Our Past Pupils Union have sponsored an award that champions creative writing amongst the 3rd year Junior Cycle students of Crescent College Comprehensive SJ. The initiative was conducted in conjunction with teachers Ms Lisa Bennett and Mr Shane McDonagh of the Cultural and Languages Department of the College. The winning author would receive a glass inscribed plaque and a pizza day for their entire class, cooked on-site by the Happy Dough Lucky Pizza Company (Mr John Lyons and Mrs Mary Lyons).
Following an extensive awareness campaign and briefing to the students of 3rd year and prominent display of an excellent visual poster entries were sought from prospective student authors with a closing date of 05 October 2022. A total of 12 imaginative, highly literate and creative entries were received.
A Past Pupils Union adjudicators team of five committee members (Vice President Jeannie O’Malley, Tony White, Stephen O’Dowd, Peter Doyle and President Kevin Cotter) undertook the difficult task of judging the entries which decided a final order of merit resulting in an outright winner, second place and joint third place being selected. The presentation of awards took place in the College on 14 October between 1.15pm and 2.35pm.
The winning author, Luke Feighan (Berchmans), penned a very imaginative story: “Revenge is a Cruel Luxury” which highlighted the unintended consequences of individual actions on family life. The judges acknowledged the succinct and descriptive prose style which was imaginative and interesting; a well-developed scenario and excellent narrative style formed by rich prose. Luke received a fantastic cheer of appreciation from his class, Berchmans, when he was announced as the winner. Luke received a commemorative glass plaque and €70 of pizza vouchers sponsored by the Happy Dough Lucky Pizza Company presented by Mrs Mary Lyons Managing Director Happy Dough Lucky Pizza Company. His win entitled his class Berchmans and the other winners to an on-site pizza day provided by the Happy Dough Lucky Pizza Company.
In second place was student Amelie Quinlan (Berchmans), whose entry “Barcode” addressed the conflicting emotions faced in compulsive behaviour. The judges acknowledged the innovative mental interplay which provided a challenging decision for the entry’s subject, and the capture of hopelessness and optimism. Amelie received €40 in Happy Dough Lucky pizza vouchers presented by Mrs Mary Lyons Managing Director Happy Dough Lucky Pizza Company and a parker pen presented by Key Ingredients Europe Managing Director Peter Doyle.
In joint third place were student Ellie Bennett Quaid (De Brebeuf) whose entry “Marked Out” was constructed as “a who done it” with the emphasis on friendship support and inquisitiveness; it was very strongly written with very well developed characters, good dialogue and interplay; and student Aisling Keogh (Bellarmine) whose entry “Confidential File” was set in the future and featured the interplay between artificial intelligence and human beings, it was very creatively written, highly imaginative and had great linkage between the characters. The judges could not separate both entries as their approaches were novel and creative. Both Ellie and Aisling each received €30 in Happy Dough Lucky pizza vouchers presented by Mrs Mary Lyons Managing Director Happy Dough Lucky Pizza Company and a parker pen presented by Key Ingredients Europe Managing Director Peter Doyle.
Transition year student Keeva O’Shea was awarded €30 in Happy Dough Lucky pizza vouchers presented by Mrs Mary Lyons Managing Director Happy Dough Lucky Pizza Company as an acknowledgement of her illustrative and symbolic competition poster.
The award presentation capped an excellent competition with a wonderfully novel on-site pizza day. We wish to acknowledge the assistance of Principal Diarmuid Mullins, teachers Lisa and Shane for their support of the initiative. We extend a special thank you to Mr John Lyons, Mrs Mary Lyons and Mr Mike Rabbitte of the Happy Dough Lucky Pizza Company for their very much appreciated sponsorship and excellent on-site pizza cooking staff. We also wish to acknowledge the valued sponsorship of Key Ingredients Europe provided by Managing Director Mr Peter Doyle.
