29th January 2010
Largy College Students Campaign for Hospital.
The Leaving Certificate Applied students of Largy College, Clones, are undertaking an awareness raising campaign centred on the closure of acute services at Monaghan General hospital.
As part of this campaign, students were delighted to interview Mr. Caoimhighin O Caolain, T.D. who gave them a great insight into how public representatives for the county are dealing with the hospital issue. Students spent a fascinating hour in Caoimhghin’s company, probing the political motivations with regards to the closure of the hospital and charting the historical journey that the hospital and, indeed the people of the county, have weathered in a twelve year bid to save the hospital.
The strong message that students went away with following the interview is that there are still services available at the hospital and that the people of the county need to avail of them. If we fail to use these services, then the unthinkable may become the inevitable – a complete closure of the hospital. Students expressed their concern to Mr. O Caolain with regards to the lack of public transport available from Monaghan to both Cavan and Drogheda hospitals. Their fears, unfortunately were not dispelled as Mr. O Caolain talked of proposed improvements in HSE inter-hospital transport now being jeopardised by the €106 million cutbacks in the health budget.
Undoubtedly, following their interview with Caoimhighin, students are ever more motivated to continue with their campaign. In the coming weeks they hope to present the results from a survey of local opinion, a petition and a DVD which will put faces to the signatures on the petition, to the Minister for Health Mary Harney.
Largy College support local St Vincent de Paul.
Pictured: Two Aileach (Santa and his helpers) and Ms S Cumiskey – teacher.
Santa arrived in style at Largy College on Friday December 4th, helping students raise much needed funds for the local St Vincent de Paul.
The students of 2 Aileach set up Santa’s grotto and invited students from first and second year to visit Santa and take their chances with a lucky dip! Lots of novel prizes were up for grabs and delighted students left the grotto with vouchers such as “no homework for a night” or “chose your slave teacher”. In addition, students organised a bake sale with panoply of delights on sale to students and staff alike.
Altogether students raised €350, which they will present to Mary Keenan, secretary of the local SVP.
The students of 2 Aileach would like to thank all staff, teachers and students who assisted in any way in the preparation of the project. They are also very grateful to all who supported their efforts last Friday.
Largy College Debating.
For their eight year in a row, the Largy College Debating team are through to the Knockout Phase of the Concern Schools’ Debating competition having beaten regional opponents, Baileboro Community School and Maigh Eana, Bundoran.
The Largy team confirmed their place in the Knockout Phase on Thursday the 3rd of December in a showdown against Baileboro when Largy had the formidable task of defending the motion that, “The West is not serious about combating Climate Change”.
Alex Trant captains this year’s team and her fellow speakers are Martin McElroy, Hanna Bialitskaya, Garth Clerkin and Conan McGonigle. Research assistant is Stephen Clarke.
The team were championed by their usual enthusiastic legion of thirty plus supporters and their mentors Sascha Cumiskey, Rosaleen McGroary and Cala Trant. We wish the team every continued success in 2010!
