Kinsale Community School Honours Excellence at the 2025 Éacht na Scoláirí Awards
On Friday, October 3rd, 2025, Kinsale Community School hosted its annual awards ceremony, Éacht na Scoláirí, celebrating the outstanding achievements and contributions of its students. Held in the new gym, the event underscored the school’s dedication to recognising excellence.
Ms. Kathleen O’Brien, Deputy Principal and Master of Ceremonies, welcomed attendees and highlighted KCS’s recent accomplishments, including its designation as a Microsoft Showcase School and the upcoming launch of the new Leaving Certificate Climate Action and Sustainable Development programme. The evening opened with a beautiful performance by the School Trad Band, creating a warm, celebratory atmosphere.
Sr. Rita Twomey, Chairperson of the Board of Management, then addressed the audience, sharing insights from her lifelong dedication to education. Since 1996, Sr. Rita has guided Kinsale Community School with wisdom and vision, embodying the Mercy Order’s legacy of educational service both locally and internationally.
Student of the Year Awards
Students across all year groups were celebrated in the presentation of the Student of the Year Awards for their consistent positive contributions to both their class and the school community.
First-Year Student of the Year
Presented by Year Head John Corcoran, the award was proudly bestowed upon Conor Boyle and Ellen Casserly.
Nominees: Ellie Bailey, Steve Barlow, Elise Barrett, Patrick Barrett, Conor Boyle, Wiktoria Budzisz, Brian Burke, Nicolas Casero, Ellen Casserly, Eala Chambers, Michaela Coholan, Liam Collins, Isabel Crowley, Erin Cumiskey, Megan Daly, Rory Dolan, Matthew Downey, Kate Fitzgerald, Libby McCarthy, Ida McGowan, Cian O’Shea, Lily O’Brien, Susie O’Shea, Conor Whitehead.
Second-Year Student of the Year
Year Head Ms. Áine McKenna had the honour of awarding Conall Kingston and Roisin McCarthy.
Nominees: Bosco Azcunga, Harry Cahill, Emily Carroll, Anviya Elza Manoj, Ayla Gilli, Oisin Grover, Kate Heneault Collins, Senan Horan, Ivan Kiely, Conall Kingston, Faye Looney, Roisin McCarthy, Sophie McCarthy, Jack Mullen, Aibhlinn Murphy, Connor O’Daltuin, Oran O’Donnell, Auralia Pereira, Kelly Roser, Alex Smyth, Xante Van Schalkwyk, Olivia Ziegert.
Third-Year Student of the Year
Year Head Elaine Bennett proudly presented the award to Emma McCarthy and Ruairi Sherwood.
Nominees: Jayden Bacchus, Robert Boyd, Lucy Corkery, Fiachra Corrigan, Heather Crowley, TJ Daly, Fionn Fitzpatrick, Olivia Grabska, Cathal Hawkins, Anna Hegarty, Brian Hennessy, Grace Kelleher, Claire Linehan, Zack Looney, Ali Mangan, Emma McCarthy, Lucy McCarthy, Exaucee Muambo, Darragh Murphy, Lilly Norman, Saoirse O’Mahony, Ruairi Sherwood.
Transition Year Student of the Year
Niamh Hay, TY Year Head, presented the award to Patrick Dyer and Faye O’Riordan.
Nominees: Isabelle Boyce, Anthony Byrne, Eva Clarke, Fionn D. McCarthy, Donnacha Deasy, Patrick Dyer, Emerson Hiltner, Roisin Kelly, Charlotte Kiely, Peter Leahy, Stephen Linehan, Philip Murphy, Faye O’Riordan, Cian O’Driscoll, Jessica O’Keeffe, Jack O’Leary, Martha O’Sullivan, Laura Quinn, Joshua Smyth, Thea Tobin.
Fifth-Year Student of the Year
Year Head Laura Anne Dunne had the honour of awarding Kacey Healy and Cal O’Brien.
Nominees: Theo Barray, Sean Bowen, Kieran Carroll, Alison Dennehy, Jason Doyle O’Donovan, Cillian Fitzpatrick, Amy Hayes, Kacey Healy, Danielle McCarthy, Faye McNeils, Oscar Mueller, Padraig Murphy, Sadhbh Napier, Klaudia Nowak, Cal O’Brien, Sarah O’Sullivan, Tara O’Farrell, Jerry O’Riordan, Flor Rahilly Scully, Erin Ridgeway, Aimee Toal, Callum Walsh, Eve Whitehead, Amy Winters.
Sixth-Year Student of the Year
Roan Gilli and Sophie Hurley were honoured with the award, presented by Year Head Tony Cierans.
Nominees: TJ Buckley, Aoibheann Ferguson, Roan Gilli, Sarah Graham, Leo Hennessy, Sophie Hurley, Lucy Kelleher, Kiely Lehane, Fionn Lichtsinn Doyle, Liam McCarthy, Euan McDonald, Malachy O’Daltun, Rowan O’Donoghue, Sean O’Keefe, Kate O’Sullivan, Cormac O’Callaghan, Aisling Rath, Ethan Smyth, Fearghus Walsh.
