Extra-Curricular

Highlights from our vibrant life outside the classroom, including clubs, societies, debates, and community volunteer initiatives.

Athletics, Extra-Curricular, School Life, Culture & Achievements, Sports

Historic International Sweep: Davitt Athletes Blazing a Trail to Belfast!

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🏆 International Athletics Selection Historic International Sweep: Davitt Athletes Blazing a Trail to Belfast! 26 June 2026 What a breathtaking summer it has been for the Davitt College Track & Field department. We are absolutely flying with pride today as we celebrate a truly historic week of international selection, national podiums, and record-breaking performances from our elite athletes. Our standout thrower, Isabella (Bella) Kearney, has officially been selected to represent Ireland for the second consecutive year, booking her place on the national squad for the upcoming SIAB Schools International Athletics Championship at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast! The 2026 Campaign: From Sligo to the Provincial Peak This spectacular international call-up is the ultimate culmination of an athletic campaign that has seen our squad dominate the track and field all season long. The Sligo Statement (24 April): Our season ignited at Sligo ATU, where a fantastic, highly motivated panel of Davitt College students represented the school with immense pride, determination, and flawless sportsmanship, securing qualification slots across the board. The Connacht Finals Sweep (3 May): Moving onto Day 1 of the Connacht Schools Track & Field Championships in Sligo, our elite throwers put on a masterclass. Aisling Henderson launched a fantastic 30m throw to secure a brilliant Minor Hammer Silver Medal, while Isabella Kearney completely dominated the field, capturing Intermediate Hammer Gold with a massive throw over 52 meters to punch her ticket to the All-Irelands in Tullamore. Sligo ATU Gallery Conquering the Prestigious Tailteann Games That elite momentum brought three of our most dedicated young athletes—Clodagh Tunney, Benjamin Byrne-Dempsey, and Isabella Kearney—to the prestigious interprovincial Tailteann Games in Carlow on June 19th. This event brings together the absolute best U17 athletes in Ireland to battle for a spot on the international squad. Isabella Kearney delivered the performance of a lifetime in the hammer circle. Stepping into the ring under immense pressure, Isabella unleashed a sensational, explosive throw to claim the National Silver Medal—smashing her lifetime best to set a monumental new Personal Best (PB) of 54.33m! Tailteann Games Gallery We extend our congratulations to Clodagh, Benjamin, Aisling, and Isabella for representing Davitt College with exceptional distinction throughout the season, and we wish Bella the very best of luck in Belfast. An historic international selection and a phenomenal achievement for Davitt College athletics.

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

Design Thinking in Action: 5th Year Artists Revitalise School Courtyard

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🎨 Creative Schools Initiative Design Thinking in Action: 5th Year Artists Revitalise School Courtyard 27 May 2026 Davitt College’s 5th Year Art students have put design thinking directly into practice by transforming one of the school’s central courtyards with striking artistic flair. Embracing the core ethos of our Creative Schools journey, the students tackled the space as an architectural and visual design challenge – taking it from initial concept sketches to a vibrant, colourful mural that brightens the entire campus. Their hard work, generosity, and creative energy have been warmly praised across the school community. Special thanks go to Art teacher Ms. Joanne Hopkins and Creative Schools Coordinator Ms. Veronica Morley for guiding the project, as well as Albany Castlebar for generously sponsoring paint supplies. Phase 1 is complete, and Phase 2 will resume in September as this inspirational learning space continues to evolve! Initial Concepts & Sketches Project Model In Progress: The Work Student Achievements

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

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💙 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”

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🎸 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! ×

Awards, Badminton, Extra-Curricular, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, Sports

Silverware in Ballina: 4th Year Boys Crowned Division C Badminton Champions

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🏸 Regional Badminton Success 4th Year Boys Crowned Division C Badminton Champions 29 April 2026 Dominant Court Displays Secure Regional Title A phenomenal day on the courts for our boys’ badminton squads as they traveled to Ballina to compete in the highly competitive Division C tournament. The standard of play was exceptionally high, but our panels rose to the challenge with fantastic grit and sharp tactical focus. A massive congratulations to our standout 4th Year boys’ team, who put on a clinical performance to be officially crowned Division C Winners—an incredible achievement for the school’s racket sports program! The entire school community is immensely proud of all our students for the immense work ethic, technical execution, and excellent sportsmanship they displayed throughout the entire tournament. Huge praise goes out to every player involved and to the mentors who guided them to regional success while representing Davitt College with total pride.

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

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🏆 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

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🇫🇷 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.

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!

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🗣️ 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, Creative Schools, Creative Schools, Extra-Curricular, Gallery, Humanities & Language, Latest News, Media, Politics & Society, Practical & Creative Arts, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Transition Year

ATU Sligo Politics Chair Dr Eamonn Furey Sparking Creative Songwriting Action with TY Teams!

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🎵 Creative Arts & Politics • Transition Year Workshop ATU Sligo Politics Chair Dr Eamonn Furey Sparking Creative Songwriting Action with TY Teams! 23 February 2026 Our Transition Year spaces were absolutely buzzing with energy this week as we welcomed the brilliant Dr Eamonn Furey, Programme Chair of Sociology and Politics at ATU Sligo, to lead a fantastic, high-octane creative arts workshop! 🌟 As a proud Creative School, we love pushing the boundaries of traditional learning. Dr Furey guided our students through a fascinating deep-dive into music as a political art form, tracking how iconic tracks, rhythms, and poetry have historically been used to champion human rights, challenge systemic inequalities, and give a powerful voice to local communities on the global stage. Inspired by these legendary protest anthems, our students stepped up to the microphone themselves! Working in collaborative production teams, they brainstormed, drafted, and boldly performed their own original political lyrics—tackling modern global issues with incredible maturity, sharp wit, and rhythm. It was an invigorating showcase of musical creativity, confidence, and raw talent. Huge thanks to Dr Furey for inspiring our next generation of creative changemakers! 👏 ×

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

Junior Girls Excel in Thrilling Home Volleyball Blitz

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🏐 Junior Volleyball • Home Blitz Triumph Junior Girls Excel in Thrilling Home Volleyball Blitz 28 January 2026 The sports hall was buzzing today as Davitt College played host to an outstanding school volleyball blitz, welcoming panels from Summerhill College and Coláiste Iascaigh (Easkey). Our Junior Girls Volleyball team put in a phenomenal performance across both fixtures. While they narrowly lost out to a sharp Easkey side in a 2–1 set thriller, the girls bounced back immediately, executing a commanding 2–0 victory over Summerhill. The entire panel showed superb technical growth, teamwork, and determination from the first serve to the final whistle. ×

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