before so they were all memories (and bruises from the ski boots).
learning together, it was amusing to watch
everyone falling around on the mountain. By Molly Green & Isabella Goodall Turner
Of course there were the experienced students
who knew exactly what they were doing and
seemed totally at home in the snow.
We had a blizzard on the first day which set us up
with fresh snow for the week. After monday there
were clear skies until Friday, the views were
amazing! On Friday the snow set in again, so
heavily it was hard to see through, a few people
got lost but we still had a great day. Every
morning we had to get up at seven am to catch
the ski lifts up to the ski resort but the views of
the mountains were worth it.
Each day after a full day of skiing we had the
opportunity to do some activities, one night we
went bowling another we went swimming in an
amazing pool, and we also went shopping! This
was definitely bonding time and we really
enjoyed spending time with our year group
outside of school. After activities each night we
headed back to the hotel for dinner, the food in
our hotel was really good!
For our final day we visited Barcelona, we went
sightseeing and also enjoyed the cheaper prices
in the shops!

14
While the majority of the 2nd years were out On Wednesday we had a French breakfast at
there enjoying what could be called the trip of a the cafeteria in the morning. It consisted or
lifetime in sunny Andorra, do you know what croissants, pain au chocolat, rolls and hot
the rest of us that didn’t go were doing? Having chocolate. Everyone thought it was delicious.
a blast back in Ireland of course! On Thursday we continued to work on our
The week started off slowly at first. Since mocks magazine for English. During language class
were also going on that week the school was we had a karaoke and listened to French and
eerily quiet. Of course, since we were in school Spanish songs.
we still had to go to class. Since the majority of Friday was the final day before the rest of our
people from Y and X were gone we followed year would come back. We finished writing
2W’s timetable. up our magazine and made blue crystals in
On Monday we went to class as usual and didn’t science. Even though we didn’t go on the ski
do much work. It wasn't until English class that trip we still had a blast back at school and if I
Mrs. Lennon told us that we'd be making a were given the option again of either going
magazine only for those that didn’t go on the ski on the ski trip or staying in school I'd still
trip. After spending the whole class pick staying at school.
brainstorming we decided that the themes for
the magazine would be movies, memes and by Kerrie Ezenwa
football.
On Tuesday we went to Dunmore East
Adventure Centre. First, we were all tied
together and told to untie one another, next we
were split into different teams and for the rest of
the trip we had to try and win activities to get
our teams points. The first activity was having to
fold a blanket while we were all standing on it at
the same time. The next task was probably the
most infuriating as we had to try and get a
marble across a room while only using pipes.
After that we did archery. Finally, we did the
indoor caving which wasn’t made for those of us
who are claustrophobic. All in all I think
Tuesday was one of the best days.

15
Back Row (left to right): Sa-ood Abrahams, Robin Lee, Sean Romera McCarthy, Ben McInerney, Shazam Saeed, David Groppa, Caoilte Brennan,
Ben Kane, Jack Mitman, Tom Woodward, Thomas Delaney, Jasper Butler, Martin Swift, Khalidat Kadiri, Amelia Lawlor
Middle Row: Alfie Fitzgerald, Marco Laura, George O'Shea, Luis Marin Martinez, Kyle Fitzmaurice, Grace Thompson, Isabel Black, Bruno Guixa
Gonzalez, Kieran O'Donnell, Elizabeth Tihomirova, Hannah Power, Charlotte Molloy, Emma Walsh, Teagan Stanley, Eve McCarthy
Front Row: Jordan Grogan, Zac Green, Ronan O'Donnell, Eve Delaney, Mercy Onabanjo, Aisling Lawless, Rachel Shute, Hannah Doyle, Lauren
Palmer, Charlotte Miller, Mia McConnell, Sarah Kavanagh, Adel Gosi, Saorla Rodgers, Ella Grogan, Harry Belton, Maria Bovenizer, Alanna
Cabrero Pinto, David Foley, Max Miller, Jasmine Slattery, Nessa Malone, Sophie Quinn, Katie Leslie, Cillian Keating, Eoghan O'Reilly, Emmet
Treacy, Mark O'Donnell, Iona Ritchie, Michael O'Herlihy, Ethan Guiney, Sam Kimpton, Eoin Moran, Donnagh Twomey, Arthur Bilyk

16

Walk into collect late OR Have
an in totality you didn’t study for
60
Have to walk from Penn to Link in Be ignored outside the staffroom
the rain OR Fall in the puddle for 20 minutes OR Make an
outside Mr O’Cuinn’s classroom announcement in collect
100 80

45 75 60

30 50 40

15 25 20

0 0 0
Late Collect In totality Rainy Walk Puddle Staffroom Collect

Have 5 study halls in a row OR Sit at a 6th years desk when there's
Get sick and leave during an
Have your teacher forget about a no room in study hall OR Wear
exam OR Fail maths
test uniform on a non uniform day
60 80 80

45 60 60

30 40 40

15 20 20

0 0 0
Study Hall Forgotten Test 6th Year Desk Non-Uniform Get Sick Fail Maths

17
Back Row (left to right): Benedict Benson, Elliot Ogbemudia, Danila Macijauskas, Finn Vogelaar, Patrick Cooke, Nabeel Ishtiaq, William Wallis,
Lucca Allen, Khalid Kadiri.
Middle Row: Isabel Mallach, Rebecca Cleere, Bryony Hoyle, Cian Parnell, Charlotte Hirschberg, Enrique Cano, Javier Fraile, Jose Maria, Daniel
Faleye, Joe Slattery, Sam Kingston, Zain Ishtiaq, Joshua Porter, Ethan Roche, Lily Kennedy, Alexander Kotsch, Ewan Kissane, Matthaus Klein,
Evan Sullivan, Felix Bracht, Alfred Sirbu, Alex Berbenitskiy, Aaron Aylward
Front Row: Joahanna Von der Schulenberg, Sally O'Sullivan, Rosie Toner, Olivia Marquez, Abigail Deegan, Liadan Leonard, Vittoria Cerrai
Ceroni, Susannah Doyle, Natalia Muniz Ibanez, Jordan Pim, Alba Marin, Franciszek Czekala, Jordan Ludasan, Emma Pim, Pauline de Bizemont,
Antonia Marot, Storm Eaton, Sarah Jane McEvoy O'Gorman, Emily Shaw, Lana Charron, Lilly Maydell, Abi Coughlan

18

Walk into collect late OR Forget
to hand up an assignment
60
Be ignored outside the staffroom
Go to Madrid OR Go to Killary for 20 minutes OR Have to
announce something in collect
70 70

56 56
45
42 42
30
28 28
15
14 14

0 0 0
Late Collect Assignment Madrid Killary Staffroom Collect

Lie on the rugby pitch in the sun Sit at a 6th years desk when there's Do paired reading for the whole
OR Go on a nature walk during no room in study hall OR Wear year OR Do walking class for the
class uniform on a non uniform day whole year
90 90 90

60 60 60

30 30 30

0 0 0
Rugby Pitch Nature Walk 6th Year Desk Non-Uniform Paired Reading Walking Class

19
On the first day, when we arrived, we were
introduced to our tour guide for the week, Juan,
who took us to the bus that went to the city
centre. We had lunch in a restaurant called
‘Fresco’. After, we walked around the city we then
got onto our bus that brought us to our
accommodation. Once we got to our
accommodation, we were assigned to our rooms.

On the second day, we took a bus to a honey

complex outside the city centre. We made
candles and went to a beehive, we had to put
protective clothing on which was new to all of us!
We then went to the Plaza Mejor for a tapas
lunch. We all really enjoyed tasting different
types of food. After visiting the Retiro Park, we
headed to a cooking class where we were split up
into groups and taught to make different dishes.
Then we got to eat them all. It was delicious.

On the third day, we went to the city centre to

taste churros in Madrid's most famous churro
shop! We then walked to the Prado Museum. We
thought it was very interesting seeing all the
different pieces of art.
After the Prado Museum, we headed back to the
cooking class where we ate once again. Then the
people that weren't going to the Carmen went
bowling.

On the fourth day, we took a bus to an oil factory

near Toledo. After visiting, we had lunch in
Toledo centre. We had some free time there
which was very nice as this city was so beautiful.
We went to another restaurant and then headed
back to Madrid for the football match. It was so
fun to experience spanish football crowds and the
culture of the sport.

On the last day, we headed to a shopping outlet

where we all went shopping for about 40 minutes.
After that, we walked over to another shopping
outlet. We then went to an unforgettable buffet
in the village. From here we returned to the
airport where we got ready to board.

On behalf of Transition Year students, I would

like to thank all the teachers that organised and
brought us on the trip.

By Sally O'Sullivan

20
From March 15th to 22nd 2018, seven students
from Newtown set off on the trip of a lifetime
to Kolkata, India with the HOPE Foundation.
During the year leading up to the trip we each
had to raise €2,400 which went directly to the
HOPE Foundation; a charity that works with
the street and slum children of Kolkata.
We raised the money through various
different platforms, including bake sales,
coffee mornings, quizzes, church collections
and many more. It was amazing to get to see
where the money was going to and what a
difference it makes.

We travelled to Dublin airport on March 15th

where we met up with the other school
travelling with us. The flight went to Dubai and
then onto Kolkata where we arrived on March
16th.
We mainly spent the week visiting the
different orphanages that HOPE run, boys
homes, girls homes, mother and child homes
and a special needs home. We also spent a lot
of time in creches, the most shocking being
the creche at Bhagar dump and the actual
dump itself. It really opened all of our eyes to
the extreme living conditions in Kolkata and
how people spend their days rummaging
through rubbish to find any scraps which
could be sold on for very small amounts of
money. We had the amazing opportunity to
attend an Ambassador’s Ball for St. Patrick’s
Day, as representatives of the HOPE
Foundation

The trip was one that none of us will ever

forget, we have all now seen the shocking
reality of extreme poverty. It was a life
changing trip and I thoroughly encourage
anyone with the opportunity to go, to do so.
We would like to thank everyone that helped
and got involved with our fundraising. We also
want to commend the HOPE Foundation on
the amazing work they have done and
continue to do.

by Maura Carrol

21
This year we had five spectacular dresses Unfortunately it was not to be for us girls that
entered into the Junk Kouture competition. night but we are very proud of our creation and
The dresses were made from all different how far we got in the tough competition. We
types of materials; newspaper, plastic bags, would recommend anyone who is considering
recycled photos, plastic bottles, bottle tops participating in Junk Kouture in following years
and many more materials. We got one of the to go for it as long as you’re prepared for hard
five dresses through to the South Regional work and lots of excitement!
Final that took place in University Concert
Hall Limerick. The dress that got through by Susannah Doyle
was “The Fire Within” created by Pauline De
Bizemont and myself along with a few extra
hands here and there. It was made entirely
out of newspaper and plastic bags. It took
months of hard work, determination and grit
to get the dress finished in time for the final
on the 8th of March. Online voting counted
for 10% of the final score in which the team
rallied hard for votes from friends, family and
the school for a week gaining nearly 2000
votes, this alone was an achievement
considering the size of the school compared
to other schools. The dress lay in 20th place
after voting with approximately 60 dresses
following after them. Choreography plays a
big part in the overall performance which the
team spent two full days perfecting.
Pauline, Abigail and I travelled to Limerick
for a long drawn out, exciting day. Hair and
makeup was started promptly by Abigail and I
as soon as we arrived and found our place.
Lots of makeup, face paint, glitter and
imagination was used whilst giving the model
the wow factor. Pauline then had dress
rehearsals at 2 o’clock to finalise the routine
and practice on the catwalk in the dress. At 7
o’clock the show started with hundreds
filling the auditorium in Limerick. Everyone
had to clear the dressing rooms except for the
models who then waited backstage until their
slot. Pauline performed at about 8 o’clock and
aced her routine. It was one of the best put
together choreography pieces of the night
which impressed the audience massively.
Pauline twirled, danced and even
did the splitz in the dress which was an
achievement considering how heavy
the it was. We then waited anxiously for the
results of the seventeen dresses that would
go through to the All Ireland Final in Dublin.

22
The outdoors pursuits week is a unique
tradition of Newtown School. It is held to award
the students of TY for completing the Junior
Certificate and takes place over the results
week so the celebrations are very fitting. This
year it fell on the week of the 20th of
September between Dunmore Adventure
Centre and Tramore where surfing was on.
We were split into two groups who went to the
two locations respectively. I was in group 1 and
we went to Dunmore on the first day. We
received kayaking lessons from a highly
qualified instructor courtesy of Dunmore
Adventure center. The lessons fit the
celebratory atmosphere as the skill that is
kayaking was taught in a fun way through
games.
The following day we were brought by bus to
Tramore where we were taught or further
educated on how to surf and also filled in on
the safety guidelines of the beach. The
Thursday and the Friday followed similar
routines to the previous two. These days,
similar to the first two, were extremely
enjoyable and a great way to ease the nerves
ahead of the looming day of exam results.
The Wednesday was probably the most
enjoyable day of the lot in terms of activities, as
it was when the entire year went as a group to
Dunmore Adventure Centre and went on their
best asset, the Wibit. This unique inflatable on
water brought excitement to such a stand out
day in our lives. The entire week was amazing
and one I will never forget.

by Isaac Johnson

23
The Killary Trip was one of many great
experiences on offer during Transition Year.
On Monday, the 14th of May, we all arrived at
the school at 8am with much excitement and
anticipation for the week ahead.
As Killary was 5 hours and 30 minutes away,
we settled in our comfortable bus for the
long journey ahead.
We had great craic all the way to Killary,
with one stop at Bunratty Castle.
When we arrived at Killary, we were warmly
welcomed by the staff, then we were
allocated our rooms and groups and we
dropped our bags and had lunch.
After lunch we had our first activity.
I did Gorge Walking (not walking with
george).
It was challenging but fulfilling.
We walked to The Main Centre which was 5
minutes away, for dinner and evening
activities throughout the week.
Dodgeball was my favourite evening activity.
On Friday it was sadly our last day.
My last activities were the high ropes and
The Jacob’s Ladder which was challenging
but also fulfilling.
I climbed The Jacob’s Ladder with just my
partner but we were able to make it to the top
using teamwork skills and this was a great
way to end the trip as I had a sense of
achievement.Ninety percent of people don't
make it to the top so that made it even more
impressive.
We then had lunch, thanked the staff and we
boarded the bus and went back to school.
I have so many great memories of The
Killary Trip and I would like to say a big
thank you to Mr Greene, Mrs Kelleher and
Stephanie the gap student for bringing us on
The Killary Trip and to all the staff at Killary
for making this trip memorable.The trip had
a very positive impact that created great
camaraderie among the Transition Year
students.

On Tuesday we had a bonfire and we also by Zain Ishtiaq

played music and danced with the tunes.

On Wednesday (my favourite day) we did

The Turf Challenge which was so much fun.
It was very muddy but it was great craic and
we were all laughing at each other and we
had mud fights.

On Thursday it was all dry activities for me.

We started off with The Giant Swing which is
so much fun.You get strapped in with seat
belts, you and your partner sit nice and snug
in the swing,you are raised to a high height,
then you pull a string then you swing and
whee!
Then it was climbing which was so fulfilling
as I conquered my fear of heights on that
day.
After lunch it was Bushcraft, we learned
important survival skills such as building a
shelter and lighting a campfire using sticks
and a flint and steel .We packed our bags
that evening.

24
On the first day we were introduced to Colm
and Hugh who were part of The Young Irish
Film Makers. We were split into groups and
did a series of activities which involved
creating scenarios and using our
imagination. After lunch we setup the
equipment, the camera, tripod and boom
mic. Then we learned about the different
roles people have when making a film like
the director, the assistant director, the
cameraman, boom operator, sound
engineer, actors and clapper loader. We all
had a go at each role which was fun and it
was great to learn to use all the professional
equipment. We started to think about the
film we were going to make which had to
have a theme of mental health. We had four
ideas for a film, we then voted and split the
class in two, each group created a different
film. We then started to talked about the
script and the props we might need.
Day 2 was very exciting as we started to make
our film. We first talked about the script and
chose who will be the actors. Our film was
about a guy named Ben who suffers with
depression, he goes into virtual reality where
he lives a second life, he eventually gets
addicted to this VR world and stops going to
school. His friend Mark tries to help him by
hacking into his VR world and tells him to
stop. We went out to start filming, I was cast
as Mark in the film. Nobody had a set role
except the actors and the director this meant
that we took turns and everybody was able to
take turns using different equipment. After a
full day of recording we had all the clips we
needed, all we needed to do was edit the film.
The day was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed
it.
We started to edit our film the next day,
everyone in our group was divided into
groups of two and each group was given a
Macbook to use. It was good to have multiple
people editing the same film as everybody
had a different interpretation, at the end we
chose the best edited film. We used an old
version of Final Cut Pro to edit the films.
25
We were all taught the basics and then we were
left to edit the film ourselves. We ran into a few
problems like getting the shots to flow together
and fixing shots which weren't shot properly. It
was my first time editing, I learned a lot and
really enjoyed it.
On Thursday we finished off editing the film,
we mainly worked on the audio. It was hard as
there was a limited amount of music we could
use. When we had all finished our edits we
chose the best edited films which was the
directors edit and my one, the editors edit. Both
edits were very good, the directors edit
concentrated more on the message of the film
while my edit had smooth cuts and
incorporated some humour. After lunch we
started to think about our 10 shot wonder
which is a film which can only be filmed in 10
shots. We then started to make our film and I
was the director, we planned to make an action
comedy film. We finished filming our ten shot
and edited it. The film turned out well and it
was quite comical. We then began to think
about our next film which had to be done in one
shot. The film focused around a monster who
went around the school on a killing spree, in
the end a person wearing a gas mask tells the
monster to go back to their room.
Overall I enjoyed the workshop and I learned
alot about cinematography and editing, which
be useful in the future.
by Alfred Sirbu
In Future is Food this year,we were involved
in a variety of things incorporating both
business and the sustainability of food. Edel
from Edelicious spoke to us about the
importance of niche ideas and presentation
and the owners of the Lemon Tree in
Dunmore East helped us to understand how
to bring a product to market. In school we
had a food taster session, from this we were
able to get inspiration as well as an idea on
how to price our own products. In December
we had a food showcase which was an
opportunity to interact with different food
entrepreneurs such as Tom Dooley from the
Restaurant and Jeni Pim from Ballymaloe
Cookery School. They offered invaluable
help and guidance. Christine from Ardkeen
stores showed interest in stocking
Doughlicious, which is an edible cookie
dough product. Cookie dough is widely
available on the continent but not in Ireland
as of yet. Other successful ideas included
seaweed tea, beetroot hummus and
flavoured fudge. All of us involved in this
module passed our SafeFoodforLife exam
which makes it easier to get jobs in the food
industry in the future.

By Bryony Hoyle

26
In transition year, the students complete
three weeks of work placement. This
involves immersing themselves into a work
environment to see how it runs and what
the inner workings are like.

People normally choose businesses or

workplaces that interest them, in industries
where they see a potential career, or
somewhere that could lead to a summer job.
The aim of work placement is to gain a
better idea of what you want to do and also a
better understanding of how a workplace
operates.

We had to find our own work placement

which meant visiting or ringing a company
and inquiring if they would take you on for a
week. We then had to get a form filled in by
the company to give to our TY coordinator.
At the end of the week your employer fills
out an evaluation form which reflects your
work ethic and success during the week.
This is good motivation to work hard as you
could use your evaluation form as a
reference to secure you a job in the future. I
think work placement is an important part
of TY and you should definitely choose
where you go carefully.

