Sport Stars across Ireland team up with TY students to promote Bus Éireann’s Go Places competition

One week to closing date for novel Transition Year competition
TY students invited to create memories of their school journey

Sport stars nationwide have teamed up with Transition Year students to promote the Bus Éireann ‘Go Places’ competition. Dublin GAA football star Michael Darragh MacAuley with students from Lucan’s Colaiste Chois Life School pictured at St Endas, Ballyboden GAA club to promote Bus Éireann’s ‘Go Places’ competition. The competition invites TY students to share their memories of their journey to school. Deadline for entries is March 16. Pictured with Michael Darragh are TY students Katie McCarthy and Daira Callaghan. For more information see www.goplaceswithbe.ie

The March 16 deadline for entries to the competition is now fast approaching - and with just one week to go, students are being encouraged to enter.   

Captain of the Irish Women’s Rugby team Ciara Griffin, Galway All Ireland hurling captain David Burke, Dublin footballer Michael Darragh MacAuley, Limerick U-21 All Ireland winning hurler Tom Morrissey and Cork Minor All Ireland Ladies Football captain Ciara Hughes teamed up with secondary schools in their local communities to encourage them to share memories of their journey to school.  Not all of them travelled to school with Bus Éireann but several now travel with the company for team games. Irish Women’s Rugby captain Ciara Griffin with students from Presentation secondary school, Castle Island to promote Bus Éireann’s ‘Go Places’ competition. The competition invites TY students to share their memories of their journey to school. Deadline for entries is March 16. Pictured with Kerry native Ciara Griffin, captain of the Irish Women’s Rugby team are TY students FRONT L/R Edel Brosnan and Ciara Fitzgerald . Back L/R Catriona Brodrick School Principal , Leanne Sugrue , Lisa Brosnan, Kayla O'Connor , Lizzie May Hartnett and Mike Tither Bus Éireann Bus Driver. For more information see www.goplaceswithbe.ie

Three lucky regional winners will get a brand new iPad and the overall national winners will have a fun day trip with free entry to Tayto Park for their class, with a private coach transfer. 

Students are being invited to get creative and to submit projects – in words, photographs, or videos – about their journey to school. Whether they travel by foot, bike, car or bus – Bus Éireann want to hear about their journey.  Where do they go? How do they spend that time? Who do they travel with? Who are the people and what are the places in their community that they pass by every day, and what are their stories? St Brigid’s College in Loughrea TY students Megan Molloy, Denise Alvers with Filipe Viera and Samuel Ukaj and teachers Johnny Coen, and David Burke promote Bus Éireann’s ‘Go Places’ competition for Transition Year Students. The competition invites TY students to share their memories of their journey to school. Deadline for entries is March 16. For more information see www.goplaceswithbe.ie

Kerry born Six Nations flanker, Ciara Griffin, recalls her journey on the bus to Castleisland school. She said, “I remember waiting with my friends at handball alley to get the bus to Presentation School Castleisland. We always had good fun on the bus, catching up, doing homework, sometimes we even threw the ball around! It was also a great way to make friends with people who aren’t in your class. There’s just over two weeks to go in the competition, so get your creative juices flowing!” 

Dublin GAA star and triple All Ireland winner, Michael Darragh MacAuley said. “I used to get the bus into school in the city centre so traffic jams are a big memory of mine. Me and my friends used to sprint to get the early bus home in the evenings to avoid rush hour traffic. TY students should definitely get involved in this great competition because of the great prizes! A trip to Tayto Park for your entire class would be a day well spent!” 

Galway hurling captain David Burke recalled his favourite memories of taking the bus to school; “I suppose it’d be the bit of craic we’d have on the way. There would always be a good group of us with our hurleys on board and these would usually end up sliding up and down the aisle of the bus. Conversations were usually about an upcoming match or what happened at the weekend but what I recall most is a lot of laughter & joking with friends who remain friends today.” 

Limerick U-21 hurling star Tom Morrissey recalled his journey; “My parents used to drive my brother and I to school because we only lived 2 minutes away. Even though we lived very close, what I remember most about the journey to school is that we were always late. We were actually known to be late! Later on, I began driving to school which was great because you blast the tunes as loud as you want.  Me and my brother used to sing our hearts out. That sticks out the most for me.” 

Cork GAA star and All-Ireland winner Ciara Hughes remembers her time on the bus. “My brothers and I have used school transport for 11 years and it has been great for us. We live about 15km from our school and the bus has meant that our parents don’t need to make extra trips each morning and evening. The school bus is always on time and is rarely cancelled, usually only due to very bad weather.  The driver is friendly and knows most of the passengers and even waits for me the odd time I am late!”

Go Places with Bus Éireann is open to all TY students from across the Republic of Ireland. Deadline for entries is March 16, 2018. For more information visit www.goplaceswithbe.ie

Friday, 9th March, 2018