"Have yourself a merry little Christmas" :)

I just cannot believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve! :O It has crept on us very suddenly! Even the exams went really fast! I thought I'd let you know that overall the exams were okay! Except for Irish which was a disaster but just so glad that they are all over now! On the last day one of the Transition Year classes class Fodla held a Christmas Party and then they went bowling! Unfortunately I was sick on that day so I was unable to attend! But I heard it was a alot of craic! :) Also I want to thank whoever had me for Kris Kindle cause I absolutely loved my pressie! I'm wearing it right now actually! :P

 I hope you all have a merry little Christmas! <3







- Aoife xoxo

what are we supposed to do now..? :(

Our school musical "The Sound of Music" is now officially over! All the buzz and excitement has gone and now were just left with all the memories! I just wanted to dedicate this short post to  thank everyone involved! From the response we received it seems that all our time and effort has certainly paid off! :) I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with my time now! Even though it has only been a week I already miss everyone so much! I'm so glad I took part in it, because the musical has been by far the highlight of T.Y by far! :D Here's a few pictures of the cast and dancers on and off stage!
Over and out
- Aoife xoxo

How many days till Christmas?! Only 10 more days to go! :)

Even though we are in Transition Year we still have Christmas Exams and I'm starting to get worried if all the projects will get done in time to be marked! :O So this week has been extremely hectic! But on the up side there's only 10 more days till Christmas!! :) This is such a gorgeous song and always gets me in the mood for Christmas! <3

Talk soon!

- Aoife xoxo

Nutcracker Suite :)

Last Friday all the Transition years were taken to the O'Reilly theatre to watch the Irish National Youth Ballet Company's performance of the Nutcracker Suite and Snow Queen! The reason we were taken to this particular show because our classmate Laura was performing in it!She was amazing and was the most gorgeous snowflake I've ever seen! :') All the performers were students and they were all very professional! :O The show was at such a high standard! It was a really fun day out and well done to everyone involved!! :D

- Aoife xoxo

one down.... three to go!! :D

Last night, we had our first performance of our school musical "The Sound of Music". Taking in mind we had never had a full dress rehearsal of act one or act two.. it was a success!! :)

The musical began at eight but all cast members arrived at half six to get our make-up done by the make-up crew! Who all did a great job! :) Then we had to put on our first costume and get miked! At the beginning we are all very nervous but excited! We had to wait backstage until the directors called us to go on stage! The wardrobe team had all our costumes ready to go and they helped us for extremely quick changes! They were amazing! :) Apart from a few small mistakes we got through it and I'm sure by the end of the week its going to be a brilliant show!

Now since last night, cant wait for the show tonight!! :)

Best of luck to everyone involved! :) <3

- Aoife xoxo

Have to rush off to work.. ttyl.

We just had our first week of transition year work experience and may I just say I didnt want to leave mine.. it was just so AMAZING! :D I was in Private 3 Ward in St. James Hospital and I have to say all the staff were just so lovely! They knew they had to get all there work done but they took out there precious time to talk me through the procedures they were doing and explaining at tims the very confusing equipment!

It was an *observe only* work experience so I didnt expect to be doing any jobs, but at multiple times I was running up and down the ward! I had to wash and make beds of the out-going patients, wash the patients, help change the patients, I manually took the pulse of the patients, assisted with changing the dressing of wounds post-surgery, and just did general little jobs for the patients who couldnt move. These are little jobs that the nurses do many times daily, along with much more important jobs. During hand-over I was given the task to answer the phones and wirte down important messages! That was pretty scary at first but then I got into it! The doctor of the ward brought me around and I witnessed a lung and stomach drain being pulled out after surgery, which was pretty cool!  I witnessed a cardiac echo graph, stapled stiches being removed, a blood transfusion, and witnessed the procedure a patient goes through to go to surgery! On one of the days, I was taken with the student nurses and sat through two lectures one on the kindney and the other on cardiac arrest!

At  lunch while talking to the other staff you could notice how hard the life of a nurse really is. They were saying when working an 13 hour shift, you are given a half an hour break and a hour for lunch. But most days they are extremely lucky to get those essential minutes of rest. When the ward is really busy and your patients are extremely sick, you dont have the time to sit down for a cup of tea! Also one thing that struck with me is when they were talking about patients dying. If one of your patients that you have really been close to dies, they say in college not to cry, but sometimes its just too hard to try not to. One nurse told me "I cant even count the number of times I've drived home crying because of a pateint"

Since starting secondary school I've always wanted to be a Nurse but now I'm not too sure. I never knew it was so intense and completely hands on with the patient.