By Finn Vogelaar

27
 Back Row (left to right): Tom Lehane, John Monaghan, Sacha O'Neill, Ben Johnson, Ethan McInerney, Thomas Drayton, Roberto Fiorentini,
Stefan Sumstad, Denis Tihomirov
Middle Row: Molly Miller, Daniel Evans, Edward Mungai, Luise Jaeger, Jack Morris, Teresa Tilocca, Isabel Dineen, James Treacy, Isobel Collins,
Roisin Lynam, Molly O'Shea, Pippa Durham, Harry McCarthy, Finn Brady, Gearoid O'Brien, Bernard Kelly, David Gahan, Leon Jordan Milne,
Danilo Romolini, Mohammed Algharrash, Peter Yaciuk O'Connor, Gustav Jaeger, Jeffrey Balogun, Matthew Donoval
Front Row: Kara Reynolds, Samantha Foley, Kassim Alam Baloch, Caoilin O'Meara, Caoimhe Lawless, Erika Beyers, Sara McDaid, Maya Laura,
Leah Combal, Joan Planas, Niamh Doyle, Isabella Callaghan, Suji Frankel, Teresa Kripp, Aida Urien Vallina, Erika Slattery, Bryan Walsh, Leopold
Grillet, Matthew Mosse

28
 Work in the chemistry lab on a
Lose your maths notes copy Do eight subjects OR Risk doing
hot day OR Burn yourself on a
OR Forget all of your Macbeth only six
radiator in Legoland
quotes
70 70 70

56 56 56

42 42 42

28 28 28

14 14 14

0 0 0
Chemistry Lab Radiator Burns Maths Notes Macbeth Eight Subjects Six Subjects

Have a teacher forget about a test Be ignored outside the staffroom

Run the cross country OR Run the
OR Have five study halls in a row for 20 minutes OR Make an
1500m
announcement in collect
80 70 60

56
60 45
42
40 30
28
20 15
14

0 0 0
Forgotten Test Study Hall Cross Country 1500m Staffroom Collect

29
Back Row (left to right): Jennifer Akachukwu, Gabi Grant, Thomas Perricone, Bobby Tweedy, Richard Butler, Hugo Urien, Jason Kenny, David
Grogan, Eoin O'Driscoll, Dylan Crews, Jacob Pim
Middle Row: Tommy Moloney, Caoimhe Hendley, Kim Daly, Catherine Dineen, Anastasia Nolan, Zoe Mulligan, Dorothy Pulbrook, Isabella
Berrini, Miu Fukuda, Jessica Marsh-Horgan, Meabh Nugent, Liam Murray, Milena Barnes, Andras Gosi, Tom Owens, Bobby Coughlan
Front Row: Cody Sweeney, Jack Jacobs, Cathal Cheasty, Cian Mooney, Rhys Jones, Harry Jephson, Rhys Kenny, Rachel Foley, Abby Durham

30
 Be late for a leaving cert exam
Lose your maths notes copy Do nine subjects OR Risk doing
OR Forget your calculator for
OR Forget all of your King only six
Accounting
Lear quotes
70 90 80

56
60
60
42
40
28
30
20
14

0 0 0
Be Late Calculator Maths Notes King Lear Nine Subjects Six Subjects

Get 625 in the Leaving Cert Take a gap year and travel the Eat school food for the rest of
OR Have a tree planted for you in world OR Go on a really good sixth your life OR Mystery meat for
school year holiday the rest of the year
70 60 80

56
45 60
42
30 40
28
15 20
14

0 0 0
625 Tree Gap Year Good Holiday School Food Mystery Meat

31
Kim Daly, Caoimhe Hendley, Gabi Grant. Rhys Kenny, Harry Jephson, Jason Kenny.

Cathal Cheasty, Cian Mooney, Rhys Jones, Anastasia Nolan, Abby Durham, Zoe Mulligan.
David Grogan.

Jacob Pim, Meabh Nugent. Dylan Crews, Liam Murray.

Dorothy Pulbrook, Jennifer Akachukwu, Richard Butler, Hugo Urien, Eoin O'Driscoll,
Isabella Berrini. Bobby Tweedy, Andras Gosi.

32
Jessica Marsh-Horgan, Catherine Dineen, Thomas Perricone, Jack Jacobs.
Milena Barnes.

Dorothy Pulbrook, Miu Fukuda. Kim Daly, Rachel Foley.

Tom Owens, Cody Sweeney, Andras Gosi. Cathal Cheasty, Meabh Nugent, Harry
Jephson.

33
What was your first impression of Newtown?
Zoe: I thought that this school was purely amazing and that
hasn’t changed over the years. The school just seemed so
bright and buzzing even on the most miserable of days and
that was what really caught my attention. It was such a safe
space to make friends and the school just instantly made me
so happy.
Dylan: I can’t remember too well but I think at first Newtown
was kind of scary, not in a bad way more it was just big
because before coming here I was home-schooled.

What’s it like to be head boy/girl?

Zoe: It’s definitely a privilege but I don’t feel different to any other student. It certainly has its perks but at
the end of the day I am the same as everybody else in the school which is the most attractive thing about
the position. My status and duties in the school may change but not the way I am treated by teachers or
students, which is nice.
Dylan: It’s fine, probably the best thing about it was eating the fried hake in Dooley’s hotel at the start of
the year for a school reunion.

What are your responsibilities in the role?

Zoe: I am a representative for the students of the school at school events like the Old Scholars Dinner and
occasionally have to make small speeches. I act as a role model daily for students and make sure they
always feel comfortable in the school and provide support at in-school events.
Dylan: Much the same as prefect but we also have to represent the school at events and help people
around the school grounds.

What’s your funniest story from your years at Newtown?

Zoe: Probably when one of my classmates ‘accidently’ fell straight through a table, absolutely destroying
the desk, in the middle of first year prep. Good times.
Dylan: Most can’t really be told here but there are plenty that can. Probably once in dorms one of the lads
bought glow sticks and long story short we burst them, sprayed the glowing stuff all over dorms in the
middle of the night and proceeded to freak out covering the floors and walls with blankets to cover up the
evidence.

What are you hoping to do after the Leaving Certificate?

Zoe: I am praying that I get a place in Trinity, Dublin to study medicine. I would absolutely love to pursue a
career as a doctor and have wanted to since before I was six years old.
Dylan: I “hope” to study marine biology in Galway with the hope of going abroad after my course to
somewhere like Costa Rica or Thailand.

If you could describe the Newtown community in three words what would they be?
Zoe: Wow. That is a hard question… UNIQUE, (incredibly) SPECIAL and COMFORTABLE.
Dylan: Fun, fun, fun.

Advice for next year’s sixth year?

Zoe: Organise your revision notes in fifth year!!!! Also, just enjoy it. No point in stressing too much as that
will just take your focus off the important things that need to be done. Trust that you have put in enough
work and you should fly through the year.
Dylan: Next years sixth years are studying more at the moment than our year so I think they should be fine.

Where do you see yourself in ten years time?

Zoe: Hopefully qualified and working as a doctor if all goes to plan but I will go wherever my life takes me.
Dylan: In the middle of nowhere in the blazing sunshine riding a turtle into the sunset.

34
Jennifer Akachukwu: Question time in Ms
Glasheens home economics class.
Milena Barnes: The thing I will remember most
about my time in Newtown is the freedom and
the trust we were given to explore and grow.
Isabella Berrini: I will remember the nice
atmosphere and all my friends that I’ve met in
the last two years.
Richard Butler: Long nights with the boys in
D.C.G.
Caoimhe Cahill: Seeing the girls every
morning, having the craic in collect and a fast
catch up. The laughter in class and talking about
the memories we had of each other over the
years.
Robert Coghlan: Transition Year, all of it.
Dylan Crews: Long nights and wholesome days
with the boys in the cage that they call the D.C.G.
classroom.
Kim Daly: Summer term lunchtimes in the
sun and studying outside during the junior cert.
Catherine Dineen: Teacher Training Days.
Abby Durham: The 427 hours I have spent in Ms
Noctors classroom doing accounting and
economics.
Rachel Foley: Sunny days here will be missed.
Miu Fukuda: Everyone was kind, my first year
of Newtown I didn’t understand English well and
everyone helped me. I was very happy; my
experiences of Newtown are some of the most
rewarding ones in my life.
Jodie Giles: Newtown, to say the least, has been
an adventure. No school like it. I will always
remember the water fight in dorms. 10/10 would
recommend.
Andras Gosi: I will never forget the people I met
and the friends I made, especially those I got my
first order mark with.
Gabrielle Grant: The back gate.
David Grogan: The great atmosphere around
the school and the friends I made.
Caoimhe Hendley: Sunny days, sitting out and
having a laugh together. The friends I have made
that I definitely plan on keeping. Newtown has
changed my life in so many ways and I am
grateful for it.
Jessica Marsh Horgan: I will remember how
amazing it is at the back of the study hall. Who
needs the library anyway?
35
Jack Jacobs: The spiritual experiences I’ve had in
this school were pretty good, the people were
original and very much themselves and I will also
remember some malevolent teachers for years
to come.
Harry Jephson: I feel like I should’ve been a
prefect, but sure, next year.
Rhys Jones: Getting the Daunt Cup from
Waterpark after they thought they got to keep it.
Jason Kenny: Madame Guyon.
Rhys Kenny: Then one foggy Christmas eve…
Tommy Maloney: The hours spent practising in
Mount Mellick music rooms.
Eimear Mansfield: Mr Cox's time keeping skills
and watching the economics students sprint to
class at 11am.
Cian Mooney: Some day for Silage lads.
Zoe Mulligan: The school clan days, where
everyone is out on the pitches together and the
atmosphere is so special, unlike any other
school.
Liam Murray: I will always remember playing
football with the lads.
Anastasia Nolan: The banter in chemistry class.
Méabh Nugent: I will forever hold dear the
wonderful people I have met at Newtown...and
also that time Rhys Jones punched a pole LOL.
Eoin O’Driscoll: The treasure I hid in the main
building, worth 1 million euro.
Isabel O’Reagan Fernandes: The poor
misfortunate souls who got a round of applause
when they dropped their trays in the canteen.
Tom Owens: The locker rooms being locked
every morning.
Jacob Pim: Sound lighting in 4th year. Enough
said.
Dorothy Pulbrook: The people, choir, hockey,
chemistry, physics and biology classes, the
atmosphere and Indy.
Jasmine Taylor Ryan: I will never forget the
memories I have of all my six years in Newtown.
Cody Sweeney: All the great friends I had and
having a laugh, growing potatoes and daffodils in
Ag Science and the great teacher I had teach me.
Bobby Tweedy: Construction Class.
Hugo Urién: I will remember the good
friendships I have made and the great education
I received.
Isabel Auld: Studying International
Development in UCC. On the committee of
AIESEC UCC - a global volunteering
organisation which is a fun way to fill spare
time! Getting involved in some cool other
societies too. Loving living in Cork but really
missing seeing all my Newtown bros everyday!
Elishka Lane Barnes: I’m studying Drama and
Theatre Studies in Trinity.
Kristin Batan: Studying Applied Biosciences in
CIT.
Olivia Bayne: I’m studying Ancient and
Medieval History and Culture at Trinity.
Katie Bradley: Studying English, Irish, Italian
and Sociology in UCC (arts), joined the UCC
singers and absolutely loving life.
Robyn Brady: I’m doing a full time acting
programme at the Gaiety School of Acting. It’s
really intense, like 50 hours a week or so, but I
absolutely love it! My year is really small (only
21 people), so it’s a very tight knit community
(like Newtown) which has made the transition
to college so much easier! Missing Newtown
though and I still wear my NSW sweatshirt and
drink from my Newtown mug.
Katie Breathnach: Taking a gap year and doing
a course in sound engineering to fill in time,
still unsure about taking my place in
psychology in UL next year, sure I have the
summer stateside to look forward to now!
Maya Brennan: Studying Product Design in
UL.
Helen Crews: I’m studying Enterprise and
Innovation in Limerick IT. The course is so
intense that our first group project was to set
up a business and that's all being tested next
week!
Philip Dwan: Working with horses abroad in
Germany. Gidee up ya good thing!
Rachael Fenton: Studying Economics and
Politics in UCD. Taking advantage of the Dublin
nightlife. Life is good.
36
Elena Fiore: I’m studying economics and
languages in Milan.
Lena Foerster: Still going to school in Germany.
Elena Foschi Suha: I’m studying Hotel
Management and working in a Tourism agency.
Emma Galloway: I’m studying biological and
chemical sciences in UCC hoping to do chemistry
next year, and I’ve joined the fencing club which is
the best fun ever!
Julie Gartland: First up I miss Newtown so so
much. After I finished my Leaving Cert, I moved
straight to Dublin to do TV and Radio presenting. I
was with Today FM being taught presenting and
did my TV presenting with The Park Studios. I
loved them both, and did an internship with a
celebrity website in Dublin for a while. Now I’ve
just gotten a job at home with WLR FM as a
promoter and video editor so I’m absolutely
thrilled! I really missed Waterford. I obviously
skipped the whole college thing but I couldn’t be
happier. Huge shout out to the staff in Newtown
for their support and encouragement. Newtown
will always be with me and I’ll be back visiting no
doubt!
Pippi Griffin: At the moment I’m too busy for
breath! Working part time at least 4 days a week at
TK Maxx and doing a part time course in event
management! In February I’m going to Paris for a
month for a bartending/mixology course, then
finally taking a 6 week interrailing journey, all the
while missing Newtown a lot.
Emma Hannon: Studying Psychiatric Nursing in
UCD and having loads of fun.
Ava Kelly: I’m doing a portfolio year, so I basically
get to spend six months making stuff and then I’m
probably going to go and travel to places
until UNI next year, and I’m having a lot of fun
doing it, although I miss Newtown a lot.
Sebastian Klockner: Working as a ski instructor
in Austria.
Filippos Koltsidas: Studying Hotel Management
in Switzerland.
Valerie Kripp: Taking a gap year and going to Chile
to learn Spanish, I’ll work and travel out there.
Jack Lailheugue: Studying music production in
France.
Katie Lynch: I’m studying European Studies in
Trinity. I’ve joined the choir and the musical,
i'm discovering that life after the Leaving Cert is
wonderful! Having the best time!
George Maclean: Taking a gap year, working full
time as an advisor at Abtran in Cork.
Katie Mann: I’m doing a portfolio course for UNI as
well as a bit of travelling.
Lucinda Marden: Taking a gap year, moved to
Berlin. Hoping that I’ll leave at least twice as cool as
when I arrived #techno.
Sarah Kate Morris: Studying Commerce and French
in UCC, absolutely loving Cork, college is amazing!
Mark Morris: Flippin’ burgers.
Sean Noonan: I’m studying English Literature and
Film in Trinity.
Ella O'Neill: Living the good life in Amsterdam.
Daniel Owens: I’m studying maths in TCD, really
enjoying the work I get to do, and I’ve also joined the
fencing club but am yet to challenge Emma to a duel!
Robert Pim: Studying Liberal Arts and Science in
Maastricht University. Meeting with some incredible
scientists (Nobel winning) and people, the
atmosphere in the city is incredible!
Leona Quigley: I’m studying Liberal Arts and
Science’s at Leiden University College in the Hague.
I’ve been playing football, doing some hitch hiking
and struggling to learn Dutch.
Niamh Robertson: Working in Berlin since July, just
qualified as a Ski instructor and I’m teaching in
Austria until April, plan to end the year by heading to
Australia for their snow season & some travelling too!
Applying to Medicine abroad for 2018, life is good!
37
Nacho Sanchez-Capuchino Polanco: I’m
studying Marketing, Public Relations and
Publicity in Spain at ESIC University.
Kate Sherry: Doing a film and television
portfolio course in DFEI, just moved into my
new house.
Emma Swift: Studying Liberal Arts and
Sciences in Rotterdam. Lived on a boat for a
month 'cause dutchness but loving life and
crashing my bike on average three times a
week. Sometimes it’s not my fault. Also, work
in an Irish pub where they only serve
Murphys. Shock and horror!
David Thorpe: Absolutely ballin’ in the big
smoke! Studying some wicked things about
broccoli and cows in UCD and dappling away
at some rugby.
Cici Tracey: Taking a gap year to travel and
get some work experience under my belt. My
next stop is Switzerland and I’m absolutely
loving life.
Aoife Treacy: I’m studying Biomedical
Sciences at the University of Maastricht. I’m
enjoying traveling/exploring Europe in my
free time!
Shauna Twomey: Having great craic in UCD
along with Emma. I’m studying food science
and I love it!
Emmy Zimstern: Taking a gap year in New
Zealand.
Valerie Kripp, Aoife Treacy, Julie Gartland
The role and importance of women in the
workplace is something that has been changing
drastically over the years. Long gone are the days
where women couldn’t wear trousers instead of a
skirt, or were forbidden to work in certain fields.
Although we have advanced since then,it does
not for a minute mean we have reached our end
goal.
To this day there is still a substantial pay gap,
between genders, across the board. On average in
the EU, women earn 16.2% less than men for
carrying out the same jobs. This pay gap can be as
insignificant as 0.1% in countries such as Italy,
but can be as high as 23% in Latvia. It is important
to point out that this discrepancy is within the
private sector primarily. Jobs in the public sector
such as teaching generally have equal pay
between the sexes. According to the ESS,
European Statistical System, women only occupy
25% of all senior leadership positions, while men
are 30% more likely to obtain a role in
management. Because of statistics like these
women can often feel discriminated against, and
I would agree that the picture painted by these
numbers is not one of equality.
These statistics had left me with the question of
why inequality still exists within the workplace
while our world is seemingly so progressive.
Sadly, it’s possible that biases and sexism still
exist, but there’s also the possibility that there is
something within human nature aside from
sexism that’s stopping total equality from being
reached. June O’Neill, the director of the
Congressional Budget Office spoke relevantly
about this in a way that interested me. “Any wage
gap is rooted more in social trends and
tendencies than malicious discrimination by
employees.” There is evidence to suggest that
women and men’s roles in the workplace is not a
result of oppression and injustice, but are the
places we have naturally assumed due to typical
gender characteristics. In studies testing
38
aggression, authority assertion and
dominance, men consistently came out on
top. This means they would be quicker to
push to the top in the commercial world or
push for pay raises. There is also the added
factor of motherhood for women and leaving
work due to pregnancy. This can make
appointing women with higher positions
seem risky to employers, even if this is
subconsciously.
It seems near impossible to tell whether the
gap between the genders is intentionally
malicious, or just a result of nature and
personality traits. In my mind however the
cause of it isn’t as relevant as the fact that it
still exists in a society where inequality
should be a thing of the past. Where there’s
discomfort and unrest there is undoubtedly
an issue. No woman should feel less
important or less appreciated than any man,
and regardless of the cause, steps should be
taken to fix this.
Equality in the workforce particularly relates
to all of us young students, as this is the
world we will soon all be entering. For me it
would be comforting to know that when I
leave school I will be welcomed with
complete equality, and will have the power to
shape my future career with the same
opportunities and treatment as all men.
By Caoilin O'Meara
Social media has no doubt set it’s roots down I think that we, as a generation should start
firmly into secondary school culture. There is to promote realism in socialisation. Too
something amazing about the fact that most of often we opt to face a situation online
us can casually hold conversations with because it is easier to ignore a message than
hundreds of people at once and not bat an eye. a person, if things get awkward. Too often we
Adults seem perplexed by the idea that we’re turn to our screens when we momentarily
able to keep track of it all, but for us it’s just part run out of things to talk about in person.
of life. They worry that we’re talking to Let’s face up to the real world and let our
strangers, that we’re sharing our addresses thoughts and feelings be shared face to face.
online, yet most of us don’t drift outside our Let’s phone that friend we haven’t seen in
inner online circles, although that number may ages and arrange to meet up, to grab a coffee
be a couple of hundred people. No, most of the instead of triple texting the latest news.
time we handle our online presence pretty well.
There is no doubt we are a social generation
However, there is a trend that I’ve started to but maybe instead of mindlessly chatting
notice, which older generations don’t seem to. away to our friends far and wide, we should
look up and see who’s sitting right in front of
There’s comes a point when you are socialising us. Maybe we’ll learn something new.
with loads of people where conversation
becomes kind of shallow. Not noticeably at first, By Erika Beyers
but there is undoubtedly a difference when we
talk to our friends via Snapchat versus when we
talk to them in person. People can seemingly
reveal secrets like they are nothing, send
whatever content they want without heeding any
consequence. Yet we find it awkward to call
someone because then it connects the online to
the reality. Important topics that we discussed
for hours in the middle of the night are
completely disregarded the next day at school,
never to be spoken of again. There seems to be
some safety net in a cell phone, a veil we like to
stay behind in order to connect with our friends.