These outstanding students, along with their fellow nominees, exemplify the spirit of kindness and positivity that is deeply valued within our school community.
Acknowledging Sporting Excellence
Sport holds a central place in both our school and the wider Kinsale community, offering students opportunities to build lasting friendships, develop life skills, and enhance their wellbeing through teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. We were deeply grateful for the dedication of our PE teachers and the many staff members who voluntarily coached and mentored teams, fostering a strong culture of sport and physical fitness. Mr Gerard O’Callaghan came to the stage to announce the winners of our Junior and Senior Awards.
Junior Sports Person of the Year
Awardees: Sean O’Sullivan and Katie Crowley.
Nominees: Emily Bertoletti, Aisling Coleman, Liam Collins, Katie Crowley, Hannah Deasy, Eoin Downing, Chloe Farley, Amy Fitzpatrick, Caoimhe Foley, Senan Horan, Sophie McCarthy, Zoe Murphy, Kayleigh Murphy, Alan Nagle, Áine Ní Chearnaigh, Tom O’Keeffe, Sean O’Sullivan, Aoife Sheehan, Donal Sheehan, Darragh Treacy, Shane Winters.
Senior Sports Person of the Year
Awardees: Aoife Cottrell and Leo Hennessy.
Nominees: Lauren Balaur, Maeve Causer, Aoife Cottrell, Mark Fehilly, Cillian Fitzpatrick, Leo Hennessy, Caoimhe Horgan, Caitlin Hurley, Emma Jones, Aaron Keane, Emma MacSweeney, Catherine Murphy, AJ Nash, Eimear Ní Chearnaigh, Cormac O’Callaghan, Maisie O’Callaghan, Aisling Rath, David Forde, Erin Ridgeway, Oscar Ryan, Noah Ryan, Gemma Whelan, Darragh Winters.
Joe McGrath Memorial Award
Joe McGrath’s legacy as a GAA coach remained deeply cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him, remembered for his passion for the sport, unwavering dedication, and lasting impact on countless young athletes. His influence extended far beyond the playing field, shaping lives and fostering a love of Gaelic games within our community. To announce the recipient of this prestigious award, we invited Ms Sinéad O’Donovan to the stage, and Gráinne McGrath, Joe’s daughter, to present the award to Caitlin Hurley.
Excellence in Science, Technology & Humanities
STEM education held a central place at Kinsale Community School, reflecting our commitment to equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and creativity needed to thrive in a complex, technology-driven world. It fostered critical thinking and problem-solving while deepening understanding of the natural world and the innovations shaping our lives, with projects like our MyGug biodigester and self-irrigating greenhouse showcasing this in action. The school’s dedication to science and technology was celebrated with several awards:
Science and Technology Award: We were delighted to invite Rebecca Lawlor to introduce the Science Award. Karolina Kelleher of Life Science Consultants, sponsors of the prize presented the award to Saoirse Hayes.
O’Brien BioTech Award: Joshua Smyth was honoured as the recipient of the BioTech Award, sponsored by the O’Brien family and presented by Mr Eddie Farren on behalf of Frank O’Brien.
Young Scientist Awards:
For many years, Kinsale Community School had been renowned for its outstanding achievements in both the BT Young Scientist Exhibition. To celebrate our recent successes and present awards to the recipients, we invited Mr Shaun Holly, our Young Scientist Co-ordinator, to address the audience. Ian Cullinane, Eva Grace, Ronan Hawkins, Etaoin Healy Bastow, Riva O’Reilly, Sadhbh Tuohy were this year’s recipients.
Don O’Shea Memorial Award:
The Don O’Shea Memorial Award celebrated the legacy of a much-loved and truly inspirational member of our school community. A native of Tralee, Don began his teaching career in Killorglin before volunteering as a development worker in Zimbabwe — an experience that deeply shaped his life. From 1993 until his passing, he taught Maths, IT, and Science, specialising in Chemistry, and was admired for his expertise, unique teaching style, and unfailing sense of humour. A true IT pioneer, Don had the foresight to integrate technology into everyday teaching and inspired those around him to reach new heights with his generosity, talent, and humility. Though taken too soon, his legacy continued to shape our school, and this award — specially commissioned to honour his memory — was kindly donated by Anne, Caoimhe, and Saoirse O’Shea. Cillian Fitzpatrick, was awarded the Don O’Shea Memorial Award for his outstanding Science results in Fifth Year.
Historical Society Award:
History holds an important place at Kinsale Community School, offering students a gateway to understanding the richness of human experience, the lessons of the past, and the context for shaping the future. The award presented on the night recognised a student with a genuine passion for History, generously supported by the Kinsale Historical Society. Mr Diarmaid O’Donovan announced the winner of this category, and Mr Pádraig Begley came to the stage to present the award to Eoghan Deasy.
