Extra-Curricular

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

Core News & Information, Extra-Curricular, Public Speaking, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News

Best of Luck in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals!

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🎙️ Transition Year • Concern Debating Series Best of Luck in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals! 22 March 2017 • Athlone National Stage The very best of luck to our fantastic Transition Year Debating team as they travel to Athlone this evening to compete in the Concern Debating All-Ireland Quarter-Final! Captained by Chloe Bright and expertly mentored by Mr. Liam Egan, the team has put in countless hours of research, practice, and preparation to reach the final eight in the country. Standing on the national stage tonight is a phenomenal achievement, and the entire Davitt College community is behind you every step of the way. Bring it home, team! 🎤🏆💬🌟👏 ×

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

Davitt College Students Reach Public Speaking All-Ireland Quarter Finals

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🎙️ Public Speaking • All-Ireland Series 2017 Davitt College Students Reach Public Speaking All-Ireland Quarter Finals 21 March 2017 • Concern Debating & Public Speaking Congratulations to Davitt College Transition Year students Emma Barrett, Chloe Bright, John Feeney, and Claire McHale, who have successfully reached the All-Ireland Quarter Finals of the prestigious Concern Public Speaking and Debating Competition 2017! 🎙️ A Tradition of Excellence These talented and dedicated students are expertly tutored by Mr. Liam Egan, who has guided Transition Year, Fifth Year, and Leaving Certificate students for over 25 years in the fine art of public speaking and debating. The participating Transition Year students highlighted the incredible confidence and character-building value of the pursuit, urging younger pupils to get involved and become part of the vibrant debating fraternity here at Davitt College. 🌟 Skills for Life Principal Ms. Bernie Rowland warmly congratulated both the students and Mr. Egan, wishing them the very best of luck in the next round of the competition. Emphasising the lifelong value of the initiative, she noted: “Public Speaking provides our students with not just debating skills but also a capacity to cope under pressure and present themselves in a confident manner while under public scrutiny.” — Ms. Bernie Rowland, Principal Best of luck to the team in the Quarter Finals! We are incredibly proud of your hard work. 🎤🏆💬🌟👏 Davitt College Transition Year students Chloe Bright, Emma Barrett, Claire McHale, and John Feeney with mentor Mr. Liam Egan ahead of the All-Ireland Quarter Finals 2017. ×

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

Transition Year Forensic Science Workshop 2016

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🔬 Transition Year • STEM Workshop Transition Year Forensic Science Workshop 2016 6 October 2016 • Science Department Initiative On 6th October 2016, Transition Year students at Davitt College participated in our fourth annual Forensic Science Workshop. The aim of these engaging workshops is to bring classroom science into real-world situations, inspiring more students to continue studying STEM subjects at Third Level. As part of the workshop, students were presented with a realistic crime scenario and tasked with cracking the case wide open. The activities provided our TY students with an exciting opportunity to experience the everyday application of science, combining observation and deductive reasoning with the scientific principles they are currently learning in class. 🕵️‍♂️ Cracking the Case To narrow down their suspect list and match evidence to the culprit, the students moved from station to station utilising advanced forensic techniques, including: Suspect Profiling: Analysing suspect information, including their whereabouts at the time of the crime, their occupations, and potential alibis. Ballistics & GSR: Studying the amount of Gun Shot Residue (GSR) left on the clothing of suspects to trace the weapon used. Fingerprint Matching: Cross-referencing physical evidence found at the scene with the suspects’ records to establish a definitive link. By carefully analysing all the scientific data gathered, the students successfully eliminated false leads to solve the crime. The workshop is just one sample of the incredible showcases the Science Department organises each year, with the BT Young Scientist Competition also forming a pivotal part of the Transition Year programme. A special thank you to Forensic Scientist Ms. Alison Leck from Education Interactive, Sydney, Australia, who expertly facilitated the day. 🔎🔬💡🎓 Pictured at the Forensic Science Workshop are Ms. Pauline Boyle (Biology/Ag. Science), Ms. Martina Kelly (Chemistry/Biology), Mr. Aaron Tonry (Physics), Mrs. Caitriona O’Donnell (Chemistry), Ms. Alison Leck (Forensic Scientist), alongside Transition Year students. ×