39
Nuclear weapons are often talked about in the
media, but I find that my peers know very little
about them. They are often used in fear
mongering conversations generally in a joking
manner but are never discussed seriously as the
reality of their use can be a little hard to swallow
for a young teenager.
In order to understand nuclear weapons and
their capacity for destruction we must first
understand the history of their use;
J.Robert Oppenheimer and his colleagues at the
Manhattan project successfully detonated the
first atomic bomb on 16th July 1945.
On the 6th of August, 1945, the US dropped an
atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima in Japan,
killing an estimated 140,000 people. On the 9th
of August a second bomb was dropped over
Nagasaki, killing approximately 75,000 people,
either on impact or soon after from radiation
related illnesses.
To put this figure into perspective, during “The
Blitz” in Britain, from September 1940 to May
1941, the German air force dropped over 45,000
tonnes worth of bombs, with a view to kill an
expected 750,000 civilians. However, the
reported figure was around 43,000 fatalities. In
part, this lower figure can be attributed to many
people in London taking refuge in underground
tube stations and others in bomb shelters.
In short, the German air force required 45,000
tonnes worth of explosives to injure 43,000
civilians, the US used one uranium bomb in
Hiroshima to wipe out over 140,000. If this does
not demonstrate the power of nuclear weapons
nothing will.
After the use of chemical weaponry in Syria, the
United States, Britain and France, have carried
out airstrikes aimed at bases there. Russian
diplomats have been expelled from Britain,
Ireland, and other EU countries, over the attack
of a former Russian intelligence
40
officer and his daughter. Tensions are
most certainly rising, but the question
still remains: If the state of global politics
should worsen, will nuclear weapons be
used?
The answer to this question is shrouded
with uncertainty. Today, the sheer
mention of nuclear weapons evokes
horror, fear and dread, and does so for a
reason.
Being a teenager myself, only coming to
terms with the sometimes-harsh reality
of conflict and its effects, I find the threats
of war and especially nuclear war quite
distressing. However, in the past months,
the situation between North Korea and
the US has appeared to settle
The denuclearization of the Korean
peninsula is a current proposition, with
North Korea pledging to close their
nuclear test site may. This is a step in the
right direction. 188 countries have signed
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,
promising to reduce their nuclear
arsenals and not to seek nuclear
technology.
Luckily, all of us here in Newtown are
growing up in an environment where
peace is portrayed as not only preferable
but vital. I believe the peaceful Quaker
ethos will remain with all of us as we head
out into the world.
As science continues to advance and
many means of destruction become
readily available, it is up to us all to
promote the ideals of using science to
create rather than destroy. In uncertain
times, we can only hope that world
leaders have learned from the mistakes of
the past.
By Kara Reynolds
In recent years Ireland has been swept up by the wind of change which, lately has turned into a gale.

Despite our age we knew that we wanted to be part of the movement by expressing our opinions on
repealing the 8th. Although the vast majority of the student population are under the legal voting
age we believe that our opinions are still valid, particularly regarding the 8th amendment, as this is
a law which impacts so many of our generation.

We decided to try and give the students here, in Newtown, a chance to express their views. As soon
as we got the all clear from our principal it was official, we would be holding a mock referendum.
On the day of our referendum, which we held on the 9th of May, we offered unbiased information,
obtained from the referendum commission, and of course it was all kept anonymous.

Our referendum was a huge success with a large number of students coming out to vote. Many of
the students expressed their gratitude about being given the chance to cast their vote on the matter.
Overall Newtown voted, in accordance with the country, to repeal the 8th amendment.

By Caoimhe Lawless and Molly O'Shea

No
18%

No
34%

Yes
66%

Yes
82%

41
After 35 years since the last referendum, where
the 8th Amendment was brought into our
constitution which made abortion illegal with
two exceptions in Ireland (if the woman is
suicidal or if she is going to die), this year the
people of Ireland have spoken out about how the
8th Amendment is affecting the women of
Ireland and putting women’s lives in danger
every day. On the 25th of May, Ireland will
decide whether to retain or repeal the Eighth
amendment, and in my opinion, it needs to be
repealed. The 8th amendment doesn’t work, it
never has. It forces women and girls to pay for a
flight to travel abroad everyday to obtain
medical treatment. A flight not everyone can
afford. A flight that is not an easy one, a flight
you don’t tell your family or friends about,
because in this country you will be howled at
with shame, disapproval and silence. A flight that
shouldn’t have to happen. We have to banish
this wall, this sea, this curtain of stigma that
prevails over our little island. This culture of
shame and disapproval and silence.
As a young girl myself, this is going to affect me
and all the girls in our school. Abortion is
frowned upon in our country, we are trapped in a
dark, stubborn nation that forces us to stay
silent. It’s time. It’s time to end this. It’s time to
trust in women.
It’s time to change the laws of this dark stubborn
nation, so our future daughters will have control
over their own bodies, without the state or the
church deciding for us what they think is
morally just.
42
This year, two of my school friends and I,
Sarah Jane McEvoy O’Gorman and Emily
Shaw, attended the ‘South East Coalition for
Repeal’ on the 13th of January in Kilkenny.
There we heard various speakers from
different organizations that are fighting for
repeal such as ‘ROSA’, ‘strike4repeal’, and
‘Coalition to Repeal the 8th’. They spoke
about why it is so important that we repeal
the 8th amendment. After talking with
various people at the event, we set up a
Repeal youth group in the Edmund Rice
centre in Waterford City, where we discuss
our plans for canvassing and our plans for
events we could do to raise funds for the
‘Together for Yes’ campaign. We currently
have eight people in our youth group, and
plan on getting more in the coming weeks as
we will be on Beat FM, talking about how the
8th amendment will affect us if it is not
repealed and asking all the young people of
Waterford to get involved to ensure we will
win this referendum!
I am looking forward to May 25th, and look
forward to see all the great work in the lead
up from the ‘Together for Yes’ campaign. I
truly hope Ireland will progress out of these
dark dark times, and vote yes. It’s time to
make a better, safer country for the women
and girls of Ireland.
By Abigail Deegan
43
44
 Callum Bowlby
Milo Curran Hugo Deegan Alex Papathomas Dylan Breen
Traynor

Hannah
Ana Viladomiu Ana Viladomiu DNF Ana Viladomiu
O'Connor
Niall Vogelaar Krisztian Nagy Adam Sweeney Rory Treacy Niall Vogelaar

Alanna Cabrero Rachel

Grace O'Brien Molly Green Fodhla Dunne
Pinto McGuinness
Ethan Ethan
Isaac Johnson Marco Laura Ethan McInerney
McInerney McInerney
Elizabeth Elizabeth Elizabeth
Emma Pim Eve Delaney
Tihomirova Tihomirova Tihomirova
Ethan Peter Yaciuk
Aedan Rogers Aedan Rogers Aedan Rogers
McInerney O'Connor
Samantha Foley Maya Laura Samantha Foley Sara McDaid Samantha Foley

Marco Laura
Zoe Mulligan

Charlotte Miller

Blue: Isabel Dineen, Caoilin O'Meara, Matthew Mosse, David Gahan

Green: Sam Foley, Molly O'Shea, Maya Laura, Gearoid O'Brien, Ben Johnson
Yellow: Kara Reynolds, Ethan McInerny, John Monaghan, Roisin Lynam
Red: Caoimhe Lawless, Sara McDaid, Daniel Evans, Finn Brady, Erika Beyers

45
Age: 17

Specialised Sport: Horse riding - working hunter

How did you get involved and when did you start?
My mum was always interested in horses. From when I was
born there were always horses at home. I started riding back in
2004, when I was four years old in a little riding school. Then
when I was six years old, my sister and I got our first pony to
share.

What are your most prized achievements?

Winning the Tom Robinson Gold Cup at the Irish Pony society National Championships in the summer of
2017. Second place at RDS Dublin horse show in 2014. Fourth place RDS Dublin horse show 2016. Sixth
place RDS Dublin horse show 2017. Kildare/North leinster girl rider of the year, Connemara pony of the year
and intermediate pony of the year.

What are your goals for the future?

My goals for the future are to keep on improving in all aspects of my horse riding. A dream of mine from
when I was young is to qualify and ride at the horse of the year show in England so I will keep on working
towards the qualifiers. This year I will hopefully have my two ponies at the RDS. Next year I will aim to be
selected for the gold cup Europeans at the BSPS summer champs in Grantham England.

What advice would you give to an aspiring sportsperson with similar goals?
Miracles are not going to happen over night so keep working hard at your goals and soon improvements will
be seen.

Age: 17

Specialised Sport: Rugby

How did you get involved in your sport and when did you
start?
I’ve been playing since I was six. I used to play in Waterpark
after my football training was over.

What are your most prized achievements?

U16 Pan Munster champions which I captained, U18 East
Munster champions twice and U19 interpro champions.

What are your goals for the future?

To continue playing through college and the rest of my life.

What advice would you give to an aspiring sportsperson with similar goals?
To get to the top of your sport you need to be 100% committed because if you aren't then there will be
someone who wants it more that will take the opportunities you weren’t prepared to take.

46
Age: 17

Specialised sport: Hockey

How did you get involved and when did you start?
Hockey runs through my whole family so getting
started was easy and inevitable. I started hockey at the
age of four or five when my first hockey stick was talIer
than me. I got involved in Waterford Hockey Club and
then later with my school hockey team.

What are your most prized achievements?

Definitely captaining the Munster U18 team to a very respectable interpros team and as well captaining the
Irish team in some tour games abroad.
And also putting Newtown back on the map as a school to fear after a year of lower level hockey.

What are your goals for the future?

My goals for the future would be to get involved in the U21 Irish programme and the senior programme for
the upcoming Olympics and World Cups.

What advice would you give to an aspiring sportsperson with similar goals?
The most valuable advice I can give to someone aspiring to achieve this kind of level in their chosen sport
would be to keep driving and although sometimes it may be hard and if you fail to get onto a team or squad,
face it as a hurdle that you can overcome as opposed to a barrier blocking your path.

Age: 14

Specialised Sport: Karate

How did get involved in your sport and when did

you start?
I started karate at the age of six and I started because
my brother had been doing it for the previous couple of
years and seemed to be having great fun.

What are your most prized achievements?

I have achieved many international titles such as: European Champion in 2014 and 2016, American
Champion in 2018 and World silver medalist in 2015.

What are your goals for the future?

My goals for the future are to continue doing karate, and to continue competing both at home and abroad.
My main goal is to train hard and to hopefully one day compete in the Olympics for Ireland.

What advice would you give to an aspiring sportsperson with similar goals?
To work hard, stay motivated and you won’t achieve anything unless you put your mind to it.

47
Age: 15

Specialised Sport: Racing (F4)

How did you get involved and when did you start?
I always loved driving anything with an engine
growing up. I eventually started racing in the karting
championships with a second hand kart at the age of
nine. It just went from there, and after my first year I
knew I wanted to keep doing it.

What are your most prized achievements?

My proudest moment of my career was ¾ Irish championships in 2014. Also, being picked to represent
Ireland was my greatest experience and honour. In the more recent times I would say being the first
ever Irish British F4 driver and hopefully it sets a standard for young Irish drivers.

What are your goals for the future?

At the moment F1 is the only thing on my mind as its the pinnacle of motorsport and its where everyone
wants to be. However, I would be greatly satisfied if I was able to make a professional career racing in
one of the top championships and make a living off it.

What advice would you give to an aspiring sportsperson with similar goals?
Mindset is probably one of the most important features you can have as an aspiring young
sportsman/woman. You need to work harder than all your competitors and make sure you’re mentally
and physically a step ahead. Also you need to 100% believe in your abilities because if you don’t nobody
will. But most importantly make sure you keep smiling and enjoy what your doing.

Age: 15

Specialised sport: Hockey (goalkeeper)

How did you get involved and when did you start?
My parents both loved hockey, when I was seven I joined Waterford
Hockey Club and my love of the sport grew from there.

What are your most prized achievements?

My most prized achievement includes representing the South East at
the 2017 Interpros in Belfast and also winning the Cup and League
double last season with Waterford Hockey Club and with the Newtown
Inter team this year.
What are your goals for the future?
I hope to continue playing for the South East and get trials for the Irish squad. I also hope to continue to
see girls hockey in Newtown grow and get to play and watch many more finals across the different teams
in our school.

What advice would you give to an aspiring sportsperson with similar goals?
I would say to always try your best and give every opportunity 110% of your effort and make sure to enjoy
every second you play.

48
The first year boys hockey team came a long way
from the start of the season considering that
most of the players had never played hockey
before.
We started off the season by playing a number of
blitz’s in Midleton, Ashton, Bandon and at home
here, in Newtown. The results were mixed, we
won some matches and lost others, but by the
end of the season we were winning most of our
matches. Most of our players also played on the
minor boys’ team which really helped us see the
standard for next year when we will be the minor
boys.
We played matches in Ashton, and in Newtown
which we narrowly lost. But it helped us see how
much we will need to improve if we want to try
and win some tournaments next year.
We played Ashton in our first cup match which
was close until the last few minutes of the first
half when they snagged a couple of lucky goals.
It went downhill after that and we ended up
losing but we came close to scoring a few great
team goals.
On behalf of the team I would like to thank the
coaching staff.
By Peter Keappock
Team: Charlie Beresford, Peter Keappock, Callum Dooley-
Cullinane, Charlie Shaw, Ivan Kennedy, William Miller,
Malachy Shute, Dylan Breen, Luke Denny, Harry O'Shea, Saad
Kazi, Callum Bowlby Traynor
49
Team: Alejo Garcia Maldonado, Louis Bayou, Luke Shaw,
Pierce Maher, Callum Dooley-Cullinane, Peter Keappock,
Rory Treacy, Ivan Kennedy, William Miller, Malachy Shute,
Dylan Breen, Andrew Crosbie, Luke Denny, Gonzalo Cia
Jimeno, Jaime Barahona
I’d just like to start of by saying thank you to all
the coaching staff for really improving the team
over the year. There was a huge improvement
from beginning to end and I’d just like to thank
Brad for everything he has done.
Before Christmas we travelled up to Dublin to
play in a tournament in High School against
them and Villiers from Limerick. We were
unsuccessful in both matches, only picking up
our rhythm against High School. It was a great
tournament and really helped the boys to see
what we are against in standard this season. We
didn’t have great luck in the Munster league by
losing all our matches. We played Bandon
Grammar in the Semi Final of the Cup. It was a
hard game to play has they had more
experience but we defended well in the first
half. In the second half they stepped up by
scoring two goals. Then it started snowing, for
about ten minutes it was lashing snow and with
about half our players not able to see the ball,
they scored again. That was us done.
We played Kilkenny College in the Southeast
Final. We won 2-1. Luke Denny with a super
back post deflection and a drag flick by Rory
Treacy. It was a great win for the lads.
Congratulations to Jamie Norton on winning
the players player of the year
By Rory Treacy
The past season was very successful for our
junior team, as we claimed Newtown’s first
major hockey trophy for over 40 years. A
handful of our team were also part of the senior
boys successful season, which really drove the
standard of our squad.

The season started off brilliantly with wins

against Ashton and Midleton in the league and
Kilkenny college in a friendly. These three
games were a great launch pad for our success
in the cup.

Our cup campaign was our main focus for the

season and it all started with our home semi-
Team: Ian Balding, Ben McInerney, Harry Belton, Zac Green,
final against the favourites for the cup, Bandon Patrick Cooke, Jasper Butler, Lucca Allen, Isaac Johnson, Thomas
Grammar school. The lads put in a terrific Delaney, Marco Laura, Eoin Moran, Kyle Fitzmaurice, Rory
Treacy, Shazam Saeed, Donnagh Twomey, George O'Shea
performance full of courage and determination
and we came out on top 4-1. No one saw it
coming. That result blew the entire cup
competition wide open. Our opponents in the
final were Ashton and we knew there was
nothing between either team. But maybe we
had the psychological advantage over them that
day as we ran out 3-0 winners. There was an air
of disbelief at the final whistle as we just
couldn’t get our heads around that we had
actually managed to win the Munster Junior A
cup. Our success was down to the courage and
forward thinking ideas of our coach Rory Isaacs
who mentored us throughout the season. Well
done to all the lads and thanks to Rory for
everything he’s done for us.

By Ian Balding

50
We started off the year in style with a friendly
preseason tournament which saw us win in a high
quality tournament held in Dublin during which
we played the All Ireland contenders, Friends of
Lisburn, and beat current All Ireland champions,
St Andrews College.
Because of this there was a fantastic tempo and
mindset for the team for the oncoming season.
Shortly after, the annual All Ireland qualifiers
were held in Cork. We came 3rd in our group
which guaranteed us a spot in the upcoming All
Ireland Tournament. This had only been
achieved by Newtown twice in the last decade.
The All Ireland’s were held in Cork. Being drawn
in arguably one of the toughest groups in the
competition, it was always going to be a challenge
for the lads. Our group consisted of St Andrews
College, Sullivan Upper of Ulster (Ulster cup
winners). We had quite the mountain to climb.
Saying that, this was exactly what the guys wanted
and a chance to play the top sides in the country
was a great opportunity.
October came and our opening game was against
the eventual winners of the tournament, St
Andrews College. Sadly we lost this game 4-2.
Next was Sullivan Upper, this was the highlight of
the tournament for most of the squad as Newtown
took the victory in the very last minute with a 2-1
win. This gave us the chance to get into the semi
finals but would require an extremely impressive
win over Ulster's Campbell College. This match
ended 2-2 so we sadly drew an end to our All
Ireland Campaign. A friendly was organised
against Bangor, another Ulster team, and we
came away with a 4-3 win and left for home with
another win in the bag. A special mention was
given to Finn Brady after a heroic tournament as
this also was his last All Ireland’s.
Our family is growing.
We are having
a baby girl!
Hillary and Chris Johnson
are expecting their third child!
Our International Players
51
After the new year, our cup had commenced
and saw us draw home to Midleton College,
we won this game 4-2 securing a place in the
final.
Villiers of Limerick were our opponents in
the final, the game saw Villiers score early
which was quickly counteracted by a well
planned set piece finished by myself to
equalise. Outstanding goal keeping from
goalkeeper fill in Kassim or 'Kaz' saved us
several times during the game. The game
finished 2-1 to Villiers after a goal in the last
moments of the game. The end of the season
saw several players actively being involved in
Munster and Irish programmes. Myself,
Harry McCarthy, Ian Balding and Ben
McInerney all being apart of Irish u18 and
u16 panels along with trialist Ethan
McInerney.
Top Goal Scorer Tally:
Ben Johnson: 16
Harry McCarthy: 14
Gearoid O'Brien: 7
Sacha O'Neill: 4
To finish, on behalf of the squad I would like
to thank the coaching staff Mr Greene, Rory
Isaacs and Brad Rouhana and all the players
for their outstanding commitment all season
By Ben Johnson
Team: Thomas Delaney, Ian Balding, Ben Johnson, Ben
McInerney, Sam Johnson, Lucca Allen, Jasper Butler,
Gearoid O'Brien, Finn Brady, Ethan McInerney, David
Gahan, Isaac Johnson, Harry Belton, Marco Laura, Rory
Treacy, Sacha O'Neill, Patrick Cooke, Harry McCarthy
The start of the season for first year girls was in
September and there was about 25 of us at the first
session. Most of the girls who were on the team
had never played hockey before which was
surprising because they all picked it up very
quickly.
Ms Comerford was our coach, we had training
every Monday and Thursday. We had great fun
and learned loads. All of this training paid off
because out of our 10 matches we won 9.
The schools we played against between October
and February were The Abbey, Ursuline, Loreto
and last but not least Kilkenny College. The only Team: Ella Eustace, Molly Swift, Siomha Hartery,
Axelle Ievers, Jenna Caffrey, Saoirse Delaire Staines,
match we lost was our first away match, our heads Isabel Griffin, Kate Nolan, Maggie Hennebry, Harriet
were still in the bus but we came back in our next Thompson, Juno Douglas, Ana Viladomiu, Carlotta
match with a 12-0 win. Gomez Trabancos, Katie Earl, Lorna Hardiman, Zara
Notley, Ana Bovenizer
We are all looking forward to next year and
hopefully just as many will play again next season.

