Academic & Curriculum

A comprehensive window into the classroom frameworks at Davitt College. This category spans our Junior, Senior, and Transition Year programmes, highlighting academic excellence, departmental clusters, and student subject showcases.

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Senior Cycle

Davitt College School Awards 2015: Students of the Year

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🎓 Annual Awards • Student of the Year 2015 Davitt College School Awards 2015: Students of the Year 3 June 2015 • Davitt College, Castlebar Davitt College, Castlebar, is proud to announce that the overall Leaving Certificate Students of the Year 2015 are Sean Murphy and Sarah Murray. Throughout their six years of post-primary education, both Sean and Sarah consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to their academic studies. They were highly commended by school management and faculty for their outstanding commitment, active participation, and invaluable overall contribution to everyday school life. Winning this award represents the highest non-academic accolade a student can achieve before graduating from Davitt College. 🌟🎖️👏 Pictured at the official awards ceremony (from left to right): Ms. Bernie Rowland (Principal), Sarah Murray (Student of the Year), Sean Murphy (Student of the Year), and Mr. Ger King (Deputy Principal). ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Senior Cycle

Huge Success for Davitt College Career Options Event 2015

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🎓 Career Guidance • Options Event 2015 Huge Success for Davitt College Career Options Event 2015 18 January 2015 • Joe Langan Sports Hall It is that time of year again! With Leaving Certificate students busy preparing their CAO applications, young people across the county are actively exploring the many opportunities available at Third Level Universities, Institutes of Technology, and Colleges of Further Education. To meet the specific needs of Post-Primary students in Co. Mayo, Davitt College, in partnership with the Education Working Group of Mayo County Council and the Mayo LEADER Partnership Company, hosted our second annual Career Options Event on Saturday, 17th January 2015. There was certainly something for everyone on the day. Held in the Davitt College Joe Langan Sports Hall, the free exhibition provided a vital opportunity for second-level students and their parents to access invaluable information regarding the wide range of education and training courses available. We were absolutely thrilled to welcome close to 1,600 people to the event! Career Options 2015 was a shining example of partnership and collaboration in action. Almost 40 Universities and Colleges from across the island of Ireland were represented, alongside several Universities from England. Attendees also benefited from expert presentations on CAO, SUSI Grants, UCAS, HEAR, and DARE, as well as essential information on Third Level Scholarships, Bursaries, and Grants. “There was a wealth of information available on the day to accommodate every interest – academic, creative and technical. I feel students’ experience has been enriched and I hope parents and their sons and daughters are now better able to make informed decisions about future careers.” — Ms. Bernie Rowland, Principal A sincere word of thanks to our dedicated organising committee: Ruth Carney, Ger King, Áine Ní Cadhain, Emma Nestor, Tara O’Brien, Bernie Lennon, and Padraic Moran for making this event such a success! 🤝🚀🎓 The Joe Langan Sports Hall hosted a massive turnout of nearly 1,600 students and parents exploring Third Level opportunities at the 2015 Career Options Event. ×

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, English, Humanities & Language, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Senior Cycle

Davitt College Celebrates All-Ireland Literary Winner Emily Nolan

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🏆 Literary Achievement • National Winner Davitt College Celebrates All-Ireland Literary Winner Emily Nolan 13 August 2014 • Davitt College, Castlebar Davitt College, Castlebar, is absolutely thrilled to celebrate a landmark national achievement in creative writing. Emily Nolan, an exceptionally talented Fifth Year student, has been officially announced as the All-Ireland Winner of the Senior Category in the prestigious John West Fantasy Writing Competition 2014. Emily’s creative flair and narrative mastery outshone entries from across the country to secure the top spot in this highly competitive national tournament. To mark the momentous occasion, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, TD, visited Davitt College recently. During his visit, the Taoiseach was delighted to meet with the young author and was presented with a personal copy of Emily’s winning short story, titled “Run for your Money”. The entire school community extends its warmest congratulations to Emily on this remarkable national literary success! 📖✨🏆 All-Ireland writing winner Emily Nolan presents her winning story to An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, TD, during his celebratory visit to Davitt College. ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, Engineering, Extra-Curricular, Maths, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, STEM

Science and Technology Week at Davitt College

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🔬 STEM Event • Science & Technology Week 2014 Science and Technology Week at Davitt College 26 February 2014 • Davitt College Castlebar The world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and here at Davitt College, we are passionate about inspiring the next generation of innovators. To celebrate Science and Technology Week, our Science and ICT Departments recently invited 6th-class students from our surrounding local National Schools to join us for an immersive, hands-on workshop. The visiting students had the opportunity to engage directly with our facilities, taking part in exciting practical activities and witnessing some spectacular scientific demonstrations led by our dedicated teaching staff. It was a fantastic event designed to spark curiosity and encourage a lifelong love of STEM subjects. “A huge thank you to all the primary schools who joined us for such an inspiring week!” ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, English, Humanities & Language, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Senior Cycle

