Ernest Crawford of Inter-Aid Northern Ireland stated: �What this team of young people did will make a difference to the quality of life for a large number of people, from infants to senior citizens. I congratulate them, and thank those who supported this enterprise.�

In addressing the students, the principal put the question: �What counts as success? It�s doing your best under all circumstances, - not to give up in the face of difficulties. Aim for the highest possible standards, and making the effort to reach them. Our students have fulfilled those criteria for success in all areas, - both school life, academic work, sport and other competitions, as well as fund-raising for charity and service to all.

There are five camogie teams, four soccer sides and three in netball, while the ladies Gaelic football Under-16 squad won the Co Down League and Championship. Also the senior choir were in first place at Warrenpoint Feis. Two students, - Una Harper and Mary Kate Macken, - won prizes in the Lions Newcastle Poster Contest; Sinead Rogers enjoyed success in the Future Chef Competition, organised by the Newry and Kilkeel Institute, while Ciara Freeman, Laura Rodgers and Christopher Campbell won prizes in poetry competitions. And a spectacular entry by Orla Savage gained first place in the N.I. Coca Cola Fusion Design Contest.

Meanwhile varied have been the destinations for school trips, the most ambitious having been to Russia, where Year 12 students, teachers and local people were joined by a contingent from the Loreto Grammar School in Omagh. They visited Moscow and St Petersburg. Other groups went to Spain, skiing in Austria and Italy; and a language visit to France.

Great interest and excitement was created by the official visit of President Mary McAleese in November, 1999. No stranger to the school where her three children had been pupils, she was given a rousing reception. Pointing out that the ethos of St Louis was `to develop pupils as rounded and mature individuals,` the president said that �respect for one another and a sense of understanding of different traditions, are important values.

�The future is in your hands, and your experience at school will inspire you to fulfil your vision, creating a prosperous and peaceful future. Whatever path you are starting out on, will take you to unforeseen destinations. This school will provide the building blocks and skills, academically as well as socially and spiritually, to make that journey a deeply rewarding one.�

And President McAleese added: �The awards being presented cover not only the best achievers, but also for community service, charitable causes, religious education, communications, business studies, sport and enterprise. St Louis` students have gained the knowledge to go on to greater things, to play a full role in society, and to make a success of their lives, wherever they have gone in the world.�

Of course, the GAA scene is where St Louis Grammar School has been grabbing the headlines recently. This was due to the triumvirate of Co-Ordinator Cathal Murray from Clonduff; Steven Mr Veigh of Warrenpoint; and Peadar McLaughlin (Camlough), augmented recently by Oliver Sloan from Attical, whose uncle Brendan was in the Down side, which won the Sam Maguire Cup in 1968.

Cathal Murray won MacRory and Hogan Cup medals with St Colman�s College, as well as All-Ireland Minor and Senior Championship medals with Down, while Steven McVeigh was in an Abbey CBS side, which won the Mac Rory Cup, and also represented the Mourne county at minor and under-21 level, along with a Sigerson Cup medal. Peadar Mc Laughlin has played for Shane O�Neill�s GFC.

Steven McVeigh commented: �The reputation of this co-educational school from lower Mourne has spread across the GAA world. The school has a strong Gaelic influence, which the principal, Dr Celestine Devlin and vice-principal Sean Rogers have encouraged, promoting the games and the Irish language.

�Our recent achievements have shown the progress which St Louis have made, - now serious contenders at all levels on the Ulster scene. Being a co-ed school, we have a small pool of players in various groups. Talented players from Warrenpoint, Rostrevor, Attical, Longstone, Glassdrumman, Ballymartin and Castlewellan have blended to form a strong force in Ulster football.�

Incidentally, Newry and Mourne district council presented the �Junior Team of the Year� Award to St Louis Grammar School, while Martin Clarke received the BT `Captain of Captains` accolade at a presentation ceremony in Belfast.

Pointing out that the girls of St Louis had a long history of involvement in camogie, Steven McVeigh said that they had reached the Ulster Final in 1945 and the 50�s, winning the Ulster Junior Championship in 1961, the senior crown in 1965 and `66, as well as three Ulster Junior Championships in the 70�s. A former student, Rosemary Colgan, has taken over the role of coach. �As Head of P.E. at St Louis, she could look back with pride on her career in Ulster camogie.�

Meanwhile, the Trustees and Board of Governors await approval from the Department of Education for a major new development at St Louis. The outgoing principal, Dr Devlin commented: �It will take some time, but will be worth waiting for. Because it will mean that the school will be fully-modernised and equipped, with the capability of continuing to provide high-quality education for the next 50 years.�

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