DUNAMASE DAILY
DUNAMASE DAILY
DUNAMASE DAILY
Moya Keating
Bumper Edition
6th Year Christmas Brunch
Transition Year Musical 2023
AWARDS FOR OUR SCHOOL
12.01.2024
Glór Dhún Másc
Glór Dhún Másc
Glór Dhún Másc
THE PRINCIPAL
THE PRINCIPAL
THE PRINCIPAL
A Note of Thanks
We have come to the end of another busy term here
in Dunamase College, as you all can witness as you
peruse through the pages of our very own Dunamase
Daily. I want to acknowledge Kiera Edinborough and
her Journalism class for keeping us all up to date with
some of the happenings here throughout the term. We are very excited with the
upcoming opening of our new Modular Accommodation in Tower Hill. This
consists of 6 new classrooms. As a result of this and the additional 6
classrooms which were added last year we are pleased that we will be across 2
sites very soon. Furthermore, we have had very positive talks with the
department regarding our new school and the final plans are at an advanced
stage with the Department of Education, the LOETB and the Architects. I want
to thank you all for your continued support of the school and wish you all a
peaceful and enjoyable break. Táimid tar éis deireadh a chur le téarma gnóthach
eile anseo i gColáiste Dhún Másc, mar is léir agus tú ag breathnú ar leathanaigh
ár Dunamase Daily féin. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt do Kiera
Edinborough agus an rang Iriseoireachta as muid go léir a choinneáil ar an eolas
faoi chuid de na himeachtaí anseo i rith an téarma. Táimid an-sásta le hoscailt ár
gCóiríocht Mhodúlach nua i gCnoc an Túir. Táimid an-sásta le hoscailt ár
gCóiríocht Mhodúlach nua i gCnoc an Túir. Tá sé seo comhdhéanta de 6
sheomra ranga nua. Mar thoradh air seo agus na 6 sheomra ranga breise a
cuireadh leis anuraidh tá áthas orainn go mbeimid thar 2 shuíomh go luath.
Chomh maith leis sin, bhí cainteanna an-dearfach againn leis an Roinn maidir
lenár scoil nua agus beimid in ann bogadh go cead pleanála sna míonna amach
romhainn. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil libh go léir as bhur dtacaíocht
leanúnach don scoil agus guím sos síochánta taitneamhach ar ár ndaltaí agus ar
a dteaghlaigh.
ELECTRIFYIN’ SHOWS
DUNAMASE DAILY
DUNAMASE DAILY
DUNAMASE DAILY
In December, our TY’s brought some ‘Summer Nights’ to our cold,
winter evenings as they transported audiences back to the golden
era of the 1950's, with their outstanding, ‘electrifyin’ performances
of the world famed musical ‘Grease’. There has been a fantastic
buzz amongst the team and around the school with the hallways
filled with all the classic Grease songs so many of us have grown up
with over the years. The excitement was not limited to the school
grounds however; the entire community was abuzz with excitement.
Families, friends, teachers, peers and local supporters were all
present at the sold out performances showing their support for our
“I’ve never done drama before. This was a big
confidence boost to act, sing and dance on
stage in front of my friends and family.”
- Ben Peacham
“Weeks filled with fun and excitement. It was great
bonding experience and a chance for us all to get to
know each other and express ourselves.”
- Heidi O’Mahoney
It was brilliant. It was great to get to know other
classmates that I wouldn’t have had a chance to mix
with. I’ve made lots of new memories and friends for life.”
- Cayle Bourke
Ty talent takes centre stage
talented students. The cast brought lots of energy and enthusiasm as they took centre
stage, immersing themselves in the iconic roles and showcasing their many talents - singing,
acting, dancing and their creativity in their props and costumes. The infectious energy and
camaraderie among cast members translated seamlessly onto the stage, creating a fun-
filled atmosphere that not only entertained the audience but also became a fond memory
for all. Cast were buzzing as they revelled in the laughter and applause that echoed through
the Dunamaise Arts Centre each show from the enthusiastic and captivated spectators,
who weren’t shy of dancing and singing along as they indulged in the nostalgia.The curtains
may have closed, however the fond memories will linger for many years to come for all the
cast and crew. From the laughter shared backstage to the exhilaration of stepping under the
spotlight, to the newly formed friendships, each moment has become part of their
unforgettable experience.
DUNAMASE DAILY
DUNAMASE DAILY
DUNAMASE DAILY
FIRST SCHOOL IN LAOIS
Dunamase College
A School Of Sanctuary
In a momentous occasion for Dunamase College, the
school has been recognised as a Champion School of
Sanctuary by School of Sanctuary Ireland. This prestigious
honour marks Dunamase College as the first school in Laois
to receive such an accolade, highlighting its commitment
to inclusivity and creating a welcoming environment for all.
The celebration took place on Wednesday, December 13th,
when the School of Sanctuary Ireland monitoring team
visited Dunamase College to witness firsthand the
remarkable efforts made by the students and staff to
foster inclusivity. The day kicked off with a warm welcome
from Deputy Principal Claire Fitzgerald, setting the tone for
a day filled with inspiring presentations from our Le Chéile
committee.