By Katie Earl

The minor girls hockey team developed well this

year. We all improved and bonded as a team. We
are a great group of girls who played to the best of
their ability throughout the season. All the girls
are very driven and enthusiastic while at training.
We are looking forward to further developing our
hockey skills and having plenty of opportunities
Team: Penny Caraher, Rebecca Doyle, Fodhla Dunne,
to showcase our skills as a team next year. Hannah Hadden, Lucy Deegan, Molly Green, Isabella
Goodall-Turner, Emma Parnell, Grace O'Brien, Julie
Bradley, Isabel Killian, Hazel Griffin, Melanie Jephson,
By Laura Belton & Grace O'Brien
Lily O'Brien Peterson, Orla Treacy, Sorsha Leonard,
Laura Belton

The junior girls hockey season was very

enjoyable for all who took part. Training was
every Tuesday and Thursday evenings after
school and for the most part we had a great
turnout of girls eager to play, train and enjoy
themselves on the pitch.
We played a good number of matches
throughout the year and worked really well as a
team, due to this we had a very successful
outcome, winning, drawing and incurring only a
few losses throughout the year.
As a team we would like to say a massive thank
Team: Isabel Black, Eve McCarthy, Hannah Doyle,
you to Joanne who took the time to coach us Rebecca Doyle, Teagan Stanley, Orla Treacy, Adel
throughout the year. Gosi, Maria Bovenizer, Aisling Lawless, Charlotte
Miller, Rachel Shute

By Eve McCarthy
52
This year the Inter team had a great season
of hockey, we were made up of 3rd, 4th and
5th years. All matches were played very late
due to 4th years being on work experience
but better late than never. We won the Inter
A league against Loreto Kilkenny in May.
We played a very good match and worked
together very well! We came out on top with
a 2-0 win in Kilkenny. This left us on a high
for the Cup final the following week against
The Abbey in Newtown. Again the girls
pulled it out of the bag with a 3-0 win to bring
home the A Cup.
With such a range of personalities and
commitment to hockey the team performed
very well in all their performances. A very
big thanks goes to our super goal keeper
Rachel Shute in 3rd year for always working
so hard and saving some serious shots that
often kept the game at bay for Newtown.
The girls had a very positive, fun and
enthusiastic season of hockey, the future is
very bright for us as a team.
By Susannah Doyle
Team Members: Sara McDaid, Abigail Deegan, Ava Kenny,
Caoimhe Lawless, Jordan Pim, Maya Laura, Molly O’Shea,
Pippa Durham, Aisling Lawless, Charlotte Miller, Eve
McCarthy, Lauren Palmer, Rachel Shute, Rosin Lynam,
Sally O’Sullivan, Sophie Pim, Storm Eaton, Susannah Doyle
and Abi Coghlan.
53
This year the senior girls have had a very
frustrating season. Our slogan for the year was
definitely “we should have won that match”.
We had a really strong team this season led by
our great captains Zoe Mulligan and Abby
Durham. Every training session was good fun
and a lot of hard work and dedication was put in
to try and improve our games. We won a few
matches and like I said we almost won a lot
more! Each match we maintained possession
and had some really nice plays and skills from
our players, but we struggled to get goals in the
back of the net.
Our last match of the season made up for all our
close wins when we played Kilkenny College in
the South East Cup. We played to the best of our
ability and did all we could have in the match
coming ahead 1-0 early on. Kilkenny came back
at the end of the second half to even the score to
1-1. The game ended and we went to strokes, I
can honestly say it is the most nervous thing
you’ll ever have to endure on a hockey pitch!
Thanks to our amazing goalkeeper Rachel
Shute and every player who took a stroke, we
won! It was one of the best feelings ever.
Thanks to Rory for training us all year and we’re
really looking forward to start training again in
September!
By Sara McDaid
Team: Sophie Pim, Samantha Foley, Roisin Lynam, Teagan
Stanley, Jordan Pim, Susannah Doyle, Abigail Deegan, Ava
Kenny, Molly O'Shea, Sarah Jane O'Gorman McEvoy, Sally
O'Sullivan, Rachel Shute, Maya Laura, Sara McDaid, Zoe
Mulligan, Storm Eaton, Emily Shaw, Caoimhe Lawless, Pippa
Durham, Abi Coghlan
Lifesaving is not just going swimming after
school, it's the commitment, it's the passion, it's
the effort. Lifesaving is definitely one of the
greatest things one could ever sign up for.

This has been my second phenomenal year and

at the same time, unfortunately my final year
with this wonderful group of people. Although
this year was a bit different to last year, because I
had to train with younger people, it was still
really good.

It changed me both physically and mentally

learning how to stay calm in stressful situations,
as it develops not only as a body workout, but
also as a mental workout. It's something
that anyone, even with no prior experience, can
learn thanks to the committed people involved.

I can only recommend it, as every skill learned

will be useful to you if you ever were to come
across an emergency scenario.

Special thanks to Ms. Coady, helping throughout

the year, sacrificing her own afternoon time.
Thank you for giving me this year the
‘Commitment to Lifesaving Award’ cup, I will
take care of it for the next year.

Huge thanks to Sonny, our examiner, who

qualified us in all exams throughout the two
years. Thank you for having me as part of this
amazing community.

By Andras Gosi

54
The 2017/2018 Newtown Junior Rugby team had
an average season with ups and downs. We
played a mixture of matches against a variety of
teams, some we won, some we lost. Our team
showed great strength on and off the field. We
made it to the quarter finals with the help of our
coaches Mr Walsh and Mr Keappock. It was a
great season overall even with the disappointing
result.
By Niall Vogelaar
Team: Jasper Butler, Finn Vogelaar, Luke Shaw, Pierce
Maher, Bruno Guixa Gonzalez, Daniel Prager, Ronan
O'Donnell, Kyle Fitzmaurice, Niall Vogelaar, Sam Kingston,
Ian Balding, Mark Wallis, Donnagh Twomey, Tapiwa
Nemhara, Hugo Deegan, Eoin Moran, Louis Bayou, Edward
Griffin, Sam O'Hara, Charlie Caffrey, Hugo Mullally
Staunton, Daniel Sirbu, Finley Edmondson
Senior Boys Captain Rhys Jones
55
This year the senior rugby team were much
improved and competed against some strong
opposition managing to get a few wins here and
there along the way. Our first game was against
Youghal School. We were quite rusty and came
up second best on the day losing 29-17, try
scorers on the day were Cathal Chesty and Cian
Parnell.
A few weeks on we were drawn against Youghal
again in the O’Brien cup and we proceeded to
the next round where we played Carrigaline
away which we won in the final few minutes
through a late try and conversion from Rhys
Jones, other try scorers on the day were Thomas
Perricone and Kitty. Following that win we made
it into the quarter final against Nenagh CBS,
unfortunately we lost 19-5 but Thomas
Perricone scored a great individual try in the
opening minutes. To finish off our season we
played Waterpark College in the annual Daunt
cup match, we were winning 8-0 with 10
minutes to go after Harry Jephson crossed for a
try however Waterpark came back in the final
minutes and managed to score to draw the
match at 8-8. This means that the cup is now
being shared between both schools for six
months each. Overall our season was much
improved from the previous year and hopefully
this will continue in the future. A huge thanks to
Mr Walsh, Mr Jones and Mr Lyons for the time
and effort they put into us all season
Team: Cian Parnell, Harry Jephson, Dylan Crews, Finn
Vogelaar, William Wallis, Daniel Prager, Finn Brady, John
Monaghan, Tom Owens, Gearoid O'Brien, Elliot Ogbemudia,
Thomas Perricone, Cathal Cheasty, Alfred Sirbu, Sam
Kingston, Lucca Allen, Ewan Kissane, Rhys Jones, Eoin
O'Driscoll, Leopold Grillet, Patrick Cooke. (Pictured with
members of the Daunt family)
Orienteering is both a team and individual sport. It
is a sport for all levels of ability. We start in the
autumn with a bonding 1st year event at a local
venue. This is followed up when we take two large
buses to Kennedy park to give other years a
chance to try it out. This helps to sort out the more
proficient orienteers for the subsequent events.
The 1st year boys team won the South East (SE)
schools lead by William Miller (1st individual).
They followed this up with 3rd at the Munsters.
Harry O’Shea, Dylan Breen, Azuolas Cernius,
Peter Keappock, Oscar Stumpf, Charlie Beresford
(10th Irish) and Alex Papathomas made up the
team.
The 1st year girls won the SE schools and followed
this up with two fantastic silver place team
finishes in the Munsters and Irish schools
competitions. Anita Thompson, Juno Douglas,
Axelle Levers, Saoirse Delaire Staines, Molly Swift,
Sophie Bascone, Siomhra Hartery and Alocque
Brady were the key team members.
The 2nd / 3rd year boys team won the SE schools,
placed 2nd in the Munsters and 3rd in the Irish
schools. Harry Belton (7th Irish), Pierce Maher,
Charlie Caffrey (8th Irish),
Kyle Fitzmaurice, Sean Romera, Ian Balding (6th
Munster), George O’Shea, Kieran O’Donnell, and
Luke Shaw all contributed to team success.
.The 2nd/3rd year girls team finished 2nd in the
SE, 1st in the Munster and 3rd in the Irish
competitions. Best individual was Aisling Lawless
(1st Munster, 4th Irish) supported by Laura Belton,
Grace Thompson, Melanie Jephson, Rachel Shute,
Charlotte Miller (3rd Munster), Teagan Stanley
(4th Munster, 12th Irish), and Rebecca Doyle.
56
The Senior boys team won the SE event,
finished 2nd in Munster and 3rd in Ireland.
Team members included David Gahan (1st SE,
5th Munster), Sacha O’Neill (2nd SE),
Matthew Mosse (3rd SE), John Monaghan (4th
Munster), Thomas Drayton, Dmitry
Kodzhaspirov, Ethan Roche and Ben Johnson
(9th Irish).
Pride of place goes to the group of 5th year girls
who have participated right the way through
from 1st year. They won gold at all of the
competitions and won the Irish trophy back
from the Ursuline. There were excellent
individual and team performances from:
Caoimhe Lawless (2nd SE, 7th Munster, 7th
Irish), Roisin Lynam (3rd SE, 8th Munster, 4th
Irish), Molly O’Shea (4th SE, 6th Munster, 2nd
Irish), Jordan Pim (3rd Irish), Maya Laura (5th
SE, 10th Munster, 10th Irish), Caoilin O’Meara
(6th SE, 9th Munster, 6th Irish), Sara McDaid
and Erika Beyers.
By Mr. Cox
Teagan Stanley

The Lions Club Young Ambassador Award is an
award given to young people to recognise the
work that they do in the community and is run
annually by the Lions Club
. also a huge honour to be able to represent the
I was invited to participate in this event by Ms
Coady because of the various fundraiser events I
have run and participated in since first form.
For the award the first thing that I was your
required to do was to prepare a CV. In the CV we
had to document what we had achieved over the
last few years. This was to provide the Lions Club
with an idea of what we have done. I spoke about
the fundraisers that I had run as well as the other
activities I have participated in, such as IGG, as
well as the sports I played.
The last part of the event was a lunch in the
tower hotel where the winner was announced.
The day was incredible, it was great to be able
to just talk to the other contestants and it was
school at such an event. I really enjoyed myself
all the way through this event.
Lastly, I would just like to say a huge thank you
to Ms Coady and the Waterford Lions Club for
this amazing opportunity and for supporting
me all the way through.

Along with my portfolio I was interviewed by a

member of the Lions Club, the interview was
actually really good and it wasn’t as formal as I
had been expecting. It was very much along the
lines of a general conversation and I really
enjoyed it. I was asked a lot about the charity
work that I had done as well as what I plan to do in
the future.

A few weeks after my interview I was told that I

had made it through to the final eight in
Waterford. As one of the youngest participants I
was utterly shocked and delighted.
Being in the top eight meant another interview.
This time it was in the Tower Hotel, this
interview seemed a lot more formal. While I was
waiting I got to speak with several other
participants which was great. Everyone came
from different schools around Waterford, the
large majority of them were from fifth and sixth
year. Then it was my turn.

There was a panel of judges for this interview and

their questions were a lot more direct. The
interview could have gone better, but then again
couldn’t almost anything have “gone better”?
The interview still went pretty well and I very
much enjoyed the evening.

57
Iona Ritchie

Earlier this year I was lucky to be one of four
students nominated from Newtown school to
participate in the Lions Club Young Ambassador
Award in Waterford
.
This is an awards program which operates
throughout Europe and is part of the Lions
opportunities for youth initiative. It is a
competition that recognises young people
(between the age of 15 and 19) for their
outstanding community service and
involvement in charity work. The program
encourages young people to see community
service and charity work as an integral part of
leadership skills and is looking for leaders of the
future, with an emphasis on community service
and charity work.
This was a very new and totally wonderful
experience for me.
I had such a wonderful experience partaking in
the Lions Club Young Ambassadors Award this
year. It was a fantastic experience and is
something I will never forget.
Thank you to the Lions club for their kindness
and hospitality. Also, a huge thank you to Ms
Coady who helped me in so many ways to
prepare for the interviews and for all the
brilliant charity work she has done in the
school. She is an inspiration to all!
Congratulations to Jack O’Neill from De La Salle
College who won the award and went on to
represent Waterford at regional level.

Initially, I had to complete an application form

and put together a portfolio containing all of my
personal details, accomplishments and details of
charity work that I have been involved in. The
next step was to attend an interview, this
interview was with one person from the Lions
Club, he was extremely friendly and put me right
at ease. Then the dreaded waiting to hear if I was
lucky enough to get through to the next round.
Fortunately, I got through to the second
interview in the Tower Hotel where, as part of
the interview process I had to present my
portfolio to an interview panel of experienced
interviewers from across the Waterford area.
They were also kind and good fun to talk to.
At this interview I met the other nominees from
Waterford who were all very friendly and
equally as nervous as me!

The last part of the process was a delicious lunch

in the tower hotel with representatives from the
Lions Club, where a presentation was made to
the winning contestant, who went on to
represent Waterford at a regional level.

58
On the 16th of January 2018, fifth and sixth year
Leaving Cert art classes took a trip to Dublin to
visit the National Museum of Ireland and the
National Gallery. Our first trip would be to the
museum, however before our tour we had a bit of
time to browse the local shops. When we arrived
at the museum, we marvelled at the beautiful
architecture of the building, and the colourful
stone reception room. Our main focus
throughout the tour was Irish bronze-age
metalwork. We got to see famous pieces such as
the Ross Lunula, as well as some early Christian
metalwork pieces, such as the Ardagh Chalice
and the Lismore Crozier.

After a tasty burrito lunch, we headed to our

second destination the National Gallery. We all Rest on the Flight into Egypt by
struggled up several flights of stairs to the pre-- Francesco Granacci.
renaissance religious paintings some of which
can be seem on the right. Here we got to see
some beautiful works of art, a class favourite
being “Rest on the Flight into Egypt with the
Infant Saint John the Baptist” (top right) by
Francesco Granacci. We also learned lots about
the history of this particular period of artwork.

This visit proved to be an invaluable experience

for all, providing us with the information we
need for the exams to come, as well as
broadening our own knowledge of history, art
and culture. We'd like to thank Mrs. Dillon and
Rory for taking us and for the great day out!

