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Junior School News May 2026

Principal for a Day

Principal for the Day
Raina, J4R

When I arrived at the school, Ms. Lamplugh gave me a sash that said 'Principal for the Day.' We greeted all of the girls in the school when they came in. I got to lead assembly and read the notices and announced the birthday girls. We did a 'Just Dance' at the end of assembly; it was great fun!

After assembly, Ms. Lamplugh and I went to the Senior School to see the head girls passing the badges on to the new head girls. After that, I went around all of the classes and checked if they were clean, and I gave everyone a homework pass!

When it was lunch, I went to Wilde and Green with Ms. Phillips and Ms. Lamplugh. We sat down and I had a smoothie and crisps.

My friend Juliette and I went around all of the classes and I gave the Preschoolers marshmallows and I gave all of the other girls a packet of jellies and I got the teachers all Gorditas biscuits- they all loved them! Being the principal for the day was really fun, I am so happy I got the opportunity to do it.

A group of young girls in school uniforms stand and sit around desks in a classroom with colorful decorations on the wall.
A woman and a young girl stand in front of a brick wall decorated with paper flowers and a sign that reads %22Our Gallery,%22 with a wooden display in the foreground.
Four people, including a young girl wearing a %22Principal for the Day%22 sash, pose in the foreground with a breakfast buffet and a sign that says %22Join Us for Breakfast%22 in the background.
Two smiling girls, one in a red uniform and the other wearing a %22Principal for the Day%22 sash, pose in front of a bookshelf filled with books and supplies.
A young girl in a sash stands in the foreground next to a school signpost, with a modern school building and green trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
A young girl in a sash stands in front of a large white wall with %22ALEXANDRA COLLEGE%22 written on it, with trees and a building in the background.

Summer Service in Sandford Church

Summer Service in Sandford Church
Junior School

On Wednesday, 6th May, the J4, J5 and J6 girls attended a summer service in Sandford Church to mark the end of this academic year. The service was led by Reverend Gyles. We also celebrated the College’s commitment to being a Green-School. Well done to Alex, Lola and Emily who represented the Junior School by saying prayers.

Hermione Art Exhibition

Hermione Art Exhibition
Junior School

Well done to all of the Junior School girls who submitted artwork to the Hermione exhibition of students’ work. 

The following students’ work was on display:

KG

  • Olivia - Sunflowers
  • Estelle - Flower Field
  • Mya (KG) and Julia (J6) - St.Patrick’s Day

J1 and J2

  • Claudia - Butterfly
  • Juliet - Raspberry 
  • Chloe - Peacock

J3 and J4

  • Chloe - Lavender
  • River - Chameleon
  • Eunsol - Bungeoppang
  • Elodie - Flowers
  • Izzy - Giraffe
  • Lia - Hamilton

J5 and J6

  • Jessy - Lily Pads
  • Ellie - Fox
  • Mia - Tiger
  • Sophie - African Elephant
  • Orla - Apex Predator
  • Eve - Fawn
  • Aryna - Woman
  • Shivi - Rainbow Explosion
Four young girls in red and white uniforms sit on a wooden bench in the foreground, with framed artwork displayed on the wall behind them.
Five young girls in red uniforms sit on a wooden bench in front of a wall adorned with framed black and white photographs.
A group of young girls in red and white uniforms stand in front of a wall adorned with framed artwork, with one girl seated in an orange chair in the foreground.
Two young girls stand in front of a wall displaying colorful animal artwork, including a peacock, tiger, and giraffe.
A group of young girls in red and white uniforms gather around a display table with colorful objects in the foreground, while a window with greenery and a building is visible in the background.
A young girl in a school uniform stands in front of a wall adorned with framed artwork, with an orange chair in the foreground.

J2 visit the Hermione Art Exhibition

J2 visit the Hermione Exhibition
Ms Hemingway

J2R and J2W enjoyed a visit to the Hermione building to admire the fantastic artwork on display. We discussed which pieces were our favourite and why and we tried to see if the work reminded us of any of our favourite artists such as Monet and Kandinsky. We were excited to see the work of J2 students, Juliet and Chloe V and we also saw paintings created by older sisters. It was a great visit and we were hugely impressed with all the talent on display.