Only time will tell I guess..


-Aoife xoxo

and the winner of the Edublogs competition goes to..... :)

I just want to dedicate this short blog to a gorgeous classmate ;) I would like to nominate Caitriona for the edublogs competition! Her blog is so amazing just like herself ;) Like who else would blog in rhyme?! Its just so unique! :O So thats why everone who is reading this should spend 5 minutes of there time to make sure the right person wins! :) GO CAITRIONA! :D Love you! <3 x


http://www.tienies.blogspot.com/2011/11/neven-heaven.html

Countdown has begun...

Our school musical "The Sound of Music" has officially been launched and tickets are on sale NOW! On Thursday local newspapers and members of the parents association were invited to come and watch us in our school! They were blown away by Leah's (Maria) singing! We were all in costume and the photographers took pictures of us! :) Cant wait for the actual week of the shows! It has come around so fast! :O

Lets hope it all comes together in the end!

- Aoife xoxo

Only a few days?! :O

I cant believe it is only a few days until our WORK EXPERIENCE! :D Honestly, it seems like the other day when Ms. Leahy gave us our work experience dates which was actually last March! It has come around so fast and I just cant wait for it!! I'm going to a surgery ward in St. James Hospital! I'm really excited but so nervous! Hopefully everything will turn out ok and I wont make a fool out of myself! :/ Like faint in the middle of a surgery or something! :P

Wish me luck! I'll tell you all about it ;)

- Aoife xoxo

WERE GOING TO BUILD A BANK!! :D

After my first ever interview which was pretty nerve wrecking.. :/ It was a success YAAY! :D This year in Transition year we have the opportunity to apply for the A.I.B Build a Bank Challenge! It's a competition with other schools to find out basically who can build the best bank! :P Lots of girls wanted to do it and only six were chosen! I couldn't believe I was given the role of Assistant Manager! :O :D I'll be working with the most AMAZING manager Caitríona ;) I have to say I kinda love our team! :) Cant wait to get it all started!!



-Aoife xoxo

English Review on "Juno and the Paycock" by Sean O'Casey

On the 19^th of October all the Transition Year students were brought on a English Trip to see the play “Juno and the Paycock” by Seán O’Casey in the Abbey Theatre. Some students had high expectations for the play, unfortunately others didn’t. I have to admit I was one of those students. I didn’t particularly enjoy studying the play in class. I found it very difficult to sit down and read a play without it being dramatised and therefore didn’t understand the messages the other students comprehended. However after seeing the play I know why the other students enjoyed studying the play so much.

The acting contributed greatly to the effectiveness of the play. I give all my gratitude to Alastair Coomer and Kelly Phelan the (Casting Directors) because it was such a highly talented cast. Each member of the cast captured the uniqueness of each character and managed to stay true to the character throughout the play. When each character had a line to deliver they managed to deliver it clearly prenonciated to the audience but remained true to the accent of the character.  While many characters stood out, it would be unfair not to mention the extremely talented Ciarán Hinds who portrayed “Captain Jack Boyle” brilliantly. You may have recognised this actor from the movies “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and “The Debt” which are both currently in the cinemas.

I enjoyed the way in which all the scenes of the play, the set and the two-roomed tenancy of the Boyle Family remained the same. Whatever issues or messages were brought up were dealt within the same setting. Therefore sadness, humour, violence and joy filled the atmosphere of the Boyle residence. What added to the dramatic effect of the setting was the lighting. Thanks to James Farncombe (lighting designer), from the audience perspective it was clearly evident to point out the mood of each scene. For example the last scene in Act One where Bentham arrives into the Boyle Residence announcing the news of Mr Ellison of Santry’s death and the will he proclaimed he wrote, the lighting was very bright and mellow capturing the happiness of the Boyle Family. I found this feature to the play very effective.

I feel the theme of poverty dominates the play. The play highlights the irony that while many people were fighting for various principles, there was those who were also suffering from the effects of the poverty. When it becomes clear that the Boyles will not inherit Mr Ellison of Santry’s legacy, the cruel effects of poverty begin to have a dramatic effect on each of the characters, for example, Bentham disappears leaving Mary all alone to have her baby.

