Pupils from Moate and Cornafulla schools visit ocean race

The recent visit of the 10th Volvo Ocean Race to Galway was one of the highlights of the Irish sporting calendar. Among those who took in the festival atmosphere at the event were pupils from St. Oliver Plunkett Boys National School in Moate, and Cornafulla National School in Roscommon. To commemorate the arrival of the race in Ireland, Athlone Springs Hotel, in conjunction with Lough Ree Yacht Club, ran a competition with local national schools to build replicas of Irish entry, the "Green Dragon". Children from the four finalists" schools were lauded for their efforts by the judges, Commodore Eileen Browne of Lough Ree Yacht Club and David Beattie of the Volvo Race Committee. The winning school, St. Oliver Plunket Boys National School in Moate, directed by Mary Mollen, won an all expenses paid School Tour to Galway during the stopover with VIP quayside access to the "Green Dragon" and a meeting with the Irish Team. The boys were accompanied on the trip by their teacher Mary Mollen, assistants and by Paul O"Mara, Director of The Athlone Springs. The runner up school Brideswell National School, Roscommon, directed by Laura Gilleran, won a "School Day Out" on Lough Ree hosted by Commodore Browne and the Yacht Club. The other runners up Attyrory National School and Cornafulla National School will enjoy a fun afternoon at the Athlone Springs Zen Leisure Club.