Sports Trip to Holyhead - Friday, 26th of April 2024

On Friday, 26th of April a cohort of fifty two students, three staff members and two parents made the journey from St David's Holy Faith Secondary School to Ysgol Uwchraedd Bodedern in Holyhead, Wales to play a rugby and soccer match. This school twimming programme is being championed by our very own Mr Davies, who is only delighted to bring students back to his home country, teach them about the Welsh culture, language, music and sporting traditions.

The school's First Year Soccer team and Junior Rugby team left the school along with Mr Davies, Mr Boland, Ms Courtney and parent rugby coaches Tony O'Sullivan and David Griffin at 6 am in the morning and travelled on the 8.30 am ferry to Holyhead with excitement levels running high.

Upon arrival in Wales, they made their way to Ysgol Uwchraedd Bodedern where they were greeted by staff and students singing the national anthem. They then met their opposite teams and had lunch together.

Once the introductions were complete both teams started their preparation for the matches. All matches kicked off at 2.30 pm side by side in the Welsh sunshine with students and parents watching eagerly. Gifts to mark the occasion were exchanged between the captains of each of the teams. Both matches were high quality and close on the scoreboard, with St David's taking the honours in rugby and Ysgol Uwchraedd Bodedern in soccer.

Upon completion of the matches, there was a further chance to socialise between Irish and Welsh students, ahead of departing back. The tired bodies boarded the 8.15 pm ferry back to Dublin Port and arrived back at the school at 1 am - ready for bed!

This is the opening phase of the school twinning programme with further plans in place next year to further the cultural and social exchange between both schools and nations.

Report by Mr Davies

Photographs by Charlotte Hudson and Sarah Duff (4th Year)