Awards

Celebrating excellence, effort, and exceptional leadership among our students in academic, creative, and community fields.

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

Prestigious Inaugural Joe McDonagh Award for Davitt College

/

🏆 National Award • Irish Culture & Heritage Prestigious Inaugural Joe McDonagh Award for Davitt College 17 October 2019 • ETBI National Awards The Education and Training Board of Ireland (ETBI) has proudly announced that Davitt College is this year’s joint winner of the ETBI National Joe McDonagh Award 2019. 🏆 Honouring a Champion of Irish Culture This prestigious award celebrates Irish culture, Irish heritage, and the Irish language. The late Joe McDonagh was a former Chief Executive Officer of Galway VEC and, more recently, the Chief Executive of the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board. He was an enthusiastic Gaeilgeoir and a passionate champion of education, the GAA, and Ireland’s rich cultural heritage. 🏅 A Winning Night in Athlone The official Awards Ceremony was held in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone, on the 25th of September 2019. Students from Davitt College, accompanied by their teacher Mrs. Fiona O’Connor, were absolutely thrilled to receive the Joe McDonagh Trophy, alongside a €1,000 scholarship dedicated to the continued promotion of Irish culture, language, and heritage within the school. 🤝 Creative and Inclusive Storytelling The school’s winning entry comprised a beautifully crafted short film featuring a re-enactment of the famous Irish folklore legend, Cú Chulainn. This highly creative project was voiced over in Irish, subtitled in English, and fully signed using Irish Sign Language (ISL). With inclusivity being a paramount part of the ETBI’s ethos, our students purposefully focused their film on the inclusive use of the three recognised languages of Ireland, brilliantly showcasing our national heritage for all to enjoy. 👥 Attendees & Pictured Dignitaries Front Row (Left to Right): Caoimhe Halligan; Ms. Bernie Rowland, Principal, Davitt College; Clodagh Cahill-Gilligan; Ms. Fiona O’Connor, Teacher, Davitt College; Fiona Minish, Emer Minish; Ms. Mary Madden, Director of Schools, MSLETB Back Row (Left to Right): Kolette Kucinskas; Ryan Mulligan; Dylan Loftus; Mr. Tom Grady, Chief Executive, MSLETB ×

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, Extra-Curricular, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, STEM, Transition Year

Davitt College Chosen for International GLOBE Science Programme

/

🌍 International Science • GLOBE Programme Davitt College Chosen for International GLOBE Science Programme 1 September 2019 • Science Department Davitt College was incredibly proud to be one of only 13 schools in the country chosen to run the prestigious International GLOBE Programme during the 2018/2019 academic year. 🌍 A Global Scientific Initiative The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Programme is an international science and education initiative. It provides students and the public worldwide with the unique opportunity to participate directly in data collection and the scientific process, contributing meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment. Originally announced on Earth Day in 1994, GLOBE brings together students, teachers, scientists, and community members to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations. The ultimate goal is to better understand, sustain, and improve the Earth’s environment at local, regional, and global scales. 🔬 Real-World Data Collection As part of this fantastic initiative, Transition Year students at Davitt College took on the responsibility of recording specific weather conditions—including air pressure, rainfall, cloud cover, and temperature—over a three-month period, subsequently uploading their accurate results to the international GLOBE database. This highly sought-after opportunity allowed our students to deeply understand local weather conditions and their wider impact on climate change, all while directly informing scientists around the world of the exact weather patterns right here in Castlebar! 🌍🌡️📊🔬✨ ×

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

Inspiring Success: Charlie Lambert and Liam Egan Guest of Honour at Davitt College Awards 2018

