Lottery licence

FATHER Jim Cogley’s name was mentioned at the District Court sitting in Ardcavan as the judge considered an application submitted by the priest on behalf of Our Lady’s parish.

Sergeant Victor Isdell told the court that the gardaí had no objection to the granting of the fundraising lottery licence sought by Father Cogley and the application was approved without a hitch in his absence. WEXFORD SCHOOL of Ballet and Performing Arts bi-annual production of Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker’ was, once again, a sell-out success when it ran at the National Opera House recently.

The school produces two shows per year but returns to ‘The Nutcracker’ every second year as it is a Christmas favourite.

Written in 1892, ‘The Nutcracker’ is a classic tale telling the story of Clara Stahlbaum’s favourite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker doll, which comes to life, defeats the Rat King in battle and whisks Clara away through the Land of the Snowflakes to the magical Kingdom of Dolls.

Central to the show are the characters of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince who, this year, were played by 14-year-old Abby Ormonde and 16-year-old Alex Saunders, both of whom received huge praise from the audience.

Choreographer Suzanne O’Leary pointed out the physical demands that all ballet dancers face, commending all of the dancers on how they were able to make something difficult look effortless.

Other roles were played by Johnny Smith (Drosselmeyer), Sadbh Bonnington (Young Clara), while the five dolls were played by Alanna Randall, Lauren O’Leary, Sarah Moran, Eimear O’Donnagain, and Holly Johnson.

In total, over 300 students, from age three up, took part in the show.