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AlexPress March 2026

Principal's Update

Principal's Update 27 March 2026
Barbara Ennis, College Principal

As we approach the Easter break, I would like to take a moment to celebrate the incredible energy and achievements that have defined this term. Our sports departments are currently basking in a well-earned glow of victory; a huge congratulations to all our football and hockey teams for their stellar performances and hard-fought successes in both league and cup competitions. Your dedication and teamwork have been truly inspiring. Equally impressive was the creativity on display at the recent Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year awards. Well done to our talented nominees who attended the ceremony - seeing your hard work recognised on such a prestigious stage is a testament to the vibrant artistic spirit within our halls.

While the hallways are about to get quieter, I know the "break" looks a little different for some of our senior students. To those completing oral exams over the coming weeks, I wish you the very best of luck. For the rest of our community, I hope these next two weeks provide a much-needed opportunity to recharge and reconnect. I look forward to seeing everyone return refreshed and ready for the final stretch of the academic year. Have a safe, happy, and restful Easter break.

 

Community News

HolyWeekOratorioConcertDOSVersion2026 (PDF)

ACA Tennis Tournament

ACA Tennis Tournament 2026

Wednesday 29 April at 5:30 pm

It's time to showcase your skills on the court and compete in our annual Tennis event, organised by the ACA! Sign up as a team with your daughter for a match of doubles: Parent + Daughter v Parent + Daughter.

Entry cost is €10 for doubles, and payments can be made on Payzone (formerly EasyPayments) linked below:

ACA TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Nikki Evans Academy Easter Hockey Camp

Nikki Evans Academy Easter Hockey Camp 2026

We are delighted to launch the Nikki Evans Academy Easter Hockey Camp once again this year! The camp will run from Monday 30th March – Thursday 2nd April in Alexandra College.

The Nikki Evans Academy was created to provide a fun, inclusive environment where young girls can come together, build friendships and develop their love of hockey. Our camps focus on teamwork, staying active and, most importantly, enjoying the game. Players of all abilities are welcome. 

Our aim is that every girl leaves camp a more confident athlete and hockey player, ready to bring her improved skills back to her school and club.

Camp Groups & Times:

  • 9.00am – 11.00am: 1st & 2nd Class
  • 9.00am – 11.00am: 3rd & 4th Class
  • 11.00am – 1.00pm: 5th & 6th Class
  • 1.00pm – 3.00pm: 1st – 3rd Year

Places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces for another fantastic week of hockey!

Junior School News

This month's Junior School News features a visit to Newbridge Farm, our Lunar New Year celebrations, and more!

Junior School News March 2026 

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'Joutes Oratoires' Semifinals

'Joutes Oratoires' Semifinals
Ms Biondi, Ms Maxwell, and Ms Ryan

Congratulations to our 5th Year French debating team—Sorcha Moran (5L), Lucy Coleman (5J), and Florence-May O'Donnell (5J)—for their brilliant performance in the 'Joutes Oratoires' semifinals. While the team narrowly missed out on the final, Sorcha Moran was awarded Best Orator, and the jury commended all three students for their exceptional fluency and engaging debating style. A huge well done to the whole team!

The image shows a large group of people, primarily young women, standing together in what appears to be a school or educational setting, with a decorative ceiling and walls visible in the background.
Three young women are seated at a table, with name tags in front of them. The background is a plain white wall.
A group of young female students in school uniforms, standing together in a classroom with a decorative ceiling.

Thanks from the AWC

AWC Spring Charity Lunch
AWC

We want to take a moment to thank the Alex community sincerely for your support of the AWC at our Spring Charity Lunch in The Intercontinental Hotel on Friday 6 March. Your contribution helped us to raise close to €65,000 for women in need in our community, which is an incredible amount. We are very proud and grateful to you, our school community, and want you to know that your generosity is important and meaningful. With your support, we can continue this charity work, helping women less fortunate than ourselves in our community.

All the ladies were looking beautiful, fresh and stylish in their spring dresses and suits, enjoying a wonderful social day while raising money for our school charity - see more below!