/

🏆 Annual School Event • Awards Ceremony 2018 Inspiring Success: Charlie Lambert and Liam Egan Guest of Honour at Davitt College Awards 2018 22 May 2018 • Davitt College Castlebar Davitt College, Castlebar, proudly hosted its Annual Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 22nd May 2018, bringing together students, staff, and families to celebrate an extraordinary year of success across academics, sport, music, and extracurricular activities. The school was honoured to welcome esteemed Guests of Honour Mr. Charlie Lambert, Sports Co-ordinator with the Mayo Sports Partnership, and Mr. Liam Egan, Public Speaking and Debating Mentor, who joined in recognising the exceptional talents of the student body. Over 100 students received awards during a ceremony that highlighted a particularly successful year for the school, with many students achieving Local, Regional, and All-Ireland accolades across a wide variety of disciplines through their hard work, creativity, and commitment. “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, and I encourage all students to aspire to achieving awards in the future.” — Principal Ms. Bernie Rowland Main Award Winners 2018 Honouring the highest pinnacle achievements in character, leadership, and community dedication across the school year. ⭐ Highest School Honour Davitt College Students of the Year Rachel Kelly & Dara Kelly Davitt College Annual Awards 2018 Recognising exceptional academic application, character, and school leadership throughout the year. 🛡️ Special Tribute Joe Langan Shield Saoirse Walshe Special Community Recognition Presented in recognition of dedicated service, warmth, and contribution shown to the entire Davitt College community. Sportsperson of the Year 2018 Honouring outstanding athletic prowess, dedication, and sportsmanship across school sporting codes. 🏆 Senior Sportsperson of the Year Senior Sportsperson: Noel Geraghty 🏅 Junior Sportsperson of the Year Junior Sportsperson: Maia Ludden Congratulations to everyone in the Davitt College community on a truly memorable and inspiring celebration of student achievement! ×

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

Davitt College Selected for EA Robot Games Competition 2018

/

🤖 STEM & Robotics • EA Robot Games Davitt College Selected for EA Robot Games Competition 2018 16 May 2018 • Transition Year Technology Davitt College first introduced Sumo Robots to the Transition Year Programme back in 2013, and the initiative has grown from strength to strength ever since! 🤖 Building the Future Sumo Robots is an exciting Engineering and Technology module designed to introduce students to the rapidly emerging fields of robotics and electronics. The students learn an incredible amount during the hands-on process of building their projects—from studying the history of robotics right through to the intricate 3D printing of their very own custom-designed robots. 🏆 The EA Robot Games Following months of preparation, Davitt College was incredibly proud to have seven teams selected to enter the highly competitive EA Robot Games, which were held in Galway on Wednesday, 9th May 2018. “The competition at the end of all this hard work is a great reward for them. They have so much fun on the day of the finals that it feels more like a celebration of their effort than a competition. It’s also satisfying as their teacher to see students having so much fun learning. This competition really shows the students the real-life applications of STEM subjects and how they might enjoy studying them in their future.” — Mr. Padraic McTaibheis, Engineering Teacher ×

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

Davitt College Students Find Success at National SciFest Competition 2018

/

🔬 STEM • National SciFest Awards 2018 Davitt College Students Find Success at National SciFest Competition 2018 15 May 2018 • Science Department It was an outstanding day for the students of Davitt College at this year’s SciFest Competition, held at the Sligo Institute of Technology on Wednesday, 9th May 2018. The school had six brilliant projects entered into the competition and took home three Major Awards on the day, including a Special Award. The aim of SciFest is to encourage a love of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths through active, collaborative, and inquiry-based learning. The event is generously funded by the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme, Intel Ireland, and Boston Scientific. 🏆 Award-Winning Innovations Our students performed exceptionally well, showcasing their creativity and scientific knowledge under the expert mentorship of Davitt College Science Teacher, Ms. Fiona O’Connor. Transition Year student Michael Fleming attracted much attention from the judges, successfully winning the Intermediate Technology Category with his highly innovative project, “Talking Robots”. Fellow Transition Year students Keith Mulchrone, Shane Dyra, and Olivia Fahey won the coveted SciFest BioPharmaChem Ireland Chemistry Award for their collaborative project, “Water, A Fuel of the Future”. To top it off, the talented trio also took First Place in the Intermediate Physical Science Category. 👩‍🏫 Teacher Recognition The success did not stop with the students. Mrs. O’Connor was officially recognised by the judging panel for her absolute excellence in science education and was proudly awarded the RSC School Chemistry Award by the Royal Society of Chemistry Education Division. Congratulations to all the students and teachers involved! 🧪🤖💡🌟👏 ×

