TRINITY ACCESS PROGRAMME

St. Mary’s Holy Faith Secondry School on Haddington Road is one of eleven schools participating in the Trinity Acess programme.

The Trinity Access Programme (TAP) works with students of these schools, from 2nd Year onwards, and aims to increase the numbers of students availing of the opportunity of Third Level Education.
One of the initiatives used is to encourage students to submit projects, ranging through the various subject disciplines, which include social issues.

These projects are then assessed and the winners are presented with Certificates and monetary prizes to mark their success, at the Academic Achievement Awards Ceremony in Trinity College Dublin.

On Wednesday 18th November last, the students from St. Mary’s received their awards from Dr Mitchell, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin. The students were accompanied by their parents and teachers.

Pictured here are the recipients from St. Mary’s of the Academic Achievement Awards.
Well done to the girls and the TAP Co-ordinator, Ms.Pauline Kelleher.

Lisa Behan, Brenda Reilly, Lynsey Roche, Nicola Fitzgerald, Ciara Murray, Gillian Earley, Audrey Nangle, Sarah Kelly, Maria Varbanova, and Shauna McQuillan.


RAILWAY UNION ON THE RIGHT TRACK
By Niall Feery

 

If Limerick were ever to reject their rightful position of Rugby Capital of Ireland then Dublin 4 would surely be the most suitable candidate to take over the mantle.

Within a mile radius of our area, there is a high concentration of All Ireland League clubs, seven at the last count.

Lansdowne are occupants of the top flight. Old Belvedere, Bective Rangers, Wanderers and Old Wesley ply their trade in Division 2 while U.C.D. and Monkstown are battling it out in Division 3.
Coupled with the fact that the two biggest power brokers in the game, the I.R.F.U. and the Leinster Branch, are located in the area, then it is safe to say that Dublin 4 would be the most likely successor.

In the middle of all the wheeling and dealing within the higher echelons of Irish rugby lies a small Junior club with big ideas.

Over the past five seasons Railway Union have witnessed a meteoric rise through the ranks from struggling third rate team to knocking on the door of the All Ireland League.

In their first season in the Leinster League Division 1 the club finished in a creditable joint 3rd place.

The quality of this league is reflected by the fact that the previous two winners, Suttonians and Co. Carlow, have since blazed quite an impressive trail in the Division 4 of the A.I.L.

Railway Union was formed in 1905 and has enjoyed sporadic success down through the years.
In the mid sixties Railway claimed back-to-back Spencer Cup victories. It has been in this decade, though, that the club has started heading towards the big time.

A major amount of the club’s success is owed to Kevin Lewis. Appointed five years ago, first as captain and then as coach, Kevin has guided Railway from being cut adrift at the bottom of Division 3 to their present status.

So, if the club joined the ranks of the A.I.L. would the prospect worry Railway?

“No Way”, says Joe King, one of the hard working officers of the club, “ We would more than hold our own in that league.”

Off the pitch the club is also flourishing. Four years ago they signed a sponsorship deal with Thomas Cook, the worldwide travel agency, that has benefited the club greatly.

Railway has also recognised the shift to the professional era. The club has already spent £25,000 on the development of their pitch, a set up which would shame some A.I.L. Division 2 clubs, and are looking to expand the dressing room facilities at their clubhouse as they bid to give their players top class facilities.

Railway Union’s success, which hasn’t come easy, is due to hard work, both on and off the field. The club is built on solid support from the members.

People like Mick Dempsey, who has given 50 years of service to Railway Union, and many others, are the reason why the club is flourishing.

It is only a matter of time before Railway Union hit the big time and when they do, don’t say we never told-you-so!

 


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