Award-Winning Irish Poet Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin Visits Davitt College

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✍️ Literary Event • Guest Speaker 2014 Award-Winning Irish Poet Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin Visits Davitt College 26 February 2014 In January 2014, Fifth Year English students at Davitt College were honoured with a deeply memorable visit from one of Ireland’s most significant and celebrated contemporary poets, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin. It is broadly acknowledged that her poems open many doors to multiple worlds, utilizing dense, captivating soundscapes and a distinctive magic that proves to be essential to our understanding of the world around us. Having studied her prescribed poetry in depth earlier in the academic year, the students found this firsthand encounter to be an incredibly educational and rewarding milestone. 📝 Demystifying the Leaving Certificate Syllabus Acknowledging that Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin’s work is best known for its mysterious imagery and enigmatic layers of interpretation, the Davitt College English Department sought to demystify her work by arranging the personal visit. When the students initially encountered her prescribed text, they were captivated by the thematic insights she provided on issues of a personal, mythical, and universal nature. Having the poet herself walk through the school doors to provide direct context will benefit these students immensely as they prepare for their Leaving Certificate Examination in 2015. ✨ An Inspiring Literary Exchange Upon her arrival, Eiléan highlighted the vital importance of the arts within society, speaking passionately about the power and influence that literature in all its forms can have on individual lives. She generously welcomed questions and open discussion from the students regarding her life, her creative process, and how her experiences relate to the various themes within her writing. By providing profound, unique insights into each poem on the Leaving Certificate course, she offered a deeply personal and relatable approach to the syllabus. The students found the experience both invigorating and inspirational—an extraordinary opportunity that they thoroughly enjoyed and one that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, Junior Cycle, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News

National Recognition: Davitt College Students Honoured by NUI Galway for Elite Business Marks

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🎓 Academic Excellence • NUI Galway Awards National Recognition: Davitt College Students Honoured by NUI Galway for Elite Business Marks 26 February 2014 Davitt College, Castlebar, proudly celebrated further academic excellence as a group of top-performing young women were officially recognized by NUI Galway for their outstanding performance in the Junior Certificate state examinations. The students received prestigious certificates of achievement from the university’s J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, an accolade reserved only for candidates who secured top-tier elite marks in higher level Business Studies across the country. This national recognition highlights the high caliber of academic dedication at the school, as well as the strength of our Business Studies department in fostering financial literacy, enterprise skills, and analytical thinking. The entire school community extends its warmest congratulations to the recipients on their wonderful success! Comhghairdeas to all the award recipients on their remarkable national achievement. Back Row (L–R): Ms. Bernie Rowland (Principal, Davitt College), Dr. Kieran Conboy (NUI Galway), Ms. Michelle Britton, and Ms. Joan Walsh (Davitt College Business Studies Teachers). Front Row (L–R): Norah Conlon, Shannon Mangan, Niamh O’Reilly, and Amy Vahey. (Missing from photograph: Helen Murphy)

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Business & Enterprise, Core News & Information, Junior Cycle, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News

Davitt College Students Honoured for Junior Certificate Business Excellence

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Davitt College, Castlebar, celebrated further academic success as a group of top-performing students were presented with certificates of achievement from NUI Galway, recognizing their exceptional Junior Certificate results. The students recorded a Grade A in their Higher Level Business Studies Examination, placing them among an elite group of just 250 students from throughout Connacht to receive this prestigious regional honor. The presentations, held in association with the Business Studies Teachers Association of Ireland (BSTAI), were made at a special ceremony on the university campus, which was proudly attended by invited parents and school faculty. The entire school community extends its warmest congratulations to these young women on their outstanding academic diligence and business acumen! 📸 Presentation Showcase Pictured at the NUI Galway ceremony are:

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Senior Cycle

Davitt College Launches Career Options 2014 Exhibition

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🎯 Career Guidance • Regional Exhibition Davitt College Launches Career Options 2014 Exhibition 8 January 2014 Davitt College, Castlebar, was proud to serve as the launchpad for Career Options 2014—a premier regional event dedicated to opening doors for Senior Cycle students across the county. The exhibition provided students with comprehensive, firsthand insights into CAO degree pathways, further education courses, specialized apprenticeships, and high-demand vocational training options. 🎓 Higher Education University & IT programme insights 🛠️ Further Education PLC & Post-Leaving Cert pathways 🤝 Regional Partnership Backed by MSLETB & local educators The launch highlighted the vital collaboration between post-primary leadership, Castlebar College of Further Education, and the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), guaranteeing students leave school fully empowered with clear, actionable direction for the future. Back Row (L–R): Ms. Áine Coyne, Ms. Bernie Lennon, Ms. Tara O’Brien, Mr. Fiachra MacGabhann (Castlebar College of Further Education), Ms. Emma Nestor, and Mr. Ger King (Deputy Principal, Davitt College). Front Row (L–R): Ms. Ruth Carney, Mr. Seosamh Mac Donncha (Chief Executive Officer, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board), and Ms. Bernie Rowland (Principal, Davitt College).