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Transition Year, TY-Awards

Sporting Legend Cora Staunton Guests of Honour at Davitt College Transition Year Awards 2018

/

🏆 Transition Year • Annual Awards 2018 Sporting Legend Cora Staunton Guest of Honour at Davitt College TY Awards 2018 11 May 2018 Davitt College, Castlebar, proudly hosted its annual Transition Year Awards Event on Friday 11th May 2018, celebrating a fantastic year of holistic development, academic progress, and active participation in school life. The school was deeply honoured to welcome eleven-time Ladies Football All-Star winner and professional AFL player Ms. Cora Staunton as Guest of Honour. Ms. Staunton warmly congratulated each of the student recipients, noting that the sheer breadth of successes and awards achieved by Davitt College students continues to astound her and fills her with a great sense of encouragement for the future. Students were commended across various categories, highlighting the unique value of the Transition Year programme in building self-confidence, fostering independent analysis, and encouraging personal growth before entering Senior Cycle. Main Transition Year Honours ⭐ Highest TY Honour TY Outstanding Young Person Ruairi O’Boyle & Sadhbh Reddington Presented by Guest of Honour Ms. Cora Staunton, alongside Ms. Tracy Britton (TY Co-Ordinator) and Ms. Bernie Rowland (Principal). 🎭 Creative Arts Transition Year Musical Awards Ethan Barrett, Enda Harrigan, Annabelle Riona Comer-Halliwell & Shauna Jordan Presented by Musical Producer Mr. Dave MacDon-nacha and Ms. Cora Duffy (DanceWorld). Congratulations to the Transition Year Class of 2018 on a wonderfully inspiring and memorable celebration! ×

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, Extra-Curricular, Media, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, STEM, Transition Year, Video Hub

Davitt College Crowned All-Ireland Winners in SFI ReelLIFE SCIENCE Competition 2017

/

🏆 All-Ireland Winners • ReelLIFE SCIENCE Davitt College Crowned All-Ireland Winners in SFI ReelLIFE SCIENCE Competition 2017 13 November 2017 • Science Week National Awards At the beginning of Science Week 2017, the winners of the ReelLIFE SCIENCE Secondary School category were officially announced, and we are incredibly proud to share that Davitt College took home the top prize! The brilliant short science video, produced by our 4C Transition Year class, was selected from almost 200 entries created by over 1,500 participants across 83 schools and community groups nationwide. A Prestigious National Initiative Based in NUI Galway and supported by SFI, the CKI, CÚRAM, and Cell EXPLORERS, ReelLIFE SCIENCE challenges participants to engage with STEM by producing fun and educational short videos. The Winning Production: ‘The Death of Paul Donovan’ Produced under the expert guidance of Ms. Fiona O’Connor, our winning entry secured the CÚRAM-sponsored first prize. High-profile judges, including Prof. Luke O’Neill and Shane Curran, praised the originality and investigative depth of our students’ work. “Very funny and original.” — Prof. Luke O’Neill A massive congratulations to our 4C Transition Year students and Ms. O’Connor on this phenomenal national achievement!

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

Inspiring the Next Generation: Special Guests Honoured at Davitt College Awards 2017