AWC SPRING CHARITY LUNCH 2026

IMTA Team Maths Regional Round

IMTA Team Maths Regional Round
Ms Benson

On Thursday, March 5th, 27 teams from 10 schools including our own competed in the Team Maths regional round right here in Alex. This is the annual problem-solving competition for senior cycle higher level maths students. Four teams from Alex competed, greatly boosting the number of girls competing. We even had a 5th Year team compete to show them what's involved and to challenge themselves.

The questions were challenging and pushed the students to use their application and analytical skills. Teamwork and communication was essential due to the time-pressured nature of the competition, with only 6 minutes to solve two problems in rounds 1-6, and four problems in the final two rounds. 

Congratulations to the winning teams: Drimnagh Castle A (3rd), Wesley College C, (2nd) and the Institute of Education A (1st).

One of our teams was in a tie break for 2nd place and placed 4th overall in the end. This team has qualified for the national final which takes place on Saturday the 25th of April in the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise. Congratulations to Yihan Liang (6L), Entong Wang (6L), Kate Hill (6M) and Aisling Forbes (6J) on this achievement and to all the students who participated. 

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2R CSPE Action Project

2R CSPE Action Project
Ms O'Connell

Well done to 2R, who raised €434 for Barretstown! The girls ran a 5km in school, having fundraised money for the amazing charity as part of the CSPE CBA Action Project.

Drama Department Update

Drama Department Update
Ms Rycraft

Congratulations to the eleven drama students who were nominated for an Excellence award at our drama and public speaking exams, which took place in November with the Leinster School of Music and Drama. LSMD examines roughly 10,000 students around the country each year, and the Examiners nominate students who display excellence in performance. These students are then invited to take part in the callbacks.  

Well done to the following students on this wonderful achievement -

  • Hannah O'C (1R) received a solo drama nomination for her portrayal of Cruella de Ville
  • Aisling C (2B) received a solo drama nomination from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
  • Rosie M (2S) received a solo drama nomination from Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.
  • Ruby W (3B) received a solo drama nomination from The Weir by Conor McPherson,
  • Laura H (3S) received a Poetry nomination for War Horse by Evan Boland
  • Grace O'B (4J) received a solo drama nomination from The Unmanageable Sisters by Deirdre Kinahan.
  • Saoirse J (4T) received a Solo Drama nomination - An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
  • Francesca Darcy (5J) received a solo drama from The Way of the World by William Congreve
  • Emily Breslin (5J) received a solo drama nomination from Mad Margaret's Revenge by Lesley Ross
  • Catherine Cannon (6L) received a Poetry for the poem Witch Burning by Sylvia Plath
  • Roisin Sheehy (6M) received a solo drama nomination for her performance from Some Demon by Laura Waldren

Save the Date

DramFest 2026 will take place on the weekend of 25 & 26 April.

The festival is a way of giving the drama and public speaking students an opportunity to perform in front of an audience. The many competitions allow parents and friends to come and see what the students have been working on throughout the year and showcase their fantastic talents. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

