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.

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

Swim Team Raises Over €1,200 for Sunflower Children’s Hospice

💙 Community Spirit • €1,200 Raised for Charity Swim Team Raises Over €1,200 for Sunflower Children’s Hospice! 2 May 2026 True team performance isn’t just measured by medals won or personal bests recorded in the pool—it is also defined by leadership, compassion, and community impact. Yesterday, the exceptional students of the Davitt College Swimming Team proved exactly that, organizing a phenomenal school-wide Jersey Day that captured the incredible generosity and community spirit of our entire school body. Over €1,200 Raised for a Meaningful Cause Thanks to the tireless organizing efforts of the swim squad and the fantastic backing of our students, staff, and management, we are absolutely thrilled to announce that over €1,200 was raised in a single day! Every cent collected goes directly to support the invaluable work of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice, providing vital care, comfort, and specialized support to children and their families during incredibly challenging times. Training for the Ultimate Test: Swim the Shannon 360km This massive school fundraiser builds directly on the announcement from April 30th, highlighting our elite squad members from Castlebar Swimming Club who are preparing for a grueling athletic challenge. On Saturday, 16th May, our athletes will dive into the water at the Lough Lannagh Complex to participate in the monumental Swimathon-Swim the Shannon 360km event. Taking on a massive distance test like the Swimathon requires immense physical endurance and mental toughness. Knowing that they are swimming to back up such a vital charity will undoubtedly provide a massive boost when those late-stage meters get tough. A Message from School Management “Super well done to our entire swimming panel on organizing such a flawless, high-energy fundraiser. Your outstanding teamwork, deep compassion, and community spirit truly make a difference. You are an absolute credit to Davitt College, and we wish you the absolute very best of luck as you take to the water for the Swimathon on May 16th!” A massive thank you to every student who wore their club or county colors, and to everyone who donated to support this brilliant cause. Davitt College at its absolute best! ×

Core News & Information, Creative Schools, Extra-Curricular, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News

Davitt College Students Take the Stage for “The Rocky Road Sing Song”

🎸 Live Music Celebration • Creative School Davitt College Students Take the Stage for “The Rocky Road Sing Song” 1 May 2026 Performing Live with Damien Dempsey at the TF Royal Excitement reached a fever pitch at Davitt College on May 1st as over 70 students attended “The Rocky Road Sing Song” live music celebration at the TF Royal in Castlebar. In an unforgettable highlight for the school, five Davitt College students took to the main stage alongside renowned Irish singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey to perform “The Fields of Athenry” live in front of a massive audience of primary and secondary school students from across the country. Representing the vibrant musical pulse of our school, our performers did us proud on a national stage. Events like these highlight the power of creative expression in youth education—and prove exactly why we are proud to be a Creative School! ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, Humanities & Language, Latest News, Politics & Society, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News

Jadotville Veteran Captain Noel Carey and Colonel Paul Carey Deliver United Nations Briefing

🕊️ UN Peacekeeping & History Jadotville Veterans Deliver United Nations Briefing 21 April 2026 Politics & Society Students Welcome Historic UN Peacekeepers Our Fifth and Sixth Year Politics and Society students had the extraordinary privilege of welcoming historic veteran Captain Noel Carey and his son, Colonel Paul Carey, to the social science lab. Captain Carey, one of the heroic figures who fought in the famous Siege of Jadotville during the 1961 United Nations mission in the Congo, delivered a deeply moving and powerful first-hand account of his experiences. He detailed the strategic decisions, human rights challenges, and immense resilience shown by A Company 35th Irish Battalion under siege. Following this historical perspective, Colonel Paul Carey provided an excellent, modern briefing on his own senior leadership roles within active UN peacekeeping operations. His talk gave students a direct look into how international treaties, conflict resolution strategies, and Ireland’s continuous contribution to global peace and security operate on the ground today. This was an inspiring, unforgettable opportunity for our classes to see textbook themes in global politics come to life through real-world defenders of human rights!