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

Davitt College Chamber Choir Claims Second Place at All-Ireland Festival

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🎵 All-Ireland Choral Success • Music Department Davitt College Chamber Choir Claims Second Place at All-Ireland Festival 6 May 2016 • SCCUL Enterprise Galway Choral Festival A massive congratulations to the Davitt College Chamber Choir on coming second in the All-Ireland SCCUL Enterprise Galway Choral Festival at GMIT today, 6th May 2016! Considering that this was their debut public performance, it is an absolutely outstanding achievement for the group and their Musical Director, Mrs. Claire Kennedy. “We are absolutely thrilled with our success, not only in this competition but as a choir established merely three months ago,” she said following the result. The competition, currently in its inaugural year, was held on the GMIT Galway campus. Six schools in total participated in the equal voice choral competition, travelling from Dublin, Sligo, Tipperary, and Galway. We are incredibly proud to note that Davitt College was the only post-primary school representing Co. Mayo at the event. “We entered this competition to give our students a chance to experience the many benefits of singing in a choir such as improved listening skills, teamwork, commitment, and camaraderie. Numerous studies have shown that singing in a choir reduces stress and improves mood, which in turn could have a positive impact on overall health. What we ended up with was not only a real sense of achievement but a true determination to continue our success on a vocal and personal level.” — Mrs. Claire Kennedy, Musical Director 🎶 Choir Members & Performers A special congratulations to the brilliant students involved: Ella Mongey, Clodagh Gainley, Aoife Halligan, Roisin Lennon, Roisin Callaghan, Annabelle Comer Halliwell, Roadhan McKenna, Kathryn Tiernan, Marianna Tiernan, Claire McHale, Cian Kilkenny, Megan Costello, Deirbhile Mellotte, Shannon Crouch, Natasha Nally, Htoo Htoo Lar, Johanna McDonagh, and Rebecca Kenny. A special mention also goes to Second Year student Peter Belseva, who served as their talented accompanist. The Davitt College Chamber Choir is open to all students and includes an audition process. Mrs. Kennedy is already looking forward to welcoming new members this coming September 2016! 🎤🌟👏 Davitt College Chamber Choir pictured following their fantastic second-place finish at the All-Ireland SCCUL Enterprise Galway Choral Festival. ×

CSPE, Extra-Curricular, History, Humanities & Language, Politics & Society, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, Wellbeing

1916 Centenary Commemorations at Davitt College

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🇮🇪 1916 Centenary • National Commemoration 1916 Centenary Commemorations at Davitt College 16 March 2016 • Davitt College Castlebar There was singing, poetry reading, striking works of art, and poignant recollections of the heroes who fought and died in events in Ireland 100 years ago. And there was much more. Davitt College embraced the centenary challenge with enthusiasm and creativity. Months of hard work from the 1916 Committee in Davitt College culminated in a unique and unforgettable day of remembrance and vision. The event started with wonderful music from the Davitt College Orchestra under the excellent direction of Music Teacher, Ms. Claire Kennedy. The Fifth Year History classes worked on writing biographies of the seven signatories of the Proclamation, whilst the Second Year Art classes created poignant sketches of the leaders. We were privileged to welcome Mr. Noel Campbell from The National Museum of Ireland in Turlough and author of “A History of Castlebar”, who spoke in detail about the 1916 events in Mayo and the effect they had on local communities. Ms. Bernie Rowland, Principal, spoke about the significance of the Proclamation and its influence on the new generation, as well as the vital importance of mutual respect in all aspects of life. The reading of the Proclamation by Leaving Certificate student Thomas Mongey was then followed by the solemn raising of the flag by Fifth Year students Michael Graven and Eoin O’Doherty. It really was a most special and memorable day for the entire school community. 🇮🇪📜🎻 ×

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

Inspiring the Next Generation at the 2016 Science and Technology Fair

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💻 STEM & Innovation • 2016 Fair Inspiring the Next Generation at the 2016 Science and Technology Fair 8 March 2016 • 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 this, our Science and ICT Departments recently hosted our highly anticipated four-day Science and Technology Fair, inviting sixth-class students from National Schools across Castlebar and the surrounding districts to engage with us. The visiting pupils had the opportunity to utilise our fantastic facilities, taking part in a wide range of hands-on practical activities and witnessing some spectacular scientific demonstrations. From examining plant cells under the microscope and analysing dissected animal hearts, to exploring the fascinating effects of static electricity, the students were completely captivated by the world of science. The fair also featured a dedicated Computer Programming section, where our teaching staff guided the primary school students through the fundamentals of coding and software development. A special mention must go to our outstanding Transition Year students, who did an incredible job demonstrating experiments and assisting the younger pupils throughout the week. It was a phenomenal event designed to spark curiosity, encourage collaborative learning, and foster a lifelong love of STEM subjects. 🚀🔬💡 ×

