Author: Hazelwood College

Limerick students get a feel for the cold pinch of homelessness

A NIGHT spent outside in a sleeping bag on concreted ground has given new insights into homelessness to a group of students at Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher.

“It just opened our eyes to what they (the homeless) have to go through every night,” said Ava Mullane, one of the group of 19 Transition Year students who undertook the ordeal.

And while they all survived, they agreed that another night outside was not something they would have liked to do.

The sleep-out was conducted on the school grounds, beginning at 8.30pm and running right through to 8am the following morning, when, as Mary Kate Fehin explained, they had to go straight into class.

“It was cold,” another participant, Ciara O’Flynn recalled. “We were all huddled together.”

But despite being in a group, and with three teachers also nearby, the students felt a great sense of vulnerability, being outside without shelter on a winter’s night.

Ava, Mary Kate and Ciara, along with Eliza Reidy, Katie Ryan and Edel O’Flynn were the group who initiated the sleep out. The six are the founder members of this year’s school bank, the Bumble Bee Bank and are taking part in the AIB Build a Bank challenge.

“We have to have a speciality and we decided ours was to help the community, to give back,” Ava explained.

“Homelessness is such a topical issue and such a big one, we decided to do something about that.”

They made contact with Focus Ireland who gave them all the facts about present-day homelessness and they got whole-hearted backing for the sleep from their TY classmates.

Support too came from local food outlets.

“We wanted to raise money for Focus Ireland and each TY student had a sponsorship card. Then we went the following morning with buckets to the school gate and asked students to donate,” Mary Kate explained.

“We were surprised at their generosity,” Ava added. All the students donated.

The total raised has yet to be finalised, said teacher Ciara Broderick who took part in the sleep out.

But for a group of students, home and homelessness have taken on a deeper meaning.

by Norma Prendiville, Limerick Leader 18th March 2017

Top Business Results

Hazelwood College Business Studies students pictured being presented with certificates of recognition for attaining an A grade in Business Studies in their Junior Certificate in 2016. Pictured at the ceremony held in University of Limerick were (back, left to right) Hazelwood College Deputy Principal Elizabeth Dolan, Caroline Ahern, Hazelwood College Business Studies teacher, Ms Margaret Griffin, Ronan Cahill and Hazelwood College Business Studies teacher Mr Noel O’Grady. Front row (left to right): Chriss Boyce, Dr. Philip O’Regan, Executive Dean, Kemmy Business School, UL and Eliza Reidy.

Apprentice Chef

Hazelwood College Home Economics second year students (from left to right) Kirsty Shiels, Sarah Farrisey and Victoria Shanahan pictured at preparation for Cook Off for the Apprentice Chef Cookery Competition under the mentorship of Mark Doe of Just Cooking cookery school in Firies, Co. Kerry. This high standard cookery competition is based in I.T. Tralee and supports Good Mood Food and Healthy Eating using locally sourced ingredients.

Picture b: Sarah Farrisey, second year Hazelwood College Home Economics student, pictured participating in the Apprentice Chef Cookery Competition in IT Tralee as part of Good Mood Food and Healthy Eating using locally sourced products.

Picture c: Victoria Shanahan, second year Hazelwood College Home Economics student pictured at the Apprentice Chef Cookery Competition under the supervision of chef Mark Doe.

Picture d: Kirsty Shiels, Home Economics students from Hazelwood College student, pictured as she participated in the Apprentice Chef Cookery Competition

Athletics News

On Tuesday the 7th of March, the Hazelwood College athlete travelled to Neenagh Indoor Arena to compete in the Munster’s Indoor Schools Multi-Event Competition. All of the athletes did extremely well in their variety of events some of which included shot putt, long jump, 60m hurdles, 60m, 600m and 1200m. Our Medallists were Megan Lenihan and Máiríde Bennis. Megan came in a brilliant 2nd place in her competition – Junior Shot putt with a stunning new PB of 12.94m. Máiríde came in 2nd place in her Intermediate 60m Hurdles final, she also set a new PB.

The rest of the team did fantastically well but no one else was lucky enough to medal. Pictured are the Hazelwood College Athletics team involved. Back row (left to right): Vicky O’Connell, Aoibhann O’Keefe, Donagh McCarthy, Robert McCarthy, Jack McCarthy, Douglas Woolam, William Geoghan, Michael Brennan, Adam Sheahan and Brian O’Callaghan. Front row (back to front): Kiera Knipe, Emma O’Flynn, Molly McCarthy, May Junquera, Natalie Mason, Kevin Normoyle, Brendan Harding, Corey Knipe, Oliver O’Dell, Máiríde Bennis and Ethan Knipe. Missing from picture: Stephen McKensie, Jack Brennan, Megan Lenihan, Holly Beasley, Sophie Sheehan and Melissa Duggan.