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, Extra-Curricular, Music, Musical, Practical & Creative Arts, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Transition Year

Davitt College Shines at the Musical Awards

🏆 Historic National Triumph • 7 All-Ireland Awards Davitt College Shines at the Musical Awards 20 March 2026 Rock of Ages (Teen Edition) Celebrating 40 Years of Stage Excellence at Davitt College 7 National Awards Won 17 All-Ireland Nominations 120+ Student Cast & Crew Davitt College’s latest school musical, Rock of Ages (Teen Edition), has rewritten the record books at the prestigious Best of Ireland Secondary School Stage Awards, bringing home a staggering seven national titles after a masterclass performance of theatrical brilliance! Marking 40 landmark years of theatrical productions at Davitt College, November’s blockbuster run of Rock of Ages completely transformed our school sports hall into a fully immersive, professional-grade West End theatre experience. Powered by an extraordinary student crew of over 120 participants, the show played to packed, sold-out audiences night after night. The journey to national glory reached fever pitch when nominations were announced, with Davitt College landing an incredible 17 competitive nominations across multiple categories. On awards night in Dublin, a 30-strong student delegation walked the red carpet representing our community with immense pride before the auditorium erupted into celebration as our nominees swept the board. Official Honour Roll The 7 All-Ireland Championship Victories 🎨 Best Set Design Davitt College Design Team 🌟 Best Acting Ensemble Davitt College Cast & Crew 🎤 Best Vocal Co-Star Ben O’Brien 👑 Best Actor Female Daisy Finnerty 🏆 Best Actor Male Myles Girling-Moore ⭐ Best Actor Co-Star Isabella Kearney 🎬 Best Director Damien Gallagher This phenomenal national success highlights the staggering talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit of our students and staff. It cements this milestone as one of the proudest, most dazzling chapters in Davitt College’s rich history. 👉 Explore the full journey: School Musical — Rock of Ages archive ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, Extra-Curricular, French, Humanities & Language, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Transition Year

Transition Year Students Immerse Themselves in French Cinema at the Linenhall

🇫🇷 Cultural Excursion Transition Year Students Immerse Themselves in French Cinema at the Linenhall 18 March 2026 Learning Comes to Life Through Culture Today, our Transition Year French students headed out for a brilliant, action-packed cultural excursion to the Linenhall Arts Centre to experience the acclaimed French feature film “En Fanfare.” It was a fantastic opportunity to step outside the traditional classroom and dive straight into authentic dialogue, native accents, and captivating francophone storytelling. Seeing language skills jump straight off the textbook pages and into real-world art made for an unforgettable cinema trip! A huge well done to all the students and staff involved for diving into the experience with such enthusiasm—proving once again that language learning truly comes alive through culture.

Core News & Information, GAA, School News, Sports

Senior Cycle Showcase: Thrilling Action at TY & 5th Year GAA Blitz

🏐 Senior Cycle GAA Blitz Thrilling Action at TY & 5th Year GAA Blitz 12 March 2026 Competitive Development on the Astro There was fantastic action on the pitch last Thursday as Davitt College hosted a highly competitive TY and 5th Year GAA Blitz on the superb astro facilities at Castlebar Mitchels GAA. Designed to give senior cycle students valuable game time and foster competitive development, the blitz brought a brilliant standard of football to the capital town. We were thrilled to welcome a strong lineup of schools from across the region for a fantastic day of games: ✅ Scoil Muire agus Pádraig, Swinford ✅ St. Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown ✅ St. Patrick’s College, Foxford ✅ Gairmscoil Chormaic, Lacken Cross ✅ Moyne College, Ballina With a high volume of matches played across the day, the standard of skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship on display from every single squad was a credit to their schools. Acknowledging the Support An event of this scale relies on excellent coordination and officiating. We would like to extend a huge thank you to Mayo GAA Games Development Officer (GDO) Martin Costello for his continued, invaluable logistical support on the sidelines. Special thanks also goes to referee Jimmy Feeney, who kept the games flowing excellently and ensured a high-tempo, fair competitive environment throughout the tournament. Finally, thank you to all the traveling players, management teams, and schools who joined us to make the day such a resounding success!

