Correspondence

BELFAST BUILDINGS PRESERVATION (On winning the Schools' Senior Debating Competition) TRUST

30th April 2008

Congratulations on the victory at Stormont last Friday. It was a well deserved win and the boys were exemplary participants throughout the competition. Pass on Fionnuala's and my best wishes to them for the exams.

Please find enclosed a copy of the photographs from Friday night. There is one each for Darren and Déaghlán and a further copy for the school.

For now congratulations again and I shall be in touch about next year just before the summer break.

Best wishes,

Shane Quinn

Development Officer

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Chris Welburn

Leeds Metropolitan University

7th April 2008

Carnegie Schools Cup Final

Dear Mr Kevin Burke

I am writing to congratulate your school for reaching the final of the Carnegie Schools Cup to be played on Wednesday 16th April.

Your school has shown tremendous effort, enthusiasm and performances to reach the final and I wish to extend our best wishes to your school for the final from Leeds Metropolitan University.

I look forward to meeting you on the 16th April

Yours sincerely,

Chris Welburn

Partnership Development (Football)

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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

West Belfast Area Council

January 17th 2008

Dear Mr. de Búrca,

On behalf of the St. Vincent de Paul West Belfast Area Council may I congratulate you on the quality and generosity of your students and staff.

This Christmas past, as in other years, both students and Mrs. Mary Farag worked tirelessly to assist the SVP at its busiest time of the year.

Without the help proferred by individuals, organisations and schools we would never be able to meet the massive demands made of us during the Christmas season.

The school presented us with 105 hampers and a cheque for £550.00.

I would appreciate it if you would pass my thanks on to all concerned with our very best wishes for the New Year.

Yours sincerely,

Linda Savage.

West Belfast Area President

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Nadio Giger

Past Language Assistant

24 November 2006

Dia duit, Mr. Burke

I've just happened to come across your great St. Mary's CBGS website. Being your (Swiss) German language assistant in 2001 and 2002, respectively, I would like to mention that I vividly remember the wonderful time that I had while I was working at your school. For me, working at your school was by far more than just teaching, it was experiencing your great and unique Irish culture, which I think has, at least to a certain extent, become part of my own identity, if I may say so. One way in which this manifests itself is probably the fact that I've been playing the bodhrán ever since I left Belfast.

I do not not know whether I have succeeded in leaving a lasting impression in Belfast and particularly in your school, but I know that both Belfast and your school have done so in me. As I have never had the opportunity to thank you for receiving me so heartily at your school, please let these words be a wee sign of my gratitude.

Also, it would be most kind if you could send a lot of greetings to St. Mary's staff, particularly to the following teachers:

- Mrs. Anne Thompson, who was a great German colleague during my stay

- Mrs. Fiona Kinney, who no longer works at your school, but made me feel like at home in a most kind-hearted way at her place in Clondara Parade during my stay

- Mr. Charlie Monaghan, without whom I would never have started playing the bodhrán

- Mr. Paul Laverty, who made it possible for me to be a Belfast cyclist

- Mr. Gerry Quigg, with whom I could share my impressions of my cycling experiences on the Antrim coast

- Mr Jim Mc Clean, without whom I would not know how great Michael McLaverty's literature is

Moreover, I would be so glad if these teachers (and of course any others who remember me!) could drop me at least a wee note via e-mail (address with Principal), which I really hope they will do, as this seems to be the only chance for me to ever get into contact with them again.

Also, I have seen that you have a "past staff" list on your website. I would feel deeply honoured if you could arrange my name to be on the past language assistants' list. This would mean a lot to me!

Finally, I would like to ask you to send my a short reply, so that I can be sure that this message has arrived where it was meant to arrive. In the meantime, I send you all my best wishes and blessings from Switzerland, finishing with some of what I learnt from you all,

Slán agus beannacht

Nadio Giger

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Mr. Martin Short (Past Pupil)
Principal of the Holy Child Primary School

(November 2006)

A Chaoimhín, a chara,

On behalf of the children and teachers of Holy Child PS, I would like to thank you for the use of your pitches for our GAA teams.

Not having a pitch of our own means that we have had to use Woodlands in the past, which is increasingly difficult to book due to demand. Woodlands also entails obtaining transport and the goodwill of parents in helping with this.

Having St. Mary's as an alternative means that we can avail of superb facilities and grass pitches at the right dimensions.

It also further forges the links that have existed between our schools - links that I hope will continue for many years.

I would also like to thank your groundsman, PE department and your Board of Governors for facilitating our teams at St. Mary's.

Go raibh céad maith agaibh.