Seán O’Casey gave us a true insight into the life of 1920’s Dublin. Did you know that in the 1900’s one third of population lived in single rooms in tenement houses? Also the typical family size in a room of a Dublin tenement was 8-12. Now the average Irish family has 1.4 children. From this play I can truly understand the difficulties of Irish life in 1920’s Ireland.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to see this play being dramatised because my previous attitude towards it would not have changed.

Barnardos craic :)

Yesterday, in the Paint Factory there was a 2fm dress up day in aid of Barnardos! Our director for the musical Ms.Ward organised for some members of the cast to go up and join in on all the fun :) We all had to wear our Von Trapp family costumes! We were on the radio! :O It was my first time EVER on the radio and nobody I knew heard me because everyone was still in school! :'( But there was a band :D  and also halo supplied all the food which was pretty good!

I'll keep you posted on all the musical news! ;)

- Aoife xoxo

"Strutting around town like a paycock"...

Since we are studying "Juno and the Paycock|" by Seán O'Casey in English! Our English teachers organised us to see it in the Abbey Theatre!

 It was really exciting to miss school and head into Dublin for the day! But of course on the one day that we don't have to go to school, I get sick. So I came into Dublin later then everyone else just to see the play! I know I'm a trooper :') Well really my mom made me... :L

But anyway the play was really good! Especially the acting! ;) I have to say Johnny (Ronan Raferty) made that play!  I didn't really notice how gorgeous he was until he came out for the bow with TWO ARMS! :O
But honestly I was pretty surprised about how good the play was! I really didn't enjoy reading the play, but after seeing it on stage I have to say I like more now!

Talk to you soon <3

- Aoife xoxo

Will I be going to a work experience?

Now forget about me being stressed about mini-company because right now that's not my top priority. I don't have a work experience....for November. YES THAT'S RIGHT!! The 14th - 18th of November! That's about three weeks away.. I'm not going to lie I'm starting to panic.

It's not that I haven't tried because to be honest I'm tired of e-mailing, calling, writing letters and waiting to hear back from different establishments.. who NEVER write back!! Its constant rejection... I am very emotional really.. :L I've emailed AND written letters to magazines, newspapers, colleges, arts colleges, hospitals, veterinary hospitals, Doctor practices, and media stations.

But on the bright side I just heard back from The Irish Times that I was "successful in achieving a work placement for February!" YAY! :D I am so happy! But I have to push all my excitement away and focus that energy in getting a decent work experience for November!!

Will let you know if ANYTHING comes up.. :(

- Aoife xoxo

Stress of mini company...

So far we have gone to two mini-company workshops one in Naas and the other in Newbridge! Our Mini- Company idea is to manafacture a small compact bag which contains all those items you wish you had on a night out! This small bag is basically an emergency kit for women which you always have with you in your handbag.The name of our product is "My Busy Bag" because there is so mich happening in such a small bag. The mini-company workshops are really helpful but when we told Orla our idea she wasn't as enthusiastic about it as our Mini- Company teacher Mrs. L! But its our mission to prove her wrong! Our C.A.O Isabelle is keeping us on track we just had a meeting to discuss what we were going to do over the week!

The next time we go to the November workshop Orla told us we should bring our product with us! We better start ordering from china so...

Wish us luck!

- Aoife xoxo

Do we all take food for granted? :/

Today is Blog Action Day and taking part in  Blog Action Day means we are supposed to blog about the topic of "Food".


A couple of  weeks ago, we presented a project based on the Millennium Development Goals in religion. Each group picked a certain goal to research. We chose to base our project on Goal Number Four- "To Reduce Child Mortality". Whats the aim? To reduce by two thirds the child mortality rate between 1990-2015.


We were shocked to learn that 10.5 million children under the age of 5 die each year and 99 percent of these children come from developing countries. When we researched this topic we were saddened to learn  that these children die from easily preventive diseases such as measles and diarrhoea. The reason their body can't fight these diseases off is simply they are starving. Their bodies are weak and they have barely enough food to survive.  Research and experience show that a majority of the millions of children who die each year could be saved by low-tech, evidence-based, cost-effective measures such as vaccines, and micro nutrient supplementation. To learn that organisations such as Trocaire and Oxfam are trying their best to help these children brings hope of  survival to millions of families in the developing countries.


I hope from now on that I don't take food for granted and the next time I declare I don't like a particular dinner and not eat it, I stop and think. Think about the millions of families who don't have a plentiful supply of food and a dinner like that could be the difference between life and death.


