St. Brigid`s Vocational School Loughrea

COISTE OIDEACHAIS GHAIRME BEATHA CHONTAE NA GAILLIMHE
(COunTy GaLway vOCaTiOnaL EDuCaTiOn COMMiTTEE)
St. Brigid’s Vocational School Loughrea
Sean Connolly B. Tech. Ed., H Dip S., C.T.G.
Principal
Jim wall B.a., a.T.O., T.T.G.
Deputy Principal
www.lvs.ie
GaiRMSCOiL BHRiDE
McInerneys of Loughrea
(St. Brigid’s vocational School)
Est 1891
BaiLE LOCHa RiaCH (LOuGHREa)
Tel. 091/841919 Fax no. 091 842647
Parents newsletter June 2012
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Sunday - 8.00am to 10.00pm
Presentation to Galway Hospice
IMPORTANT DATES
2012/2013
SuMMER HOLiDayS
1st June 2012
SCHOOL RE-OPEnS
28th august 2012
LEavinG CERT RESuLTS
15th august 2012
FinaL DaTE FOR
aPPLiCaTiOn
TO viEw SCRiPTS
21st august 2012
viewing Scripts
31st aug - 1st Sept
RE-OPEninG 1st years
28th august 2012
RE-OPEninG
1st, 2nd & 4th yEaRS
29th august 2012
aLL STuDEnTS
30th august 2012
OCTOBER MiD TERM BREaK
29th Oct - 2nd nov 2012
RE-OPEnS 5th nov 2012
CHRiSTMaS HOLiDayS
21st Dec 2012
RE-OPEnS 7th January 2013
FEBRuaRy MiD TERM
11th February 2013
RE-OPEnS 15th February 2013
EaSTER HOLiDayS
22nd March 2013
RE-OPEnS 8th april 2013
SuMMER HOLiDayS
31st May 2013
Rainbows
We would like to thank Ms. Lisa Kelly
and Ms. Leonie Kelly for facilitating
the Rainbows programme this year.
The group enjoyed a “Celebrate Me”
day in City Limits on Friday
May 25th 2012.
Back row: L to R: Eoghan Spellman, Lorraine Farrell, Rachel Callanan, Patrick Halpin, Leah Prendergast,
Jacques Chahin, Lisa Callanan, Rory Gormally, Siobhan Haverty. Middle row: L to R: Darek Kozdroj, Emma Lawless,
Sampath Reddy Gayam, Sadhbh O Malley, Ciara Holohan, Grainne Mullins, Hazel Larkin, Fergal Broderick,
Jennifer Daly, Ms. Dell Connolly. Front row: L to R: Sarah Gardiner, Darragh O Donoghue, Thomas Murray,
Orla Feeney (Galway Hospice), Lisa Cannon, Clara Finnerty, Peter Treacy.
Fourth year LCVP students from St Brigid’s Vocational School Loughrea, along with their teacher,
Ms. Dell Connolly, present a cheque for €650, the money raised from their coffee morning in
school to Orla Feeney of Galway Hospice.
Success for St Brigid’s Loughrea Students at SciFest Regional Finals
GMIT hosted the Western Regional Finals for SciFest 2012
with schools from counties Clare, Galway, Mayo and
Roscommon participating. Two second year students
from St. Brigid’s Vocational School, Loughrea, Katelyn
Egan and Sarah Gallagher presented their Life Science
project titled “Ask The Worms”. Katelyn and Sarah came
first in the Junior category defeating sixteen other
entrants. Their project consisted of studying the
movement of worms through four different soil types:
Horticulture, Dairy, Recreational and Organic to see which
soil type the worms preferred. Extensive studies showed the majority of the worms favoured the
Organic soil. Katelyn and Sarah wish to further their studies on this topic and investigate the
connection with Organic Farming and the importance of it to the Irish Economy. They hope with
their findings to proceed to the BT Young Scientist Finals in the upcoming year.
Pictured with their winning display stand at the GMIT Scifest finals are St Brigid’s Vocational School
Loughrea second year students Katelyn Egan (left) and Sarah Gallagher (right) .
First Year Hurling
Our First Year Hurlers have had a very successful year.
