It is all systems go for St Colman’s Stradbally as they are all set to go for the grand final of the LaoisToday Schools QuizCast.
The Dunamaise Arts Centre will be the venue for the final which is scheduled for Friday, March 1.
6th class students Oran Lawlor, Maci Moore-Doyle and Freya Byrne are representing the school – where they will go up against Timahoe, The Heath and Rath NS.
Stradbally’s run to the final has been straightforward as they got there by winning two rounds – albeit narrowly.
A tiebreaker was required between themselves and Borris-In-Ossory in Round 1 which they won.
And then they defeated neighbours Timahoe, who they will see again in the final, in Round 2.
The rounds up to now have been recorded on Zoom, with the students in question relocating to the nearby office of principal Brian Lynch.
Stradbally have a huge Sixth class with 59 pupils in total and all of them will be present at the final on Friday to support their fellow students.
Oran Lawlor is 12 and from Stradbally. He plays football with Stradbally Parish Gaels, hurling with Park-Ratheniska-Timahoe and soccer with T&S United plus The Midlands.
Freya Byrne is 12 and from Vicarstown. She plays football with Timahoe Ladies, camogie with Portlaoise and also does gymnastics competitively.
Maci Moore-Doyle is also 12 and she comes from Stradbally. She also plays football with Timahoe Ladies and has recently started kick boxing.
St Colman’s have 335 students in the school with 13 mainstream classes, one for each year, and two special classes.
The schools continues to grow and will move from 13 to 14 full time teachers in September.
The school takes part in a range of sports – GAA, rounders, tag rugby, soccer, basketball, volleyball and athletics.
They also compete in gymnastics, table quizzes and chess. While they are heavily involved in arts, especially music and dance.
There is also great excitement at present with many students busy rehearsing for the St Patrick’s Day band.
Dean Malone was recently appointed as a GDO by the local GAA clubs and he is actively working in the school now several days per week.
As regards the quiz, there have been four or five rounds of questions so far but that will change in the Grand Final.
It will have ten rounds including some of the old favourites like ‘Golden Goose’ and ‘The List’ as well as some new rounds which test the contestants’ knowledge across spelling, the Irish language and music.
St Colman’s will be hoping to keep their unbeaten streak going right to the end.
The LaoisToday Schools QuizCast is brought to you in association with Mulhall Meat and Fish Counter, located in Mulhall’s SuperValu, Lyster Square Portlaoise. Mulhall Meats have been serving the people of Laois for over 90 years.
SEE ALSO – Check out all our coverage of the LaoisToday Schools QuizCast here