We are thrilled to announce an extraordinary opportunity awaiting our
Transition Year and Fifth Year students in Easter 2025 - the Hope
Immersion Program to Kolkata, India! Twelve students have been
chosen, following an intense selection process and have begun their
fundraising campaign. Each student must raise over €2,500 each,
and will do so through a variety of fundraisers and events through the
next 18 months. This is a fantastic opportunity and we are so
delighted to support our students with this project. HOPE
representative Maura Lennon came to meet our enthusiastic
students in September to present the work of the HOPE Foundation
to our 3rd and TY students. Thanks to Lauren Harding and Ciara
Dunne for organising and helping our students get involved in such a
fantastic programme.
DUNAMASE DAILY
DUNAMASE DAILY
DUNAMASE DAILY
JOIN OUR JOURNEY WITH
THE HOPE FOUNDATION
Keep an eye on our social
media page for more
information and for how you
can support us!
Welcome to our 2023/2024 Student Council! The Student Council is a student-
led body that engages with students, teachers, school management and parents.
We understand the importance of the student voice and support the Student
Council to actively encourage student feedback through various initatives. Keep
an eye on our social media for all of our activities throughout the year.
Student Council
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
DUNAMASE DAILY
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MOYA KEATING
Transition year is year full of opportunities to avail of, and when the chance to lead the school
newsletter came up I had to seize it. It is a great chance to meet and talk to people I would other
wise never have the chance to talk to and gain first hand experience on different goings-on in
our school. Being the Editor-in-Chief comes with its set of challenges of course. Tight deadlines,
different perspectives, and the responsibility of being the voice of the student body are all part
of the job, but I will gladly take these challenges head-on, if it means I get the opportunity to
turn them into an informative and entertaining newsletter. My team and I are here to deliver
school news events and sports not only to teachers and students but the people of Portlaoise
and beyond. We are all so excited for the future of our school newsletter. With our dedicated
team, you can expect the finest and most thought-provoking articles, insightful interviews, and a
reflection of the vibrant world that is Dunamase College, Coláiste Dhún Másc.
Actively Contributing to our Community
Our students are proud to be active members of the community
not just taking part in the wide variety of clubs but also supporting
and giving back to their community. Here are some of the many
things they have done for their community this year so far...
OUR COMMUNITY
OUR COMMUNITY
OUR COMMUNITY
2nd Year Students hosted a Bake
Sale and Jersey Day to raise funds
for PATH - a local homeless charity
Our Student Council
held a Christmas Drive to help our
community this Christmas. They
collected food, clothes, body care
products and lots more. Well done to all!
TY Students volunteered some of
their time to use their artistic and
creative talents to paint some
Christmas scenes at the LSPCA
Shop. Well done to all!
SPORTING UPDATES
SPORTING UPDATES
SPORTING UPDATES
BOYS FOOTBALL
The 2nd year boys entered a Laois Schools' Blitz
in which they won 2/3 of their games. This was a
good foundation for them to then begin their
South Leinster campaign. They then faced into
two very competitive group games coming
away with one win and one narrow loss. This left
Our junior footballers had a big day out on the
18th of December where they won both their
South Leinster group games to progress out of the
group stages. Two wins mean a home fixture for
the quarter final. The lads will draw on their
winning experiences from their 2nd year south
leinster championship 2 years ago and look to
repeat this great feat this year.
Our senior footballers have had 2 wins from 2 matches in their group stage
games meaning a home fixture heading into the quarter final. The lads are
awaiting confirmation of this date and would love to win this match leaving a
semi final to look forward to in the new year. This group of lads have been great
supporters of Dunamase GAA for the past number of years and have set good
foundations for other teams that follow. However, they have not yet tasted
success for themselves in GAA and look to change that fact in 2024!
2nd Year Team
Dunamase with a tough away fixture against Castlecomer in which they were
dissapointed. with the loss. With a few injuries on the team the lads were
very dissapointed to be leaving the competition at this early stage but have
set a solid foundation for other competitions in years to come.
Senior Team
Junior Team
SPORTING UPDATES
SPORTING UPDATES
SPORTING UPDATES
GIRLS FOOTBALL
Senior Girls Football
Our Senior ladies won their quarter final on Tuesday the 19th after
beating Bunclody, 8.21-2.05. Our girls have been fantastic
throughout their campaign this year and we hope to continue with
their success with the upcoming semi-final.
Our Juniors bowed out of their
competition this week having lost to
Mountrath. The girls showed great
determination throughout every match
and showed such pride in their jersey.
We look forward to next year's
competition.
Junior Girls Football
Following a highly successful basketball season last year, students
were enthusiastic to maintain the elevated basketball energy.
Recognising our earned spot in the upcoming division, we
understood the challenges that lay ahead. The U16s and U19s
boy’s basketball teams at Dunamase College faced strong
opponents, experiencing significant defeats. However, their
journey showcased impressive skills, strong team spirit and
unwavering committment. Regrettably, both teams did not
advance beyond the group stages. this experience has provided
valuable insights and now we are better prepared for the
challenges that lie ahead in the coming year.
SPORTING UPDATES
SPORTING UPDATES
SPORTING UPDATES
GIRLS & BOYS BASKETBALL
U16 & U19 Boys & Girls Basketball