Mick Galwey, former Munster, Ireland and Lions rugby player and native of Currow, made a special guest appearance at the annual student awards night celebration at Presentation Castleisland on September 28th.
The night is held annually to recognise student achievement and triumph, across a broad range of activities and disciplines.
Joining Mick Galwey as special guests were Cáit and Eilis Lynch, both Kerry Ladies Senior All-Ireland finalists and past pupils of Presentation Castleisland.
Choir Soloists and the School Orchestra opened the evening celebration with a heart-warming performance of ‘Fall on Me’ led by music teacher Ailish O’Connor.
Gifts and Talents Highlighted
In his opening remarks, Principal, Pierce Dargan spoke of the night as an opportunity ‘to come together as a school community – a night to showcase the hard work, dedication and commitment shown by our students and also highlight their gifts and talents.’
The theme for the evening was ‘celebrating achievements as a whole school community’ and Mr. Dargan emphasized how this sense of community has been embedded in the school as one of its five core pillars.
“These five pillars describe our school culture in action. If students and staff are happy and enjoy coming to school each day, then the rest looks after itself,” he said.
Endless Opportunities Available
Mick Galwey addressed the audience with a keynote speech. He spoke of his determination and hard work to rise to the highest level of sport and reminded students about the endless opportunities available to them in life.
He encouraged students to grab opportunities with both hands, and reminded them of the benefits of experiencing the world, something he was privileged to enjoy during his career.
Awards for 60 Students
Sixty students in the school were presented with an award on the night. These included an award in memory of the late Seamus Falvey, school principal from 2000 to 2012. This award was presented to Emma Buckley for her commitment to school life and the unwavering positivity and determination she brought to the classroom.
The Sister Clement Award is presented each year to the student who works consistently and diligently in her studies, and this year, it was awarded to Katie O’Driscoll.
The CEIST Award was presented to Anna McSweeney, a student who models the school’s ethos every day and who actively promotes the school’s core values of respect and inclusivity.
Sr. Rita Art Award
The Sister Rita Art Award is presented to a senior cycle student who consistently proves themselves in art. The winner of this award was Caoimhe Dairo.
The Junior Sports Person of the Year was awarded to Erin O’Connor and was presented by Kerry Footballers Cáit and Eilis Lynch.
The Senior Sports Person of the Year was presented to Julia Curtin.
Awards were also presented to students in the areas of music, business enterprise,STEM, literature, Gaeilge and many more.
Gold Medal Presentations
Gold Medals were presented to Fiona Brosnan and Ciara Cronin for their most outstanding results in the Leaving Certificate 2023.
Winners of the student of the year were also announced and they went to: Amy Griffin, first year; Niamh O’Donnell, second year; Áine Walsh, third year; Charlie O’Keeffe, transition year; Annie Moriarty, fifth year and Clara Michel, sixth year.
Clara Michel, a student from Germany who came to Presentation Castleisland on an exchange in fifth year, but enjoyed her experience so much she decided to stay for another year and complete her Leaving Certificate in the school.
Heartwarming Letter
Clara was unable to fly back to Kerry for the awards night due to Storm Agnes, but sent a heartwarming letter to thank the school for her wonderful experience and the opportunities she was given here.
On the night, the school also launched its yearbook showcasing highlights and memories of the 2022/2023 school year.
“The Yearbook is a visual representation of all that is positive about our school and is a memento for our students and their families to have and to look back on for years to come,” said Mr. Dargan.
The ceremony ended with an outstanding performance of ‘Dreams’ by the school choir.
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