Athenry News & Views Summer 2026

Athenry News & Views

Celebrating Success at Newcastle N.S. A Remarkable Year of Achievement, Creativity and Sporting Excellence

From music and technology to sport and performance, it has been an extraordinary year for the pupils of Newcastle National School. Throughout the year, the school community has celebrated a series of memorable achievements that have showcased the creativity, talent, teamwork and enthusiasm of its pupils both inside and outside the classroom. National Recognition at the Walton RTÉ Lyric FM Music Competition One of the proudest moments of the year came on 19 May, when Newcastle National School was named runners-up in the prestigious Walton RTÉ Lyric FM Music Competition. Representing their school with confidence and professionalism, the talented pupils travelled to the National Concert Hall to perform their original song, A Chuisle Mo Chroí, live on stage at the national finals. The competition celebrates exceptional young musical talent from schools throughout Ireland, and Newcastle NS received outstanding praise for the creativity, musical ability and emotional depth of their performance. Writing and performing their own original composition made the achievement even more special and meaningful for the pupils and teachers involved. The entire school community is immensely proud of the children for their dedication, hard work and remarkable talent. Reaching the national finals and securing the runners-up title is a tremendous honour and an experience that will remain with the pupils for many years to come Innovation and Creativity Through LEGO League Innovation and teamwork were also to the fore this year as 5th Class pupils once again participated in the exciting LEGO League project. The theme for this year’s competition, Unearthed,

encouraged pupils to explore the fascinating worlds of archaeology, artefacts and ancient ruins. Throughout the project, the children investigated historic Irish sites and enjoyed a local field trip to the site of an old school, where they uncovered a variety of interesting artefacts while learning more about local history and heritage. Working collaboratively in groups, pupils researched, coded and problem-solved as they designed and built their own robots to assist archaeologists in their work. The project provided a highly engaging hands-on learning experience, combining science, technology, engineering and creativity. Six pupils proudly represented the school at the LEGO League Showcase held at Atlantic Technological University, where they enjoyed an inspiring and memorable day. During the showcase, the pupils presented their innovative models, demonstrated their coding skills in action and displayed detailed posters outlining their design processes, coding journeys and the core values practised throughout the project. Following the showcase event, the pupils toured the ATU laboratories, where they experienced cutting edge technology firsthand, including a 3D printer and a robotic arm in operation. To conclude the project, the pupils hosted their own school showcase event, proudly presenting their work, discoveries and achievements to the wider school community. Sporting success was another major highlight of the year for Newcastle National School, with huge congratulations extended to the school’s girls’ football team on their fantastic achievement. Newcastle NS was one of only 32 schools nationwide

Pupils pictured with teachers Gráinne O’Neill, Éadaoin Ní Neachtain and Louise Donohoe following their performance at the Walton’s RTÉ Lyric FM National Music Competition Finals in the National Concert Hall, Dublin.

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