AIJS St Kilian's Art Competition

AIJS St. Kilian's Art Competition
Junior School

The Junior School girls had the opportunity to participate in the Association of Independent Junior Schools’ (AIJS) art competition which will take place in St.Kilian’s school. The following girls’ entries will be on display at this event:

  • Anna, J1
  • Naomi, J2R
  • Avnee, J3R
  • Sabrina, J4W
  • Eliza, J5R
  • Ruby, J6W

Congratulations to Anna (J1), who won a prize.

Musical Assembly

Musical Assembly
Junior School

On Wednesday, 13th May, the following girls performed on the piano at assembly-Cindy, Emily and Kayla. Yesol, Olivia, Genevieve, Lily, Charlotte and Bella played on the violin. It was a beautiful musical treat. Well done girls!

Two fluffy chicks, one brown and speckled and the other yellow, stand on a bed of straw in a wooden enclosure with a metal food bowl in the foreground and a yellow feeder structure in the background.
A newly hatched chick emerges from a cracked brown egg in the foreground of a yellow incubator, with two intact eggs and a blurred orange background.
A smiling young girl in a red jacket holds a small chick in her hands, with another child and an adult visible in the blurred background.
A young girl in a red sweatshirt holds a fluffy chick in her hand, with a blurred background of a room.

Chicks in the Junior School

Chicks in the Junior School
Junior School

Ms Phillips, our secretary, arranged for eggs, an incubator, and chick house to be delivered to the Junior School. Over a few days with great anticipation, we enjoyed watching three eggs hatch to reveal the chicks. The girls have called them Sunny, Caramel and Oreo. They stayed with us for two weeks and after that, they were returned to the farm. Thank you, Ms Phillips, for providing this fun and educational learning experience.

My Canine Companion visits the Junior School

My Canine Companion Visits the Junior School
Ms Jansen and the Student Council

The Junior School girls were very lucky to have a visit from ‘My Canine Companion’ on Thursday, 21st May.  This Irish charity provides accredited service dogs to people with disabilities, predominantly autism, as well as therapy dogs for use in schools. It was decided that all funds raised from our pyjama day would go to this worthwhile charity.

To create some awareness (and excitement!), five dogs came to visit all of the classes in the Junior School. Two service dogs and three therapy puppies in training descended upon the school and the children immediately fell in love with these cuddly furballs. It was a fantastic morning and I believe the girls loved every minute of the visit.

Pyjama day was a great success and we raised over €1,600 for this amazing charity. Many thanks for all your generous donations on the day!

A group of children and adults pose with three dogs in a classroom, with colorful artwork and a large screen visible in the background.
A fluffy white dog wearing a green vest and a striped bow stands on a paved surface in front of a red bus with %22ALEXANDRA COLLEGE DUBLIN%22 written on its side.
Several children in red shirts surround a black dog wearing a green vest, while an adult stands behind the dog.
Children in red sweaters sit around a circular table with laptops in a modern classroom with a projector screen in the background.
Six young girls in red tracksuits stand in the foreground of a modern, multi-story atrium with a glass ceiling.
Six young girls in red uniforms stand in the foreground holding certificates, with a large screen displaying graphics and a modern atrium in the background.
A group of young girls in red tracksuits stand on a balcony in front of the Microsoft building, with a green golf course and trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
A group of young girls in red uniforms stand on a stage in the foreground, while a modern, multi-story building with glass railings and a large skylight forms the background.