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Two individuals are seated at a grand piano, one playing the instrument while the other appears to be observing or providing guidance. The room has a clean, modern aesthetic with recessed lighting and neutral-colored walls.
A large stage with a projection screen displaying %22The Lark%22 is surrounded by a group of people standing on the stage, likely performers or participants in an event.
A young woman with long hair is seated at a grand piano, playing the instrument in a room with a white wall and a potted plant in the background.
A person is seated at a grand piano, playing the instrument in a room with a wooden floor and white walls.
Two individuals, a man playing the piano and a woman playing the violin, are performing together in a room with white walls and a wooden floor.
A person is seated at a grand piano, playing the instrument in a room with a wooden floor and white walls.
Two young women, one playing the violin and the other standing with a music stand, in what appears to be a practice or performance space with white walls and a fire extinguisher visible in the background.
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Two people, a woman in a green sweater and a man holding a violin, are performing on a stage with a grand piano in the background, in what appears to be a music rehearsal or performance space.
Two young women in formal attire are standing on a stage in a dimly lit room, with a grand piano and various plants in the background.
The image depicts a performance or recital setting, with a pianist playing a grand piano on a stage surrounded by candles and a colorful, abstract lighting display in the background.
A woman in a white dress is seated at a grand piano, surrounded by a dimly lit room filled with flickering candles and colorful lighting projections on the walls.
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A group of young students in red uniforms are playing with a large, colorful parachute in a classroom setting, with various educational materials and displays visible in the background.
A group of young children in red shirts are gathered around a large, colorful parachute, playing and interacting with it in an indoor classroom setting.
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A man in a black shirt is playing a guitar while a young student in a red uniform is also holding a guitar, with several other students sitting and observing them in a classroom setting with various educational materials and displays visible in the background.
A group of young students in red uniforms are seated on the floor, listening attentively to a teacher standing in front of them, with various educational materials and posters visible in the background.
A person is playing the piano in a classroom setting, with a group of students seated behind them.
A group of young students in red uniforms are seated in a classroom, listening attentively as a teacher plays a piano in the foreground.
A young student in a school classroom is playing a guitar, while other students and a teacher are present in the background.
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Music Festival 2026

Music Festival 2026
Ms Qiao

Another very successful Music Festival took place this year—huge congratulations to everyone who participated! The week was filled with energy, creativity, and outstanding musical achievement from students across all year groups.

A massive thank you to Ms. Ennis, Ms. Lamplugh, Mr. O'Farrell, and Ms. Gorry for their unwavering support and flexibility throughout the festival, allowing students the time and space to fully engage in all activities.

We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to the phenomenal staff in the Music Department. None of this would have been possible without your dedication. From leading workshops and organising masterclasses to preparing students for competitions and concerts. You are truly the driving force behind it all.

Festival Highlights

Jazz Band Performance: The Jazz Band led by Mr Cooney kicked off the festival with incredible energy and enthusiasm, setting the tone for the week ahead. 

Piano Performance Class: An inspiring and insightful workshop with Dr. Kalniņš, focusing on stage presence and managing performance anxiety

Senior School Choir Retreat: Our Intermediate and College Choirs had a fantastic experience at the Irish Institute of Song and Music, exploring beatboxing, barbershop singing, and musical theatre.

Voice Platform: A fantastic opportunity for vocal students to perform and receive expert guidance from Ms. O'Sullivan, accompanied by Mr. Wilson.

Violin Masterclass: We were delighted to welcome Anne Phelan back for another inspiring and enriching masterclass.

Young Classical Musician of the Year: The standard this year was truly phenomenal. Every performer played beautifully, creating a concert-like experience for the audience.

Piano Concert: A magical candlelit evening featuring performances from both Junior and Senior students. The concert ended with a very memorable 8-hands performance by Mr. Wilson, Dr. Kalniņš, Ms. Qiao, and Mr. Gutierrez.

Strings Concert: A wonderful evening of music from our Junior and Senior School violinists, ending with a powerful performance by the string quartet directed by Ms. O'Rourke.

Early Years Music: Our Preschoolers had great fun making music with Ms. Ross - dancing with colourful scarves and exploring rhythm with parachutes.

Ukulele Workshop: J3 and 1st Year students thoroughly enjoyed a fun and engaging workshop with Mr. Rycraft and Mr. Gutierrez.

Junior School Class Concerts: Well done to all who performed—these concerts were a fantastic showcase of progress and confidence.

Ireland's Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards

Ireland's Young Filmmaker of the Year Award
Ms Rycraft

The Filmmaking students who reached the finals of the Fresh Film Festival were invited to Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Award at the iconic Mansion House on Thursday 26 March! Fresh Film are celebrating 30 years so this was a very special event. The hosts were Faye Shortt and Sean Tracey, with Meg Hughes on the red carpet. The students got a chance to dress up and walk the red carpet and feel very proud of their achievement. We didn’t place in the overall awards, but everyone had an afternoon to remember.