Having defeated Gort, Vocational School Athenry and
Portumna in the group stages, they played Presentation
Athenry in the Connaught final on Wednesday. Going
into the game as underdogs the boys put in a gallant
performance before losing to a stronger Athenry team.
Equestrian News
Congratulations to Junior Cert
student Cathal Daniels, who
has been selected as a member
of the Irish Equestrian Pony Team
who will compete in the European
Championships in France in July.
St.Brigids Vocational School Junior Hurling Team 2012
Back row left to right: Mr. John Greene, Mr. niall Canavan (Manager), Fintan Burke, Gary McHugo, Daniel nevin, Tony Molloy,
Brian Molloy, Micheal Fallon, Joseph Mooney, Dean Earls, Keith Callanan, David Mangan, Jacques Chaquin, Johnny Conroy,
Mr. Ger Lyons (Coach), Mr. Martin Raferty, Mr. Seán Connolly – Principal
Front row left to right: Francis Kelly, Liam Kelly, Stephen Roache, Jarlath Mannion, Jamie Monaghan, Conor Jennings (Captain),
Declan Cronin, Daniel Mottram, Eanna Burke, Kenneth Cooney, James Donnellan, Jack Creavan and Ronan Brennan.
Jarlath Mannion, who scored
six points for St Brigid’s
vocational School, Loughrea
Junior hurling team in their
victory over Gort Community
College, being presented
with his man of the match
trophy by Michael O Connor
(Head of Sport at nuiG)
Junior Hurling
Minor Camogie
The school’s junior hurling team rounded off a magnificent year by
capturing the Connacht Colleges Junior Hurling crown on Monday 21st
May in Kenny Park beating Gort C.S. on a score line of 1:14 to 1:05. It
rounded off a great two years for this bunch of hurlers who have gone two
years undefeated in all six competitions entered, having captured the
Connacht and All Ireland Vocational titles earlier in the year, in addition to
winning the same treble last year. Well done to all.
Our 2011/12 school year brought great skill to the camogie field from first
and second years. Our first minor game was at home to Gort. The girls played
excellently winning on the day. Our next day out was away to Athenry and
our girls came away with another win showing great talent and teamwork. A
defeat to Portumna the following week still kept us in the running for a final
but Seamount College proved too strong for us in a thrilling semi-final in
Kinvara. Without doubt, this young and promising team will come back in
September ready to take on the Junior competition.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish the girls
from Davitts the very best of luck during Féile 2012.
Juvenile Football Success
Senior B Hurling Squad
Pictured above are our Senior B Hurling Squad who were narrowly
defeated in the Regan Cup final: Back row L to R: Colin Kennedy,
David Broderick (Capt), Glenn Costello, Ivan Dolan, Tony Molloy,
Jamie Monaghan, Paul Cannon, Gavin Hoban, Daniel Nevin, Keith Callanan,
Ronan Brennan, Darren Coen, Liam Kelly. Front row L to R: Francis Kelly,
Brian Molloy, Conor Howard, Evan Curley, Declan Cronin, Fintan Burke,
Benny Gallagher, Padraic Hannon, Johnny Conroy, Jacques Chahin.
Athletics
Connacht Schools Athletics
Championships were held
in
Athlone
IT
on
Thursday,18th May 2012.
Twenty
one
athletes
qualified for the All Ireland
Track & Field Finals to be
held in Tullamore on
Saturday 2nd June. This is
the biggest number of our
athletes ever to participate in the All Ireland Finals. Nine students also hold
nine Connacht titles; Alex Cherry; Junior Boys Triple Jump, Lisa Fahy; Junior
Girls Long Jump, Katie Donoghue; Junior Girls Javelin, Maria Cooney; Inter
Girls 80m Hurdles, Ciara Hanlon; Inter Girls Triple Jump, Caomhan Conahan;
Inter Boys Triple Jump and High Jump, Melissa Barrett; Senior Girls Discus,
and Emmett Creaven; Senior Boys Long Jump and Linda Porter; Senior Girls
800m. The Junior Girls team won
the Connacht Shield. The team
consisted of Lisa Fahy, Katie
Donoghue, Emma Byrne and Tara
McNally.
