Credit Union schools quiz proves a big hit with pupils

TWO teams from St Kilian’s National School in Kingswood won a Credit Union School Quiz last week and will now compete in the regional semi-final next month.

Pupils from St Kevin’s girls’ and boys’ schools and St Kilian’s National School competed in the quiz last Sunday, with groups being split into under 11s and under 13s.

A total of 64 students, in 16 teams of four, competed in the quiz with two teams from St Kilian’s NS winning the quiz, while both of the runner-up teams were from St Kevin’s Girls’ National School.

Marie Sealy from Kilnamanagh Credit Union, who was the quizmaster on the day, told The Echo: “It was great, and the kids were great.

“Some of the questions were hard enough, I think even some of the parents didn’t know the answers!”

Parents and pupils were treated to refreshments during breaks in the quiz, and Ms Sealy told The Echo that the event is a key way of forging early links with future customers of the credit union.

“I think the schoolchildren are the future of the credit union,” she explained, “so you have to foster a recognition of the credit union with them.

“We also run an art competition every October. Some of the directors of the credit union actually remember taking part in the quizzes and art competitions – so it sows the seed early.”

The two winning teams from Sunday’s quiz will now go forward to the semi-final where they will compete against children from around South Dublin and surrounding areas in March.

After this, the successful team will then go on to the Credit Union School Quiz National Final 2023 on Sunday, April 2, with the hope of becoming national champions.

For Ms Sealy, however, she said that she’s just content to see that the quizzes are being held in schools yet again, after the pandemic meant the quiz couldn’t go ahead for the last three years.

“It was great to have it back again,” she said. “It’s one of the highlights of the year, and it was great to go back to it being face-to-face.”