Our News

ST. PATRICK'S COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL

News from 2018/2019

A wonderful year

Check out all the photos and text below to see all our news.

News from the 2018/2019 school year.....

Generous Donation

A massive thank you to CHC for their generous donation to the SEN department in the school. We are truly grateful. We will be using the funds to purchase elephant beanbags, weighted blankets and punch bags and mitts. Thank you!

Climate Strike - March 15

To say we are proud is an understatement! Our fantastic students and staff worked together to make a real stand for our voices to be heard in relation to climate change. Our human chain, led by our Student Council, wound its’ way through the school and we all gathered in the hall to show unity in this cause. Thank you to all who took part. In a moment of kismet, past pupil Gavin Higgins sent us a truly beautiful piece from his portfolio in his LCFE course. We feel it’s very apropos to our work today.

Class on Climate Change

First Year Bríde spent Thursday’s English class finding out about climate change. They spent the class coming up with their own slogans and created some beautiful posters. 🌍

Hurling Win

Great win today for our Under 15 hurlers, beating Waterpark Secondary School Waterford on a scoreline of 1-8 to 4 points. Both teams deserve huge credit having to play in such awful conditions and a pitch with a just about playable surface. The commitment and dedication from this group of lads is incredible and are performing so well at both codes this year. Proud of ye all lads!! A really Great team performance and exceptional individual performances from Peter McEvoy, Riordan brothers Craig and Colin, Tan Greene, Cian Lynch and Ben OConnell. On to the next round, our opposition yet to be decided!”

Pi Day 2019

Come to The Comp. We have Pi. Today we celebrated international ‘Pi Day’ marking the mathematical constant on the 14th of March (3.14). They say promises are like a pie crust and are easily broken but that wasn’t the case with our wonderful students today. An extreme effort was made to celebrate ‘Pi Day’ by both students and staff. There were extra smiles in the classrooms and corridors today and a wonderful sharing of ideas and pies.
Thanks to all those who took part and a special mention to the wonderful students who made a video to celebrate ‘Pi Day’.

History Talk

We were privileged to have guest speaker Charlie Morrison in the library speaking to third year history students from Ms. Graham & Ms. Flanagan classes on his life & times in Derry.

Climate Strike Preparation

Have you heard of the March 15 Climate Strike? It highlights the lack of voice that young people have in relation to climate change.
Here at The Comp we are putting our twist on it! Rather than walking out as individuals we are working together to create a silent human chain throughout our building to showcase how young people are being silenced. Ní neart go cur le chéile. We want to show our passion for this urgent issue. As our motto says...beart de réir ár mbriathar...deeds to match our words. Support us by wearing green on Friday to coincide with our Lá Glas too.

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2019

Bhí an t-ádh linn freastal ar chaint ó Ré Ó Laighléis inniu sa leabharlann anseo i Sionainn. Bhaineamar an taitneamh as! Thanks to Shannon Library and Ré for a wonderfully fun, interactive and educational afternoon! Go raibh míle maith agaibh 😉💚☘️ @Clare County Library

Applied Maths Quiz

Our students participated in the applied maths regional quiz Thursday night and as usual did us proud. Congratulations to all those who took part and especially to Éanna Crimmins, Aedan McFall and Conor Skelton-Bundy who were pipped at the post and ended up in 4th position.
We look forward to even more success in next years final.

Business Studies Award

Huge congratulations to Allia-Jai Marren O’Callaghan & Lisa Quinn who received an award in UL for having achieved an A in Higher Level Business Studies in their Junior Certificate. Pictured here with the Dean of the Kemmy Business School & their Business Studies teachers, Ms. Frost & Ms. Magee

World Book Week 2019

Rounding up a great week, our first years had a 'world book day' themed table quiz organised by our TY students. Well done to our fancy dress entrants too! A special shout out to our resident 'queen of hearts' Jackie in the library who was our judge for the day. Congratulations to our TY's for a great week, thank you to all the teachers involved.📚📚

Visit from Atlantic Air Aviation

At the Comp, we love to bring back our past pupils. As part of Design & Engineering Week, Danny Quinn Drumgoole and Christy Carey who now work with Atlantic Aviation Group, today came to speak with Leaving Certs about their careers in aviation engineering. Both Danny & Christy excelled during their time in The Comp and are role models for anyone wishing to seek an apprenticeship in aviation.
Don’t forget AAG apprenticeship closes on March 27th.