Congratulations to the Juvenile football team and coach Mr. Cleary, on
winning the County Galway Vocational Schools Juvenile A football
competition. They defeated Colaiste Na Coirbe Galway on a scoreline of 1-6
to 0-4. The final was played in Renmore on Monday 14th May.
Panel, Darragh Gilligan, Stephen Delaney, Cillian O Malley, Thomas Gordon,
Shane Regan, Fintan Burke, Aaron Brereton, Cathal Reidy, Dillon Stewart,
Kelan Jennings, John Moyihan, Shane Moran, Aaron Dunne, David Mangan,
Shane Donelon, Mark Dolan, Luke Mullins, Nathan Duffy, Thomas Mongan,
Eanna Murphy, Ronan Murphy, Robert Haverty, Conor Ruane, Richard O
Rourke, Jack Haverty, Calum Hennigan and Shane Fahy.
Transition Year 2012
ECO – unESCO young Environmental awards 2012
Congratulations to ‘Green Diversity’, a group of Transition Year students from St
Brigid’s Vocational School, Loughrea, on their success in the ECO-UNESCO Young
Environmentalist Finals in which they won the ECO-UNESCO-Club of the Year
Award. They were presented with their prestigious award and a cheque by RTE
presenter Stephen Byrne and Elaine Nevin, Director of ECO-UNESCO Ireland. They
also received a Highly Commended Certificate for their project on Climate
Change and its effects on Biodiversity. The Gala Showcase and Awards Ceremony
took place in the Mansion House on Tuesday the 8th of March. The group of five
talented and energetic students include Caomhan Conaghan, Ciara Hanlon, Siofra
Regan, Triona Larkin and Christopher O’Connor. The project was undertaken as
part of their Geography Class and the group have worked tirelessly throughout
the year in organising and carrying out an action plan to promote biodiversity
within the environs of their school by planting native trees and providing nesting
boxes for birds. They have also worked with Bird Watch Ireland Volunteers,
Marianne ten Cate and Mary Finnegan, in carrying out a bird count on Loughrea
Lake. Through the setting up and running of the ECO Club for forty five First Year
Students they have raised awareness within the school. The group hope to
continue the good work not only
with incoming students but also
in the wider community in
conjunction with Tidy Towns,
Loughrea and with Toyota Ireland
which is an official partner of ECOUNESCO. Green Diversity were
sponsored by Dubarry Shoes,
Anchoill
B&B,
Anne
Touhy Beauticians and Loughrea
Tidy Towns.
Pictured at the launch of the “Being young and irish” initiative at arás an uachtaráin with President Michael D. Higgins
were Conor Jennings and Darragh Dolan of St. Brigid’s vocational School along with their teacher, niall Canavan
AWARDS DAY 2012
Our Annual Awards Day took place on Wednesday, May 16th 2012, with special guest, GAA President, Mr. Liam O Neill.
We congratulate all our winners. The pictures can be viewed on our website at, www.lvs.ie
Pictured is Female Student of the year
for Leaving Cert 2012, Siobhán Casey,
being presented with her trophy by
Gaa President, Liam O neill.
Pictured is Male Student of the year
for Leaving Cert 2012, Emmett Creaven,
being presented with his trophy by
Gaa President, Liam O neill.
Pictured is Senior Female Sports Star
of the year 2012, Lorraine Farrell,
being presented with her trophy by
Gaa President, Liam O neill.
Pictured is Senior Male Sports Star
of the year for 2012, Padraig Flanagan,
being presented with his trophy by
Gaa President, Liam O neill.
Transition Year 2012
Pictured at the St. Brigid’s Awards Day were:
Back row L to R: Martin Raftery (Senior Hurling Manager),
Mr. Liam O’ Neill (President of the GAA), Niall Canavan
(Junior Hurling Manager), Seán Connolly (Principal).
Front row L to R: Darragh Burke (Capt. of All Ireland
winning Galway Vocational Schools Hurling team.),
Darragh Dolan (Capt. of St. Brigid’s Senior All Ireland
winning team.), Darren Coy (Senior Vice Capt.),
and Conor Jennings (Capt. of St. Brigid’s Junior All
Ireland winning team).