Microsoft DreamSpace

Microsoft DreamSpace
Ms Roache

On Wednesday 13th May, our J5 DreamSpace ambassadors headed off to Microsoft headquarters to collect their Platinum award at Graduation Day. The girls have worked hard all year, completing various tasks and assignments based around MineCraft, Coding, BeeBots, LegoLeague and Scratch. The girls set an amazing example for all the classes in the school and they should be so proud of themselves. On Graduation day, the girls explored the Sphero Indi programme, MineCraft workshops and even got a tour of the whole headquarters’ building. It was a fantastic experience. Well done to all our DreamSpace ambassadors: Amy, Grace, Kate, Emily, Ellie and Lucy!

Junior School Orchestra - Grange Golf Club

Junior School Orchestra - Grange Golf Club
Junior School

On Thursday, 14th May, the Junior School orchestra and Senior School chamber orchestra performed in the Grange Golf Club. The event was at the invitation of Gladys Ruddock, past principal of Alexandra College. The Junior School orchestra played Jupiter and Be Still My Soul. Ms O'Rourke and Mr Cooney played Strauss Polka. Thank you to Ms Ruddock for the invitation and warm welcome which the girls and staff received from the Ladybird golf players. Thank you to Ms Lamplugh, Ms O’Rourke and Mr Cooney for attending this event too.

A welcome message for Alexandra College is displayed on a screen, surrounded by cartoon ladybugs.
A display of pillows, stuffed animals, and decorations with a golf course visible in the background.
A group of young musicians plays violins and a guitar on a stage in front of a conductor, with an audience visible in the background.
A woman with a violin in the foreground stands with a man and an older woman, while a wall decorated with triangular flags hangs in the background.
A light-up sign saying %22LETS GO SPOTTY%22 sits on a table covered with a colorful polka-dot cloth, with bunting in the foreground and background.
Three young girls in red uniforms kneel on a carpeted floor, observing several fluffy chicks in the foreground, with a classroom environment visible in the blurred background.
Five young children are playing with sensory bins filled with pink rice and toys in a room with wooden walls and a kitchen counter in the background.
A woman in a blue sweatshirt kneels on a wooden floor, holding a giraffe stuffed animal for a group of young children in red uniforms sitting on a rug in the background.
Several young children in red uniforms gather around a fluffy white dog in the foreground, with a wooden-paneled room and a yellow chair visible in the background.

Preschool Lower

Preschool Lower
Ms Potts, Ms Jordan and Ms Garcia

We have had lots of special days in Preschool Lower this month. We have been learning all about people in our community and space. We had a visit from some of our parents who told us all about their jobs and how they help people in our community. We loved the arrival of the chicks and talked about the life cycle and even went to visit them in Ms Phillip’s office where we had a little hold of them. We also had a special visit from Larry who is from "My Canine Companion". We were so excited to pat the dog and hug him. We also enjoyed PJ day! The girls had great fun reading stories and playing with our teddies at school.

Preschool Upper

Preschool Upper
Ms Brandon, Ms Hidalgo and Ms Appleby

The Preschool Upper girls have been making the most of the beautiful spring weather by taking nature walks around the school grounds. During their outdoor adventures, they have discovered an abundance of beautiful wildflowers growing around the school. The girls observed their vibrant colours and delicate petals and used this as inspiration to express their creativity through painting, drawing and clay modelling. This inspired them to transform their discoveries into beautiful pieces of artwork and allowed them to connect with the natural environment around them. 

Two young girls in smocks paint colorful pictures on yellow paper at a table covered with a patterned cloth, with toys and a whiteboard visible in the background.
Four young girls in smocks paint colorful pictures at a table with watercolors, while a doll stroller and classroom furniture are visible in the background.
A bright blue bulletin board decorated with a yellow paper sun and various yellow and orange watercolor flowers with green stems is mounted on a white door with a silver handle.
Several round, white clay ornaments embedded with dried leaves and flowers are arranged on a wooden surface.
Dried wildflowers are pressed into a white, irregular-shaped plaster casting on a wooden surface.