The films that were nominated were -

Chromotography by Genevieve D. B. (4R), Bree C (4R), Georgia C (4R), Amy C. T. (4R), Alvina A (4R), and Hebe W (4Y) was nominated for Best School and the Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year award

Between the lines by Bianca Busatto Balthazar (5L), Charlie G (5M), and Niamh Carty (5L) was nominated for Best Concept and Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the year award

Is the Seat Taken by Catherine Cannon (6L) was also nominated for Best Concept and Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year award

The image shows a group of young women posing together on a red carpet, with a banner in the background that reads %22Ireland's Young Filmmaker of the Year%22 and the Fresh Film logo.
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Two women in elegant green and white dresses are performing a dance in front of a window decorated with red lanterns.
A colorful and vibrant Chinese dragon sculpture stands in the foreground, surrounded by a paved courtyard and a large building in the background.
A group of people, some wearing traditional Chinese or Asian-inspired clothing, are gathered in a modern indoor space with large windows, performing or participating in what appears to be a cultural or artistic event.
Two young girls dressed in traditional Chinese attire are playing violins in front of a window with red lanterns hanging from the ceiling.
A young girl in traditional Japanese clothing sits on the floor, playing a stringed instrument with a focused expression.
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Lunar New Year Celebrations

Lunar New Year Celebration
Amy-Yin Zhang, Chairperson of JACA

Our Alex Dines was alive with colour, music and celebration as families gathered for the first ever Alex Lunar New Year Festival, organised by JACA. A sell-out success, with tickets snapped up within 24 hours, the event brought the school community together in exactly the way it had hoped to - creating a warm, inclusive space where families could celebrate, connect and experience the rich traditions of Lunar New Year. Marking both the Year of the Fire Horse and the first day of spring, the festival captured a spirit of energy, joy and togetherness that resonated throughout the afternoon.

The programme offered something for everyone, from the spectacular lion dance and musical performances from our students, teachers and the Alex Nós Trad Band, to cultural workshops in calligraphy, origami, paper cutting and traditional games from across South East Asia. Authentic food and live culinary demonstrations added to the festive atmosphere, while the enthusiasm of all involved made the occasion especially memorable. Just as importantly, the festival also reflected JACA's valuable fundraising work on behalf of the Junior School, showing how community spirit and support can go hand in hand. Thanks to the dedication of JACA, the generosity of sponsors and the support of the wider school community, the festival was not only a vibrant celebration of culture, but a wonderful example of Alex at its best, welcoming, curious and full of community spirit.

We are already looking forward to celebrating again next year!

Wesley Interschools Music Festival

Wesley Interschools Music Festival 2026
Ms Qiao

Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s Interschools Music Festival at Wesley! It was another very successful year for our students, who showcased their talent, dedication, and hard-work. Below is the list of our prize-winners. A special thank you goes to their teachers, Ms Foster, Ms O’Sullivan, and Mr O’Byrne, for preparing and guiding them every step of the way.

College Choir – 1st Place in the 3 part girls SSA Choral Competition – The Rathdown Cup

Voice

Classical u/14

2nd Place - Lucy A (1B)

Highly Commended - Martha M (3B)

Popular u/16

2nd Place - Zosia L (3H)

Classical u/16

Highly Commended - Sadhbh Y (4R)

Popular o/17

Highly Commended - Ciara Halpin (5J)

Classical o/17

2nd Place - Ciara Halpin (5J)

Duet o/15

3rd Place - Michele Henry (6L) & Alannah Foley (5M)

Duet u/15

Highly Commended - Lucy A (1B) and Clare O'D (1S)

Drums

Under 15

3rd Place - CiCi Y (1R)

Highly Commended - Anna E (1H)

A smiling young woman in a white uniform is holding a certificate in front of a banner for the Interscholastic Music Festival.
A woman in a beige coat stands in front of a backdrop decorated with red and blue balloons, with the text %22Interschools Music Festival%22 displayed prominently.
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Sports Report March 2026

Sports Report March 2026
Mr Groves, Mr Collins, Ms Hourihan, and Mr Warren

Football

Date

Team

Venue

Opponent

Result

Type

03 Mar 26

Girls-U18A

Home

Sancta Maria

Won : 6 - 2

League

04 Mar 26

Girls-U15A

Away

St Colmcilles

Won : 4 - 0

League

06 Mar 26

Girls-U17A

Home

Our Lady's Grove

Won : 5 - 2

  