Love to all on blog action day <3


-Aoife xoxo

Eriú's Bunch!

Last friday we had our annual fun walk and our job as T.Y's was to help the school cross the road since no one was injured or hurt or anything.. WE SUCEEDED! But more importantlly before we went on the walk every class had to perfrom a dance routine ;) Each year was given a colour.. ours was YELLOW! We decided to be unqiue and we were.. BANANAS! Our title was "Eiriús Bunch" We are just too creative..

We danced to "Hollaback Girl ;)" and "The Banana Song". But to be fair the T.Y's were the best by far! But... the other T.Y class Banba won :( But they were pretty amazing!! :D

Till next time ;)

-Aoife xoxo

"How you doing?! ;)"

In T.Y music we are making an opera to the one and only most amazing television series ever... FRIENDS!! We're picking the funniest scenes and mixing them all together! We only really came up with the idea the other day.. but we have already composed a very operatic style of SMELLY CAT!

So basically music is awesome!

I'll talk to you later...

-Aoife xoxo

Are you feeling alive?! So are the hills.... with the sound of music ;)

Our school has officially started the musical "The Sound of Music".  I have to say there is a certain Von Trapp buzz in the corridors! Its been like five years since the last musical "South Pacific" so everyone is really excited!! Lots of T.Ys are getting involved!! So many are working backstage and even the main lead went to Ms. Leah R! So to sum it up I'm pretty proud of our year! :') <3

We only have roughly eight weeks until the shows... so no pressure! :/ But you know when there's a will, there's a way. I know I'm just full of wisdom....:L

So long... farewell!

- Aoife xoxo

That brown envelope could only mean one thing.. THE JUNIOR CERTS OVER! :D

Since the old days of first year... three years ago to be exact ;) , I was terrified even thinking about the junior cert. Since 14/09/11 I cant believe I can now officially say... THE JUNIOR CERT IS OVER!! It was the longest day of my life. We all came in at 9.05 and had to wait UNTIL 1.20 to receive our results! Everyone was  really nervous, we just didn't know what to expect! I was pretty happy with my result...11 honours! :D Now thinking about it.. I can say that it wasn't half bad! BRING on the leaving!!! Just kidding I'm terrified for that too...!! :L But on the day we all knew the best was yet to come... We needed to celebrate so we all went out to "Time" in Naas! It was a pretty good night! ;) Lets say we all weren't in the best of condition for school the next day.... :L

PEACE and love <3

- Aoife xoxo

That little town in Louth called eh?..... CARLINGFORD!!! :D

Wow...

What else can I say about that trip? It was honestly just amazing. But if we are really being honest here the 6 am early rise in the morning wasn't the best start and I think alot of people in my year now know my true colors that I am  NOT a morning person... :L After two hours on the bus of singing, craic and a good oul bit a banter we arrived in that little town of Carlingford. What an amazing town :) We literally just got off the bus and we were split into two groups and we were brought to our first exercise a personal favourite... THE LASER GUNS! :) It wasn't only that we were dressed in the most awsome camouflage gear but it was a clear highlight of the trip! Even including the steepest hill ever we had to climb to get to the forest we all loved it! It was blues VS reds! Out of the four games we felt bad for the blues so basically we just let them all win......!! :L :L
After lunch (chips, beans, sausages what more can I say? match made in heaven really) We were all excited to head to... the CHALLENGE COURSE! We were split into groups of eight and we had to figure out how to do different challenges working as a team! Some of them we couldn't even talk :O I KNOW?! We had to do loads of different things which included mud, darkness, ropes, sheep, planks... and more mud! You really just had to be there! We spent hours doing the challenges but honestly it felt like half an hour :) Time flies when your having fun right? :L

Next? The night line!  Yes you've probably guessed it. Complete darkness walking around a forest following a rope... BLINDFOLDED! I thought It would be pretty scary but it was actually loads of fun!

After a pretty cosy sing song by the fire ;) We all went to bed! It turns out when you wake up at 6 am and go to bed really late the next morning you turn out to be pretty wrecked! WHO KNEW??! :L Rock climbing and ab sailing was the best! Ok I was a lil nervous walking backwards off a mountain but who wouldn't be? But I was pretty proud of myself for doing it! :')

Well I wasn't the most excited about walking up and down fields and mountains which they call "Orienteering" but I have to say we still managed to have fun!
Even taking in mind that Sarah and I nearly got blown off into a ditch! NO JOKE! :O  We learned those country winds are pretty strong after all!