Picture b: Recently, the Hazelwood College Athletics team travelled to Pallaskenry for the North Munster’s Schools’ Cross Country Competition. There were over 500 competitors there on the day. Eimear Lenihan came in the top 10 in her race and qualified for the all-Irelands. Seven other people came in the top 30 of their race but were not lucky enough to qualify. Pictured are (left to right): Michael Brennan, Ciaran O’Flynn, Jack O’Neill and Ethan Knipe.

Picture c: Hazelwood College students (from left to right): Megan Lenihan, Valerie Shanahan and Aoibhann O’Keefe who participated in the North Munster Schools’ Cross Country Competition as part of the Hazelwood College Athletics team.

Picture d: Hazelwood College first year students make their debut at the North Munster Schools’ Cross Country Competition are pictured at the recent meet in Pallaskenry. Pictured are (from left to right): May Junquera, Emma O’Flynn, Kiera Knipe and Natalie Mason

Picture e: Hazelwood College first year boys making their debut at the recent Pallaskenry meet of the North Munster Schools’ Cross Country Competition as part of the Hazelwood College Athletics team. Pictured are (from right to left) Kevin Normoyle, Brendan Harding, Brian O’Callaghan, Oliver O’Dell and Donagh McCarthy.

Picture f: Jack Brennan first year Hazelwood College prepares to make his debut at the North Munster’s Schools’ Cross Country Competition at the recent meet in Pallaskenry.

Kerry Star Visits Hazelwood College

On Tuesday the 7th March 2017, Hazelwood College welcomed Kerry Senior Footballer James O’Donoghue to speak to the school community on health and nutrition. This was followed by a training session for students who use the BumbleBee Bank within the school. This initiative was organised by the Transition Year students who manage the BumbleBee Bank in the school as part of the AIB Build A Bank Challenge 2016/2017.

James delivered a very inspirational talk to the students on how to cope with the pressures of growing up, as well as keeping fit and staying healthy. This was then followed by a question and answer session where the students were given the opportunity to ask James all about his professional life as a Kerry footballer and his life outside of sport. James answered the questions very honestly and gave the students a great insight into his life. He spoke about the importance of keeping good role models in your our lives as they form the bedrock of his life. He also spoke to students about being ‘tough’ and not being afraid to say no to peer pressure. James was very down to earth and it was very easy for the students to relate to what he was saying.

After the talk James conducted a training session to a number of lucky students. Those students were randomly selected from account holders in The BumbleBee Bank. James was assisted in giving this training session by Limerick Hurler Gearoid Hegarty who is teaching in the school at present. The students really enjoyed the training session as they left the gym with smiling red faces!

James was very kind to pose for any photos with students and even visited The BumbleBee Bank and saw it in operation.
Overall the day was a great success and Hazelwood College would like to sincerely thank James for giving up his time to visit our school.


Hazelwood College BumbleBee Build-A-Bank group are pictured welcoming James O’Donoghue on his recent visit. Pictured are (from left) Ms Ciara Broderick, supervising teacher for the BumbleBee Bank, Eliza Reidy, James O’Donoghue, Ciara O’Flynn, Mary Kate Fehin and Edel O’Flynn.

James O’Donoghue (centre) with Mary Kate Fehin (left) and Eliza Reidy (right) with the product they created as part of their Transition Year Programme company, which recently was involved with Market Day in Hazelwood College.

James O’Donoghue (back row, centre) is pictured with members of the Hazelwood College Junior Ladies’ Football team.

James O’Donoghue (back row, centre) is pictured with Hazelwood College students at the start of the training session he held in the course of his recent visit.

Legal Studies Course

Peter O’Dea of O’Connor O’Dea Solicitors Newcastle West is pictured here, back row far left, with Transition Year students after completing a one day intensive Legal Studies Course, where students were immersed into a simulated legal experience after being instructed in the basics of the legal system. Students were exposed to the variety of roles and the responsibilities associated with those roles in the legal system.

World Book Day

Aoibhinn O’Keeffe, First Year, dressed the part for World Book Day as she discusses the novel ‘Private Peaceful’ in the course of an event to mark World Book Day in Hazelwood College

Cian Nash (front left) and Cian Ryan (front right) discuss books as part of a first year event in Hazelwood College to mark World Book Day

Hazelwood College first year students participated in an event to mark World Book Day, where they dressed as characters from books or auto-biographies they are currently reading. Pictured are (from left to right) Donagh McCarthy, who is reading Steven Gerrard’s autobiography, Eamonn O’Kelly, currently reading ‘Wonder’ and Aoibhinn O’Keeffe, who is currently reading ‘Private Peaceful’.

