St Joseph's N.S.

The Child of Prague must have been put out in the Slieveardagh Hills as the rain that was forecast never materialised in Ballingarry on Thursday, June 19th. Our first Open Evening was most definately no wash out and it would have taken more than a shower to dampen the spirits around St Joseph's. In fact it would be fair to say that the school was flooded with children, parents, relatives, friends and well wishers all happy to put their hand in their pockets to help raise some money for their local school.
They say time flies when you are having fun....well this evening flew by in a rush of colour sound and flavour. The activities were many and varied and there was something here for everyone. Local artists Catherine Hayes, Anne Brennan and Eileen Molloy held an exhibition in the front hall. Each classroom was bedecked with colour as the students' work was on display and available for parents to take home...once secured with a small donation of course. There were monsters to be adopted in the Middle Room although more than one parent suggested that they had more than enough monsters at home already!
Out on the field the children got to pit their wits against All Ireland winning goalkeeper James Logue in a hurling penalty shootout. The younger ones were kept busy by a series of novelty races whereas an impromptu soccer match at the lower goals soften the blow of missing the Germany Portugal game for many.
Back in the library there was fine food and conversation to be had as a large group congregated to sample the favourites from chef Helen Costelloe's recent European Cookery project. There was no shortage of tea or coffee and there was even a shop to keep the kids happy.
Out in the yard a group of students gave a run through of their repetoire led by tin whistle teacher Martina and accompanied on guitar by Liam Noonan. There was a slide show entitled '2007/08 - A Year In Pictures' in the prefab and this was followed by what was undoubtedly the highlight of the evening.....the drumming.
Led by percussionist Eddie O'Neill a band of students held the large audience spellbound with their timing and rhythm. Their ten minute performance drew rapturous applause and was all the more remarkable seeing as Eddie had only assembled his band that morning. Parents then got a chance to pound the skins but the less said about the din they made the better!
The evening ended with the raffle and what a raffle! Top prize was the shirt worn by Shane Long in the recent International against Colombia. Shane was a surprise and welcome visitor to the school earlier in the day and he kindly donated the signed shirt and also a pair of his boots. Tipp hurler and current All Star Declan Fanning got three Tipp jerseys signed for us by the entire County Team. As I said....what a raffle! Personally I felt that Parents' Council Chairperson, Caroline Kealy drew out all the wrong tickets (i.e. I won nothing) but Sixth Class student Paul Butler would disagree as he was the man who went home wearing the green.
All in all it was a fantastic night. The weather was good, the craic was good and €1366 was raised for the school. Thank you to the Parents' Council for organising the event and thank you to everyone who contributed their talent, their time or their money to make our Open Evening such a success.