AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR IN ATTENDANCE FOR LORETO FERMOY AWARDS
At last Thursday’s awards ceremony in Fermoy, Katie O’Brien, Róisín Leamy, Fiona Dunne, Carrie McGarvey and Michelle O’Donohoe are pictured with Ms Brogan, Ulrike Schoeller (vice president of the Irish Austrian Society) and the Austrian ambassador, Thomas Nader.
The Austrian ambassador to Ireland, Thomas Nader and the vice president of the Irish Austrian Society, Ulrike Schoeller, paid a visit to Loreto
Secondary School, Fermoy on Thursday last, October 1.
The purpose of the visit was to present German language teacher, Ms Laura Brogan with the Teachers Perpetual Trophy in memory of Catriona Dowling and to present 85 students with certificates for excellence in the German language.
Last year saw the 23rd annual Irish Austrian Society German Language Essay competition that saw entries from Junior Cert, Transition Year and 5th and 6th year classes enter, in a bid to win one of three prize categories.
The Catriona Dowling Perpetual Trophy was also up for grabs for the teachers, a trophy presented to the teacher who in the view of the Irish Austrian Society Committee, having taken advice from the competition organiser and adjudicator, has contributed most that year to the essay competition.
The teacher is commended not only for longstanding dedication to the essay competition and the number of essays contributed, but also for the calibre of these contributions. Loreto’s German language teacher, Ms Laura Brogan was awarded the trophy this year, and speaking to TheAvondhu, said she was delighted to receive the award,
“We’re definitely hoping to enter again next year,” she said.
STRONG FERMOY ENTRY
The awards ceremony would normally take place in Dublin, however with this year being quite different due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Austrian ambassador and the vice president of the Irish Austrian Society paid a visit to Fermoy for a small ceremony.
“The students put a lot of effort in and we thought it was only fair to show our appreciation,” Mr Nader told The Avondhu.
The ceremony began with Mr Nader addressing the students in German, followed by the English translation.
“We came here today because we are very happy to have so many of you participate and being here is a mark of respect to you and your teachers,” Mr Nader began.
According to Ulrike Schoeller, the
Irish Austrian Society received 181 essay for this year’s competition, with a staggering 82 of those being from students attending Loreto Secondary School, Fermoy.
The school has been involved with the competition for a number of years with some notable successes.
Last year, Loreto student Gormfhlaith Ní Shíocháin Ní Bheoláin won the national competition outright and received her award at a reception in Dublin.
TIME FOR CAKE!
This year saw a presentation to all qualifying participants of last year’s Austrian essay competition, with 85 Loreto pupils among those. Each pupil was awarded a certificate, a Sonnentor organic package and a delicious slice of Sachertorte, a specialty Austrian chocolate cake.
“It’s my hope that the competition has brought Austria and the German language a little closer to you,” Ms Schoeller said.
Concluding the ceremony, Loreto Principal Orla Forde, thanked the distinguished guests and congratulated the students and Ms Brogan for their dedication and significant effort.
She acknowledged the great work done every year by the German department enriching the lives of the students outside the classroom with cultural and social experiences that bring the language to life.
“Girls, the reason we are all here today is for you. Our school has had the lion’s share of entries, very well done to you all,” she said.