10 Mar 26

Girls-U14A

Home

Loreto Kilkenny

Won : 1 - 0

Regional Cup

18 Mar 26

Girls-U17A

Home

Loreto Beaufort

Won : 2 - 1

League

20 Mar 26

Girls-U14A

Home

St Raphaelas

Won : 4 - 2

League

24 Mar 26

Girls-U14A

Neutral

Castleknock Community College

Lost : 0 - 2

Regional Cup

25 Mar 26

Girls-U18A

Away

St Leo's Carlow

Lost : 0 - 4

League

26 Mar 26

Girls-U15A

Away

St Mary's Naas

Lost : 1 - 2

League

 

Hockey

As we wind down Hockey for another year, it is great to see the school reaching Finals and Semi Finals. Our Junior 1s have had a great season this year, but fell 2-0 to Mt Anville in their League Semi Final early in the term. Our Minor 3s lost out to a very strong Kilkenny College team in their League Semi Final. 

In our 1st Year section, the 1st Year 1s reached the Cup Final and narrowly lost by 1 goal against Kilkenny College. Sadly, the 1s also lost out to a late goal in their League Semi against Wesley. It is a tough end for our 1st Year 1s, who have had a great year winning the 8v8 league and reaching a cup final.  Our 1st Year 2s have progressed to the League final after a convincing win over Loreto Beaufort, and will play Kings Hospital in the final. 

Finally we would like to congratulate Grace G (4O), Annabel O'L (4O) and Emily S (4Y) on being selected for the upcoming 6 Nations tournament over Easter in Mannheim Germany. We are really proud of their achievement and wish them ongoing success in the national programme. 

Also Congratulations to Eve O'D (3B) (Under 16s) and Darcy C (4O) (Under 18s) who have been selected to represent Leinster squads that will participate in a tournament in The Hague over Easter. We wish you all the best of luck, you will all be very busy over Easter. 

Date

Team

Venue

Opponent

Result

Type

02 Mar 26

Girls-U16D

Away

Mount Anville

Lost : 1-3

  

04 Mar 26

1st XI

Away

High School

Won : 7-1

Friendly

05 Mar 26

Girls-U16A

Away

Mount Anville

Lost : 0-2

League

05 Mar 26

Girls-U13A

Home

Loreto Foxrock

Won : 2-1

Area Cup Semi-Final

06 Mar 26

1st XI

Home

Newbridge College

Won : 7-2

League

06 Mar 26

Girls-U13C

Home

Newbridge College

Won : 1-0

Friendly

09 Mar 26

Girls-U13A

Neutral

Kilkenny College

Lost : 0-1

Area Cup Final

11 Mar 26

Girls-U13B

Home

Newbridge College

Won : 2-1

Area Cup Qtr Final

11 Mar 26

Girls-U13C

Home

Kilkenny College

Won : 1-0

Area Cup Qtr Final

11 Mar 26

Girls-U13E

Home

Kilkenny College

Lost : 1-4

Area Cup Qtr Final

13 Mar 26

Girls-U13A

Home

Loreto Foxrock

Won : 2-0

Area Cup Qtr Final

13 Mar 26

Girls-U13A

Home

Loreto Foxrock

Won : 2-0

Area Cup Qtr Final

23 Mar 26

Girls-U13A

Away

Wesley

Lost : 1-2

Area Cup Semi-Final

23 Mar 26

Girls-U13B

Home

Loreto Beaufort

Won : 2-0

Area Cup Semi-Final

Swimming

Last weekend Alex was represented at the Irish Schools Swimming relay championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Blanchardstown, Congratulations to Lucy M (3R), Ailbhe S (2R), Isla G (3S) and Charlotte C (2R), who won Gold in the Freestyle relay and another Gold in the Medley relay.

This is a fantastic achievement for the school and the four swimmers to have won two races at a National Championship event.

Well done girls.