German Exchange visiting Davitt College 2026
Core News & Information, Erasmus+, German Exchange, Global Programmes & Initiatives, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News

German Exchange Week Begins With Official Welcome at Davitt College

🇩🇪 Modern Foreign Languages • German Exchange 2026 24 Years of Friendship: Davitt College Welcomes Realschule Höchstadt for Epic German Exchange Week! 11 March 2026 • Davitt College, Castlebar Bonds across borders! Our 5th Year German classes rolled out the ultimate Céad Míle Fáilte this week, reuniting with their long-awaited exchange partners from Realschule Höchstadt in an atmosphere buzzing with excitement and energy. While Davitt College students proudly donned their school uniforms, our German visitors turned heads in style wearing their brand-new, custom-designed partnership hoodies—created specifically to mark this incredible milestone. Principal’s Address A Toast to Shared History Principal Conor O’Reilly officially welcomed Principal Markus Ott to campus, where Mr. Ott presented a commemorative hoodie symbolizing over two decades of deep educational and cultural partnership. Partnership Milestone 24 Years Strong & Thriving “Here’s to a fantastic week ahead filled with cultural immersion, new friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime! 🇩🇪🤝🇮🇪” ×

Academic & Curriculum, Charity, Core News & Information, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Transition Year

TY Leadership in Action: Davitt College Presents €500 Cheque to St. Vincent de Paul

🤝 Community & Charity • Transition Year Action TY Leadership in Action: Davitt College Presents €500 Cheque to St. Vincent de Paul 11 March 2026 Following the incredible success of our recent winter fundraising campaigns, we were absolutely delighted to welcome Helen Ralph from SVP, along with volunteers Mick and Tadhg, to the Davitt College campus today. They met face-to-face with our fantastic Transition Year SVP team, the driving force behind three major community initiatives this term: the Beanie Winter Appeal, the Christmas Food Appeal, and our recent Bake Sale. Local Impact Direct Support for Local Families During her visit, Helen spoke with students about the vital day-to-day work SVP carries out, detailing exactly how these funds provide direct, essential support right here in our local community. Total Raised €500 Presented to SVP Team An achievement like this is only possible with a massive collective effort. We want to extend a huge thank you to all of our incredible staff, parents, and students who bought beanies, baked treats, donated food, and supported these campaigns. Your generosity has helped make a very real difference for an exceptionally worthy local cause! ✨ 📸 Cheque Presentation: Davitt College Transition Year students presenting the €500 donation cheque to Helen Ralph and volunteers Mick and Tadhg from St. Vincent de Paul. ×

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, Extra-Curricular, Gaeilge, Humanities & Language, Public Speaking, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Seachtain na Gaeilge

Gradam Óráid Phoiblí: Double Victory for Davitt College!

🗣️ Conradh na Gaeilge • Óráid Phoiblí & Tráth na gCeist Gradam Óráid Phoiblí: Double Victory for Davitt College! 10 March 2026 Comhghairdeas mór le Surnaí Ní Cheallaigh agus Aisling Ní Ghabhláin, daltaí i mBliain a Ceathair agus baill ghníomhacha den Choiste Gaeilge scothghlacach. Bhuaigh an beirt acu gradam iontach san óráid phoiblí ag ócáid mhór de chuid Conradh na Gaeilge aréir! A massive congratulations to Transition Year students and dedicated members of our Gaeilge Committee, Surnaí Ní Cheallaigh and Aisling Ní Ghabhláin, who won prestigious awards for Public Speaking at the Conradh na Gaeilge event last night! 🗣️ Public Speaking Champions Surnaí Ní Cheallaigh & Aisling Ní Ghabhláin Excellence in oratory and linguistic delivery. 🧠 Tráth na gCeist Team Senior & Junior Quiz Teams Commended for exceptional team spirit and linguistic knowledge. Ní neart go cur le chéile — there is strength in unity! 🤝 Proud representation at the Conradh na Gaeilge 2026 event. ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, Humanities & Language, Practical & Creative Arts, Religion, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Wellbeing

International Women’s Day: Pausing to Reflect and Celebrate

🌸 Religious Education • International Women’s Day 2026 International Women’s Day: Pausing to Reflect and Celebrate 9 March 2026 To mark International Women’s Day, our students took part in a series of thoughtful and creative workshops during their Religious Education classes to celebrate the immense impact women have on our lives and global society every day. Moving beyond historical theory, students spent time reflecting deeply on the specific women who inspire them. This led to a highly engaging workshop where classes designed custom posters celebrating remarkable female figures from past and present, alongside the vital women in their own personal lives—including mothers, grandmothers, teachers, and mentors. It provided a wonderful, relaxed opportunity for our young people to pause, reflect, and show genuine appreciation for the positive leadership and care that surrounds them daily. ×

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