Hazelwood College first year students from Mr Matt Finn’s 1A Class, are pictured dressed as characters from their favourite books to mark World Book Day recently

Transition Year First Aid

Eoin Enright, Hazelwood College Transition Year Programme student receives instruction from Tommy Gray, of the Irish Red Cross, on performing CPR. This skill is one that could potentially enable Eoin and other TYP students to save lives.

Picture 2 Hazelwood College’s Transition Year Programme student Blaithin Matthews (far left) demonstrates the skills she has learned in practicing CPR on an infant before Amy Ryan (centre) and Ger Doody of the Irish Red Cross.

Bright Business Brains Buzz

Bright Business Brains Buzz at Hazelwood College Market

Thursday the 9th of February the Transition Years of Hazelwood College, with the help of their Business Studies teacher Ms.Griffin, held a Transition Year Enterprise Market Day in the school from 11am to 1pm. The Market Day was open to the whole school as well as anyone from the area who wanted to witness the fabulous innovations the students had to offer on the day. There were seven teams in total taking part in the Enterprise Market showcasing their wonderful creations which they had been working on since the beginning of the school year with their teacher. The companies taking part were Luaschartaí Éasca, GAA your way, Cable Catchers, Grip it, Think Tidy, Handy Hurleys and Bathtub Bliss. The inventions were endless, ranging from bath bombs, phone gadgets, football gloves, Irish flashcards, minature hurleys to cable organisers. Each was original in its own way. These stands were accompanied by a stand from the Brothers of Charity who had homemade Valantine’s Day gifts for sale. The Hazelwood College AIB School Bank, The BumbleBee, who were there offering help and assistance with any questions their customers had. There was a stand from the Green Schools Committee on Bio-Diversity. The Home Economics Department also had a stand full of homemade buns for sale on the day. Each of the competing teams were assessed by the four judges, Patrick Laide from AIB Newcastlewest, Garry Lowe from the Local Enterprise Office, Ann Buckley from Dromcollogher Credit Union as well as a business teacher from the school, Mr. O’Grady. The winners on the day were, Luaschartaí Éasca who won the Overall Winner prize sponsored by Dromcollgher Credit Union, GAA Your Way who won the Runner up prize sponsored by AIB Newcastlewest, Cable Catchers who won Best Business plan also sponsored by AIB Newcastlewest. Grip it, won the Most Innovative prize which was sponsored by Weener Plastic Dromcollogher. They also sponsored best stand which was won by The Brothers Of Charity Stand. The School Food Company also sponsored lunch vouchers for the school canteen. As well as that there was also a raffle for the customers on the day with a variety of prizes.


Ciara O’Callaghan, Edel O’Flynn, Katie Ryan, Ciara O’Flynn and Molly Kirwan are pictured with their company at Hazelwood College Market Day

Hazelwood College students Mairíde Bennis (far left) and Clodagh Walsh (second from left) presented with their award by their teachers Ms Margaret Griffin (centre) and Mr Noel O’Grady (right) as well as Anne Buckley from Dromcollogher Credit Union.

Hazelwood College’s Ms Noreen Daly (back row, far left) pictured with first years who prepared food for Hazelwood College’s Market Day.

Pictured from left to right Anne Buckley Dromcollogher Credit Union, Hazelwood College Business Studies teacher Mr Noel O’Grady, Michael Brennan, Martin Daly, Millie Mulcahy and Ben Murphy with their Bathtub Bliss products along with Patrick Laide from AIB Newcastlewest and Garry Lowe from the Local Enterprise Office at Hazelwood College’s recent Market Day.

Hazelwood College students from left to right Neasa Fahy, Ava Mullane, Eliza Reidy and Mary Kate Fehin of Luaschartaí Éasca are pictured being presented their award by Anne Buckley of Dromcollogher Credit Union for their participation in the Hazelwood College Market Day.

Pictured from left Hazelwood College Business Studies teacher Mr Noel O’Grady, Anne Buckley of Dromcollogher Credit Union, Muiris O’Keeffe, Barry Murphy, Alan O’Leary and Jake O’Sullivan of Handy Hurleys along with Garry Lowe of the Local Enterprise Office and Patrick Laide of AIB Newcastle West

Blaithin Matthews, Amy Ryan and Megan Nolan of Think Tidy are pictured at the recent Hazelwood College Market Day.

Pictured from left Anne Buckley of Dromcollogher Credit Union, Garry Lowe of the Local Enterprise Office, Eoin Enright and Ronan Cahill of GAA Your Way as well as Mr Noel O’Grady Hazelwood College Business Studies teacher and Patrick Laide of AIB Newcastle West at the recent Hazelwood College Market Day.