Catherine O’Byrne Memorial Award:
The next award we presented held a special place in our hearts as it honoured the memory of our late colleague, Catherine O’Byrne. A native of Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, Catherine joined our school in 1996 as a teacher of German and English, leaving a profound and lasting impact on our community. She championed debating, inspiring students to engage with vital human rights issues, and fostered a deep passion for language and culture through her teaching of German. Her untimely passing at just 32 was deeply felt by her family, our school, and the wider community, and we were honoured to invite Ms Lisa Hurley to share more about this year’s recipient and Michael O’Byrne, Catherine’s father, to present the award to TJ Buckley.
Music, Community & Sustainability
Music holds a cherished place within our school community, enriching students’ lives and fostering discipline and dedication through study within the curriculum. We were delighted to welcome Ms Sinéad Brennan to the stage to present awards to some exceptional music students.
Contribution to Music Award: Aoibheann Ferguson, Kiely Lehane, Fearghus Walsh, presented by Sinéad Brennan.
Kilian Ryan Memorial Award:
Schools thrive through the support of individuals and organisations in their community, and KCS is fortunate to benefit from such generosity. One such person was Kilian Ryan, whose passion for drama and dedication to stage lighting and special effects left a lasting legacy in every school musical. To honour his memory, Mr Tony Cierans introduced this year’s recipients, Alice, Ted, Maisie, Miah and Archie O’Callaghan and Áine Ryan O’Brien presented the award.
Community and leadership awards included:
Civic Virtue Award:
We celebrated an award that embodied the very essence of civic responsibility and pro-social values — the Civic Virtue Award. This accolade honoured students who actively contributed to a supportive and inclusive environment, demonstrating respect, responsibility, empathy, and a commitment to positive change. Mr Diarmaid Fahy introduced the recipient of this special award, and Cormac Fitzgerald, President of the Lions Club and generous sponsor of the award, presented it to Charlotte O’Driscoll.
Sustainability Award:
We then turned to the Sustainability Award, a testament to our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and to embedding sustainability in every aspect of school life. This award honoured students who demonstrated exceptional dedication to environmental issues, innovative approaches to sustainable practices, and proactive leadership in eco-friendly initiatives. We were delighted to invite Klaus Harvey, our Sustainability Chaplain, to introduce and present this award to Ellie and Skye Sheedy.
Academic Awards
We then arrived at our Academic Achievement Awards, the celebration of dedication, effort, and outstanding academic success. On this special evening, we applauded not only our students’ exceptional accomplishments but also the hard work, perseverance, and intellectual curiosity that brought them here. We recognised the late-night study sessions, the countless hours of preparation, the challenges overcome along the way, and the unwavering support of their parents that made these achievements possible. Our Deputy Principals, Mr. Iggy Dineen and Ms. Claire Sheehan recognised outstanding academic accomplishments.
Junior Cycle Award: Deputy Principal, Mr. Iggy Dineen presented Claire Boyle with the Junior Cycle Award.
Senior Academic Awards: Deputy Principal, Ms. Claire Sheehan presented the Senior Academic Award to TJ Buckley and Aidan McDonald.
Leaving Certificate Applied Award: Deputy Principal, Ms. Claire Sheehan presented Chloe Hennessy-Buttimer with the Leaving Certificate Applied Award.
Principal’s Award: Lily Cahill, was presented with the Principal’s Award for exceptional achievements and contributions to school life.
Guest Speaker: Dr Lynn Ramsey
We were honoured to welcome Dr Lynn Ramsey as our distinguished guest speaker for this year’s awards evening. Originally from Scotland and based in Ramelton, Co. Donegal, Dr Ramsey, Director of the Teaching Council of Ireland has made a significant and widely recognised contribution to the Irish education system. Holding a PhD in EU Law from the University of Glasgow and a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Management from Trinity College Dublin, she had held senior leadership roles across higher education in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, including Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Letterkenny IT. A passionate advocate for lifelong learning, she pioneered the Irish Universities Association’s MicroCreds programme and served as Chair of the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, a board member of the Higher Education Authority, and co-chair of a European working group on learning and teaching under the Bologna Process. Recently appointed as incoming Chief Executive Officer of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), Dr Ramsey was described by Minister James Lawless TD as “a high-calibre leader whose dedication and service speak volumes.” It was a privilege to welcome such an inspirational leader whose progressive vision for education reflected the ethos and aspirations of Kinsale Community School.
The evening was brought to a fitting close by MC and Deputy Principal, Ms. Kathleen O’Brien, who concluded the ceremony by inviting Head Girl Eimear Ní Chearnaigh and Head Boy Conor Looney to deliver their inspiring addresses. The celebrations ended on a perfect note with a beautiful musical performance by the recipients of the Contribution to Music Award.
The 2025 Éacht na Scoláirí Awards were a powerful reminder of the dedication, pride, and community that define KCS, and the success of the night was made possible by the collective efforts and contributions of all staff, each playing a part in creating such a memorable occasion. The evening, meticulously coordinated by Ms. Gemma Cooper, was a fitting celebration of the achievements, talent, and spirit of Kinsale Community School.