By Izzy Collins

59
60
61
Since my first year in Newtown, I have been singing
in both the Chamber Choir and the Girls Choir. I have
also played the flute in orchestra and now, finishing
up my fifth year in Newtown, I am still involved in all
three.
The first choir I became involved in was Girls Choir,
which is conducted by Mrs. O’Connor and
accompanied by Mrs. Keappock. It is an all-girls
choir, which does not require auditions and rehearses
one lunchtime a week. All ages from first through to
sixth year are in this choir, and it regularly sings for
charity events, and usually gets involved with
Winterval to sing to passers by. Recently, they
accompanied the Chamber Choir to compete in
Young Bohemia Prague and won a silver award for the
school in their category. Girls Choir is a lively bunch
of girls and I often leave rehearsal with a smile on my
face after learning a fun song such as “Mamma Mia”
or “It’s only a Paper Moon”. Mrs. O’Connor and Mrs.
Keappock also organise a first year choir in order to
get our incoming students involved from day one!
Our second choir is the school Chamber Choir, which
was joined with a new conductor this year, Fearghal
O’Connor. This is a mixed choir that you audition for,
and our songs are largely unaccompanied. It is a
small but highly competitive choir that practices one
lunchtime in the week and also for an hour on
Monday evenings. I spend so much time with this
choir that they’ve become something like a family to
me. Yes, we sing and we’re very good at it, but we are
all also socially connected by a love for the music and
arts culture of the school and have become great
friends over the years. We have established a name
for ourselves, competing nationally and this year,
internationally at the Young Bohemia Choir Festival
in Prague and also won a silver award, like Girls
Choir, in our category.
62
The instrumentalists in Orchestra, change very
much with each passing year. This year, it was
largely a strings choir, with a few brass and
woodwind instruments, which we really took
advantage of. We played many pieces for string
orchestra with brass and flute solos
throughout, such as Ashokan Farewell and The
Pirates of the Caribbean and I feel like this year
was a very successful year for the orchestra!
Our conductor this year was Eimear Heaney.
Being so actively integrated into the musical
community of this school has shaped my
experience as a student here. Most rehearsals
are held at lunchtimes, which means I hardly
ever have a free lunchtime yet it ensures at for
at least one half hour of the day, my time is
filled with music. People of all ages, talents and
interests are welcomed with open arms by the
music staff of Newtown and everyone has a part
to play in making our activities so successful. I
would highly recommend getting involved in
these if you enjoy music because it is what has
made my experience at Newtown so special and
enjoyable. I can’t thank all of the music
teachers enough for allowing me to embrace
everything Newtown has to offer.
By Erika Beyers
Newtown Chamber Choir is a mixed choir for all
years, run here in Newtown. It is a great
opportunity to expand your musical knowledge,
and to get to know people who you otherwise
wouldn’t have spoken to.
We have line rehearsals every Monday for half an
hour, during lunch, followed by a full rehearsal
during prep from six until seven.
As of this year we have a new conductor, Fearghal
O’Connor, who has brought the choir up to a new,
higher standard of singing. He brings fun into the
rehearsals while still getting everything covered.
He is highly respected amongst everyone in the
choir, even if he does make us do planks.
The choir has sung in several concerts this year,
starting with a charity fundraiser concert, in
Christ Church Cathedral, back in October. We
then performed at the Newtown Christmas
Concert. We were invited to sing in a concert at
63
St. John’s Chapel in March, but unfortunately it
was postponed due to storm Emma, and the new
date did not suit. At the end of March we
travelled to Prague to sing in the Young
Bohemia Choir Festival. Both Chamber Choir
and the Girl’s Choir were awarded silver medals!
We returned home triumphant but exhausted.
Three weeks later we travelled to Cork to
compete in the Cork International Choral
Festival. We sang under the secondary schools
mixed choir category and we came second!!! We
have been very successful this year in all of our
concerts and competitions.
The Chamber Choir is a close knit group of
students, who love music and singing. We
compete in competitions all over and we all
thoroughly enjoy it all. I would strongly
recommend anyone who shares a love of music
to join us in the new term!
By Fodhla Dunne
During the week of the 22nd to the 25th of March
the school chamber choir and girls’ choir were
fortunate enough to experience the trip of a
lifetime to the beautiful and historical city of
Prague in Czech Republic. Both choirs performed
in the local town hall of Prague as part of the
“Young Bohemia Festival”. The “Young Bohemia
Festival” is a European musical event for people
between the ages of 8-26 years from all around
the world that consists of numerous
competitions, allowing thousands of people
around the world share and appreciates each
others music.
The girls’ choir took part in the competition
category “Children’s Choirs” and sang Suantraí
Na Maighdine by Éamonn o Gallchobhaire, It’s
only a paper moon by Billy Rose and E.Y. Harburg,
Détské Hádanky by Bohusslav martinu and
Adiemus by Karl Jenkins. We performed our
pieces the without a flaw and left full of
excitement and satisfaction. The chamber choir
took part in the competition under the category
“Mixed Choir” in total we sang five songs. Pater
menus by Antonín Tucapsky, when I fall in love
by Edward Henyman and Victor Young, The Road
home by Stephen paulus and Bogoroditse Devo by
Richard Apperley and Fite Fuaite by Ben Hanlon.
After performing our final song we got a
marvellous cheer from the crowd.
We got the pleasure of hearing voices, orchestras
and watching performances from places all
around the world .For example Russia, Japan,
Norway, Canada and Israel are just a handful for
different nationalities that also took part.
We spent all Saturday morning exploring the
stunning city wandering the cobblestone streets
and learning all about the medieval history. We
were being typical tourist capturing photos and
gasping at everything in awe. We took a tour on a
boat cruise and saw Charles Bridge, Prague
64
castle, the old town square, St.Vitus cathedral,
Petrin lookout, The Famous Prague
astronomical clock and many more. When the
evening hit all choirs and orchestras gathered
together to the old town square to participate in
a parade. We proudly wore all green, Irish flags
as capes and Irish car accessories and sang well
known Irish tunes. After the parade we the
gathered back to the town square to sing
“Iubilate” by Mark Ivanovic to the whole of
Prague to hear.
We were over the moon to receive a Silver
award in both the categories “Children’s choirs”
and “Mixed choirs”. Our success would not have
been possible without the long days and hours
of practise and the huge help from our teachers
in the music department. Both Choirs would
like to give huge thanks Ms O'Connor who is our
girls choir voice trainer and conductor and Ms
Keappock who is our voice trainer for girls choir
also and piano accompaniment for girls choir
and chamber choir. We would also like to give
thanks to our amazing chamber choir
conductor Fearghal O'Connor who meets with
us twice a week (sometimes three) to teach and
perfect our pieces, helping us discover fun new
ways of singing.
We completed our stay with a fun disco
organised by the “Young Bohemia Festival”.
This was a great opportunity to meet with other
people from different countries and make new
friends. On the last day shopped like no
tomorrow and said farewell to the spectacular
city, Prague.
We were all in deep gloom to leave, some even
considered to stay and never come back. But we
were also overjoyed to come back home to
Ireland.
By Nessa Malone
The music department has had a busy and very
successful year. We welcomed four new staff
members - Catherine Power as a piano teacher,
Peter Taylor as teacher of Brass, Mark Robinson
as guitar teacher and Fearghal O’Connor as the
new conductor of Chamber Choir.
The year started with a group of students
attending a very enjoyable schools talk/concert
(with some audience participation) at the New
Ross piano festival in September. Milena Barnes
performed in the evening concert for young
pianists in the South East.
We announced a Choir Trip to Prague, to compete
in Young Bohemia 2018.
The Christmas Concert was our main focus after
mid-term break, with many beautiful
performances from soloists and ensembles. The
Choirs got into the Christmas spirit by Carol
singing in aid of Christian Aid. Transition years
also gave a Christmas Concert that highlighted
the musical talent in their year.
In January we set a very heavy rehearsal schedule
for both choirs that were travelling to Prague in
March as we were competing in two competitions.
The students gave of their time willingly and put a
huge effort into learning very challenging
programmes.
. By Mrs. O'Connor
65
In early March the Girls’ Choir performed in a
Choral Concert in Church St. John’s (organised
by piano teacher Catherine Power). The event
was in aid of the Hospice and it was a lovely
occasion to be part of.
March 22nd until 25th we travelled to Prague!
We had a wonderful and very successful trip
with both choirs being awarded Silver awards in
the Competition. We travelled with a great
group of students and they represented
Newtown proudly.
Summer term started with Leaving Cert
practical exams on the first day back followed
closely by the Junior Cert Practical exams on the
following Wednesday and Thursday. The
following week, April 18th the Chamber Choir
Travelled to Cork to participate in the Cork
International Choral Festival where they were
awarded second place.
In April we announced to great excitement that
the school is going to stage a Musical, Disco
Inferno, next October. We ended the year in
May with a lovely lunchtime concert featuring
the Orchestra, Girls Choir and soloists.
We wish our leaving cert students every success
in their next chapter
Izzy Collins and Naoise Duffy from the Girls
choir accepting a Silver Award Prague.
Ripples radiate out from his feet as he steps forward through the pool. Tiny tidal waves, fleeting but
beautiful, eventually blending back in with the water. His tears are camouflaged by the rain, but that
doesn’t stop them from coursing down his face, as if they were streams of lava scorching paths across his
cheeks. He reaches the centre of the pool and collapses to his knees, drenching his clothes in water. The
cold, lifeless body he’s carrying falls as well, creating yet more ripples. The face that once shone with
happiness, then contorted with rage, now lies still. The lack of expression carries an almost otherworldly
grace and peace. But of course it does. She is in a better place now. He leans down and kisses them for the
last time, then gets up, watching her cherry lips slip under the water.

He looks up at the sky, at the gods, hoping for some ray of sunlight, of hope, but all he sees are clouds,
black and foreboding, covering the night sky. The only light comes from the flashes of electricity that
spark above him. The sound of thunder assaults him from everywhere, but he hears nothing over the
soundtrack of loss and memory. He hears her first words, her nightly screaming and crying that
prevented him from sleeping for so long, her frustrations over studies, and her sadness over love. The
storm would never be as loud as his grief.

As nostalgia attacked him, his tears flowed ever faster, burning their way down his face and falling into the
pool, joining the rain and creating more ripples. Ripples, fleeting but beautiful. Impactful, but only for a
while. Like him. Like her. Like all of us. Simply ripples in the pool of life.

By Michael O'Herlihy

The new girl had fangs, and I seemed to be the only one who’d noticed. Her name was Ann. She’d arrived
a couple of weeks into the school year, early enough to not make much of a fuss, and after the first few
days of new-student-novelty wore off, she had sort of faded into the background.

Ann didn’t seem to mind this, though. Alone as she was, she never seemed lonely. Preoccupied;
searching, perhaps. She’d sit in class, maybe write some notes. Mostly she would look about the room,
dark brown eyes flitting from place to place.
What struck me the most-besides the fangs- was that she didn’t speak. Ever.
The only reason I even knew her name was because the principal had announced it during assembly the
day she’d arrived.I’d have been mortified, but Ann just grinned, her teeth like rows upon rows of bone-
white needles. Pretty creepy, to be honest.

Eventually, I realised that I needed to figure out what was up with Ann or I’d go nuts. Also, I think people
were starting to notice me staring.
The history teacher had sat her next to me that first day in an apparent bid to throw both the resident and
newest friendless weirdos together, so it wasn’t hard to get her attention. One day just as class ended, I
rapped my knuckles on her desk and said hello. Ann gave me a quizzical look, and it came abruptly to my
attention that I had no idea what to say next. I fumbled briefly, before managing to choke out a strangled
“Doyouwanttohavelunchwithme?” She seemed to perk up, and nodded furiously.

66
We sat together in comfortable silence for the first few days, until I finally mustered the courage to start
asking Ann about herself. I eventually got into the habit of carrying a pencil and paper with me
everywhere so that we could communicate beyond her shaking her head and nodding, which was when I
asked her why she’d moved here. Ann frowned slightly, and seemed to carefully consider every letter as
she wrote;

Looking for something.

From the look on her face,I gathered she didn’t want to talk about it, and launched energetically into a
rant about one of our teachers ,who probably didn’t deserve it, to diffuse the tension. She started silently
cackling, and it was soon forgotten.
I almost didn’t realise we’d been friends until after she left.

There’s not much I remember about my last day with her, because, well. I wasn’t looking for anything in
particular. If I tried, though. If I racked my brain… I could have sworn I saw something sleek and grey, like
a fur, poking out of her bag that morning. I think she finally found what she was looking for.

I’m not sure why I’m writing this. Maybe for closure, or to prove to myself she actually existed and wasn’t
just a product of my lonely, sixteen-year-old subconscious. Maybe because I’m in such a better place now
that I finally feel ready to look back properly.Or maybe, a part of me still hopes to see her again. Long as
it’s been, I’d recognise her. She’d turn to me, and flash that grin, like rows upon rows of bone-white
needles. Pretty wonderful, to be honest.

By Lily Kennedy

In the early hours of the night, in central Paris, it was anything but dark.
Julie was awoken to the harsh sound of an air raid siren blaring through the streets. She leaped out of
bed, ripping her lace nightgown on a bed post on the way out the door. Buildings were lit up,
surrounding Julie and she coughed from the smoke inhalation. She worried about the little person
brewing inside of her, knowing she was breathing for two. She cursed Adolf HItler as she climbed down
the slimey ladder into the underground bunker.
Someone gave Julie a hand at the bottom, trying to hurry along the long que of people waiting to get to
safety. “Merci,” she said to the elderly man, who’s deep blue eyes reminded her of her fiancé, Theo.

The first time Julie looked into those ocean blue eyes, she knew there was a lifetime of happiness within.
It was before the war had started, Julie was working in “Café la Coco,” the most popular café in the city. It
was a beautiful Summer’s day and Julie’s long, brunette curls shimmered among the harsh rays of
sunshine.
Theo pulled up on his rented moped, his cologne filling the air around him and ordered a strong black
coffee. The café was situated on so it had a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower right on Avenue De Bosquet.
Julie brought Theo his coffee and noticed he looked rather confused as he studied a torn and slightly
crumpled map of the city. “Excuse me sir, I can’t help but notice the poor condition of your map,” she
said to him. “I’m afraid, Madame, I do not have a replacement and I cannot seem to find where I would
like to go,” he replied in a posh English accent.

67
Julie introduced herself, and offered rather boldly to show him to his next location on the tourist map.
She surprised herself by doing this as she usually kept to herself, but there was just something about
him that she couldn’t put her finger on.
“I wouldn’t want to put you out, you are clearly at work!” he replied gratefully, but he was secretly over
the moon when Julie replied, with a shy smile, “I am finished in five minutes, Monsieur.”

Since that day in July, Julie’s broken English has greatly improved. She watched as the petrified children
clung to their trembling mothers, covering their ears from the loud bombing, and vowed to raise her
child bilingual.
She sat reading her book, trying to block out the noise and screams of babies. Sitting on the concrete
floor was uncomfortable with the cold seeping up through her body and Julie thought about the comfort
of her home, and the warmth of lying by the fire. She tried to think of happy moments in her life,
anything to distract herself from what was presently happening, the unimaginably loud explosions and
terror. An old couple were in the corner of the bunker, and Julie recognised the man as the person who
helped her down the ladder. He kissed his wife on the cheek, showing so much affection for each other,
even in their old age, making a certain memory surface.

“I can’t do it Theo! You go on without me, I’ll wait here.”

The way she made Theo feel when she said his name in her classic French accent made him weak at the
knees. They were standing, hunched over and out of breath, two floors from thee top of the Eiffel Tower.
“No Julie, I can’t leave you here, you’ll make it, I promise,” Theo then swooped down, picked her up
gracefully and carried her the rest of the way. Julie had never been to the top, in all her 24 years of living
in Paris. “I don’t understand why! You work right in front of this magnificent structure and never been
to the top!” Julie admired Theo for his intelligence and love for physics, and she hated to admit it, “But
I’m terrified of heights!”. She refused to walk over to the edge, but Theo gently coaxed her, reassuring
her all the while he would protect her.
When Julie opened her eyes, she was shocked by how far into the distance she could see. “The view!”,
she exclaimed, “It’s so beautiful!”
“It’s the most beautiful thing i have ever seen,” Theo replied, but when Julie turned to face him, he was
looking longingly at her, not at the city.
He leaned in, kissing her passionately, like it was the first of many. Everyone around the started to clap
and Julie went rouge with embarrassment, but couldn't wipe the smile off her face the whole way down,
back to earth.
The sounds of the fighter jets only grew louder as the night went on, the complete darkness of the sky
abruptly punctured by the flames.
The adults grew restless, finding it more and more difficult to settle their children, Juie sat, huddled, all
alone, in a blanket someone had given her while she dozed off, and wondered if she would ever see her
Theo again. She knew thinking irrationally was bad for the bay, but she couldn’t help it as she was
surrounded by husbandless woman, and fatherless children. She wondered how many men loved by
those in this room would return home in one piece. It reminded her of the day she said goodbye to Theo,
the day he left to join the army.

It was the blank period between Christmas and New Years, when no-one really knew what they should
be doing, and that’s exactly how Julie felt when Theo broke the news that he was leaving. She knew it was
inevitable, but Julie refused to admit that Theo, her Theo, father to her unborn child, would soon be in a
fighter jet, serving the British Air Force.

Less than a week later, Julie was standing at her front door, waving a hand that held the promise of
marriage, with tears rushing down her face. She watched him walk away, looking as handsome as ever in
his uniform. She shouted after him “I love you, Theo.” Those were the last words she ever spoke to him.

68
Back in the bunker, the siren had stopped and people were returning to their houses. Julie was rounding a
corner when she stopped and looked up at the clear night sky, wondering in this very moment in time,
where he is.
Thinking so intently about her true love, she did not hear the loud whirring sound, nor the harsh smell of
fumes and the bright flash of colour and explosive visions, the Eiffel Tower crumbling piece by piece right
in front of her. This was the last thing Julie ever did see, with an image of Theo and the tower, frozen in her
mind forever.

By Roisin Lynam

“It gets easier” they say, but we all know it’s a lie,
When sixteen-year olds test results go from A’s to
double lines,
There’s a problem with our youth and you’re just
gonna stand by?
Tiger stripes permanently marked on your thigh,
Begging for someone to notice your harming signs,
“It gets easier” they say, but we all know it’s a lie.
Kids, raiding parents’ whiskey drawers, drinking
bottles dry,
Cigarettes between their fingers, everything is
fine,
There’s a problem with our youth and you’re just
gonna stand by?
Being driven to starvation and counting calories til
you die,
Throwing up becomes your best friend and your
scales become your shrine,
“It gets easier” they say, but we all know its a lie.
Smithing swords, the solid gold sings as it
smelts, a sorrowful song
Swords clash, the glowing bright blade
Down within the forest of the war-torn glade
Steel finds its way to the wielder’s heart
Poisonous as snake’s venom, the thorn of a bee
The solid gold sings as it hits the bloodied
ground
Like hammer striking anvil – a spark filled
sound
Blade tip low, jewelled hilt up high
A sorrowful song hits the valley – a gold blade’s
cry
Soil creeps up over a thousand years
All that’s left – a gold blade’s tears
By Max Romera McCarthy

Beating on kids ribs and bruising along their eye, To love is to give,
Their parents tell them they deserve it, have been to give is to make peace,
since they were nine, Need you not something to give,
There’s problems with our youth and you’re just as love is free,
gonna stand by? So we must also be

So you’re just gonna turn your back on us with By Charlie Shaw.

hardly a goodbye,
You want to think I’m joking? Trust me, there’s no
punchline,
“It gets easier” they say but we all know it’s a lie,
There’s problems with our youth and you’re just
gonna standby?

By Abigail Coghlan

69
 "The Earth is like 2017 years old, right?"
- Meadhbh Rogers
“Sometimes life’s not fair, and weasels
aren’t seals”
- Stefan Stumstad
“What’s the main ingredient in milk?”
- Adam Sweeney
“They shadin’ like it’s art class”
- Harry Jephson
“Why don’t we just print more money to
solve debt?”
- Rhys Jones
“Was I in that day?”
- Arthur Pushkin [in every class]
“Don’t you get dimples when you get
your tonsils are removed?”
- Pippa Durham
Madame Guyon: “I am sooooo…?”
Cathal Cheasty: "Beautiful”
“When smurfs tan, do they go navy?”
- Caoilin O’Meara
“I’d be a size three if it wasn’t for my big
toe”
- Maya Laura
“June is right around the corner, yes, yes? “
- Mrs McGettigan [all year]
70
“I burn like a peach”
- Finn Brady
“I haven’t readed the books for
English yet”
- Caoilin O’Meara
Izzy Collins: “OMG she's sooooo
pregnant!”
Mr. Ashmore: "I'm only a biology
teacher but I thought you could be
pregnant or not pregnant, not sooo
pregnant."
“But Miss, I’m looking for a date"
- Gearoid Morgan O’Brien
Mr. Keappock: “Why would the ice
melt if I held it?”
Finn Brady: “Because you’re hot, sir”
“Random Selection” *bangs fist on
table*
- Mr O’Cuinn
Ms. Glasheen: ‘’What can yeast and
bacteria be used to make?’’
Pippa Durham: ‘’Lasagne’’
‘’Ardkeen Foods is not the only thing
that is quality"
- Meabh Nugent [suggestion for
Harry Jephson to get a debs date]
Mrs. Lennon: “Does anyone think
Paris really loves Juliet”
Isabella: “Well, jokes on him because
she dies anyway”
 Old Scholars 2018
REUNION WEEKEND
The annual Newtown, Mountmellick & Foy old Scholars Reunion
Saturday 29th September 2018 from 2pm onwards
SATURDAY

All afternoon Archival photo display & tea/coffee in “Legoland”

3pm Hockey match, Old Scholars vs school. Players of all ages and levels are welcome even if you haven’t
played since leaving Newtown! Contact Jonathan Fletcher 087-6476416 or jonfletch@eircom.net

7.30pm for 8pm Reunion Dinner in The Woodlands Hotel, Waterford. Tickets are €40 and must be pre-booked and paid
for on the website www.newtownoldscholars.com or with your class leaders. Any other years can
book in with Peter Pearce 087-2760868 or ppkpearce@gmail.com

Sunday 30th September 2018

12 noon Archival photo display & tea/coffee in “Legoland”

12.30pm AGM of the Newtown, Mountmellick & Foy Old Scholars all are welcome, please attend if possible

1.30pm Lunch in the school dining room priced at €10 per adult, €5 per child. Tickets must be pre-booked and
pre-paid for in advance. See website or book with your class leader. The old scholars tree planting and
group photographs will take place after lunch in the old scholar’s garden

Those attending with class year groups may also book in with their class leaders:

2008 Fiona Deacon 086-1026202 fiona.deacon@gmail.com

2003 Carolan Redfearn carolanreunion@gmail.com
1998 Clodagh Webb 086-0223853 cloaylward@yahoo.ie
1993 Andre Thompson 086-0223853 andre@andrethompson.com
1988 Jonathan Fletcher 087-6476416 jonfletch@eircom.net
1983 Keith Cooke 087-2054959 keithcooke3@gmail.com
1978 Patrick (Peadar) Faull 087-2600337 pfaull@yahoo.com
1973 David Harrison 087-2429788 dcharrison@eircom.net
1963 Adel Trapnell irishadele@hotmail.com
1958 Roger Johnson 051- 874612 rogerjoan5@gmail.com

ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION
Woodlands Hotel, Dunmore Road, Waterford 051 304574
Dooley’s Hotel, the Quay, Waterford City. 051 873531
Samuel Heritage B&B, Ballymacloda, Halfway house, Dunmore Rd, Waterford 051-875094
Accommodation enquires: Failte Ireland South East, information office 051 875823

Any other enquires can be made to Oriel Woodbyrne 087-6371080 or email nswoldscholars@gmail.com. Payments of dinner
and lunch can be sent by cheque to Oriel, Cluain Laighean, Ballyroe, Athy, Co. Kildare, made out to NMFOSA.
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2 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section

