123.ie All-Ireland Schools’ Track and Field Championships – Silver for CPR Boys Relay team.
The 2024 edition of the 123.ie All-Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships gave us some thrilling events in a sun-drenched Tullamore Harriers Stadium on Friday 31st May and Saturday June 1st. The two-day athletics extravaganza saw over 1000 athletes from 300 schools produce a host of thrilling performances. High on the list of these were the 9 students from CPR who gave us season’s best performances, broke personal best records and brought home silver glory in their pockets.
Kailum O’Meara kicked off the competition for Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré on Friday evening in the Minor Boys’ long jump. Displaying impressive form, Kailum improved his personal best by 17 centimeters with an initial jump of 4.97m. He continued to outdo himself, recording jumps of 5.08m and 5.09m in subsequent attempts and finishing in 6th place overall. This remarkable performance highlights Kailum’s potential and suggests a promising future as his consistency and ability to perform on the big-day were clearly evident.
Soon afterwards, Brendan Duma participated in the Junior long jump. Competing against a strong field of young athletes, Brendan delivered a series of solid jumps, with his best effort measuring 4.91m. His performance, while not placing him in the top ranks, earned him valuable experience and highlighted his potential for future competitions.
Roll on midday Saturday, the sun still shining and Marie Shanahan took to the field in the Intermediate discus. Marie entered the competition with a strong reputation, having won the junior competition last year, and she did not disappoint. Marie’s best throw of 31.74m, a seasonal best for her this year, secured her a commendable fourth-place finish. This is an excellent result as Marie will take part in the same age group next year. As she continues to train and compete, she is set to achieve even greater success in the coming years.
Later on, the atmosphere was electric as the Minor Boys 4x100m relay teams gathered to compete for the top spot. Among them, the team from CPR, Kailum O’Meara, Osayamon Ogbebor Egharevba, Luke Marks and Harry O’Donoghue delivered an impressive performance, finishing in second place. Kailum started strong, effortlessly navigating the bend in superb time, and passing the baton to Osayamon. He maintained the momentum with his long, confident stride and determination down the back straight. Luke took over next, and rounded the bend with tenacity and strength. Harry delivered a powerful finish, sprinting down the final stretch with lightning speed, as the 100m winner from St. Brendan’s, Killarney chased him down. Harry held out and secured a second-place finish for the team., Willow Park, Blackrock were 1st, CPR 2nd with a time of 50.34 and St. Brendan’s, Killarney in 3rd , 0.02 seconds behind. It was a tremendous final, where each team member performed magnificently, improving their time as a team by 2.76 seconds from the Munster final.
Soon afterwards the junior team of Christian Nolan, Alex Andronic, Jack Walsh and Brendan Duma took their places on the track. Having come 1st in Munster and seeing their younger school friends bring home the silverware, expectations were high. However, despite a magnificent performance, it was not to be. The boys did improve their time from the Munster final from 51.16 seconds to a fast 48.74 and finished in 5th place. Indeed there was a gap of a mere 1.02 seconds between them and second place. This improvement reflects the team’s skill, teamwork, and competitive spirit. As they continue to train and improve, they are set to make even more significant strides in the future.
Finally, a word of thanks to all the parents, families, and friends who travelled to see our athletes perform to such a high standard in the All Ireland T&F competition. Thanks also to the school management, in particular Ms. Ormond, in supporting athletics and to the teachers, Ms. Cleary and Mr. Delaney who train the students.
Kailum O’Meara getting a PB with a jump of 5.09m in the minor long jump.
The minor relay team who were 2nd with their teacher, Ms. Cleary.
Kailum O’Meara, Luke Marks, Ms. Cleary, Osayamon Ogbebor Egharevba and Harry O’Donoghue.
The junior relay team who were 5th with their teacher, Ms. Cleary.
Jack Walsh, Christian Nolan, Ms. Cleary, Brendan Duma and Alex Andronic.
Marie Shanahan – 4th in the inter girls discus.
Alumni of the Year 2024
Our annual awards day took place at the end of May this year- this is an occasion to celebrate not just the academic achievements of our students, but also their personal, extra-curricular and sporting successes. For the first time this year, we also awarded our Alumni Award, as nominated by our past pupils. Many nominations were received, which alone is testament to the talent, accomplishments and breadth of success that our past pupils have achieved.
This year’s Alumni award goes to a former student who excelled not only in the classroom, but also on the playing field. Even in her school days, she was known for her determination – a quality her father, Seamus, remembers fondly. We are proud to present this award to Eimear Ryan, a writer, editor, publisher, and a force to be reckoned with in the Irish literary scene.
Eimear always knew what she wanted. From her time in Coláiste, she spoke of her twin passions: writing and camogie. And what a career she has built! As a camogie player, she represented her county with pride. Her debut novel, Holding Her Breath, was published by Penguin Books and shortlisted for a major award. Eimear won the Easons 2023 Sports Book of the Year award at the annual An Post Irish Book Awards last year for her memoir, The Grass Ceiling, which examines gender and sport.
Eimear Ryan is a shining example of the potential that lies within each of our students. She is a reminder that with dedication and perseverance, you can achieve your dreams, no matter how big or how different they may seem. We hope that her journey inspires our students to pursue their passions with all their hearts. Congratulations, Eimear!
If you are a past pupil of our school and are interested in joining our alumni mailing list simply email your name and the year you left our school to alumni@cpr.ie.
