090 64 53600

School Principal
Mr. Garrett Buckley
Deputy Principal

Ms. Stacey Guinan

Gallen CS Academic Awards Presentation Oct 28th 2016

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.

Eimear with K Gavin and J MurtagahEllee McEvoy and Johnny MurtaghRachel Hanniffy and Johnny MurtaghRoisin Egan and Johnny MurtaghClodagh Hogan and Johnny Murtagh

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