Music Award winners at the St Brigid’s Vocational
School Loughrea Annual Awards Day
Back row: L to R: Alan Keane, Maria Cooney, Ciara
O’ Connor, Keith Callanan, Kate Gallagher, Caomhan
Conaghan. Front row: Niamh Regan, Elaine McHugo,
Cassandra Mitchell, Mr Liam O Neill (President of the
GAA), Laura Sweeney, Mr Sean Connolly (Principal)
• Congratulations to Ciara Hanlon and her group on securing a recording deal for her song.
• Spike ball coaching has been completed.
• Well done to the T.Y. students on their community work with St. Brendan’s Nursing Home.
It was much appreciated by the patients who looked forward to the T.Y.s visit every Friday.
• Congratulations to the T.Y. students on their Fetac Level 3 Media Expression examination
results. Forty one students reached the required national standard with an excellent
project/DVD production. The results were verified by an external examiner.
• The T.Y. students had an end of year interview on May 23rd and sat end of year
examinations in core subjects on May 24th and 25th.
• The final work experience week for T.Y. students starts on Monday 27th May.
• The ECDL examinations are completed with all students succeeding in achieving the 75%
pass grade in seven modules.
• Congratulations to all the T.Y. Award recipients with a wide range of achievements in both
cultural, academic and sporting areas.
Transition year alcohol awareness and Peer Mentoring Programme
In October 2011 Galway Lions Club sponsored the training of teachers in the area of Alcohol
Awareness for Transition Year students. The aim of the course was to:
• Develop their knowledge and understanding of alcohol issues.
• Develop appropriate personal and social skills.
• Explore attitudes and values associated with alcohol.
The students were then trained to teach the content to the first year students. Peer
education can help to contribute to a caring, responsible ethos within the school, where
older students provide positive models for younger students.
A reception was held in the Radisson Hotel on May 4th by the Galway Lions Club where
Galway Mayor Hildergarde Naughton presented certificates to the students who completed
the course.
a group of Transition year students
sailed 'Trasna na dTonnta' to inis Oirr
last Monday 21st of May. Great weather
and a taste of irish culture combined to
make an enjoyable day for all.
Graduation Mass
Our Graduation Mass was concelebrated by our school Chaplain, Fr. Raymond Sweeney
and Bishop Kirby. The beautiful music co-ordinated by Ms. Kathy Whelan and the
eyecatching Art work co-ordinated by Ms. Siobhán Treacy helped to make this mass a
very special one. The Leaving Certificate students were well prepared by Ms. Niamh
Deignan and should be very proud of their efforts. We would like to wish our
Graduation Class of 2012 every success in their exams and in their future lives.
Paintballing
On Thursday, May 17th a group of 39 Tys and 4th
years were accompanied by Mr. Greene and Mr.
Lyons to Combat Zone in Limerick for the ultimate
paintballing experience in a dense forest where
shots were flying fast and furious. a great day
was had by all.
Congratulations to past
pupil, James Geoghegan,
who was recently elected
second vice president of
the irish nurses and
Midwives Organisation.
All Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 2012
Congratulations to our Senior hurling team and management on retaining the ALL Ireland senior hurling title.
Back row L to R: niall Coen, Brian Dolan, Brian Molloy, Jamie Monaghan,Conor Jennings, Glen Costello, Jamie Ryan, Sean Hardiman, Fintan Burke, Darragh Burke,
Shane Flynn, Eanna Burke. Middle row: L to R: Mr Martin Raftery (Manager), Darragh Donoghue, Paraic Flanagan, ivan Dolan, Gerald Kelly, Tony Molloy, Declan Cronin,
Peter whelan, Paul Cannon, Liam Kelly, Ronan Brennan, Mr niall Canavan (Selector), Mr Sean Connolly (Principal). Front row: L to R: Johnny Conroy, Joseph Mooney,
Daniel nevin, Eoghan Spellman, Paraic Kennedy, Darragh Dolan (Capt), David Broderick, Darren Coen, Darren Coy, Garry McHugo, Francis Kelly, Jacques Chaquin.
Volleyball
• 2nd Year Girls Shield, St. Brigid’s beat St. Louise C.S. Kiltimagh 2-0, 25-17, 25-19. Most Valuable Player; Laura Charleton.