 TREASURER’S REPORT 2017/18
NMFOSA Fund: The Old Scholars' Association €44,117.00 This amount represents about 33% of the
distributed funds for the year, as follows: €300 was total portfolio.
given towards the annual short story, poetry, and photo
competition. €250 went towards hockey tournament Investments: The Goodbody valuation of the portfolio for
expenses. €400 towards the schools choir expenses for the period ending on 31st December 2017 is: €129,214.00
youth choir competition held in Prague. This is made up, as follows:
Equities: €67,793.73
Eric deCourcy Fund: €790.00 Music Bursary was Bonds: €34,028.20
awarded to Kara Reynolds. Our congratulations for her Other Assets: €9,251.33
great work. Total Cash: €18,141.02
This includes the funds transferred from the Eric
In July 2017, the fund was amalgamated with the deCourcy fund to the PTSB.
NMFOSA discretionary stock portfolio managed by On behalf of the committee: Peter Pearce - Hon.
Goodbody. The amount transferred from PTSB was: Treasurer

AGM
Minutes of the AGM of the Newtown Mountmellick and Foyonian Old Scholars
association held in Newtown School, Waterford on Sunday the 1st October 2017

Present: Jonathan Fletcher, Roger
Johnson, Joan Johnson, Oriel
Woodbyrne, Peter Pearce, Louis
Hemmings, Andre Thompson, Mary
Dobbs
Apologies: Bob Burns, Ciara
Harrison, Sara Lee O’Brien, Debbie
Bailey and Keith Lemon
Jonathan opened the meeting by
thanking everyone for attending
this Sunday and apologised for Sara
our president who is out sick. He
asked that people take note that at
this moment we still have no vice
president, but that Sara Lee O’Brien is
happy to stay on for a second year.
Oriel reported that it was decided to
send out the insert with this year’s
review and so far, it has been taken
up well. Our postal and printing costs
should be dramatically cut from last
year. If you didn’t fill in the form, you
won’t get a review by post. You can
get in touch and get back on the list
for 2019 onwards, although you need
to contact us first. You will then be
able to view the 2018 review online,
and you will receive the printed
version next year.
New officers and committee: The
following officers were proposed by
and seconded by for the year from
September 2017 to September 2018.
President: Sara Lee O’Brien
Vice president: to be confirmed
Hon Treasurer: Peter Pearce
Secretary: Oriel Woodbyrne
Hon Auditor: Brian Little
Editor: to be confirmed
New committee members proposed
by Andre Thompson and seconded
by Roger Johnson were Louis
Hemmings, Mary Dobbs and Jacqui
Stokes for the years running from
Sept 2018 to Sept 2020, leaving
the committee the option to co-opt
another person for editor and or vice
president.
Retiring 2018: Clodagh Alyward, Sara
Lee O’Brien and Peter Pearce. 2019:
Tony Chearnley, Oriel Woodbyrne,
Jonathan Fletcher and Ken Murphy
2020: Sonya Boyce. This year
stepping down from the committee
are Sharon Mansfield and Sarah
McBride. We thanks them for their
time.
AOB: Joan Johnson requested that
the old scholars might try and find
some funding to help replace the
display stands that are used during
the weekend, three are broken
and need to be replaced. She also
requested some help with naming
the younger year photos as the more
recent ones are getting harder to
name. She also wanted to give thanks
to Ken Murphy for his tireless work
with all the photos taken every old
scholar weekend.
There being no other business the
meeting was closed.

Treasurer’s Report: Peter handed

out his report for 2016. The annual
accounts were handed out to the
meeting. Brian Little is stepping down
and a replacement is sought. Old scholars team verses Newtown School team

3 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section

CLASS OF 1987

Back row L-R Patrick Shelly, Sheena bailey, Aidan Dunwoody, Vicki (Ashmore) Khan, Eoghan O’Donoghue, Brian Hadden, Gail
Johnson, Michael Thompson, Michael Quinn. Front row, L-R Suzie (Nielsen) McCully, Oriel (Shorten) Woodbyrne, Karen (Harris)
Sweeney, Frances (Meade) O’Reilly, Rachel (Farrell) Niall, Sean O’Neill, Susan (Crosbie) Creed, Heather Checkett

Julian Anderson: Lives and
works in Chichester, UK,
he is managing director
at Anderson Oak Design,
married to Zoe and they have
two daughters.
Ian Tyrell: Living with his
wife and three children in
Dungarvan.
Keith Ashmore: Was living
in Dublin with wife Jennifer
and daughter, he is still flying
www.campwaterford.com
cargo all around the world
and may be relocating.
Ken Baldwin: Working as
a supervisor at a medical
equipment business in
Clonmel. He married Sandra
in 1994, they have 2 sons and
live in Tramore.
Anna Hunt: Went back to
college and trained as a
midwife, still living in Tramore
with her 4 children.
Orla Barry: Lives in Wexford
with her partner and their
herd of award winning sheep.
She is also involved in the
local dramatics society.
Edmund Burke: In America,
has recently qualified to
compete in the 2018 Boston
Marathon. He and his father
had great fun watching the
All Ireland and Waterford
winning!
Morten Tandel: Living and
working in Oslo, Norway,
travelled over last time for
the reunion. Married to Lise
(Hauger) and they have two
daughters.
Jules (Phelan) Gibson:
Married to Adam Gibson,
were based in Sydney,
Australia but currently
travelling the world on mini-
retirement.
June Ross: Living and
working in Tullamore with her
son Charlie. Working in the
insurance business and still
making trips to Tramore!
Stephen Neill: Living and
working in Celbridge as
the local Church of Ireland
Rector, with his wife Nicola
and his son Arron.
Richard Corcoran: Works
at Liberty African Safaris in

CUB
Eddie Ormonde: Working and Nairobi, Kenya. He is married
living in Dublin, busy climbing to Annie, they have a son and
Mont Blanc and skiing, will daughter.

CAMP
definitely make the 40-year
reunion!
4 - 6 yrs Dagmar (Hovel) KaHo:
Married, working and living
in Melhelm, Germany since
leaving Newtown school. Was
sorry to miss the reunion.
7 - 14 yrs Rita Delahunt: Works with
her husband Paul in their
company in Sydney, Australia,
she has three children and
comes home to Ireland every
now and then!
Kai Reynolds: Living and
CW Sports Academy CW Sports Academy Plus working in Germany at Micro
13 - 19 yrs 13 - 19 yrs Fidelio Gmbh in Neuss.
PLAY-COMPETE-BE ACTIVE
Kevin Holt: Lives in Hamilton
SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS County, Ohio, married to
www.campwaterford.com Nancy, has one daughter
Emily. Was in Ireland this year
on retreat in Galway.
Kai Reynolds: Living and
working in Germany at Micro
Fidelio Gmbh in Neuss.
Jeff Pim: Was living in Italy
but might have moved back
to the UK with his wife,
works with EFSA College and
University.
Renne (Flynn) Santosa:
Married with two sons,
currently living in London.
Amanda Jolly: Living in
Waterford with her partner
and three children who have
great involvement in the
surfing world.
Gail Johnson: Left Lennon’s
in Carlow for the easy life in
Tipperary! Busier than ever
but enjoying life.

4 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section

Brian Hadden: Married to
Melonie. They have 4 children
and are living in Tinahely.
Larry Taylor: Living in
Blackrock Dublin with his wife
Orina and their two boys, he
currently works at Oracle.
Siobhan (Walsh) Popplewell:
Married to Jason and living
in Kildare with their two
children. Founder and owner
of Elf Media.
Grace (Wills) Ball: Married
and still living in Inistioge, Co
Kilkenny with her husband
Jeremy.
Shane Goodbody: Director
and part owner in the Good
Spirts Co. which is based in
Glasgow.
David Bulbulia: Barrister at
Law from Trinity. Living in
Kildare with his wife Katherine
and their kids, horses and
dogs!
Kate (De Bromhead) Thorpe:
Married and living with her
two daughters in Waterford.
Recently started Thorpe
Fiona (Jeffares) Rowell:
Living in Hobart, Tasmania
with her husband and their
two girls. Still playing hockey!
Works as a dietician in the
local hospital.
Vicki (Ashmore) Khan: Living
in Carlow with her family.
Finished at the Nationalist
newspaper after 16 years
and is now working at Ireland
Sotheby’s International
Realty.
Alexis Bernstroff: Living in
Kilkenny and still involved in
Ros Tapestry. Launched her
own range of knitwear, Alexxi
Design in Dublin.
Kevin Jephson: Married to
Sheila (Quinn) and they have
a son and daughter. Still
working in the family business
in Ardkeen Super Store.
Alla Kerzzo: Currently living
and working in the Middle
East in Kuwaiti where the
temperature is 47c. Great
catch-up at Christmas.
Sharon (Murray) Amato:
Living in Italy with her
husband Lino, son and
daughter, visits home most
years.
Oriel (Woodbyrne) Shorten:
When not organising Old
Scholars is kept busy with the
Kildare County Show. Sarah
20, working from home as
nail technician and make-up
artist. Robert, 23, working in
O’Neill’s pub in Dublin. Paul
still with Sweeney O’Rourke,
over 30 years!
Georgina Johnston: After
four years of study she
recently qualified with a BA
Honours in Ceramics at LIT
Limerick school of Art and
Design.
Debbie Hainbach: Living in
Kilkenny with her son, kept
busy working in the gardening
business from home and in
Dublin.
Heather (McLachlan)
Pomeroy: Married to Andrew
and living in Dundrum with
her two daughters. Still
teaching in the local primary
school.
Valarie (Duke) Ford: Married
and living in Cork, still in
primary school teaching. Was
at the last reunion.
Interiors for interior designs.
Sara (Somersett Webb)
Kavanagh: Living with her
husband Morgan and their
four children in Borris House.
Kept busy with weddings
in the fantastic setting of
the house. Great recent TV
appearance on RTÉ.
Rachel (Hodkinson) Davis:
Married to Trevor, kept busy
with kids Bethan and Robert.
She recently left the BBC
and got a MA in Northumbria
University. Is still involved in
book and local restoration.
Sacha Whelan: Married and
living in Cork, still making
furniture while working in
Ballymaloe and teaching his
son to drive.
Desmond Kilroy: Still living in
London. Was working with the
Liberal democrats, involved
with politics!
Stephen Ralph: Married to
Tracy and has twin boy and
girl, currently working and
living in Swords when not
1986 Tiglin: Shane Goodbody, Kate De Bromhead, Brian O’Rourke,
Paul Duffy, Heather Checkett, Patrick Shelly, Rachel Hodkinson,
Sharon Murray, Gail Johnson, Larry Taylor, Sara Somersett Webb,
Billy Watson
playing soft ball and running
marathons.
Patrick Shelley: After the
amazing launch of Kalak
vodka he is now going on to
introduce the second range of
peat cast Kalak this year. Well
done.
Paul Duffy: Married to
Christina and living in
Wexford with their twins.
Shay Livingston: Left the
hotel business in Galway
and has gone out on his
own working in sports
management. Working with
up-and-coming stars in all
sports. His son is probably
top of the list.
Christopher Fitzmaurice:
Married and working in the
Grandville Hotel in Waterford,
his daughter has started in
Newtown school.
Rachel (Farrell) Niall:
Married and has a 2-year-
old daughter, still at work in
Arthur Cox Solicitors.
Brian O’Rourke: Is on twitter,
was in Suffolk for 10 years
and then moved to a private
stud farm in Yorkshire just
over a year ago.
Sheena Bailey: Married and
living in Dublin with daughter
and two sons, still working
full-time.
Suzie (Nielsen) Mc Cully:
Travelled over for the reunion
leaving hubby in charge of
the school runs! Well done
5 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
Dominic. Still cooking and
busier than ever.
Michael Thompson: Busy
as ever in the undertaking
business and watching local
football.
Frances Meade: Based in
Waterford, kept busy with
school runs and committees!
Eoghan O’Donoghue:
Married to Noelle, they have a
son and daughter, both busy
golfers.
Heather Checkett: Nursing
in Vincent’s Hospital and
managing a busy family life
while still staying young at
heart.
Susan (Crosbie) Creed:
Living and working in Dublin
with husband Ken and their
two boys.
Michael Quinn: Congrats
on your recent marriage to
old scholar Jessie Statham
and all your TV appearances.
Keep up the magnificent
work.
Jo Chegy: Currently living in
England.
No news or whereabouts
of Nickie Beirne, Reginald
Blanchford, Ronan Butler,
Michael Daniels, Elizabeth
Power, Johanne Rothwell,
Lester Rothwell, Billy Watson,
Herald King, Maeve Hart,
Eileen Hearne and Rebecca
Hughes.
CLASS OF 1982
Caroline Davies: Living and
working in Ascot, Berkshire
England. Racecourse Services
Director at the RCA, the trade
association for race courses.
Never a dull day working with
our members.
Emer Fogarty: Winters with
the ageless ski bums of St
Anton. She moonlights as
financial controller for her GP
partner, Peter. She reached
this pinnacle via countless
years travelling in the war
zones of the world for various
charities. This was preceded
by a spell in hospitality, in
Paris.
Rosemarie O’Brien (Clancy):
Married to Michael; mother
to sons, Tim, Hugh, Chris
and daughter Alice, living in
Co. Wicklow. Purchasing
Manager in a French Pharma
company in Arklow. Enjoys
work, rest and play (and of
course the odd glass of vino,
and catching up with old
friends!)
Deirdre Jacob: Living in
Germany for 21 years.
Married with 2 kids, 16 & 18
years old. Self employed for
the past 10 years running
her own company, teaching
English – particularly
business English. Loves the
continental weather and still
gets a kick out of al fresco
summers and clearing paths
from snow come winter.
Sean O’Connell: Currently
living on Isle of Man. One
daughter Jessie. Poker
Account Manager with online
company 138.com. Founder
member and Chairman of
Isle of Man Underwater
Search and Recovery Team.
Ex-Garda Diver, UN Police
Monitor,Titanic Expedition Back Row L-R Ruan McGloughlin, Naomi (Duffy) Stapleton,
Charlie Cowdy, Helena Kingston, Rosemarie (Clancy) O'Brien
member in 2000. Front Row L-R Emer Fogarty, Hendrik de Booij, Rachel Power,
Jacqui Sheridan, Stephen Leslie, Des Keatinge
Naomi Stapleton (Duffy):
Still living in Greenane, Co. Joni Hudson: Still living in graduating from high school
Wicklow and still married California in the heart of in mid June, and then is
to Richard! Four fabulous Silicon Valley working for heading to the US Marine
grown-up kids who are PWC. Eldest son, Zach, just Corps in August. Very proud
almost off the books, and one graduated from law school Mom all around. Now just
gorgeous granddaughter, and is preparing for the bar needs to win the lottery so
Robyn, almost 3! Playing lots exam. Middle son, Michael, she can go “home” to Ireland
of golf, busy as Lady Captain is still playing college level regularly! Did enjoy a lovely
of Woodenbridge Golf Club baseball … still chasing his visit in San Francisco with
this year! dream. Youngest, Andy is Naomi! Great fun!

Dooley’s is a 3* family owned and managed hotel located

in the heart of Ireland’s oldest City, minutes walk from
the main shopping, cultural and business centre

Adventure awaits you on the Waterford Greenway – 46 km of

stunning countryside to discover on foot or by bicycle

Special family and corporate packages available to stay at Dooley’s

Dooley’s Hotel, The Quay, Waterford, Ireland

Phone: +353 (0) 51 873 531 / Fax: +353 (0) 51 870 262
Email: sales@dooleys-hotel.ie
www.dooleys-hotel.ie
24 hour bookings online

6 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section

CLASS OF 1992
Jonas van der Pol: Living
in paradise in New Zealand
and making lots of wine for
the world. Married no kids.
Breeds Dachshunds for fun.
Christian van den Bøsch:
Working in renewable energy
research in Cork. Partner, no
kids, but accumulating cats
as always. Can often be found
in Ireland or abroad officiating
at roller derby games.
Susan Steele: Chair and CEO
of Sea Fisheries protection
authority, seven kids, lots of
running!
Martina Diegmann: Living in
Greystones with my partner
and my 2 boys! Teaching
Business German and
Spanish around Wicklow and
South Dublin. Just started
teaching Spanish at primary
level too!
Astrid Pollmeier: HR Director
and living in Dunhill with my
beautiful daughter who is
doing Leaving Cert. Roll on
the day it’s over! Plan on
kipping on her couch regularly
Mulligans Drive Thru Pharmacy
“A First for Ireland”
Drop in and visit our beauty salon, the gift
gallery, our perfume and cosmetic counters and
so much more.
Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8.30am-9pm
Saturday: 9am-7pm
Sundays & Bank Holidays: 11am-6pm
Phone: 051-843700
mulliganchemist Follow Mulligans
on Facebook
Get 3% Back in Points with EVERY purchase
in Cork when hopefully she
gets there!
David Bray: Left the
corporate world after 20
years, now living in Brazil
with the family on our farm
and running a business
sourcing and exporting green
coffee beans to independent
roasters in Europe and US.
Dee Leonard: Enjoying life
in Wexford town, working
as a dental hygienist in
private practice. Spare time
spent running around after
my 2 girls and 2 crazy Jack
Russells!
Lorna Ross: Living in Sydney
with my husband and two
daughters. Working as a
Nursing Unit Manager.
Rachel Corrigan: Living in
East Gippsland, Victoria,
Australia with my husband
and two children. Working for
the East Gippsland Shire at
the Theatre & Arts Centre.
Derek Coad: Living in
Waterford, married and
Back row L-R Derek Coad, Michael Widger, Rebecca Reynolds,
Annabel O’Keeffe, William Deacon, Ken Murphy. Front Row L-R
Sarah (Grubb) Furno, Astrid Pollmeier, Susan (Neil), Wilkinson,
Gilly Clarke, Susan Steele, Grainne O’Driscoll
raising my 2 sons, both in
Waterpark. Working as a
co-ordinator for Sanofi Bio
Pharma in Waterford.
Marina Watt: Living in Spain
23 years now, very happy.
I have a corporate event
business and my daughter
which both happily keep me
busy!
Lloyd Murray: Living in sunny
Wexford. Married with one
boy ‘Louis’, 3 dogs, 3 goldfish
and a cat. Working as a data
centre engineer for Oath: If
I’m not with my family, I’m
swimming, walking my dogs
or at a music festival (once all
at the same time).
Sarah Hauer: Living in
Germany with hubby and 3
boys. Feeling thankful and
lucky!
Joan Power: Living and
working in the south-east of
Ireland. 3 beautiful children.
Sarah Furno (nee Grubb):
3 kids and 1 great husband.
Immersed in a world of
cheese.
Susan Wilkinson (Neill):
Living in Delgany with three
kids and wonderful husband.
Couldn’t be happier!
Gilly Clarke: Living in Dublin
with husband Willie and 3 kids
(ages 13, 11 and 6). Working at
the Royal Irish Academy.
Ken Murphy: Dairy farming
near Carrick-on-Suir. Sorcha
and Ken have three-year-old
boy Finn.
Grainne O’Driscoll: Based
in Sandymount in Dublin,
left her job in advertising in
2016 to start her own fitness
7 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
business ‘Grá For Fitness’
and hasn’t looked back since.
She teaches Pilates and Yoga
putting folk through their
paces with personal training.
Nathan Loftus: Living the
dream in Ardkeen Village,
Waterford.
Aoife Day (Fitzgerald): I’m
living in Dunmore East with
my husband and 2 kids and
I continue to run the family
menswear clothing business.
Dominique Ellickson: I’m
living in Dublin, married 7
years, run my own creative
company and manage a band!
Caroline Cherry: Living
in Dublin, working for
Accenture, married to Daniel
with two sons.
Treasa Cox: Living in Dublin.
Working for Sailing Ireland,
married to Rory with two
children.
Michael O’Connell: Living in
Australia with wife Aoife and
kids, working for KPMG.
Thurston Pim: Has a fitness
business in California.
Rebecca Reynolds: OMG!
Living in Wexford with partner
Ben and 22 year-old son Ben.
Marta Sanz: Married and
living in Mallorca, working
in marketing and has two
daughters.
Michael Widger: Farming and
Agricultural contracting near
Waterford. Married with kids.
Tanya Schwarz (Faeste):
Married to Pete, two kids,
living in upstate New York,
USA.
8 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
CLASS OF 1997

Back row L-R Graham Murphy, Barry McConnell, Roisin (Deegan) Scanlon, Emily (Musgrave) O’Donoghue, Julian Canny, Anna
Quirke, Janice (Warren) Deacon, Sarah Jane (Delahunty) Jackson, Gail Clarke, Nicky Statham. Front row L-R Becci Harrison, Nathalie
(Murphy) McConnell, Trudy (Kellett) Carlile, Ross Orr, Ian Fewer, Phoebe Hadden, Stephanie Flinders, Emma (Martin) Sharp

Graham Murphy: Married
to Sinead with two girls,
living in Enniscorthy running
Murphys Cash and Carry.
Roisin Scanlon (Deegan):
Married with a son, living and
teaching in Carlow.
Julian Canny: Married and
living in Dublin.
Anna Quirke: Living in
Clonakilty with her partner
Lee and has two children,
works as a nurse.
(class of 1997) and their
2 daughters. She works in
House of Waterford Crystal.
Trudy Carlile (Kellett):
Working in Dublin and is
married with a daughter.
Ross Orr: Living in Waterford
with his partner and their 2
children.
Ian Fewer: Works as an
architect and lives in
Waterford with his wife and
children.
department store Fishers of
Newtownmountkennedy and
Food Cafe. She is also Chair
of the Advisory Council of
Network Ireland – Ireland’s
leading organization for
women in business, the
professions and the arts.
Emily O’Donoghue: Married
to Chris O’Donoghue (Class
of 1996). Living in Cork
having recently moved back
from London with two little
girls aged 6 & 3. Emily owns
The Coach House, Douglas,
a two-bedroomed cottage/
guest house for rent in
Cork.
Barry McConnell: Married
to old scholar Nathalie (nee
Murphy) class of 1997 living
in Waterford with their two
girls. Sales manager at
McConnells Toyota.