Clare Enterprise Awards

Well done to the 5 teams of TY students who took part in the Clare Enterprise Awards today in the West County. Great creativity shown on their ideas.

Spectroscopy Workshop

Leaving Cert Chemistry students enjoying a Spectroscopy Workshop with UCC PhD students today. The students analysed samples from a "crime scene" utilising Ultra Violet and Infra Red Spectrometers while getting an insight to college courses in UCC.

Design & Engineering Week

We welcomed two programme leaders from LIT as part of Design & Engineering Week. Thanks to David Honan, Built Environment and Ciarán O’Loughlin, Precision Engineering who spoke with senior cycle DCG, Construction Studies and Engineering students about the opportunities at LIT and the link between our practical subjects and programmes @ LIT. This was a very informative talk and opened many students eyes to possible careers.

JCPA - Class of 2018

Drug and Alcohol Awareness Programme

Both TY groups and LCA 1 students completed a Drug and Alcohol Awareness Program with Clare Youth Services. Here they are receiving their certs. Thanks to all at Clare Youth Services.

English Excursion

Some pictures from today’s stop to Glór to hear the poet Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin discuss her poetry.
Leaving Cert and 4th year classes attended with their teachers.

Farm Trip

Our TY's went on an Ag Science trip yesterday to Pallaskenry to learn all about the Dairy industry and the courses they offer at Pallaskenry.

Mindfulness Course

Our first years received their certificates for completing their recent Mindfulness Course. A very worthy and beneficial course for all involved.

Senior Citizens Christmas Party
We had a wonderful time at our Senior Citizens Christmas Party. It has become a fantastic tradition in The Comp and it is one that we are very proud to host each year. Our LCAs and student volunteers in the entertainment section were amazing as always! Thank you to all the students involved and the dedicated staff who make it such a great event.

Maths Mentoring Initiative

We were delighted to welcome past pupil Martin Hartigan from Intel to our school to launch a 'Maths Mentoring' initiative for our Junior Cert. and Leaving Cert. maths students.
Martin and his colleagues at Intel will begin this exciting programme on Monday next and it is hoped that it will expand to include more students in the coming months.

Leaving Cert PE - Science of an Athlete

Certificate of Excellence Scholarship

Congratulations to Katie Bergin who received a Certificate of Excellence Scholarship at NUIG recently.. We are incredibly proud of Katie having scored more than 600 points in her 2018 Leaving Cert. Katie was among a number of students who achieved high results with us this year and she now continues the great tradition of scholarship winning students in The Comp.

Schools Cross Country

Congratulations to Jamie who won the County Senior Boys Cross Country event at Lees Road on Thursday 16th November. Jamie will now compete in the North Munsters in early 2018 and we wish him the very best of luck.

Intel Scholarships 2017

Congratulations to Dominik Przychodnia who received a Paul Whelan Memorial Scholarship from Intel Shannon.
Dominik is a first year student at UL studying Computer Science and was one of only eight students from across the country to receive this much coveted award.

Junior Cycle Talent Competition

Transition Year's organised a very successful talent competition for Junior Cycle students on Friday 7th April.
Twelve different acts competed in total with prizes going to:
1st - Sally & Julita Fox
2nd - Emmanuel Okubanjo
3rd - Evan Gavin
(See Gallery for more photos)

TY'S SLEEPOVER FOR NOVAS

On Friday 3rd March Transition Year students participated in a sponsored sleepover in the school gym and raised €1,206.76 for Novas.
Novas is a voluntary organisation and Approved Housing Body working with families and single adults who are disadvantaged and socially excluded; primarily those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. They provide a range of services and accommodation for marginalised households throughout Ireland.
In 2002, Novas established its first service in Ireland – a temporary supported, low-threshold accommodation service in Limerick. Since then they have grown significantly with more than 20 services in counties Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Dublin, Cork and Kerry. They support clients through Housing, Health and Recovery. They recognise the complex issues that cause homelessness and endeavour to offer holistic, long-term solutions.

LIT SCHOLARSHIP

Congratulations to Kornelia Przychodria who received a Leaders@LIT Scholarship at an awards ceremony in LIT on Wednesday 22nd February.
Awards were presented to 26 students by Mr. Paul O Connell who was also the guest speaker.
Kornelia is a first year science student.