• 1st Year Girls Shield, St. Brigid’s beat St. Raphaels, 2-1, 25-22, 18-25,25-2, Most Valuable Player; Grainne Ryan.
• North South Cadette A Boys, beat Portadown College Armagh, 2-0, 25-9, 25-19.
This is only the second St. Brigid’s team to win this trophy. The last time was 2006.
• 2nd Year Boys Shield, St. Brigid’s beat Drumshambo V.S. 2-0, 25-18, Most Valuable Player, Darragh Curley.
• 1st Year Cup, St. Brigid’s beat Davis College Mallow, 2-1, 24-26, 25-14. Most Valuable Player, Keane Holloway.
• 2nd Year Cup, St. Brigid’s beat Davis College Mallow, 2-0, 25-19, 25– 20. Most Valuable Player, Alfie Davies.
Co. Galway VEC Awards 2012
2nd year Boys Shield winners
Back row L to R: Mary Barrett (Coach),
Laura Charleton, Siobhan O'Connor,
Sarah Gallagher, Tara McNally, Katelyn
Egan, Damien Finnerty (Assistant coach),
Front row L to R: Lisa Connolly,
Caoilinn Doyle, Katie Donoghue (Capt),
Emma Byrne, Tara Kennedy.
Back row L to R: Mary Barrett (Coach),
Alan Moran, Shane O'Brien,
Michael Lynch, Thomas Gordan,
Darragh Curley, Richard O'Rourke.
Front row L to R: Sean O'Brien,
Ronan Murphy ,Darragh Gilligan (Capt),
Christopher Mahony, Eanna Murphy.
north-South
all ireland Cup winners
1st year Boys
all ireland Cup winners
Back row L to R: :Fintan Burke Caomhan
Conaghan (Capt), Kevin Broderick, Rory
Gormally, Patrick Halpin. Front row L to R:
John Moynihan , Finian Dolan,
Ciaran Connors, Anthony Finnerty.
Back row L to R: Colin Curley, Dylan
Towolawi, McKinley Magale, Jason Nevin,
Darragh Sheil. Front row L to R: Keane
Holloway, Francis Larkin, Aaron Murray
(Captain), Ben Burke
2nd year Boys
all ireland Cup winners
Back row L to R: Mary Barrett (Coach)
Keelan Jennings, Alfie Davies,
Sean Murray, Shane Moran,
Front row L to R: Damien Finnerty,
Ciaran Connors, (Capt), Finian Dolan.
1st year Girls Shield winners
Back row L to R: Melissa Barrett (Coach),
Laura Kyne, Katie Monaghan, Ciara Glynn,
Emma Burns, Ann-Marie Mitchell, Megan
Forde. Front row L to R: Grainne Ryan,
Avril Kennedy, Claudia Lowry (Capt),
Fiona Burke, Ciara Lee.
information Technology, Student of the year, Triona Kennedy,
being presented with her trophy by Gaa President Mr. Liam O neill.
T.Y. 2 and their teacher,
Ms. Konisberry, provided a very
enjoyable afternoon’s
entertainment for 1st & 2nd year
students with their production
of “Villa on Venus”.
Business Administration PLC Course
Applications for our new Business Administration PLC course that starts in September are now been taken.
Please email [email protected] or phone 091 841919 for further details.
DESIGN AND PRINT BY
2nd year Girls Shield winners
Pictured at the County Galway VEC
Annual Awards Ceremony, held in the
Raheen Woods Hotel Athenry recently
are: Back row L to R: Mr. David
Monaghan (Deputy Principal),
Darragh Burke (Hurling Award),
Jacques Chahin (Engineering Award),
Mr. Pat Gilmore (Chairperson Co.
Galway VEC), Ryan Dervan (Boxing
Award), Darragh Dolan (Hurling
Award), Conor Jennings (Hurling
Award), Mr. Sean Connolly (Principal).
Front row L to R: Jessica Deely
(Engineering Award), Sinéad Gacquin
(Academic Award) and Lorraine Farrell
(Camogie Award). Missing from photo
Ross Mennie (Academic Award).
The annual vEC awards recognise
and acknowledge expertise and
achievements across school life.
Congratulations to all winners.