Colaiste Dun Iascaigh’s Academic awards were held in a packed hall in the school recently. In her opening remarks, Mrs Finnegan-Burke while paying tribute to the award winners also paid tribute to all the students. She said that people often come first because those around them encourage them to work harder. She also announced that each of the Year Group winners would receive a scholarship of free Evening Study for the year. These winners Leah Brannigan from First Year, Ciara Hickey from Second Year, Jessica Coffey from Third Year and Aisling Keating from Fifth Year.

Mrs Finnegan-Burke also welcomed back our recent graduates who were receiving their awards for excellence in the Leaving Certificate. These award winners were: Best Traditional Leaving Certificate 2013; Michaela Crosbie; Best Vocational Leaving Certificate 2013;Jessica Rowe;Gerry Grufferty Perpetual Shield – Maths/App maths/Physics; Patrick  Berry; The Sr. Cecilia Perpetual Shield for achievement in Leaving Certificate music was awarded to – Kieran Tobin; the recipient of the Riona Greene Perpetual Shield for excellence in the Leaving Certificate Business subject was Jackie Doyle and Amy Farrell;The Mary O’Donnell Perpetual Shield for Geography was awarded to Aaron Murphy, Pierce Murphy and Luke Cagney. The Dan Greene Perpetual Shield for excellence in History went Luke Cagney. The Arthur O’Donnell Perpetual Shield for excellence in Engineering went to Oisin Moloney; The Patsy McGuirk shield for Excellence in Irish Higher Level went toJessica Rowe and Jackie Doyle  and Excellence in  Irish Ordinary Level went to Sophie O’ Dwyer. The Michael Berry Perpetual Shield for Maths went to Michaela Crosbie. The Award for Excellence in a Foreign Language went to Anca Stanciu (German, Spanish, Romanian), Patrick berry  (French).The Award for Excellence in Design and Communication Graphics went to Wojtek Cymers. The Award for Excellence in Construction Studies went to Aaron Murphy.The Award for Excellence in English went to Patrick berry, Aaron Murphy and Amy Farrell. The Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science went to Marian Zaki. The Award for Excellence in Biology went to Michaela Crosbie, Jessica Rowe and Marian Zaki. The Award for Excellence in Chemistry went to Jessica Rowe. The Award for Excellence in Social and Scientific went to Michaela Crosbie and Jessica Rowe. The Award for Excellence in Technology went to Oisin Moloney. The Award for Excellence in Art went jointly toWojtek Cymers and Alina Neumerzhiskaya. The Award for Distinction in LINKS went to joye Arbucke, Jessica Rowe, Alana Burke and Maureen Murphy.

Special guest on the night was past student Sheena kennedy spoke about her very happy memories as a student in Colaiste. She said that she would not have completed her many accomplishments without the support and excellent tuition she received in school. She encouraged students to aim high and to be aware of as well grasp opportunities whenever they came their way. Sheena also talked about her work as a pharmacist and her career path that she took to get there. Sheena also informed the appreciative audience of her time spent travelling through Central and South America. She addressed movingly the poverty that she met on her travels and she encouraged students to give more of their time to others when they can.

To finish the evening Cllr. Liam Ahearne , chair of the Colaiste’s Board of Management thanked Sheena on her kind words and congratulated the students on their achievements.