KG Upper Update

KG Upper Update
Ms Stapleton and Ms Moore

Our Aistear theme was Fairy Tales and the girls really enjoyed exploring different stories, chatting about their favourite characters, and creating their own fairy tales. In Maths, we worked on simple addition using lots of games and hands-on activities to help build confidence with numbers up to 12. In English, we focused on the magic c, shared our holiday news, and practised writing sentences using the tricky word “your.” In Gaeilge, we had great fun with cluichí, role play and fun conversations. In SESE, we explored floating and sinking through hands-on experiments, and in SPHE we talked about friendship and how to be kind and include everyone. We also had a lovely trip to the DLR Lexicon Library where the children spent time reading, learned how the sorting machine works, and had a great day out together.

J1 Update

J1 Update
Ms Murray

J1 has had a very busy month! We were lucky enough to win a Dance Party prize at the JACA auction. We were excited to welcome Carla to our school on the 5th of May and we had lots of fun learning dance moves and playing games together. 

This month we also worked together with our friends in J6R to create some collaborative bee themed art and learn some facts about bees. We really enjoyed working together on this and have proudly displayed our art outside our classroom for all to see. 

Lastly, our summer trip to Explorium Sport and Science Centre on the 25th of May was a great success! The girl enjoyed dressing up, taking on the challenge of the big outdoor slide, teamwork challenges and the model village. 

Children in red and white uniforms play with pink balloons in the foreground, while a large, complex tube structure dominates the background of the indoor play area.
Children in red and white uniforms are exercising in a gymnasium with a basketball hoop and target in the background.
Five young girls in racing attire and school uniforms sit together on a bench in front of a colorful, cartoonish backdrop.
Children in red and white uniforms pose around a large, cartoonish mouth exhibit in the foreground, with a museum-like background featuring displays and greenery.
Young girls in red and white uniforms sit on the floor reading books in a classroom with a whiteboard and colorful decorations in the background.
Seven young girls in red uniforms stand in a classroom, holding up their artwork, with a whiteboard and a stack of colorful rings in the background.
A group of young girls in red uniforms stand in a grassy area, holding up drawings of various activities and subjects.

J2R Student-Led Assembly on Talents

J2R Student-Led Assembly on Talents
Ms Gorry

On Tuesday, 28th April, J2R had a student-led assembly on the theme of talents. They spoke about their talents in drama, art, soccer, gymnastics, sculpting, hockey, chess and swimming. It was a lovely opportunity to showcase activities which we enjoy and we hope that our assembly may encourage our friends to try new pastimes. Well done J2R!

J2R Class Assembly

J2R Class Assembly
Ms Gorry

On Friday, 8th May, the J2s led a class assembly on sea creatures. They researched facts and created posters on animals such as pufferfish, starfish, jellyfish, whale, turtle, pink dolphin, seahorse, narwhal, lobster, shark, octopus, dolphin, crab, clownfish and stingray. We chose this interesting topic as we were on a recent trip to Marine Life, Bray. Well done J2R!

J2W Student-Led Assembly

J2W Student-Led Assembly
Ms Hemingway

It is hard to believe that we have performed our last student-led assembly for the year! Thankfully, it was an assembly to remember and the girls spoke with confidence and clarity, sharing their information posters on the stages of the water cycle and facts relating to earthworms.

J2 Sports Day

J2 Sports Day
Ms Gorry and Ms Hemingway

J2R and J2W thoroughly enjoyed the Sports Day and we congratulated all the girls who achieved a medal and then we also congratulated each other for taking part and being great sports! 

A group of young girls in red and white uniforms, some wearing medals, pose for a photo in front of a grassy area and a fence.
A group of young girls in red tracksuits and medals stand on a grassy field in front of a building.
Four young girls in pajamas stand in a classroom with a whiteboard and decorations in the background.
A handmade model of a ship with four smokestacks sits on a wooden surface in front of a cluttered classroom background with storage bins and educational charts.
A miniature living room with a patterned sofa and table in the foreground is set against a backdrop of wooden-paneled walls and a bed with a canopy.
A group of young girls in red tracksuits stand in front of a brick wall with %22H & W%22 signage, while papers are scattered on the floor in the foreground.

