GAA Kerry senior football star Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper pictured with Cork senior hurling star Seamus Harnedy who visited the Rising Star Bank team at St Mary’s Secondary School last Monday; Niamh O Leary, Laura Mills, Aoife Cronin, Fiona Barry and Sarah Tarrant. Also pictured is teacher Donna Lyons along with AIB Mallow staff Sinead Collins, Tara Cunningham and Noreen Walsh.
There was great excitement at St Mary’s Secondary School, Mallow on Monday as the Rising Star Bank introduced two surprise GAA visitors to their fellow classmates. The St Mary’s school bank team is participating in the AIB Build a Bank project and as part of their promotional campaign they very competently welcomed 5-times All Ireland winning Kerry senior footballer Colm Cooper, and Cork’s own senior hurling star Seamus Harnedy, to address the 91 transition year students at the Aemilian Theatre. The senior football and hurling stars provided students with a wealth of guidance and advice in relation to healthy nutrition habits, and also highlighted the importance of preparation as the key to success in enhancing one’s performance, whether academic or sporting. In particular, Colm Cooper offered the students sound advice about the need to have dedication, commitment, and ultimately display self belief, when setting goals for themselves. The students were intrigued with the GAA stars’ knowledge, professionalism and courtesy when speaking with them, and they were utterly delighted to get the opportunity to get the players’ autographs and have their pictures taken with them. The Rising Star team wishes to express sincere thanks to Tara Cunningham and Sinead Collins from AIB Mallow for helping to facilitate this very worthwhile visit to the school. The girls also wish to thank their teacher Ms Donna Lyons and Principal Yvonne Bane for their ongoing support with their Build a Bank project. The AIB Build a Bank regional finals are due to be held during March 2nd and 3rd. We wish the girls every success with the Rising Star Bank.
Pancake Day
St Mary’s was a hive of activity on Friday last as the transition year’s ‘The Rising Star’ bank held a pancake day to raise funds for a local charity. As part of the Build a Bank competition, the students were asked to raise funds for a local charity of their choice. Without any hesitation, the St Mary’s students unanimously agreed to donate whatever money they raised to the Mallow Search and Rescue team. There was heat in the kitchen and sugar on the floor, but the girls were determined to do their very best to raise as much money as they possibly could for donation to a very worthwhile cause, one which is very close to the hearts of the people of Mallow and surrounding areas. In total, the girls served over 300 pancakes and raised a total of €434.50, all of which will be donated to the Mallow Search and Rescue team. The students wish to thank the St Mary’s school community for all of their support in making this fundraiser a great success. The students also express sincere thanks to their teacher Ms Donna Lyons and AIB student officer Tara Cunningham for their dedication and commitment in supporting the Rising Star Bank. The Rising Star Bank Pancake day was a ‘flipping’ great success.