Category: ‘Active Schools Programme’

March 22- Dance programme with Lisa

April 7, 2022

2nd class – Unstoppable!!! ❤️❤️

Thanks to Gravity Dance Academy for our final dance session with Lisa – huge thanks to Offaly Arts for their support with this programme. Today we welcomed a little boy to 2nd class ( dancing in video) who has fled the war in Ukraine – What a lovely way to welcome him to Ireland / Offaly /Birr / St Brendan’s PS – Let’s dance not fight in our world ❤️💪 🇺🇦

November 21- Visit of Birr Intermediate county champions

November 30, 2021

Last week we were honoured to welcome some members of the victorious Birr intermediate hurling team to the school. Traditionally there would be a big whole school welcome for a county win but COVID safety meant a small outdoor gathering with 5th and 6th class bubbles . captain Mick Mulrooney and coach Johnny Kelly along with players told the boys about the great win and the importance of working hard to achieve these days – there were many tough days and great sacrifice which led to this point so we hope the boys will get inspiration for this visit. It was heartening to hear how these men fondly remember starting their hurling at school and of the friends they still have from playing the game together – our boys were encouraged to make the most of the excellent school coaching now with Adrian Clancy- the boys got some lovely photos with the cup and some hurls signed and please God the next time Birr come back with a county title we will lift the roof off the hall with a welcome 🙏

Ireland Rugby past pupil visit

November 30, 2021

Delighted and honoured to welcome back Past pupil and rising rugby star Ronan Loughnane back to our school. Ronan proudly presented the school with his Ireland u20 jersey – Ronan spoke with some classes and the boys loved to hear about how hard work and self belief are the key ingredients in following your dream – a young Ronan ( pictured ) was at the school back in 2013 when another famous past pupil Peter Dooley presented the school with his Ireland u20 jersey – young Ronan returned home and told his dad Barry that some day he would have an Ireland rugby jersey on the school wall beside Peters – inspirational stuff !!
We wish Ronan well in his exciting career and we hope that he continues to work hard towards the goal of a full international cap – boys of Birr – dream big ! Denis R @BirrRugby

1st March 2021- Phased reopening

March 5, 2021

The sunny weather 🌞and being back at school with friends in senior infants – Magic !! 😎

October 2020- Kayaking on the Shannon

November 1, 2020

Thank you again to Birr OEC for the amazing opportunity handed to some of our 5t class boys last week –
They were volunteers for KAYAK instructor training on the shannon – Great fun!

Oct 2020- Happy 142 Birthday St Brendan’s PS

October 5, 2020

Happy Birthday St Brendans PS Birr – 142 years old today ! – thanks to Brother Denis for joining Mr Crofton at school gate to acknowledge the proud heritage of Presentation Brothers who founded our lovely school back on Oct 2nd 1878 / covid safe celebrations today to acknowledge the event and please God we can create a gathering in future years – lovely photos of some of our school community this morning ❤️

Thanks to Glanmore foods for helping us celebrate school birthday with 200 individually wrapped muffins today so all the boys could enjoy the birthday in a covid safe way – 😀

Sept 20- BIRR OEC

October 5, 2020

3rd- 6th class groups

had a great time earlier today at Birr OEC helping Yanni and the team with their instructor training – thanks for the amazing opportunity guys and for doing so in such a safe way 👍

Hurling Coaching 2020

February 19, 2020

Coaching with Adrian is going great with all classes. Boys from 2nd class accepted the donation of sliotars , helmets and hurls from Birr GAA Club presented by
Michael and Charlie
Loughnane,
Mile buiochas 🙂

Gaelic Football Champions 2018 – Offaly schools

November 6, 2018

Gaelic Football team

A great season for our schools Gaelic Football team. The boys really bought into the idea of playing the game for September and October and we had huge numbers 70+ playing the lunchtime league with Mr Crofton. The panel of 31 boys then training each week under guidance of Mr Kennedy and great to see such good numbers from 6th class this year playing.
They started off the campaign with a good win over Dromakeenan and then also won against a weakened Banagher side and young Gaelscoil Tullamore side to reach the final in St Brendans park. The boys really had it put up to them by a strong Banagher team with a goal only in it at half time. That’s when the men stood up and led by some outstanding performances by 6th class they eased away with 5 mins to go. The honour of lifting the cup fell to Adriano Szoma as captain.
Thanks to Mr Kennedy for his passion and dedication to the team– the school staff who supported the team as various matches and attended in great numbers at the final and to the great parents for support as each match too Full report in this weeks midland tribune and we also hope to write our school magazine after mid term with some reports—

Oct 18- Catch and kick Gaelic lunchtime league

November 6, 2018

Catch and kick football
8 teams of 80 boys from 3rd—6th took part in this fun league each lunchtime. We are down to semi final stage now with 4 teams remaining– great to see boys try football for the first time and enjoy it so much.