Gallen C.S. held its annual celebration of academic excellence in its Academic Awards Ceremony in the school last Friday afternoon. Guest of honour was former jockey and flat racing legend Johnny Murtagh. We also welcomed guests:Mrs Angela Gavin , Vice Chairperson Ferbane Credit Union, Mr Joe Grennan Secretary Ferbane Credit Union, Ms. Michelle Sugrue, representing the Sugrue family, Mr Kevin Gavin , Chairperson Gallen CS Board of Management, Mr Eamon Dooley , Gallen CS Board of Management and Mrs Geraldine Keena, Chairperson Gallen CS Parents Association. After a welcome and introduction from Mrs Ursula Finnegan Principal and Mr Kevin Gavin , Mrs Frances Scully Deputy Principal introduced the first category of awards.
FIRST YEAR AWARDS Criteria ; best results in 7 subjects in Summer Tests 2016 went to.
Best Students in St Ciaran’s – Chloe Healy and Kira Hackett.
Best Student in St Cynoc’s – Ffion Anderson.
Best Student in St Kevin’s- Alex Nikolajevs.
Awards presented by Mrs Geraldine Keena, Chairperson of our Parents Association.
SECOND YEAR AWARDS Criteria; Best results in 7 subjects in Summer Tests 2016.
Best Students in St Brigid’s-Kate Kenny and Kieran Mannion.
Best Student in St Patrick’s -Ross mc Laughlin.
Awards presented by Mrs Geraldine Keena, Chairperson of our Parents Association.
FIFTH YEAR AWARDS Criteria;Best 6 results at Higher Level in Summer Tests 2016
Winners; Adrian Hynes and Tracey Murphy.
Awards presented by Mrs Geraldine Keena, Chairperson of our Parents Association.
JUNIOR CERTIFICATE AWARD 2016 Criteria ;Best results at Higher Level in Junior Certificate 2016
Winners; Sara Madden , Katie Mc Creedy, Chloe mc Kenna.
Awards presented by Mr J Murtagh and Mr K Gavin.
CREDIT UNION JUNIOR CERTIFICATE AWARD 2016.
Criteria; Award based on best results in 10 subjects at Higher level in Junior Certificate 2016.
Winner ; Colin Wren.
Award presented by Mrs A Gavin and Mr Joe Grennan.
Mrs Finnegan then introduced the ETB and Senior Awards with Mr Eamon Dooley representing one of our trustees, Laois Offaly ETB.
LAOIS OFFALY ETB GAELTACHT SCHOLARSHIP
Criteria ; Award based on Irish Department Criteria.
Winners; Orla Duffy and Laura Kenny.
Certificate presented by Mr Eamon Dooley.
LAOIS OFFALY ETB EURO LANGUAGE SCHOLARSHIP
Criteria ;Award based on French Department Criteria.
Winner ; Sarah Kenny.
Certificate presented by Mr Eamon Dooley.
LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXCELLENCE IN BIOLOGY
Criteria ; Best result in the subject at Leaving Certificate.
Winner; Caitriona Dillon
Award presented by ; Ms Noirin Buckley.
LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION STUDIES.
Criteria; Best Leaving Certificate result in subject.
Winners; Jack Devery and John Corcoran.
Award presented by Mr Micheal Mac Cartain to Mrs Mary Devery representing her son Jack and Mrs Dora Corcoran representing her son John. Both students were unable to get off college for the presentation.
LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXCELLENCE IN GAEILGE
Criteria; best Leaving Certificate result in subject.
Winner;Therese Cosgrove.
Award presented by; Mrs Noreen Sheehan
LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXCELLENCE IN RUSSIAN
Criteria- Best Leaving Certificate Result in the subject..
Winner; Arina Nikolajeva.
Award presented by ; Mrs Frances Scully.
LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING.
Criteria; best Leaving Certificate result in the subject.
Winner;Diarmuid Guinan.
Award presented by Mr ThomasO Neill to Mr Pascal Guinan representing his son Diarmuid.
JOHN SUGRUE MEMORIAL CUP FOR ART
Criteria ; Award based on best Leaving Certificate Result and imagination , creativity and willingness to learn.
Winner; Rachael Hanniffy.
Award presented by Ms Michelle Sugrue who spoke with great feeling about how proud she was of her family links to our school and how this award perpetuates the memory of the late John Sugrue.
GALLEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
Criteria ; Award given to the students who received over 500 points in their Leaving Certificate exams 2016.
Winners;Clodagh Hogan, Roisin Egan, Ellee Mc Evoy, Rachael Hanniffy
Awards presented by Mr Johnny Murtagh and Mrs Ursula Finnegan.
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP
Criteria ; Award given to the student who received the highest Leaving Certificate Result in 2016 exams.
Winner; Eimear Flynn who got 605 points in her Leaving Certificate 2016.
Award presented by Mr Johnny Murtagh and Mr Kevin Gavin.
It was then time for Guest of Honour Johnny Murtagh to address the audience.
In a witty but thought provoking speech he talked about the importance of a positive mental attitude and acting well about seeing the positive in what seems like a very negative situation. He asked the audience of students to have faith in themselves , to show self belief and to get ” out of fourth gear and out of your comfort zone” as he put it. He reminded the audience to give life their best shot and spoke of how his faith and his family had carried him through some dark chapters in his life. Johnny asked the audience to adopt an attitude of gratitude in life and to live the here and now. He concluded by congratulating the school on all its achievements in the academic and extra curricular spheres and wished all at Gallen CS the very best in the future.
Mrs Finnegan in her closing words spoke of how importance it is that we acknowledge academic excellence as we celebrate small achievements during the year alongside our great extra curricular and sporting successes. She asked the students to give of their best in all aspects of school life , the academic , the extra curricular echoing words expressed earlier by Mr Kevin Gavin. She thanked all the parents , students past and present and the staff for the great collegial spirit in the school ,Mrs Evelyn Breen for her work in sourcing the awards and Mr O Neill for his assistance in photographing the awards recipients and for putting together an excellent compilation of racing clips of Johnny Murtagh’s achievements as a jockey. A most enjoyable Academic Awards Ceremony concluded with the customary refreshments where Johnny Murtagh gave freely of his time to talk to students and parents over a cup of tea!
The full collection of photos can be viewed in the Gallery section of this website.