Is mise,

Martin Short
Principal

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Mr. David McCrea

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service

(September 2006)

Dear Principal,

On behalf of White Watch, Springfield Road Fire Station, I would like to thank you for the use of your car park on the 24th August. If we can be of any assistance in the future please do not hesitate to contact us at the above phone number and your request will be passed on to us at the Station.

David McCrea

Crew Commander

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Dr. Aidan Donaldson

Greetings from Zambia

(July 2006)

Here in Africa things are going great with everyone well and working hard. Great progress being made on all projects and we have so many achievements and friends here that it makes you proud to be from St Mary's. Saw ovens for bakery and hope to organise transfer of funds for that next week from the local group with me at present. Priest's house at roof level as are the new classrooms for grade 8. Agricultural project growing (excuse the pun) and today Fiona and the Crumlin squad presented a load of kitchen equip. to Mary and the Home of Hope. Mary fell onto the floor and gave songs of thanks and praise - Fiona felt moved almost to tears of joy herself. We have established an extension to the agricultural programme in Kabwata Orphanage which everyone has fallen in love with of course.

Spent time with John McCourt today and asked him to put together a programme of work/wish list for us - he will not be shy to ask. Great time was had by all in Livingstone last weekend with lots of water at the Falls. Called to see the Brothers in Mazabuku - great reception and hospitality.

Spending my days as usual flying around from pillar to post with Mr Tembo, Angela, Brother McCourt etc. - looking busy and avoiding work some night say! Going to buy a 2500 litres water tank and pump tomorrow to get the water supply at St. Catherine's sorted. Off to Old Kabweza on Thursday, mass and celebrations on Friday and back Sat.

Everyone is asking for you and send their regards.

Keep safe, have a great summer and God bless,

Aidan.

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Dr. Aidan Donalson

Greetings from Zambia

July 2006

Had a fantastic day at Old Kabweza with a welcome would make Bob Geldolf proud - hundreds waiting and singing etc. Angela gave us a great Zambia meal in a new part she is adding to her orphanage for the older boys. A good idea and about 800 metres away from the main orphanage. Needs some help but I'm sure we'll be able to provide support. Peter Tembo came with us and enjoyed the journey and sharing of ideas. Have had some very valuable conversations with Brother McCourt and he is more than delighted with our operation. I've asked him to send us suggestions for a programme of work/ideas for the next period and the good man will advise. All well and truly enjoying the experience. Makes us all feel proud to be a part of such a project. Closure beginning to hit people now with mass and farewell party tomorrow. A few tears will be shed I'm sure and rightly so as this part of our journey ends. Philomena and John Cooley seem to be doing well in Kenya.

Joe, Fiona, Jack and Jack Junior send their best wishes.

Good luck and God bless,

Aidan.

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Professor W.I. Montgomery
Head of School of Biological Sciences

27th June 2006

Dear Principal,

I am pleased to inform you that a former pupil of your school, Sean Michael Fitzpatrick, has graduated with a first class degree in Biological Sciences.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for encouraging Sean to follow a career in science and look forward to meeting any future students from your school who might wish to attend Queen's.

Yours faithfully,

Professor W I Montgomery

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Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP

HOUSE OF COMMONS

SW1A 0AA

30 May 2006

Dear Mr Burke

Corn na nÓg

I am writing to extend my congratulations to the St Mary’s CBS footballers who reached the recent Corn na nÓg final. It is heartening to see a Belfast school again coming to the fore of college’s football.

St Mary’s has a long and distinguished tradition of developing gaelic football and hurling talent. It would be wonderful if the success of this talented Corn na nÓg team leads to future successes in colleges football for the school and that the team members bring success to their club’s and in the future to the county.

Developing such a talented team is a reflection of the dedication and time spent by the teachers of St Mary’s who follow in the great tradition of St Mary’s teachers in fostering a love of gaelic games. It is through this dedication that football and hurling are kept strong in Belfast.

I hope that with the recent launch of Club Aontroma the talent developed in St Mary’s will find even more success in the future.

Yours sincerely

Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP

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RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta - 6ú Bealtaine2006

Preasráiteas

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair

Buaiteoirí Comórtas Chlár Raidió Ghael Linn / RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

Fógraíodh buaiteoirí Chomórtas Chlár Raidió Ghael Linn 2006, a reachtáiltear i gcomhar le RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta gach bliain, beo ar an gclár Cúrsaí an Lae ar an Aoine 5 Bealtaine. Do dhaltaí idirbhliana go príomha an comórtas seo, atá cúig bliana ar an bhfód i mbliana agus tá an-tóir ag ranganna idirbhliana na tíre air.

Triocha foireann a chuir isteach ar an gcomórtas i mbliana agus trí cinn a bhí ar ngearrliosta – Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Tír Chonaill, Scoil Mhuire, Béal Feirste agus Gairmscoil Naomh Chillian, Cnoc Breac, Gaillimh.