J4 Titanic Showcase

J4 Titanic Showcase
Ms McGarry and Ms Byrnes

There was great excitement in the Junior School last Friday, as both J4 classes held their Titanic showcase. This was a cumulation of their work over the past few months, focused on learning about the history of the Titanic, exploring science concepts related to this topic, for example how/why objects float and sink, and learning about some technologies related to the Titanic, such as Morse code. Earlier in the year, the girls had also visited the Titanic Museum in Belfast, which was a wonderful trip and helped to bring their studies to life. Well done to all of the J4 girls for working so hard on their projects!

J5 Updates

J5 Updates
Ms Dower

Both J5 classes recently enjoyed a wonderful trip to the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. We explored the beautiful flowers and plants, took part in an interesting tour and learned lots about nature. We were also very lucky with the weather, which made the day even more enjoyable! We brought our watercolours outside and painted some of the colourful flowers and scenery around the gardens. The glasshouses were especially impressive, and everyone had a fantastic time spending the day with their classmates. 

We were delighted to welcome Emily Hourican, author of the book The Murder at the Ivy Hotel. During her visit, we took part in a fun writing workshop where we got to continue the story ourselves. Emily also shared some exciting news with us, that there is a sequel on the way, and we are very excited to read it! She gave us great advice about how to make our writing more creative and interesting. We enjoyed hearing about her journey as an author and how she comes up with ideas for her books. It was an inspiring visit and we look forward to reading more of her work in the future. 

A group of young girls in red uniforms pose on a grassy lawn in front of a large, ornate glass conservatory under a bright blue sky.
In the foreground, students in red sweaters are seated at desks with notebooks, while the background shows a classroom with a whiteboard and educational posters.
A group of young girls in red tracksuits pose for a photo in a park with a large tree and lush greenery in the background.

Inter-Schools Invitational Tag Rugby Festival

Inter-Schools Invitational Tag Rugby Festival
Ms Tracey

On Friday, 1st May, an excited J5 Tag Rugby squad arrived ready for action into Old Belvedere RFC for this inaugural inter-schools tournament. Organised by Leinster development coach Ariel, teams from all over the area set foot on these hallowed grounds, to participate in a fun filled friendly tag tournament to encourage greater awareness in this very fast and skilful game. The weather was perfect! We were warmly welcomed by a variety of coaching officials, as well as current Leinster and Ireland players! A couple of the women’s Irish players were present also and mingled with the different schools passing on advice and signing autographs. It was a round robin format, with short recovery time in between games. Boys, girls and mixed teams took part, referred by TY students from the club, with officials overseeing the mini-games and results. Our J5 squad, captained by Aurelia and Lauren, gave their all and finished in a very credible third place overall. Well played girls. Congratulations to you all.

Sports Day

Sports Day
Ms Tracey

Sports Day took place on Tuesday May 12th. The track, field, girls and teddies were ready. 

Rey had the track lined and relay points marked out precisely, Kieran had the grass cut perfectly and both Franz and Lorenzo had the medal tent and speaker set up for immediate use. The activity zones were designed and prepared, wellie boot throwing and tug-of-war areas primed for fun! Targets at the ready! 

It was that time of year again, Sports’ Day in the Junior School and the excitement and anticipation was building throughout the classes as they were put through their paces preparing for their chosen races and practicing baton changes and running positions. Well done to all our athletes and relay teams for participating with gusto and especially, in a wonderfully sporting manner.  All the activity zones were used to the full and skilful target results were recorded too!  Congratulations to you all.

A big thank you goes to all the parents and grannies and grandads who came out to support the girls. We were lucky with the weather conditions which added to the enjoyment for everyone.  

Thank you to Mrs Lamplugh and all our class teachers who manned the various zones with the help of our Sports Captains too. Thanks to our super starter Peter and our expert finishing line team headed by Mairéad and some TY students. Thank you for all your hard work watching out for the medalists as they zoomed through the finish line. And not forgetting our medals gazebo brilliantly organised by Molly who handed out the medals with ease and calmness, in spite of a gust of wind lifting the gazebo up like a kite! (A quick thank you to the speedy Dads who came to our rescue which was much appreciated).