One Million trees in one day

First year students participated in the One Million Trees in One Day initiative to plant a million young native trees at many different sites across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in 24 hours on Saturday 11th February 2017.
The One Million Trees in One Day Charity plant small woodlands, coppices, orchards, hedgerows, shelter belts and larger woodlands. They work with farmers, smallholders, community groups, councils, schools, colleges, and many other landowners to co-ordinate sites to accommodate trees each season.
First years planted 100 young trees on school grounds and are looking forward to monitoring the progress of the trees during their time in the school.
See Gallery for more photos.

Jersey Presentation

BackBaller Shannon have presented us with a beautiful set of Rugby jerseys.
The BackBaller, which is a back specific dual mounted foam roller, is the brain child of Noel Marshall and is manufactured in Smithstown Industrial Estate.. Already it has taken social media by storm with huge demand in free competitions run by Noel on Facebook.
Respected physical therapist Gerard Hartmann assisted Noel in designing the invention having been very impressed with the original concept. It will benefit sedentary workers, individuals struggling with back and muscle pain as well as active sport enthusiasts.

TEXACO WINNER

Congratulations to Jake Justice, 3rd Year, whose entry in the 2016 Texaco Children's Art Competition earned him first place in the 14-15 category.
Jake and his family holiday in Killarney and he chose Ross Castle as his subject for the competition.
As well as receiving a prize Jakes painting is also featured in the 2017 Texaco calendar.

ARMY BAND

The No1 Brigade Army Band visited St. Patrick's Comprehensive on Tuesday 24th January.
Under the baton of Company Sargent Noel Galvin the band played a wide selection of well known numbers from stage and screen along with some jazz and popular marches.
The band are based in Cork and visit approx. 20 schools every year.
To have the band in our presence was a great privilege and we look forward to them returning some time in the future,

APPLIED MATHS CLASS FUNDRAISER

We were delighted to welcome Ms. Avril Power, CEO of the Irish Asthma Society to receive a cheque for €4000 raised by Ms. Gallery's Applied Maths class.
These brilliant, brave and enthusiastic students undertook many tasks in their fundraising efforts, including bag-packing, waxing and being waxed, gathering sponsorship from all around the community and they topped off their efforts by Sky-diving from a height of 10,000 feet at the TandemSkydive club in Longford.
Ms Power commended the students and explained just how important their fundraising is. In Ireland, on average, one person a week dies from Asthma and with government funding to the charity having been cut by 50% in the last few years, efforts such as those made by St Patrick’s Comprehensive are now more necessary than ever.

LCA BONDING TRIP - September 2016

Recently Leaving Certificate Applied 1 students spent two days on Spike Island experiencing military themed outdoor games and activities. Our students were challenged with a variety of tough assault courses and teambuilding games. They learnt how to light a fire with stones. They were taught daytime and night time orienteering skills and during the night were shown how to get started in stargazing. All these activities help to strengthen self-belief and self-confidence in our students and it also gave them the opportunity to create a strong team spirit amongst themselves.

MUNSTER CHAMPIONS

St. Patrick's Comprehensive were crowned Munster U161/2 football champions after holding off a strong challenge from Cork's North Mon. at Quaid Park Coolyroe on Friday 22nd April. Played in ideal conditions the game was a tense affair throughout but The Comp. held out to secure a memorable victory by 0-10 to 1-5.
The game was attended by a large group of supporting students and parents and all were instrumental in bringing home the silverware.
See Gallery for photos of match.

California here we come!
ITLG Young innovator winners 2016

St. Patrick's Comprehensive were the overall winners at the ITLG competition held at Shannon Airport on Wednesday 6th April. Over 600 students from schools around the country participated in the event with the winning team receiving an all expenses paid, six day trip to Silicon Valley in California.
Team members were Aoife Crimmins, Holly Dunlea, Mathew Keating, Charlotte Merriman, Kate O Sullivan, Jayme O Sullivan and Sophie Petticrew.

Science Week

Science Week 2015 finished on a high when students were given the opportunity to visit an inflatable planetarium which was set up in the school gym for a day. Students who visited the planetariun enjoyed a very entertaining and informative talk on our solar system and all seemed to be "over the moon" after the experience.