Clár raidió, a mhaireann idir cúig nóiméad déag agus fiche nóiméad atá i gceist sa chomórtas. Éilítear ardchaighdeán taifeadta don chlár agus glactar le miondiosca, dlúthdhiosca nó caiséad. Craoltóirí agus bainisteoirí RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta a dhéanann an mholtóireacht.

Bronnadh an chéad áit ar Phobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair dá gclár ‘Ionad Chois Locha, Dún Lúiche’. Bhí seisear den fhoireann i láthair i gCasla le glacadh leis an duais, Éamon Ó Colm, Sharon Nic Pháidín, Dónal Ó Fhíoruisce, Rachel Ní Fhearraigh, Máirtín Ó Gallchóir agus Féidhlim Ó Domhnaill. Tugtar cuntas sa chlár ar stair an ionaid agus an úsáid a bhaineann pobal beag Gaeltachta as na hacmhainní nádúrtha ina dtimpeall (áilleacht an cheantair, an loch, an seanteach feirme) le fostaíocht a chur ar fáil trí ionad turasóireachta den scoth a thógáil i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill. D’éirigh le Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair an chéad áit a bhaint anuraidh freisin. Bhronn Edel Ní Chuireáin, Ceannaire RTE Raidió na Gaeltachta, duais airgid €600 ar an scoil, atá urraithe ag RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta le caitheamh ar threalamh taifeadta, mar aon le trófaí. Tabharfar an deis do na daltaí seo comhláithriú a dhéanamh ar ANOCHT fm mar chuid dá nduais.

Bronnadh an dara háit ar Chairbre Ó Cearbhalláin agus Stiofán Ó Lachráin as Scoil Mhuire, Béal Feirste agus €400 le caitheamh ar threalamh taifeadta, urraithe ag RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta dá gclár ‘Ólta le Ceolta’ ina dtugtar stair an cheoil Ghaelaigh i mBéal Feirste.

Bronnadh an tríú háit ar Linda Nic Colla agus ar Phádraig Ó Bellew ó Ghairmscoil Naomh Chillian, Cnoc Breac, Gaillimh dá gclár ‘Modh Múinte – Modh Suzuki’ ina ndéantar cur síos ar an Dr Suzuki agus an modh múinte téadúirlisí do ghasúir óga. Fuair siad €300 le caitheamh ar threalamh taifeadta, urraithe ag RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. Bronnadh teastais ar gach duine den trí fhoireann ar an ngearrliosta náisiúnta.

Tuilleadh Eolais:

Máirín Mhic Dhonnchadha, Oifigeach Poiblíochta

Fón: 091 506659 Fón Póca: 087 646 8731 rphost: mairin.mhicdhonnchadha@rte.ie

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

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Preasráiteas

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair

Winners of Clár Raidió Ghael Linn / RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta 2006

The winners of the annual Clár Raidió Ghael Linn contest, which is run in conjunction with RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, were announced live on the programme Cúrsaí an Lae on Friday 5^th May. This contest is primarily for transition year students but senior cycle students who have completed the Junior Certificate / GCSE are also eligible to apply. The contest is now into its fifth year and attracted thirty entries in 2006 from schools nationwide. Three schools were shortlisted - Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal, Scoil Mhuire, Belfast agus Gairmscoil Naomh Chillian, New Inn, Co. Galway. Students are required to produce a radio programme of fifteen to twenty minutes duration on CD, minidisc or cassette with high sound quality. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcasters /managers adjudicate the programmes submitted.

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair were awarded first place for their programme ‘Ionad Chois Locha, Dún Lúiche’. The programme traces the history of the Ionad Chois Locha centre in Dún Lúiche and how a small community has tapped into its natural resources – lake, old farmhouse and beautiful scenery - to create quality employment in the Donegal Gaeltacht. This is the school’s second year in a row to win first place. Attending the announcement and presentation of prizes in RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta studios, Casla were Éamon Ó Colm, Sharon Nic Pháidín, Dónal Ó Fhíoruisce, Rachel Ní Fhearraigh, Máirtín Ó Gallchóir and Féidhlim Ó Domhnaill. Edel Ní Chuireáin, Ceannaire RTE Raidió na Gaeltachta, presented them with €600 for the purchase recording equipment, sponsored by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and a trophy. Students will also have the opportunity to co-present a programme on ANOCHT fm as part of their prize.

Cairbre Ó Cearbhalláin and Stiofán Ó Lachráin from Scoil Mhuire, Belfast were presented with €400 for the purchase of recording equipment, sponsored by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta for their programme ‘Ólta le Ceolta’ which gives a history of Irish traditional music in Belfast.