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, Practical & Creative Arts, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Transition Year

Transition Year Student Maria Named All-Ireland Home-Cook Hero Finalist

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🧑‍🍳 Culinary Arts • National Finalist Transition Year Student Maria Named All-Ireland Home-Cook Hero Finalist 20 November 2013 • Davitt College Castlebar Davitt College, Castlebar, extends its massive congratulations to Transition Year student Maria, who achieved national recognition by becoming a finalist in the prestigious Easy Food Home-Cook Hero Awards 2013. Run by Ireland’s number-one food magazine, Easy Food, this national cookery competition is open to all ages. The 2013 event was the most highly contested and popular year to date, drawing thousands of entries from across the country. Only three finalists were selected for each of the ten categories based on their unique, tasty, and creative recipes. Maria was chosen to compete in the highly competitive La Scala category, where she was the only student matching skills against two seasoned adult cooks—a previous category winner and a professional food blogger. 🍳 The Dublin Cook-Off Final On Saturday, 9th November 2013, Maria travelled to Dublin to take part in a high-pressure live cook-off final at the Cooks Academy Cookery School. She prepared her signature dish under the watchful eyes of a distinguished panel of celebrity judges: Kevin Dundon Dunbrody House Catherine Fulvio Ballyknocken House Gina Miltiadou Zahra Media Group The high-octane environment was captured by TV3 cameras, recording the skills of the finalists for a special television broadcast hosted by Martin King at the Shelbourne Hotel, which aired nationally on Saturday, 16th November 2013. 🧑‍🍳 Future in the Culinary Arts Maria, a passionate Home Economics student, is keen to pursue a career in the Culinary Arts after finishing her studies at Davitt College. As a testament to her talent, she will complete her Transition Year work experience module under the mentorship of renowned TV Chef Neven Maguire at MacNean House & Restaurant in Co. Cavan. “I was very excited to be chosen to compete in this National Competition. The standard was very high and it was great to see other contestants’ interpretations of their dishes. It was also great to work alongside chefs Kevin Dundon and Catherine Fulvio. The competition gave me great experience and was a fantastic opportunity.” — Maria, Transition Year Student 📈 Continued Excellence in Home Economics This incredible achievement marks the second major success for the Davitt College Home Economics Department in recent months, following past pupil Laura Ivers’ overall victory at the Sligo Connacht Gold Cookery Competition. Academic Milestone: In 2013, 100% of our Junior Certificate Home Economics students took the Higher Level paper, with final examination results far exceeding the national average. Culinary Finalist: Davitt College Transition Year student Maria, recognized nationally at the Easy Food Home-Cook Hero Awards live cook-off in Dublin.

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, Latest News, School Life, Culture & Achievements, Senior Cycle

Davitt College Graduate Hannah McEllin Awarded Prestigious All-Ireland Scholarship

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🎓 Academic Honour • National Scholarship Davitt College Graduate Hannah McEllin Awarded Prestigious All-Ireland Scholarship 20 November 2013 • Davitt College Castlebar Davitt College, Castlebar, is immensely proud to announce that past pupil Hannah McEllin has been honoured with a highly coveted 2013 All-Ireland Third-Level Scholarship in recognition of her exceptional results in the Leaving Certificate examination. The prestigious awards ceremony took place at the University of Limerick, where the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, T.D., was present alongside the sponsor of the scholarship scheme, Mr. J.P. McManus. The distinguished Guest of Honour for the event was Ryanair Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael O’Leary. 125 National Recipients Selected across the 32 counties of Ireland €32M Philanthropic Fund Funded entirely by sponsor J.P. McManus 1,300+ Total Beneficiaries Supporting students throughout third-level 🎓 National Recognition for Academic Excellence Now in its sixth year, the highly competitive scheme provides vital financial assistance to top-tier, high-achieving students who completed their Leaving Certificate or A-Level examinations in 2013. The prestigious awards are strictly administered by the Department of Education and Skills in the Republic of Ireland and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland, ensuring that only the highest academic benchmarks across both jurisdictions are recognized. The entire school community at Davitt College extends its warmest congratulations to Hannah on this landmark milestone and wishes her continued success throughout her third-level studies! Award Presentation: Hannah McEllin receives her All-Ireland Third-Level Scholarship from Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan T.D., alongside sponsor Mr. J.P. McManus and Ms. Bernie Rowland (Principal, Davitt College).

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