Gallen CS held its annual awards ceremony in the school on Friday October 24 last. Kevin Doyle,a Ferbane native and now News Editor of the Irish Independent was Guest of Honour on the night and other Guests were Mr Frank Kearns Chairperson Gallen CS Board of Management, Mr Eamon Dooley , Board of Management, Mrs Margaret Healy, Parents Council and Mr Frank Sugrue.
Mrs Ursula Finnegan , Principal Gallen CS, welcomed all present and spoke of the importance of students to strive for excellence in their studies. She referenced the Transition Year as helping students to achieve independent and self-directed learning and stressed that excellence is never thrust upon any individual but that excellence is achieved through effort and determination. She noted that the strong links forged between Gallen CS , Ericsson and Atlantic Corridor with the corresponding emphasis on the STEM [ Science , Technology , Engineering and Maths] subjects in our school over the last few years is now bearing fruit as our top 7 students in the 2014 Leaving Certificate from Gallen CS have all gone on to study Science at third level and many more are studying engineering and IT courses .
Mr Frank Kearns in a short address thanked Mr Irwin for all his work in the past and wished him well in his new role in ACCS and was delighted that Mrs Finnegan and Mrs Scully have made an excellent start as a new management team and wished them well.
It was then time to present the awards. The First Year Awards with the Criteria of Best results in 7 Subjects in Summer Tests 2014 went to Thomas Kerr and Katie Rigney of St Manchans . Each student was presented with a book inscribed with personal citations by Mrs Margaret Healy. The Second Year Awards with the Criteria of best results in 7 subjects at Higher Level Summer Tests 2014 went to Tara Dunican [ St Ciarans] and Shane Hynes [ St Cynocs] . Mrs Scully , Deputy Principal presented each student with a Book inscribed with a personal citation.Junior Certificate Awards went to students who achieved excellence in Junior Certificate results including Lauren Daly , Adrian Hynes and Sarah Kenny. The Medallion Award presented on the basis of the best results in 10 subjects at Higher Level in Junior Certificate 2014 went jointly to Steve Ann Buckley and Sophie Devery. The Fifth Year Winners with the Criteria being best results in 6 subjects at Higher Level in Summer Tests 2014 went to Claire Egan and Colin Kenny. They were presented with a Book with Personal citations by Mr Eamon Dooley.
Mr Eamon Dooley also presented the Laois Offaly ETB Gaeltacht Scholarshipsto Sarah Coughlan and Tara Dunican as well as the Laois Offaly ETB Euro Language Scholarship to Celine Camon and Colin Kenny. Mr Francis Mulhall, Teacher Representative on the Gallen CS Board of Management presented Claire Egan with the Gallen CS Board of Management Gaeltacht Scholarship.
It was then time to present the Gaisce Silver and Bronze Awards. Mrs Finnegan thanked Ms Aoife Kelly Gallen CS for her promotion and implementation of Gaisce in Gallen CS and invited her to say a few words . Ms Kelly spoke of the history of Gaisce and the criteria needed to achieve Bronze and Silver Medal awards. Ms Kelly recounted the students memories of the 100 km cycle incorporating a loop from Ferbane via Birr and back to Ferbane. She noted that 20 students are doing the Silver Awards this year.Silver Award Recipients who got their awards: Celine Camon, Lucas Corrigan, Sarah Coughlan, Faye Donoghue, Amy Dunican, Chloe Egan , Claire Egan, Joseph Egan, Conor Kelly , Colin Kenny, Michelle Lyons , Brian McEvoy, Ronan mc Evoy, Robyn McIntyre, Kevin Nugent, Zoe Rooney, Donal Ryan and Anthony Seery.
The Bronze Awards went to all the 2013-14 TY students with the medals and certificates presented by Ms Aoife Kelly and Mr Kevin Doyle.
The sterling work done by 5th year student Josh Connon in raising over 10,000 euro for the purchase of a single scull boat for use in the Tullamore rowing club was given noteworthy mention.
The Excellence in Agricultural Science , Biology and Geography Award for best Leaving Certificate result in the subject went to Brian Dillon. Brian is now studying Science at NUIG and was presented with his award by Ms Ann Marie Brennan and Mr Kevin Doyle.The Excellence in Biology Award for best Leaving Certificate result in the subject went to Ruth Hennessy. Ruth is studying PE and Biology at DCU and the award was presented by Ms Noirin Buckley and Mr Kevin Doyle.The John Sugrue Memorial Cup for Art based on best Leaving Certificate result and imagination , willingness to learn and participation in class went to Ian Gavin and Lauren Egan. Ian is completing an Art Portfolio in Moate Business College and Lauren is studying Art at Limerick College of Art and Design. The Awards were presented by Mr Frank and Mrs Anne Sugrue who are great supporters of the school. Mr Frank Sugrue spoke warmly of the excellence opportunities young people have today on our new school building at Gallen CS.
The Board of Management Scholarships Awards go to the student[s] who received over 500 points in the 2014 Leaving Certificate . This year they were awarded to Claire Anne Kearns,[ studying Science in UCD] Diarmuid Connon [ studying Physics and Astrophysics in NUIM], Ailbhe Doolan [ studying Optometry in DIT] and Matthew Murphy [ studying Biopharmaceutical Science in NUIG]. The bursary and trophies were presented by Mr Frank Kearns and Mr Kevin Doyle.
The final award of the evening was the Cluny Scholarship presented by Mr Kevin Doyle and Mrs Finnegan to the student with the Best Leaving Certificate results in 2014. Stephen Mannion is a worthy recipient of this award as Stephen achieved 565 points in his Leaving Certificate and is now studying Pharmacy in Trinity College. We wish all our award winners the best best of luck as they continue their studies at Third Level.
Kevin Doyle then gave an address where he spoke wittily of his school memories and traced for us his career in journalism up to his present post. Kevin stressed how important it is for young people to be ambitious and appreciate the opportunities now presented in school. He spoke of the need not to limit oneself and stressed how important it is to start afresh and always seek new challenges. He also spoke of how the friends you have in school are there to keep you grounded .The Ferbane area is very proud of Kevin’s achievements in the world of journalism and to thank Kevin for returning to us on this night. To show our appreciation Mrs Finnegan presented Kevin with a book with essays by Viriginia Wolff.
Mrs Scully Deputy Principal, concluded the night by reminding all present , that Gallen CS is a school that strives to do its best by its students and we are lucky to be a part of the wider community in Ferbane, a community that cares for its young people and Mrs Finnegan and herself will continue to work hard on both these premises. Mrs Scully thanked the students who did so well, their parents for their encouragement and support . She also thanked Mrs Breen , for her assistance in sourcing some of the awards presented on the night. A most enjoyable night concluded with the customary refreshments.
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