Linda Nic Colla and Pádraig Ó Bellew from Gairmscoil Naomh Chillian, New Inn, Co. Galway, were presented with €300 for the purchase of recording equipment, sponsored by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta for their programme ‘Modh Múinte – Modh Suzuki’ which outlines Dr Suzuki’s methodology for teaching violin and other string instruments to young children. Certificates were also presented to all members of the finalist teams.

Tuilleadh Eolais:

Máirín Mhic Dhonnchadha, Oifigeach Poiblíochta

Fón: 091 506659 Fón Póca: 087 646 8731 rphost: mairin.mhicdhonnchadha@rte.ie

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Éamonn Prenter, Cathaoirleach, Club Aontroma
c/o 44 Stranmillis Embankment
Belfast
BT9 5FL
29th March 2006

Corn na nÓg Final 2006

I write as Chairman of the recently constituted Club Aontroma.

Our aim is to support the various county hurling and gaelic football teams, development squads and Irish culture in County Antrim. We seek to have competitive teams at all levels for both hurling and football. We see schools, both primary and secondary, and St Mary's in particular, as playing a major role in achieving these objectives.

I wish to congratulate St Mary's on the achievement of getting to the final for the first time in a quarter of a century which as an Antrim school, I hope you will agree, is far too long for a county of our size, stature and potential. Your school's achievement is significant and augurs well for the future of Gaelic football in the county.

I would especially wish to commend the considerable skills demonstrated by your pupils on the field of play and also the level of sportsmanship exhibited by the players, mentors and supporters off it after the games. This reflects extremely well on the school.

If County Antrim is to succeed in hurling and gaelic football at juvenile and thereafter at adult level it is essential that schools act as necessary feeders. Omagh CBS' function in Gaelic games as a case in point for Tyrone. It is essential that Gaelic games flourish in our schools and in St Mary's in particular.

Finally, may I wish the school and this particular group of pupils all the very best success academically and in their football exploits as they progress through the schools competitions. Hopefully they can make amends in the Mac Rory Cup in a few short years time!

Le gach deá - ghuí

Eamonn Prenter

Chairman, Club Aontroma

Tel: 07757 852168

Fax: 028 90 805029

E-mail: info@clubaontroma.com

Web: www.clubaontroma.com

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Colm Mac Conmhaoil, An Lorgain.

23ú Márta 2006

Ádh mór ar Fhoireann Chorn na nÓg sa Chluiche Ceannais. Mar dhalta scoile Naomh Mhuire bhain mé féin bonn i gcomórtas Chorn na nÓg thart faoi 1953.
'Sé mo ghuí go mbeidh an bua agaibh i bPáirc Mhic Easmainn ar 25ú Márta.

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O DONOVAN ROSSA JUVENILE COMMITTEE

24th March 2006

Dear Eddie,

The Juvenile Committee of O'Donovan Rossa thought it appropriate to write to you expressing our gratitude at affording 10 members of our U16 hurling and football squad the opportunity to participate in the school organised trip to Cork.

We appreciate that a development opportunity like this does not come along often and we were extremely lucky that 10 of our members were on your travelling panel.

We were very impressed by the calibre of training and coaching personnel that you lined up, personalities such as Tomás Mulcahy, Seanie Farrell, Justin McCarthy and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín. This is something that the boys will remember and, hopefully, help them further develop as individuals and team players for their School and Clubs. The fact that they won both the Coláiste Chríost Rí Football and Hurling games are testimony to their sporting ability and, indeed, they are great ambassadors of the Gael sport.

You, your fellow teachers and, indeed, the School are to be congratulated and we wish you every success in your school games.

Yours sincerely,

Collette McGuinness
Secretary to the Juvenile Committee

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Barry Kelly - Former Teacher

March 2006

Kevin

As a former teacher in St. Mary's I just wanted to pass on my congratulations to the whole school, teachers and pupils for the credit they brought to the school on Saturday in the Corn na nÓg final replay.

It was fantastic to see St. Mary's competing at the highest levels in colleges football. I hope it is the start of many such occasions.

As coach to the losing MacLarnon finalists I know my own students are

very disappointed but keep stressing the pride that we as a school have in them. Like my own team your students have brought great credit on themselves, their families and their school. It will cascade down to their clubs. It creates great passion for their school and lets parents appreciate the total education provided.

Please encourage them to keep up the effort and perhaps in a few years St. Mary's will be back in the MacRory final, hopefully against St. Patricks

Many congratulations

Barry Kelly

St. Patrick's Downpatrick

[Or as the locals call it 'The Red High']

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