/

🏆 Annual School Event • Awards Ceremony 2017 Inspiring the Next Generation: Special Guests Honoured at Davitt College Awards 2017 23 May 2017 • Davitt College Castlebar Davitt College, Castlebar, proudly hosted its Annual Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 23rd May 2017, bringing together students, staff, and families to celebrate an exceptional year of success across academics, sport, music, and extracurricular activities. The school was honoured to welcome a distinguished group of Guests of Honour: Captain Noel Carey (Congo Veteran), Ms. Geraldine Lennon (Lough Lannagh), Ms. Sinead Shaw and Mr. Colm Kelly (Bank of Ireland), Mr. Liam Egan (Public Speaking and Debating Mentor), and Mr. Michael Gallagher (GAA Coach and Journalist). “These awards are a mere stepping stone to greater achievements in the future. I sincerely hoped that the students would go on to achieve their life’s dreams and ambitions.” — Ms. Bernie Rowland, Principal Main Award Winners 2017 ⭐ Highest School Honour Overall Students of the Year Callan Quinn & Simona Fernandes Davitt College Annual Awards 2017 Recognising exceptional academic application, character, and school leadership throughout the year. 🛡️ Special Tribute Joe Langan Perpetual Shield Aishling Hughes Special Community Recognition Presented in recognition of dedicated service, warmth, and contribution shown to the entire Davitt College community. 2017 Awards Roll of Honour Explore the complete breakdown of award winners across special honours, academic subjects, sporting achievements, and class recognitions. 🌟 Special Awards & Highest Honours View Section Fifth Year Students of the Year Dara Kelly & Rachel Kelly Academic Application Award Meabh Murray 📚 Humanities, STEM & Business Awards View Section Engineering & Construction Projects Senior Engineering Project: Eoin O’DohertySenior Construction Project: Louise Mongan Arts & Craft Projects Junior Craft Project: Ruairí O’BoyleJunior Art Project: Annabelle Riona Comer-Halliwell 🏆 Sporting Achievements View Section Overall Sportsperson of the Year Senior Female: Amy Dowling Senior Male: Jordan Keighley 📖 Academic Achievement, Effort & Commitment View Section Effort & Dedication Commendations Second Year: Stephen MooreThird Year: Cathal Derrig Special Student Recognition BOI Student Choice: Ryan Walshe & Emma SheeranMusic Excellence: Aoife Halligan & Ethan Carey

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

All-Ireland STEM Award Success for Davitt College Students

/

🧪 SciFest 2016 • All-Ireland STEM Excellence All-Ireland STEM Award Success for Davitt College Students 12 December 2016 • SciFest National Final Davitt College students Clodagh Hegarty and Aoife Parsons were recently awarded a prestigious Excellence in STEM award for their innovative project, “The Education and Promotion of Breastfeeding to Children, Adolescents, and Adults”, at SciFest 2016. Their exceptional research and creative approach to health education caught the judges’ attention on the national stage, demonstrating the high caliber of scientific inquiry and civic awareness fostered among students here at Davitt College. A massive congratulations to Clodagh and Aoife on this fantastic All-Ireland achievement! 🧪🏆🌟👏✨ Davitt College students Clodagh Hegarty and Aoife Parsons receiving their Excellence in STEM award at SciFest 2016. ×

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

University College Dublin Academic & Irish Language Scholarships

/

🎓 Third Level Achievement • UCD Honours University College Dublin Academic & Irish Language Scholarships 12 December 2016 • UCD Scholarship Awards Ceremony Davitt College, Castlebar, extends its warmest congratulations to our past pupils, Seamus Tiernan and Ruth Tobin, who were recently honored with prestigious academic accolades at University College Dublin (UCD). Seamus Tiernan was awarded the highly sought-after Bord na Gaeilge Scholarship, which recognizes students who demonstrate a passionate commitment to promoting the Irish language and culture within the university community. Additionally, congratulations are in order for Ruth Tobin, who received a UCD High Achiever Award in recognition of her exceptional academic performance. We are incredibly proud to see our graduates thriving and maintaining a high standard of excellence at third level. Well done to both Ruth and Seamus! 🎓☘️🌟👏 Pictured at the official Scholarship Awards ceremony at University College Dublin are Professor Michael L. Doherty (Bord na Gaeilge UCD Chairman), Seamus Tiernan (Scholarship Recipient), Ms. Bernie Rowland (Principal, Davitt College), and Clár Ní Bhuachalla (Scholarship Scheme Coordinator). ×

Scroll to Top