Core News & Information

The central communication hub for Davitt College. This section handles official announcements, administrative notices, enrollment details, and critical scheduling updates for the whole school community.

Core News & Information, Extra-Curricular, Rugby, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Sports

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD Launches Davitt College “Health Promoting School” Initiative

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🍎 Wellbeing • Health Promoting School Initiative An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD Launches Davitt College “Health Promoting School” Initiative 13 August 2014 • Davitt College, Castlebar Davitt College was honoured to welcome An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, to officially launch our new “Health Promoting School” initiative. To bring this vital project to life, Davitt College has partnered with the Mayo Sports Partnership, CROÍ, Soroptimist Castlebar, and the HSE. This powerful collaboration is designed to promote awareness and proactive action, ensuring a more active, healthy, and physically and mentally educated school environment is cultivated for all students, both now and into the future. The initiative is driven by a dedicated school committee that champions healthy living in both body and mind. Our school Care Team, alongside the Home Economics, SPHE, PE, and Music Departments, are working closely together to promote positive mental health and wellbeing throughout the entire school community. As part of this ongoing commitment, our Annual Positive Mind and Body Awareness Week has already proven to be a huge success, with all staff and students encouraged to participate in activities that enhance their physical and mental health. 🍎🏃‍♂️🧘‍♀️ Pictured at the launch of the Health Promoting School Initiative: (From left) Mr. Dermot McGarry, PE Teacher; Mr. Charlie Lambert, Mayo Sports Partnership; Ms. Sinead Flynn, PE Teacher; An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD; Ms. Bernie Rowland, Principal Davitt College; Mrs. Noreen Walsh, National President of Soroptimist Ireland; and Ms. Gillian Berry, CROÍ. ×

Awards, Core News & Information, DC-Awards, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News

Honouring Hard Work and Talent: Davitt College Annual Awards Ceremony 2014

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🏆 Annual School Event • Awards Ceremony 2014 Celebrating Excellence: Davitt College Annual Awards Ceremony 2014 15 May 2014 • Davitt College Castlebar The atmosphere at Davitt College, Castlebar was filled with celebration and pride as the school hosted its Annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday 15th May 2014. The special guest of honour for the occasion was Mr. Paraic Horkan from Horkans Lifestyle Centre, who joined the school community to celebrate an incredible milestone where over 200 students received awards ranging from academic achievements and sporting triumphs to accomplishments in music and extra-curricular activities. “These awards are a mere stepping stone to greater achievements in the future. I sincerely hope that the students will go on to achieve their life’s dreams and ambitions.” — Ms. Bernie Rowland, Principal Main Award Winners 2014 ⭐ Highest School Honour Overall Students of the Year Fintan Murphy & Michelle Kelly Davitt College Annual Awards 2014 Commended for exceptional academic application, character, and invaluable school leadership throughout their time at Davitt College. 🏆 Athletic Excellence Sportsperson of the Year Michelle Kelly (Senior) Presented by Padraic Horkan & Guests Honouring outstanding athletic prowess, dedication, and sportsmanship across school sporting codes. 2014 Awards Roll of Honour 📚 Academic Milestones & Special Awards View Section Rachel Keenan & Adrian McHugh: Bank of Ireland Award for Outstanding Application for Leaving Certificate Aaron Chambers: LCA Student of the Year BOI Award Roisin O’Shea: Dedication & Commitment in LCA Emily Nolan: Outstanding Achievement Award (All-Ireland Winner in the John West Fantasy Writing Competition 2014) Nora Conlon & Helen Murphy: Academic Achievement in the Junior Certificate 2013 Matthew Fahey: Exceptional Achievement in Second Year Award 🎤 Public Speaking, Enterprise & School Life View Section Liam Higgins & Jordan Lynch: Public Speaking Awards 2014 Shannon Mangan, Conor Moran, Amy Vahey & Niamh O’Reilly: AIB Build a Bank National Finals 2014 Recognition Maeve Flynn & Niamh Foy: Excellent Contribution to School Life 2014 Orchestra Recognition: Featuring student musicians Lisa Gainley, Claire McHale, Nathalie Fundu, Aoife Halligan, Michael Flately, Caitriona Munnelly, Aishling Hughes, Andrea Gavin, Holly Logan, Ciara Whyte, Johanna McDonagh, and Jade Whiriskey 🏅 Athletic & Team Excellence View Section Girls Gaelic Players of the Year: Shauna Brogan (U-14s), Laura Brody (Junior), and Laura Bourke (Senior) U-16 Rugby Team Recognition: Killian O’Brien & Daniel Brogan Boys Junior Basketball Team Recognition: Emile Samko, Bartek Zalewski, Santiago Fernandez, Eoin O’Malley, Liam McEllin, and Gearoid Heraghty ×

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).

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

Davitt College Alumni Embark on their University Journeys

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🎓 Alumni Updates • Class of 2013 Davitt College Alumni Embark on their University Journeys 27 September 2013 • Davitt College Castlebar A number of our exceptional Leaving Certificate students from the Class of 2013 recently dropped back into Davitt College to catch up, say their final goodbyes, and express their sincere gratitude to management, teachers, and staff for supporting them throughout their six years of post-primary education. These ambitious young men and women are embarking on an exciting new chapter as they begin third-level programmes in prestigious universities and training colleges across Ireland for the 2013/2014 academic year. 💬 Fond Memories of the Davitt College Experience “I will certainly miss Davitt College. We have had some unforgettable times and we have definitely made friends for life. The Transition Year Programme was one of the absolute highlights for me.” — Hazel Lawless “Davitt College is genuinely student-centred and has a very broad range of subjects. There is a wonderful relationship between students and teachers and a great support system for everyone.” — Hannah Mulchrone “The Joe Langan Sports Hall and Gym is a huge asset to Davitt College.” — Diarmuid O’Connor 🔬 Rising Demand for Scientific Disciplines “There is definitely a strong trend towards the sciences this year. We offer all four science subjects at Senior Level: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Agricultural Science. There has been a steady increase in the uptake of these subjects over the past two to three years, and this is highly evident when you consider the competitive degree programmes our students are successfully choosing at third level.” — Ms. Bernie Rowland, Principal 📸 Class of 2013 Graduate Destinations & Pathways (Pictured L–R): • Hannah McEllin: B.Sc. General Nursing • Noel Conlon: B.Sc. Mathematical Science (NUI Galway) • Rachel Farragher: B.Sc. Environmental Science (NUI Galway) • Robbie Fadden: B.A. Accounting & Finance (DCU) • Sarah Roache: B.Sc. General Science (Trinity College) • Darren Flannery: B.Sc. Athletic Therapy & Training (DCU) • Hazel Lawless: B.Ed. Home Economics & Biology (St. Angela’s) • Diarmuid O’Connor: B.Sc. Sports Science (DCU) • Hannah Mulchrone: B.Ed. Primary Teaching (St. Patrick’s) • William Conlon: B.Sc. Agricultural Science (UCD) Missing from photograph: Aiman Elhilali (B.Sc. Pharmaceutical Science, DCU) and Eadaoin Donnelly-White (B.A. Human Rights, NUI Galway).

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