Students Enjoy a Trip to New York

It was the trip of a lifetime for the group of students who recently enjoyed a week of performing and sightseeing in New York.

The trip began on Saturday 14th  March and took in the traditional  St. Patrick’s Day celebrations held in the city.  This tour was the brainchild of the Head of Music in Coláiste na Trócaire Ms Jean O’Brien and involved three years of planning and several fund raising events to make the dream come true.  They were accompanied by three other teachers Ms Lorna Bunyan, Ms Susan Burke,  Mr Tony Kenny,  four parents and the former Parish Priest of Rathkeale Fr. Phonsie Cullinan who has since been appointed Bishop of Waterford and Lismore.

The group  of 31  students and teachers  had a very full itinerary which included three performances and  visiting the many  wonderful tourist locations including Ellis Island, The Strawberry Fields of Central Park, The Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building and the 9/11 memorial.  The Choir and musicians performed at Masses in Our Lady of the Angels in the Bronx and on  St. Patrick’s Day they performed  an all Irish Mass at the Church of St Agnes on East 43rd Street.

 

One of the highlights of the trip was their performance on the eve of  St Patrick’s Day at a  reception in  The John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This was a Special Awards Ceremony in honour of the memory of the late  Det. Jerry McCabe.  Before a large gathering of distinguished guests including  The Minister for Arts and Heritage Heather Humphreys and the Consul General of Ireland in New York  Barbara Jones and Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey  Jean led her students in a moving  musical tribute to the late Det. Jerry McCabe.

Detective  Jerry  McCabe  was stationed in Henry St. Garda Station Limerick and  died tragically in Adare in 1997. The Jerry McCabe Fellowship Award was this year presented to Garda  Claire Hough based in  Bruff  and  Garda John Gallagher of Salthill, Galway. This award  which  was founded by Dr Bettina  Murray Head Lecturer in Criminology   in the John Jay College along with her Irish born husband  enables young  Gardai like Claire and John to study Criminal Law in New York State for the duration of a year.  It was a wonderful occasion and a privilege for Jean and the students of Coláiste na Trócaire to be invited to perform at this prestigious event and will no doubt form a lasting impression on all present.

 

A visit to New York would not be complete  without experiencing some of the city’s buzz and excitement,  and some of the memorable events they enjoyed included   an evening of ice-skating in The Rockefeller Centre,  a visit to the Natural History Museum, a trip to Broadway to see  the musical version of  ‘Matilda.’ A shopping spree in the final hours before their homeward journey brought this memorable s trip  to an end for the students, teachers and parents of Coláiste na Trócaire.  This was indeed   the trip of a lifetime and no doubt will leave a lasting impression on all involved.