JACA Family Fun Hockey Tournament

JACA Family Fun Hockey Tournament
Ms Tracey

The end of the hockey season wouldn’t be the same without the now annual JACA Family Fun Hockey Tournament. It’s an afternoon of giggles and skilful dribbles as each team takes to the pitch eager to score and enjoy the runout, and as matches progress, enthusiasm rises at the possibility of making the final. This year we had 18 teams taking part, all manifesting smart plays and expert tactics in the quest to score as many goals as possible in the allotted time given for each game. Players of all ages made up the teams. A variety of strategies were employed to enhance team performances ranging from colourful shorts and matching bandanas, to comments like, “it’s been ages since I’ve played”, to “may I have a left hand stick please…!?” But all belied the stylish play from both parents and children alike, all showing passing and running off the ball skills, spacial awareness and targeted shots of goal with confidence. The final was closely contested, end to end play with medals awarded to Jessica, Lauren and Ilona’s teams.  

Congratulations to you all. A massive thank you goes to the JACA Committee for organising this event, and for their generous refreshment tablet of goodies and tasty snacks and juices. All much appreciated. Thank you also to Mrs Lamplugh, Mairéad and Peter for keeping track of the round robin format. A great afternoon’s fun hockey was enjoyed by all. 

Tennis News

Tennis News
Ms Wales

The two tennis teams reached the quarter finals in the Leinster Primary Schools’ League for the first time, making it a historic achievement for both teams. Their journey throughout the tournament showed determination, teamwork and impressive skills against experienced opponents. This was a fantastic result for both teams. We are so proud of all of you.

On Friday, 22nd May, Alexandra College Junior School hosted the Association of Independent Junior Schools’ tennis tournament. The Alexandran girls were on fire, taking gold and silver in the girls’ doubles and silver in the girls’ singles. Réiltín and Erin took gold while Isabel and Amy took silver. Martha took silver in the girls’ singles. A great day was had by all.I am so proud of the girls who played brilliantly on the day.

Six young girls in matching sports uniforms and medals stand on a green turf field with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
A group of young girls in red and white athletic wear pose for a photo in front of a large stone building with trees and a grassy area in the background.
Three girls in school uniforms pose with a large puffin mascot in front of a blue backdrop decorated with ocean-themed props.
Three young girls in school uniforms stand on a red carpeted staircase with metallic railings, while a modern, multi-level interior with glass and metal accents forms the background.
Three smiling girls in school uniforms pose in a large Instagram frame in front of a banner promoting Green Schools.
Two young girls in school uniforms hold a large green flag with a white emblem in front of a large %22OCU%22 sculpture and trees.
A Green-Schools Certificate for Alexandra College Junior School is displayed on a white background, with a dark surface visible in the foreground.

Green-Schools Assembly

Green-Schools Assembly
Ms Shaw

The Green-Schools’ Committee has been celebrating after receiving the exciting news that we received another green flag for the school! This year we've been working towards getting a flag for the theme Global Citizenship, Litter and Waste. To celebrate our achievement, the Green- Schools’ Committee went to the park for some playtime and a picnic. As well as this, three members of the committee attended an award ceremony in the Helix with Ms Shaw where they collected a flag and certificate for the school. It was a great day out and we found out more about the Green-Schools organisation and all of the great things they are doing for the planet.

AIJS Debate Competition - St Conleth's Junior School

AIJS Debate Competition - St Conleth's Junior School
Mr Fitzgerald and Mr O’Connor

On Wednesday, 29th of April, three of our J6 debaters put their skills to the test as they participated in the AIJS Debate Competition which was hosted by St. Conleth's Junior School. Our team of Molly, Amelia (J6W) and Emily (J6R) represented Alex in an exemplary manner both on the day of the competition and in the two weeks that they spent preparing for the event. 