When we had finished orienteering, the bus had arrived to take us all home :( We all left carlingord together but we brought back all the memories with us! <3
Your now country gal ;)

- Aoife xoxo

Do we really feel socially developed... ?

The answer....? HELL YEAH! :) On the 7th of September we had a social development class with a man called Austin Dunne. I really didn't know what to expect about the day :/ But I have to say I really do think our class "Eriú" really got to know each other at the end of the day :')
Firstly we were split into pairs according to our birthday! We had to share each others most embarrassing stories in front of the whole class! It was really funny! :L We were then divided into groups for different debates. It was hilarious watching our class mates really getting into it!

After break we did this really interesting exercise. Each person in the class was given eight cards with different personality traits. Our job was that we had to walk around the room and give a card to who ever we felt portrayed them the most. Each card was coloured and after we had to count the most colours we had! They each represented four different personality types "Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic, and Phlegmatic" I turned out to be Phlegmatic which meant according to google....... I "tend to be self-content and kind. They can be very accepting and affectionate. They may be very receptive and shy and often prefer stability to uncertainty and change. They are very consistent, relaxed, calm, rational, curious, and observant, making them good administrators. They can also be very passive-aggressive." I don't know if they are good things or not... :/ :LThen Austin stood at the top of the room and read out these statements if they applied to you, you took a step to the right/left and if they didn't you stayed on the spot. In the end two groups were at each side of the room and we were declared "Introverts and Extroverts". No surprise there I am an extrovert which basically means I like to talk... ALOT! :D

We finished the day off with loads of different exercises like the proper way of shaking hands! :) The day went so fast and not to be cheesy or anything but I think loads of people really did learn lots about themselves and others! :') Good job guys! Team work or what?! :L

From your socially developed amiga ;),

- Aoife
  xoxo

Rebecca Black should change her song to "Thurday" :L

Dia Duit Guys :)


It has to be said that on Thursdays we have the most AMAZING day ever! :) I really don't know why Rebecca sings about Fridays :/

We have normal classes until after lunch... and this is when the banter begins :) We have three modules Pilate's, Photography and Charleston Dancing ;) Pilate's..... wow! I go to dance classes during the week and I thought I was going to be fine! I'm pretty sure I was half dead when I finished and that was pretty embarrassing.. :) It began with a five minute warm up and then BAM we were into the hardcore exercises which included the dreaded PLANK!! :/ But even though it was so hard it was really fun! Especially went certain people make weird noises in the middle of stretching :L not looking at anyone particular.. NIAMH! :L


Who knew our music teacher Ms. O'Reilly was actually a pretty good Charleston dance teacher! :) We learned a few good moves from her! :D ;) We were put into a group of 4 to make up a dance to "Doctor wanna do" It was really funny attempting to Charleston dance :L But you know you do what you got to do... and I think "Eriú" kind of rocked it!

Well what’s the best thing about photography.....? ROB LOVE! He's the most honest, funniest, AND talented guy in the world! You just got to love him! He split us into groups and gave us a couple of good tips of photography! He told us to take a picture with those tips in mind! So well me being myself, I forgot to bring in a camera... so really I had no choice but to discreetly follow him around: L

So basically to sum it all up.... THURSDAYS ARE AMAZING!! :D I cant beleive were so close to going to carlingford AAGGHH!.. :D Carlingford is an adventure centre near Drogheda, which involves loads of physical activity like running... :/ Lets just say I'm not the fittest of the bunch...

Wish me luck! :L

- Aoife  xoxo

First week in T.Y WOOP WOOP! :)

Hey Guys!

I cant believe my first week in T.Y is officially over! :( It went in a blink of an eye! To sum it up... this week has been extremely hectic but completely amazing! Our first day we were officially gathered as our T.Y class called "Eriú"! Our base classes were named from the three sisters of Ireland! "Eiriu, Banba and Fodla"! This year we take part in ALL subjects available in our school! Technology, Home-Ec, Music, Art, Business,.... and the list goes on and on!  Already in most subjects we are given projects to have completed by Christmas which add to our Christmas test mark... :/ In T.Y you have to do all your projects on your own time and if you don't have it done in time its basically your own fault! Everything is dependent on you...pressure!! In  saying that I better go and start cracking on all of my own projects..... :L Don't worry I'll fill you in on all of the T.Y goss! :) I'm sure there will be alot more coming!

Till next time ;)


Aoife xoxo