Janice Deacon (Warren): Phoebe Hadden: Living in

Janice and her husband
Jonny run Clonmore farm in
Bree, Co. Wexford and they
have a son and daughter.
Sarah Jane Jackson
(nee Delahunty): Living
in Dunmore East having
returned from New Zealand
with her husband and two
children.
Cork with her husband and
two children.
Stephanie Flinders: Works
as a midwife.
Emma Sharp (Martin):
Lives in Scotland with her
husband Byron and their two
children. She works with the
NHS.

Gail Clarke: Lives in Midleton Polly Egerton: Married to

with her husband Brian and
their two daughters. Owns
Driscoll Kitchen.
Nicky Statham: Lives in
Cork, works for Horizon. He
is married to Louise (Class of
2002). They have a daughter
and son.
Christian, just returned to
Dublin from Egypt, working
with the UN world food
program.
Mory Cunningham: Married
to Matt with two sons. Living
in Athens and working for
World Vision.

Nathalie McConnell Becci Harrison: Lives

(Murphy): Lives in Waterford in Co. Wicklow with her
with her husband Barry daughter Emily and runs

9 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section

CLASS OF 1977
Blake Böhm, Claire: Living
in France and likes it a lot.
Both children have fledged,
one in Munich, the other in
Hong Kong. Currently she
continues to teach English
one-on-one in various
businesses, while restoring
old stone houses and letting
them. Thinking of training
as a health coach because
so many friends seem to be
ageing poorly. Her passions in
life are her husband, glorious
architecture, being in nature,
health and healing, gardening.
Boal (Jermyn), Fiona: Living
in North Down for last 20
years with second husband
Darryl. Son, Kim 26, living
in Melbourne Australia.
Daughter Holly, 17, doing A
levels, and competing with
Eventing Ireland on her
horse, Aero. Having been self
employed most of her life,
she is now taking it easy, and
working part time in a bakery.
This leaves her much needed
free time to drive around the
country with her daughter
and horse. She also travels to
SE Asia with my husband.
Boyd, Roger: Still living in
Ballinglen, Wicklow, dairy
farming. Married to Helen,
two kids, Stuart and Emma.
De Montfort, Tara: Lives in
Cork, and works from home
for a workplace consultancy.
She travels when she can
with particular emphasis on
Africa. She also lived in South
Africa for a year, working in
one of the National Parks.
She is in an active member
of a large 4 part choir in
Cork, also involved with the
Everyman Theatre, and her
local Tidy Towns group. She
has recently enjoyed catching
up with old Newtown pals via
Facebook, and also face-to-
face!
Jordan, Mary: Retired from
her career in the airline
industry (American Airlines,
Canadian Airlines, Air
Canada) in 2007 and is living
in Vancouver and Whistler,
BC. Still working, serving
on a number of corporate
boards of directors (including
as Chair of the Board of
Vancouver International
Airport) and involved in
10 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
volunteer activities in the
community. Her passion
is spending as much time
outdoors as possible–skiing,
hiking and road cycling
with my wonderful partner
Cameron. If any of my
Newtown classmates finds
themselves in this part of
the world, I would love to see
them!
Farrelly (Pollard), Alison:
Lives in Perth, Western
Australia and works part
time at the WA Kirkbride
Melanoma Advisory Service.
She is proud parent of Luke
(28) and Lizzie (26). Would be
delighted to see any Class of
‘77 who might pass through
Perth.
Alyn, Fenn: Living in Schull.
Husband and 3 sons, one
grandson, another grandchild
due in July 2018. Work
is painting, writing, and
voluntary work with Citizens
Information Service, and
Schull Community Care.
Gurnee, Anthony: Back
in Ireland for the past 12
years, living the life in West
Waterford with Marianne,
close by Villierstown; three
grown children Alex, Erica
and Katie, all Newtown old
scholars; still working in Cork
City for a shipping company,
and hoping to get off the
treadmill sometime soon!
Hall, Michael: Living
in Southern California,
working for a company
that specialises in DNA
sequencing; married with five
children, one still at home,
the rest either in college, or
working. Two grandchildren.
Finishing up a master’s
in building sustainable
communities, and hoping to
get involved in this either at
retirement, or as a late-career
change. Plays bass-guitar in a
church band.
Hall, Sandra: Living in Arklow,
Co Wicklow. Working in
Job Activation (Supervisor)
with Arklow Tidy Towns CE
scheme. Part-time working
as a Celebrant. 2 adult sons,
both working in Dublin.
Harrison, Richard: Currently
enjoying the quiet life
Back Row L-R John Reihill, Tony Gurnee, Fred van der Puil, Sean
MacLachlan, Chris Chedgey, Stuart Dagg, Laura (Roche Perks)
Griffith, Trevor Helen, Ian Pim. Front Row L-R Roger Boyd, Oliver
Mosse, Eva Swanton, Siobhan Milliken, Robert (Jinx) O’Neill,
Paddy Sawyer, Sue Henderson, Richard Harrison, Stuart McBain
of Unionhall, West Cork.
Walking, cycling, swimming
to try and slow the ravages
of age! Involved in Glandore
Harbour Yacht Club and
regularly takes the Rib over to
Castletownshend for a spot
of lunch. Keeps in regular
contact with some of the
class thru’ WhatsApp.
Trevor Helen: Works for the
local Dairymaster dealer,
fitting and maintaining
milking machines; farming
in Foulksmills. Married to
Georgina, who teaches
children with special needs, in
Wexford. They have two sons,
Lloyd, an Architect, working
in London, and Howard
working with a marketing and
business company, in New
York. Both sons Lloyd and
Howard attended Newtown
School.
Henderson, Sue: Living
between Dunmore East and
Castlebellingham, Co Louth.
Working as a Special Needs
Assistant, in St Angela’s
Ursuline Secondary School,
in Waterford. Two daughters:
Emma, working as an equine
vet, in Co Meath; Roisin,
a Speech and Language
Therapist, working for the
NHS, in Carlisle. Continuing
to enjoy singing with local
ladies choir in Waterford,
Voci; fulfilled her ‘bucket list’
wish to sing in the Messiah
last Christmas, with Notable
Works Choir.
Hennessy, Valerie: Living in
US (California). Maintaining
an almost perpetual
facepalm due to the current
administration here. Two
children attending University,
also in California.
Luce, Alice: Now lives in
Dublin with her husband
Greg and teenage children
André and Tania, after 20
years living abroad. She
worked in editing, politics
and translation in South
Africa, Sweden, Scotland and
France. She teaches piano
part-time.
MacLachlan, Sean: Still flying
and instructing on the A380
for Emirates, 31 years at the
end of this month, hoping to
come back to Ireland next
Spring. Son, Hunter, qualified
as a Commercial Pilot last
December, at home while
looking for a job. Daughter
Scarlett graduated last June
from Cardiff (NSW class of
2012 and 2013 respectively ).
Milliken, Siobhan: Lives in
Shankill, retired 2017 after
40 years of nursing, was
Assistant Director of Nursing,
in St Vincent’s Hospital,
mostly cardiac specialty.
Son (Andrew, 31 years old)
lives in Malaysia. Joined the
local tennis club where he
plays league matches; plans
to spend more time in the
garden, do some travelling
and enjoy having time to
catch up with friends.
Milne, Ida: Is a disease
historian, working on the
1918-19 influenza pandemic
in Ireland, and on infectious
diseases of childhood. She is
mother to Connie and Síofra.
She lives in Straffan and
Belfast. Her book, ‘Stacking
the Coffins: Influenza, War
and Revolution in Ireland,
1918-19’ has recently been
published by Manchester
University Press.
Moore (Davis), Sue: Still
living in Sydney with her
husband Nic, son Michael,
and little black Spoodle,
Molly. Michael will finish
school this year and move
on to the next chapter of his
life. Still organising events
and conferences – mostly
in Sydney, but hoping for an
international conference to
organise! Learning Spanish,
with the dream to spend an
extended time in Spain, over
the next couple of years.
Hope to get to another
reunion sometime.
McBain, Stuart: Living in
Shankill, County Dublin,
working as a Senior Account
Manager with vehicle leasing
company, Hertz Lease,
based in Dublin (owned by
the Sheridan Motor Group,
in Waterford). Married to
Hilary, a Primary School
Principal, in Kill O’ The
Grange National School in
Deansgrange, Co Dublin. Still
very involved in Motorcycle
touring and Freemasonry in
Wicklow and Wexford. Son,
Cameron, is recently qualified
Civil Engineer with Aecom,
in Dunlaoghaire. Daughter,
Juliette is in second year
at TCD, studying French
and Film Studies. Hilary is
involved with Mellon Educate
in her own time travelling to
South Africa to mentor and
train teachers there.
Mosse, Oliver: Horticulturist,
living in Dublin.
O’Neill, Robert (Jinx): Self
employed potter in Bunratty
Castle, County Clare. Lives in
Clonlara, County Clare with
long-time partner Pauline.
Their three boys have left the
nest; they spend spare time
immersed in nature.
O’Sullivan nee Malcolm,
Audrey: Married with 3
children living near Macroom
Co Cork. Pursuing an never-
ending interest in horses!
is married to Karena, who is
Head of Conservation at the
National Museum of Ireland.
They have two boys, both of
whom boarded at Newtown.
Springer Spaniels are also an
important part of his life.
Reihill, John: Returned to
Dublin from London, living
in Sandymount and is a
business consultant. Three
kids 26, 24, 20. Meets up
with Vincent Nolan and
Kieran O’Conor, from time to
time.
Sawyer, Paddy: Living in
Tramore and still rugby mad
- Munster Abú! 5 kids at
present, and 1 on the way in
April. He’s a medical engineer,
and has been with the same
company for years! His little
people keep him busy!
Gerald Smyth: Lives in Japan
with wife, Junko. He worked
26 years at Nippon Shinyaku
Co., Ltd, the last 20 years
at the research institute in
Tsukuba. Daughters Juliet
(25) and Michelle (23) work
in Tokyo, and Rachel (21) is
at university in Taiwan. In
his spare time he has been
translating old Japanese
books on Korean pottery into
English.
Spain, Tamsin: Lives with
her partner Paul in Leeds,
Yorkshire; self-employed, and
semi-retired. Last full-time
job was managing a new
website for Northern School
of Contemporary Dance.
Their main leisure activities
are rock climbing, walking and
mountaineering.
Ireland, and as sports
coach in Loreto Abbey,
Dalkey. Still playing hockey
and represents Ireland,
on the Over55 squad.
Three children, and two
grandchildren. Daughter,
Ciara lives in Australia with
her Aussie husband and 2
children. Simon is hockey
administrator in Holy Child
Killiney, and studies in UCD.
Daniel graduated in 2017
and works in Lisbon as a
translator.
Thorp, Nicolette: Worked
as an Enrolled Nurse and
as Occupational Therapist,
running her own business.
In the Aged Care sector for
fifteen years before selling
the business two years ago,
now semi retired. Married
(for 28 yrs) to husband John,
have two children Mark
25 yrs (recently married)
and Phoebe 23 yrs. Lives
in Hamilton Hill and has a
hobby farm, out in the West
Dale/ Brookton area, which is
well-loved, keeps them very
occupied with their sheep,
and a few horses. (Nicolette
and her brother, John Thorp,
both reluctantly and sadly
left Newtown in the latter half
of 1970 to live in Perth. She
was boarder at Newtown for
one year, and loved her time
there).
Torrie, Shelagh: Living in
Montreux, Switzerland,
recently became a Swiss
Citizen. Head of Studies at
Institute Monte Rosa. Love the
mountains, snow and lake.
van der Puil, Fred: Married
in 1986 to Elizabeth
Nicholson (Liz), moved to
The Netherlands in 1989
with two very young children
and a promise to return
within 3 years. Now they
have four children, Jessica,
Adam, Roxanne and Ross (all
fledged). Still married, still
in the Netherlands. He is a
Marine Insurance broker, and
partner in a firm established
in 2006.
Zaska,Thomas: I am still
living in Weilheim, Bavaria.
Wife Birgit and kids Fiona,
Fabian and Lena are doing
well, and are living either here
in Weilheim, and in nearby
Munich. Still runs his travel
agency, Santana Travel,
specialising in trips to Latin
America.

Owens, Rosemary: Married Sutton, Gerry: Gerry lives

and living in Kilternan.
Working as a legal executive
in Dun Laoghaire.
Pim, Ivan: Living in the
UK, working across many
countries. Trying to get an
amateur astronomy project
to come together – should be
this year.
O’Conor, Kieran: Lectures
in medieval archaeology, at
NUI Galway; lives in North
Roscommon. He spent
much of the academic year
2017-18 on a lecture tour
of America and Canada,
invited by the Archaeological
Institute of America. Kieran
with his family in Crosshaven,
Co. Cork where they
enjoy local sailing, with an
occasional trip “down west”,
coastal walking, and the
odd day sunbathing at the
beach. At work he is involved
in various strands of marine
related research at the MaREI
centre in Ringaskiddy, a part
of University College Cork.
Projects include mapping the
seabed, marine renewable
energy. Recently he started to
investigate how mussels can
be farmed in deeper waters
round our shores.
Thornton, West: Works as
fraud manager for Insurance

11 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section

12 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
CLASS OF 2007
James Frisby: Went to
Ballymaloe after school
and followed that with a ski
season. Lived in NY for a year
and returned 4 years ago
to set up a house building
company based in Waterford
and Dublin.
Ellen Cunningham: I live
and work in Cork with my
boyfriend Paul, I'm currently
doing a part-time degree in
HR. I've travelled a good bit
since school and hope to do a
bit more travel in the next few
years.
Karl Smith Byrne: Is currently
a post-doctoral fellow at
the International agency
for research on cancer -
the branch of the United
Nations that investigates the
screening, prevention, and
cure. Focusing mainly on the
genetic and biomarker driver
for cancer risk with a view
to building a blood test that
might be used in the future
to detect and cure cancers
earlier.
Niall Tuohy: took a scenic
route through college taking
in sport science, Chinese
medical acupuncture and
has just finished a graduate
medicine degree at UL and
begins work this summer. Still
loves a good run, although has
slowed a little in recent years.
Jamie Leptein: Following
stints in Dublin, London and
New York, Jamie has settled in
Istanbul, where he is juggling
a combination of teaching
English and freelance writing.
Billy Fitzherbert: After
graduating from Edinburgh
university Billy moved to
Istanbul, Turkey where he
lives still. He helps manage
the Middle East desk of
an international economy
focused publication. One day
he'll move home to Ireland
once the cards fall right.
Shivaun Ryan: Currently
living in Melbourne, Australia,
still following Waterford
hurling, playing hockey for
St. Kilda, working in IT and
generally living the dream!
Back Row L-R: Frank Sanderson (husband to Aine), Jamie Leptein, Robbie Blake, Ian Goggin,
Lloyd Helen, Liam Godinho, Sophie Herron, Billy Fitzherbert, Orlando Fitzgerald, Megan O’Neill,
Kirstie Gaynor. Middle Row: Glen Deacon, Peter Richardson, Michael Ward (Class of 2008), Patrick
Rochford, Maud Ragonnaud, John Davis, Andres Zarabozo, Aoife Hendrick, Ruby Boyce, Jennifer
Bradish, Miriam Kiersey, James McCann, Front Row: Jack Kennedy, Rion O Farrell Walsh, Aine
(McNamara), Sanderson, Luisa Von Silva Tarouca, Ellen Cunningham, James Frisby, Colin O Shea,
Niall Tuohy, Richard Dunne, Shane Poole
Get home for a large bottle of married in July. Still slogging him across the continents.
Clonmel champagne at least away on the rugby pitch with Having recently finished his
once a year! Enniscorthy. Wilde! accounting and tax exams
he decided to celebrate by
Phil Murtagh: Went for a Robbie Blake: Since setting up a hostel in Bolivia
degree in computer forensics Newtown, Robbie has where he currently lives and
straight after Newtown but focussed on artistic pursuits works.
realised he would never in the performing arts and
shake his albino-like skin tone music, working as a performer Peter “Yogi” Richardson: Is
behind a desk 8 hour a day. and composer for theatre, still smarter than the average
So, has gone for a career dance and opera. Robbie's bear.
change and is preparing for collaborators include Theatre
his internship at Munster Replacement - a Canadian Murray Kinsella: pursued
Rugby as a S&C coach. theatre company - on a show his interests in both rugby and
called Town Choir, which is journalism after Newtown.
Luisa Von Silva: After currently touring.
successfully ruining the Miriam Kiersey: has been
Greek economy while living Paddy Rochford: After a busy woman since school
there Luisa is now in Munich Newtown, inspired by including being crowned the
where she completed medical Gerry Hanlon and the fall princess of dairy farming
studies, opened her own of Constantinople in 1453, and is still assessing who in
company managing doctors’ I studied history at Trinity Ireland has the most road
offices and drinks all the local College Dublin. However frontage
beer! shortly after I sold out to the
business world and can now Colin O’Shea: After spending
Lloyd Helen: went on to study be found in London selling a number of years working for
architecture at University clicks and dreams at Google. a property firm in Dublin, Colin
College Dublin, graduating is currently on a career break
in 2013. Since then he has Anemone Von Blomberg: travelling in South America.
practiced internationally and first did a bachelor’s in Don’t be surprised if you see
is currently based in London. international business, then this guy running for Mayor of
decided to do medicine Waterford as he still loves his
Maud Ragonnaud: Completed and is currently in her final networking.
a BSc in food science and year doing a placement in
an MSc in nutrition. Worked traumatology in Guadeloupe, Aine McNamara: Currently
in LA, Melbourne and France. based in London and working
now London with a food in Interior Design, married
redistribution charity. Jack Kennedy: For the Frank in 2016 after meeting at
past 10 years Jack has Trinity College, Dublin - tries
Richie Dunne: Living and been combining education to get back to Ireland as often
working in Dublin. Getting and travel which has taken as possible!
13 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
CLASS OF 2002
Tom Gems: After 4 years of
computer science degree,
he set about building a 12
-year long Sushi Business,
Gems Sushi, supplying over
30 cafes and supermarkets,
he then decided on a career
change and now sells Coffee
(Gems Coffee) to thirsty
patrons. Enjoys sailing the
summer and snowboarding in
the winter. Often found atop a
horse in rural west cork.