The competition consisted of two 'Group Stage' debates. In Round 1, the motion suggested that the Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations should be abolished. We argued very strongly against the motion against St. Conleth's 'B' team. Our team had an equally strong performance in Round 2, arguing in favour of the motion: "The house would lower the voting age to 15". Molly, Amelia and Emily clearly demonstrated why they believe that young people should have a stronger voice in our democracy against a very strong team from St. Kilian's German School. It was especially great to see such fantastic sportsmanship at the end of a fiercely fought contest as speakers from both teams commended each other on a job well done.

Unfortunately for our debaters, Alexandra College Junior School did not make it through to the final debate. However, we stayed to watch and support the finalists from The Teresian School and St. Conleth's 'A' team as they debated if social media does more harm than good. Congratulations to Teresian's and thank you to St. Conleth's for hosting the competition. Our debaters would like to thank Mr O' Connor for all of the work that he did in preparing the team for the finals and for coming along to cheer for the team. Our debating team has gone from strength to strength and this experience will stand our girls in good stead as they will hopefully continue to debate in the Senior School and beyond.

Four girls in school uniforms stand in the foreground holding trophies, with a wall covered in artwork and posters in the background.
Four young girls in school uniforms sit at a table with chessboards in the foreground, while a classroom with colorful displays and chairs is visible in the background.

All Ireland Girls' Primary Chess Championship 2026

All Ireland Girls' Primary Chess Championship 2026
Mr O’Connor

On Friday 15th May, the Junior School hosted the All-Ireland Primary School Girls' Chess Championship. We entered four teams into the tournament, featuring girls from J2 to J6. It was a very tight event - The Alex A team was leading after 2 rounds, with a perfect 8/8 score, but St. Catherine's, who had won the trophy the last three years, caught up heading into the 5th and final round. Unfortunately, we fell one point short in the end, but finished as All-Ireland runners-up, which is a fantastic achievement. The A team was made up of Grace and Maeve from J6 and Hannah and Shivi from J5.

Alex Teams

  • Grace (J6), Shivi (J5), Hannah (J5), and Maeve (J6)
  • Lauren (J5), Ella (J5), Isabel (J4), Lucy (J5)
  • Frankie (J4), Molly (J6), Lauren (J2), Kate (J5)
  • Yichen (J3), Daphne (J3), Sloane (J2), Lucia (J2)

All-Ireland Open Primary Chess Championship

All-Ireland Open Primary Chess Championship
Mr O’Connor

On Friday 22nd May, one week after finishing second in the Girls' event, we sent a Junior School team to the All-Ireland Open Primary School Chess Championship in St. Laurence's BNS, Kilmacud. This event features the strongest primary school players in the country, with 128 students taking part. It was a fiercely competitive event, with a very high standard of chess. Each round pitted our 8 players against 8 from another school, and after two tough losses in the first 2 rounds, the girls turned it around with a big win in Round 3, followed by two tense draws in Round 4 and Round 5. There was lots of drama in every round, with the Alex girls stealing some games from the jaws of defeat, and fighting to the very end in an event where every point mattered.

In the end, the hosts St. Laurence's won the title for the third year running, but our girls should be very proud of their performance (we were one of only 2 all-girl teams in the event). Congratulations to Ella J5 who received the Star Player award for the Alex team.

Alex Team

  • Grace (J6)
  • Shivi (J5)
  • Hannah (J5)
  • Maeve (J6)
  • Ella (J5)
  • Hannah (J6)
  • Lucy (J5)
  • Lauren (J2)
  • Molly (J6)
Young girls in school uniforms concentrate on chess games at tables with boards and timers, while a whiteboard and some decorations are visible in the background.
Young girls in school uniforms play chess at tables in the foreground, while adults and other children are visible in the blurred background of a gymnasium.
A smiling girl in a school uniform proudly displays her medal in the foreground, while a backdrop of white balloons and a yellow brick wall frames the scene, with other children visible in the background.
A group of eight young girls in school uniforms stand in a doorway framed by white balloons, with a bright outdoor scene visible in the background.