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

Deutsche Mobil Language Seminar Visits Davitt College

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🇩🇪 Deutschmobil • Language & Culture Deutsche Mobil Language Seminar Visits Davitt College 3 March 2016 • Goethe-Institut Initiative Davitt College was delighted to welcome the Deutschmobil Language Seminar team on Wednesday, 2nd March and Thursday, 3rd March 2016. Sponsored by the Goethe-Institut, this fantastic initiative aims to promote and support the learning of the German language across Ireland. The seminars proved to be incredibly engaging and inspiring for all involved. The visiting team from the Goethe-Institut, Katharina and Konstantine, were absolutely fantastic. They brought wonderful energy to the classrooms, actively encouraging and motivating our German language students throughout their visit. It was a highly successful two days, and Davitt College very much looks forward to welcoming the team back again in the new 2016–2017 academic year! 🇩🇪📚✨ ×

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

Shane Gavin Secures “Best Individual Robot” National Title in Galway

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🤖 National Robotics • STEM Excellence 2015 Shane Gavin Secures “Best Individual Robot” National Title in Galway 3 November 2015 • Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway Huge congratulations to Davitt College Fifth Year Engineering student Shane Gavin on winning the prestigious “Best Individual Robot” title at the national EA Games Robotics Competition held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway. Supported by EA Games, this high-octane championship pits rival robots from secondary schools across the country against one another to battle it out for coveted national trophies. This year’s edition saw over 450 second-level students competing. Shane’s custom-built mechanical layout stood out to the corporate judges for its exceptional structural integrity, operational efficiency, and precise design implementation. “The Irish Robotics Championship is a great way to engage teenagers in the design and construction of robots, which we are really pleased to support.” — Donal Doherty, EA Games Outstanding achievement, Shane! 🤖🏆⚙️ Pictured celebrating the win at the national finals are event MC Mr. Paul Sleem, competition winner Shane Gavin, and an official EA Games Representative. ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, English, Extra-Curricular, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News

National Literary Success for Davitt College Student

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✍️ Literary Achievement • National Competition National Literary Success for Davitt College Student 13 October 2015 • Wild Words Anthology A massive congratulations to Davitt College student Lauren Bright, who has enjoyed tremendous success in this year’s Wild Words Short Story Writing Competition! Following her excellent submission, Lauren’s story was officially selected for inclusion in Wild Words Volume 3—a prestigious anthology featuring short stories and poems by talented young authors from all over Ireland and the UK. As part of this brilliant achievement, Lauren was also invited to attend an exclusive two-day writing masterclass with some of Ireland’s leading authors and publishing industry experts. Lauren recently attended the official festival launch for the third volume of Wild Words in August, where she celebrated alongside other budding authors and the festival’s special guest, broadcaster Ray D’Arcy. This is a fantastic accomplishment for Lauren. We are all incredibly proud of her here at Davitt College and wish her the very best of luck with her future writing pursuits! 📖✨🏆 Davitt College student Lauren Bright, featured author in Wild Words Volume 3. ×

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

An Taoiseach Celebrates North West Championship Cup Triumph with Davitt College

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🏉 Rugby • North West Championship Triumph An Taoiseach Celebrates North West Championship Cup Triumph with Davitt College 13 August 2014 • Davitt College, Castlebar A historic milestone for the school’s sports archives as An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, met with the victorious Davitt College Under-16 Rugby Team to celebrate their phenomenal North West Championship Cup victory. The squad put in an outstanding campaign to capture the regional silverware, demonstrating immense grit, teamwork, and technical skill on the pitch. Pictured alongside the champion team and the Taoiseach are Mr. Dave MacDonnacha (Teacher and Trainer) and Mr. Seamus King (Trainer), who guided the players throughout their successful championship run. This remains a proud benchmark for rugby at Davitt College, showcasing the elite standard of competitive commitment our training panels bring to regional tournaments. 🏉🏆🇮🇪 An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, pictured with the victorious Davitt College U16 Rugby Team, accompanied by Mr. Dave MacDonnacha (Left) and Mr. Seamus King (Right). ×

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