Some of the recipients with their trophies at the Scoil Pól, Kilfinane, awards night last week. Also in pic: Mr. Mike O’Hara, principal, Mr. Eoghan Clifford, Guest of Honour and Ms. Bridget Ryan, vice principal
On Friday night Scoil Pól held its annual students’ awards night. The MCs for the evening were Ms. Sarah Condon and Mr. Michael Organ. This year’s special guest was Mr Eoghan Clifford, Paralympic gold and bronze medal winner at the Rio Paralympic Games. Mr. Clifford has an engineering degree and is a lecturer in NUIG. In his address to those assembled, he advised students to focus on their abilities. He told everyone that the bronze medal race was a more challenging event as he had to push past the pain barrier to win it. The gold medal race did not prove to be as difficult a challenge. He encouraged pupils to stay focused on their ambitions and in that way they would be successful.
Mr Clifford presented awards to Ciara Buckley and Roisín Tan who achieved the best result in the Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate respectively. Adam Copeland received the L.C.V.P. and Construction award. Seán Lyons won the Maths and Duine Dilis award. Kelly Ahern was awarded the English Literature award and the Senior art award. Eireann O’Brien received the Irish and French award. Karen O’Brien won the Agricultural Science and shared the Home Economics award with Eireann O’Brien. Rebecca Sheehan received the Science award. The History award went to Seamus Lysaght. The Spanish award to Alison Ryan. The junior Art award to Charlie Quinn. The following students received Student of the year awards.
First Year: Ciarán Considine, Rebecca Hennessy, Sineád Walsh.
Second Year: Emily Keyes, Sarah Herbert, Donal Healy.
Fifth Year: Shauna McLoughlin.
TY: Rachael McCarthy.
L.C.A. 1: Katelyn Vaughan.
L.C.A. 2: Michelle Tierney.
Scoil Pól offers a very broad education to its students and there were more than just academic awards. The school has a long sporting tradition. Sports awards were presented to Calum Sheehan – the Catherine Healy Memorial award went to Brooke O’Dea and Crystal Anderson received the Ladies Gaelic Football award.
Medals were presented to the Munster U16 winning team. Gaisce Awards were presented to Orla O’Dwyer, Jack McCarthy, Aine Crowley, and Darragh Sheehy. The final award of the night was ‘The Sisters of St Paul Award’ and the recipient was Jack Cooke.
The Principal Mr. O’Hara addressed the gathering at the end and expressed his pride at their achievements. He hoped they would be encouraged by the determination and success of Eoghan Clifford. At the end of the event everyone enjoyed a chat and some light refreshments.