Jon-Laurence Kickham:
Completed a BA in
Accounting and HRM after
leaving Newtown. Whilst
in College he joined the
Naval Reserve, which lead
to joining the Permanent
Defense Forces. Completing a
Cadetship and BSc in Nautical
Science he received his
commission and progressing
through the Officer ranks,
Lieutenant Kickham now
services as Executive Officer
and 2nd in Command of Lè
Ciara.
Lydia Daniels: received a
BSc in sports rehabilitation
from Carlow IT and went
on to complete an MSc in
Physiotherapy in Aberdeen.
Worked as a physiotherapist
in Nottingham and New
Zealand before returning to
Ireland. Currently working in
Wexford with her first child;
Caleb!
Robert Shaw: After
graduating with a Masters
in electronic engineering,
Rob moved to the UK where
he worked on Ford vehicle
development. In 2015 he
moved to Germany where he
currently lives with his wife,
he leads a small team working
on electronics for Mercedes
vehicles despite struggling to
learn German.
Back row L-R: Jon-Laurence Kickham, Tom Gems, Tom Maxwell, Michael Grant, Brendan Power,
Mark Fairman, Henry Dunne, Carl Giffney. Front row L-R: Eoghan O’Sullivan, Lucy Rowell, Lydia
Daniels, Joanne Kennington, Sarah-Jane Donnelly, Mary Dobbs, Louise Musgrave
and pain management
specialist. Currently on leave
following the birth of our little
wonder Emily Genevieve.
Lena Crummenerl: After
years full of travels and
studies abroad, Lena
currently lives in Northrhine-
Westfalia, Germany, with her
husband and daughter. She
became a biologist and is still
a big nature-enthusiast with
an extremely diverse fruit and
vegetable cultivation on her
balcony.
Louise Statham (née
Musgrave): Graduated
from UCD with a BA Hons
and then went on to do a
CIDESCO qualification in
Beauty Therapy with Bronwyn
Conroy. Louise had a varied
career in Beauty, then as a
recruitment consultant, a
PA to Finance Director and
a team of 80+ in PepsiCo
before choosing her final
vocation as a busy stay-at-
home Mum to 2 kids! Based
in Cork and married to fellow
Newtowner Nick Statham.
Joanne Kennington: Moved
back last July from living in
Australia for nine years. Was
working as an emergency
nurse but since moving
back is working as theatre
nurse. Living in Annestown.
Currently pregnant and has a
2-year-old daughter, Evie.
Lauren Murphy: is a news
anchor in Colorado. She
married her husband in
Kenmare in 2013 and is now
mom to two little girls (Elle,
going on 3 & Claire Daisy, 5
months).
Heather Darlington: Living
and working in Dublin in the
Corporate HR space, has
two beautiful children and is
loving life!
Diana Muntion Villate:
Ended studies at University in
2005 and is now working as
physiotherapist. Since 2007,
she has her own physio and
rehab clinic in a small city
where she grew up. Married in
2011 and in 2016 her son was
born.
Kyle Rothwell: Lives in
Delgany, Co Wicklow with my
wife Kirsty and our daughter
Lucy who has just turned 1.
I work in Capital Markets in
CBRE Dublin as an executive
director (I basically buy and
sell commercial property!).
Mark Fairman: Studied
European Studies in UL.
Lived in Granada Spain for 6
years. Now I coach MMA and

Fiona O’Neill: Has been living

in Australia for the past 8
years, recently moved home
to Ireland where she works in
corporate human resources.

Henry Dunne: Is working

at home on the family dairy
farm. Married with 3 beautiful
children.

Sarah Cullen: Living

in the UK, working as a Class of 2002: L-R: Tom Gems, Jon-Laurence Kickham, Carl Giffney, Lydia Daniels, Sarah-Jane
rehabilitation case manager Donnelly, Tom Maxwell, Louise Musgrave, Mary Dobbs

14 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section

work in finance, making my
way through my professional
accounting exams. Living in
Dublin and recently engaged.
Ian Hemingway: Married
Fiona Bradish (class of
2005) in June 2017, living
in Booterstown, Dublin.
Currently enjoying many mini-
reunions with Newtowners
every few months at
weddings.
Sarah-Jane Donnelly:
Recently moved back to
Waterford from Dublin with
her husband and bought a
house in Dunmore East. They
welcomed a baby boy last
year called Harrison. She is
working on the events team
for TV3.
Henrietta Gaunt (Müller-
Schönau): After an
apprenticeship in wholesale
Class of 1957: Peter Varian, Weldon (Don) Tarleton, Patrick
Glanville, Dermot Mullane, Esther Langley, Alan Pim and
Geoff Coad
Tree Planting (after Sunday lunch)
Class of 1977: Stuart Dagg and
Trevor Helen
Class of 1957: Esther Langley
and Paddy Grandville
and foreign trade in Hamburg
Henriette was offered a job
as a fertiliser commodity
trader in Tasmania, Australia
where she lived for 2 years
before moving to Melbourne.
Returned to Hamburg in
2011, completed a bachelor’s
degree in shipping, trade and
transportation then worked
as a ship broker. In 2013 she
moved back to Melbourne
where she is now married
with a daughter born in 2017,
another baby on the way.
Katharina (Kallee)
Bollongino: Recently moved
back to Düsseldorf from
Hamburg with her husband.
They welcomed their first
child in 2017, Helena. Now
working for the Spanish Camp at Caragh Lake, late 1960’s: Names so far and
fashion company, Inditex, in open to correction! Trevor Shaw, Ken Shepard, Brian
charge of the German real Harte, Don Tarleton, Dick Fletcher, Doris, Ann Barrett,
estate expansion of Zara & Hilary Tarleton, Derek Harte
Co.
Class of 1972: Back Row L-R Cora (nee Sinte Maartenddyjk)
Corrigan, Philip Mears, Michael Quane, David Corrigan. Front
Row L-R Peter Johnson, Joan and Roger Johnson , Claire
(nee Bewley) Fitzherbert
Class of 2007: Back Row: L-R Glen Deacon, James Frisby, Orlando Fitzgerald, Jack Kennedy,
Patrick Rochford, John Davis, Andres Zarabozo, Ian Goggin, Middle: Aoife Hendrick, Kirstie Gaynor,
Megan O Neill, Miriam Kiersey, Ellen Cunningham, Maud Ragonnaud, Rion O Farrell Walsh, Robbie
Blake, Sophie Herron. Front: Billy Fitzherbert, Richard Dunne, Shane Poole, Lloyd Helen, Liam
Godinho
15 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
16 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
NEW HOCKEY PITCH UPDATE
In last year’s magazine I
wrote about the tremendous
success of the new
TigerTurf hockey surface
at Newtown. I wrote about
the positive effects on both
school and club hockey and
also referred to financial
aspects.
I’d like now to give an update
on school hockey, as I see it.
I am glad (perhaps relieved
would be more accurate!)
to record that the full cost
has now been covered, so
that it was a ‘cost neutral’
project for the school. I would
like, once again, to thank
all those individuals, Trust
Fund members and groups,
including the Waterford
Hockey Club, the Old
Scholars’ Association, the
Bewley Foundation and the
Mountmellick Trust, who
contributed so generously. I
will not name individuals (you
will know yourselves!) except
for a generous legacy from
Joyce Pearson. THANK YOU
ONE AND ALL.
Last year I had indicated our
income was several thousand
euro short of our costs
and also that we needed,
approximately, an additional
€9,000 for dug-outs to
finish the project properly.
Subsequent to contacts made
at the Old Scholars’ weekend
two generous Old Scholars
donated €3,500, and two
Trust Funds also donated
a further €14,000. Bingo!
Mission achieved through
this great generosity. Thanks
again.
On-field successes,
achievements and advances
have been many. Some
say that this is due to the
pitch; however, I believe it
is because the new pitch
coincided with an upsurge
of individual talent and
enthusiasm at Newtown,
which the coaches have
harnessed, and the pitch has
facilitated.
In girls’ hockey there is the
(wonderful) problem of
hugely increasing numbers
wanting to play. Field space
and coaches are being
Harry McCarthy, Ben Johnson, Ben Mc Inerney and Ian Balding
Roger Johnson in the newly acquired dug-out
stretched! Six different age-
group teams were playing
both league and cup hockey
in the South-East.
At inter-provincial level two
girls were chosen on the S.E.
Teams – congratulations
Aoife Treacy (under 18) and
Rachel Shute (under 16).
On the recently created S.E.
development squads, three
girls are on the 1st year, and
five on the under-16 squads.
This hopefully makes the
future look rosy – well done
girls!
In boys’ hockey there have
been many successes and
achievements. The Senior
team qualified for the All-
Ireland tournament (first
time for many years). At the
tournament they beat 2 and
drew with 1 Ulster side, their
only defeat being 2-4 against
the eventual tournament
winners, St Andrews. Sadly,
they were beaten for the
2nd consecutive time in the
Munster Senior final by a
single goal, after extra time,
by Villiers; hopefully 3rd time
lucky next year?
It was good to see three
Junior boys win the Munster
cup final with a 3-0 win over
Ashton. At representative
level there have been four
Irish internationals – two at
under-18, and two at under-16
17 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
levels, with matches in
South Africa and Germany
so far, with 6-Nation
tournaments in July in Spain
and Cork.
At inter-provincial level three
boys played under-18, and
two boys played under-16 for
Munster last season. In
addition, BOTH CAPTAINS
were from Newtown. I
think this is a ‘first’! Well
done Ben Johnson and Ian
Balding – and also Harry
McCarthy, Ethan McInerney
and Ben McInerney, the other
members.
Currently there are five
under-18s and 4 under 16s
on the training panels for
the Autumn tournament.
Good luck all, and huge
appreciation to the devoted
staff and parents who support
this enormous endeavour –
countless hours and miles
travelled to ‘sessions’ for
coaching.
Finally, to the marvellous
array of coaches that make all
this happen on a daily basis,
thank you for your time, effort
and commitment. Keep it up
and hopefully next year will be
as good, if
not better!
R.H.J. June 2018
Photos published courtesy of
Leo Murphy
OBITUARY: BRIAN SAMUEL PIM –Class of 1943
Brian Samuel Pim was born
on the 11th June 1929-2nd
May 2017
Brian was born in 1929. He
went to Friends Lisburn
School 1941-1942 and on then
to Newtown School Waterford
1942-1943.
He served on the Newtown
School Committee and Sub
constitutes from the early
seventies until the School
Bicentenary 1998.
He went to Bootham School
York, England in 1943-1947.
Graduated at Trinity College
Dublin in Civil Engineering.
Joined family business W+R
Jacob [later became Irish
Biscuits and worked for 40
years.
One of the founding members
of the Irish Sub Aqua Club and
became Honorary Treasurer.
Married to Vivienne in July
1958 and had five children
who all followed in his
footsteps and attended
Newtown. Brian Pim

CLASS OF 1967...50 YEARS OUT

Left-right: Maurice Poole,
Trevor Myles, Penny Hill,
John Davey, Daphne
Luce, Rachel Wigham,
Rob Goodbody, Susan
Luke, Michael Hilliard,
Niall Maynard, Dianne
Turner, Pam Biggar and
Roger Bewley Missing
from photo, Rosaleen
Alexander and Liz
There were up to thirty members of the class from the UK and Maurice Poole who Cumming
of ’67 between upper transition and sixth arrived from Ferns. We had seen neither of
year with various comings and goings. We them for almost all the fifty years. This
managed to contact twenty of these, in the proved to be a magical twenty-four hours
event fifteen came along, not bad after with all the fun and banter that exists with old
50 years. Although many of us have kept friends. It was agreed that we should not wait
in touch over the years the stars of the another ten years but planned to meet up
show were Niall Maynard, who came over again in five.

18 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section

OBITUARY: CLIVE ALLEN–Class of 1963
Clive Allen, Class of 1963,
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
With the recent death of
Clive Allen–many in County
Wexford and beyond have lost
a valued friend and tireless
supporter of a number of
causes.
The large number of people
at the meeting house in
Enniscorthy, and later at
Friends burial ground,
Blackrock, were a testament
to the love and respect held
for Clive in the community.
An unsung hero, Clive
helped countless people
with his generosity, cheerful
encouragement, and down-
to-earth wisdom. His faith
was an essential part of this
life. A committed Quaker, he
was an active member of the
Enniscorthy meeting and took
regular care of the meeting
house and gardens.
The Allen family can trace
their Quaker ancestry back
to 17th century Cork city,
and Clive’s knowledge
of his family history was
encyclopedic. He put this
OBITUARY: HAZEL JEAN BLACKSHAW–Class of 1949
Hazel Jean Blackshaw (nee
Smith) February 2017. Class
of 1949.
Hazel was born in
Mountmellick House,
Newtown School in October
1932, to Lester Smith
(Science master) and Anne
(house mother of young
boarders, and manager
of San). Hazel lived in
Mountmellick House and
attended the school as a day
scholar until leaving at 17.
She then attended college in
London to train as a Speech
Therapist. She spent a
preliminary year at PRADA
in preparation, and then 3
years at College, qualifying
The association has been informed of the
following deaths:
Myrtle (Hill) Allen, Class of 1941, Ballymaloe
House, Cork. June 2018.
William Frederick Bell, Class of 1951, Sandyford,
Dublin. May 2018.
Eveline Margaret St Leger, Class of 1951, Cork.
March 2018.
Philip Chearnley, Class of 1945, Limerick. June
2018.
knowledge to good use with
the publication in 2007 of
his book The Allens: Family
& Friends - tracing all
branches of the Allen family.
It was typical of Clive that
he channeled all proceeds
from sales of the book to
the charity which manages
funds towards Quaker work
in Ireland and overseas.He
also played an important
role in the re-publication in
1996 of Transactions of the
Central Relief Committee of
the Society of Friends during
the Famine in Ireland in 1846
and 1847 – an important
testament to the nature and
extent of Quaker activity
during the Famine.
Clive David Allen was born
in Drogheda in 1946, the
fourth of five children born
to Maurice, a farmer, and
Elizabeth Allen (née Shaw).
When Clive was seven,
the family moved to the
Enniscorthy area where his
father continued to farm.
Clive along with his siblings,
his children and many of his
cousins, attended Newtown
School in Waterford. The
as a LCST in 1953. From 1953
to 1960 she was sole Speech
Therapist for Westmorland
(now Cumbria) based in
Kendal, then transferred to
Birkenhead for a further 4
years.
She met her husband Alan
in Kendal in 1959 and they
were married in Liverpool in
March 1963. Their first child
was born in December 1964 in
Watford, Hertfordshire where
Alan had found employment
as a Probation Officer. Their
second child was born in
December 1968 in Stevenage.
In 1971 the family moved to
Suffolk, where Alan had found
employment as a Lecturer in
Social Work.
To all the families of these loved ones, the
association would like to extend their deepest
sympathies. If you know of old scholars who
have passed away, please inform the
Association so as to pass on the news to
others.
Email nswoldscholars@gmail.com or post,
Oriel Woodbyrne c/o Newtown School,
Waterford.
Allen family had been
associated with the school
since its foundation in 1798.
After he left, Clive maintained
the connection and was a
past President of the Old
Scholars. He was one of the
longest-serving members of
the school committee, and a
keen fundraiser, on the side of
getting things done.
After school Clive trained first
in the hospitality business.
It was while working at
the Monasterboice Inn in
Drogheda, that Clive met his
future wife, Jo Smyth. For the
rest of their lives together she
was his stalwart supporter
and loving companion. The
couple married in 1969 and
settled in Bunclody in 1970.
In 1972 Clive went to work
in Slaney Meats in Bunclody
working there until his
retirement. The Allen family
home, Slaney View, was
always open to visiting family,
friends, neighbours, and
those needing help.
Clive was a big man with
big hands, big pockets and
Hazel continued to work part-
time as a Speech Therapist,
mostly with school children.
She was active for the Labour
Party in local politics, both
as a parish and District
Councillor. She was a strong
advocate for peace, through
CND and other organisations.
She was also an active school
governor for the local primary
school, specialising in support
for children with special
needs.
She retired in 1992 after heart
attacks which necessitated a
quadruple by-pass operation.
Restored back to health,
she continued to be active,
enjoying many holidays
around the world with her
19 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
Clive Allen
a big heart. He was a true
gentleman with an inner core
of kindness and a great sense
of fun, a humble person, and
never quick to judge. He was
also a sociable man who loved
to chat. His grandson noted at
the Meeting for worship, Clive
frequently used the word
‘marvellous’.
In his spare time Clive was a
keen gardener, walker, and
devoted dog owner. He was
also a rugby supporter, having
played on the Enniscorthy
2nd XV’s, and was Captain
in the 1971/72 season. Clive
is survived by his wife, Jo,
daughter Rebecca and sons
Weston and Edgar, siblings
Lorna, Bertram and Lance,
extended family and friends.
Clive David Allen born 21st
August 1946, died January
11th, 2018.
Hazel Jean Bradshaw (Also on
the right of second photograph
with Jean Walsh
husband. Unfortunately, a
diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in
2009 limited her ability to
travel and she spent the last 2
years of her life incapacitated
in a Care Home.
Her time at Newtown was
very precious to her and
she tried to live by the
principles imbibed through
her education there. She had
kept in touch through regular
visits, and the Newtown
Review, until all the staff
and most of her fellow old
scholars were gone. She
returned one last time for her
80th birthday in 2012, which,
despite the Alzheimer’s
brought back wonderful
memories for her.
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21 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section

Backstory to the Treasure Trove of Fond Memories
I actually chose to go to
boarding school, over four
decades before Harry
Potter boosted interest in
such a unique educational
experience. My parents were
separating, so I decided that
Newtown would serve my
interests better. That proved
to be the case, for most of
the three years that I was a
boarder, 1969 - 1972. I then
left reluctantly.
Every five or ten years I would
visit Newtown for the annual
Old Scholars weekend. Last
year I made another visit.
My wife, Liz (nee Sothern)
also an old scholar (1978)
along with my terrier
rescue-dog Jack-the-Lad,
accompanied me. We had
some good chats with
teachers, peers and one or
two students.
A few days after our visit, Liz
casually informed me that
many of the old buildings
were due to be knocked
down. What??!! I spluttered.
Something must be done to
preserve those memories!
Photos, at least...
I immediately got in touch
with my collaborative Polish
photographer friend, Dora
22 NEWTOWN REVIEW - NMFOSA Section
Kazmierak. I also contacted
Keith Lemon, school principal.
It was all systems go, once
various access guidelines
were outlined. A two-day
shoot took place in the school
grounds, in November 2017. A
couple of hundred artistic and
atmospheric photos was the
result of that.
Apart from gifting these to
the school, what should I
next do with them? Where
was the right forum for
showing them? From late
December 2017, to early April
2018, I twice-weekly posted
thematic groups of photos
on the Newtown Old Scholars
Facebook page.
At first a lot of likes for
the photos started slowly
building up. Word must have
got around, because soon
many people were posting
memories and anecdotes,
in response to the bi-weekly
posting of photos. The what I wanted... fabulous photos and amusing
biggest responses were to the When the Old Scholars anecdotes about Newtown
Dining Room, the Old Lab, the Committee agreed to publish from a previous era....
old Bell and the Dorms. It was some of the photos and
wonderful to read threads of anecdotes in the 2018 Review,
exciting online conversations. I couldn’t have asked for - Louis Hemmings
There was a lively buzz and more. So, six pages of photos
a deep appreciation for the are what you see. A booklet
photos. I even made some for sale has been produced
new Newtonian friends. Just of the full twelve pages of
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NEWTOWN, NEWTOWN, I GOT MY FIRST GOOD START THERE!

NEWTOWN, NEWTOWN, I LEFT MY HARBOURED HEART THERE...

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