Fr. Sean launches geography week

Columban missionary priest and internationally renowned environmentalist and campaigner, Fr. Sean McDonagh launched Geography Week at St. Patrick’s Comprehensive on Monday 16th of November.
Fr. Sean addressed students on the topic of ‘Climate Change and Global Warming’ and involved students in a Q & A session afterwards. During his address he illuminated the causes and consequences of issues such as global warming, genetically engineered food, water pollution, extinction of natural environments and the dangerous impact of modern patterns of production, distribution and consumption.
In 2011, Fr. Mc Donagh was awarded the Eighth Annual Partnership for Global Justice Award in New York. He is the author of nine books, including Climate Change, The Challenge to All of Us, Care for the Earth and Dying for Water. He is also a member of the Papal Commission on the Environment and was one of the chief advisors to the Vatican in the composition of the recently published Papal Encyclical, Laudato Si.
While he was on the Philippine island of Mindanao, he developed reforestation and land use projects with the T’boli people. Father McDonagh has attended and reported on many of the UN Climate Change Conferences’ and hopes to attend the Paris Conference in December 2015.

rachael returns to alma mater

RTE's Rachael English returned to her old school to speak to the graduating Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied students on Friday 22nd May.
Rachel addressed the 120 students, their parents and staff and as well as recounting her school days she also offered some very welcome words of advice and encouragement to students preparing for exams.

PE EXPO 2015 WINNERS

PE Expo 2015 was hosted by Trinity Comprehensive, Ballymun on 30th April. There were 15 schools represented exhibiting 45 PE related projects and including a total entry of 200 students. St Patrick’s Comprehensive were represented by 4th yr. students Lauryn Dooley, Elora McFall, Cliodhna McNelis, Clara Moore and Jenny Power with their project entitled “Skill Components of Fitness in Rugby and Gaelic Football; specifically Coordination and Punting”.

The study initially involved an analysis of video recorded matches to identify the use of each of the six skill related components of fitness in both rugby and Gaelic football. The second phase of the study required the students to use their knowledge of both PE theory and applied maths as they used applied maths formulae to calculate the range and velocity of punts (kicks from the hand) taken using the knowledge that the ideal angle of projection for such a skill is 45°. The findings illustrated that both sports require the use of all skill components of fitness and that the ideal 45° angle of projection elicits the punt with greatest distance.

The project from St Patrick’s Comprehensive was awarded the prize for Best Overall Project. The girls were each presented with a medal and a plaque and prize fund for the school in recognition of their achievement.

Choir win at Limerick Choral Festival 2015

St. Patrick’s Comprehensive School Choir ‘Composition’ took first place at the 2015 Limerick Choral Festival. Last year, in their first competitive outing, 'Composition' took the runner up spot in the Secondary Schools Section (mixed voice) and so were delighted to progress to first position this year. They were required to sing two pieces, one sacred and one of their own choice. 'Composition' also got to the semi-finals of Clare's Got Talent in 2014. The choir is an SAT (soprano/alto/tenor) choir and range in ages from First to Fifth Year. They rehearse every Monday after school and like to sing contemporary songs, learning by ear. The Choir Director, Karen Barrett, is a past pupil of the school and is also the Director of the renowned Shannon Gospel Choir.

Transition year students win "compass 2015"

A deepening of the understanding of port activity on the Shannon Estuary and its contribution to the economy was played out on Monday in Foynes as St. Patrick’s Comprehensive School, Shannon won the inaugural Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) Transition Year Schools Competition.

Titled ‘The Importance of Ports in the Mid-West’, the competition was held to spread greater awareness amongst students in the estuary counties of Clare, Kerry and Limerick of the pivotal role that the estuary and ports play in the life of the region and their function in a modern economy.

Some 34 schools across the three counties took part in the competition, with five shortlisted for today’s final, held at the Flying Boat Museum in Foynes, at which they delivered enlightening ten minute presentations before a 300 strong attendance.

The finalists were Causeway Comprehensive, Co. Kerry; St. Patrick’ Comprehensive, Shannon; Scoil Mhuire agus Íde, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick; CBS Sexton Street, Limerick City and Salesian College, Pallaskenry, Co. Limerick. The judging panel comprised Helen Downes, CEO of Shannon Chamber; Captain Jim White, retired harbour master at SFPC; Frank Lynch retired company secretary at SFPC and Martin Morrissey, Commercial Manager, SFPC.

The winners were presented with their medals plus a €2,000 cheque for their school and an ipad for each team member, all sponsored by SFPC, by Minister of Education Jan O’Sullivan, who said that the competition will help generate greater awareness of the pivotal and largely underestimated role that SFPC and the estuary plays in people’s lives across the region.

Shannon Foynes Port Company Compass Competition

Article from Clare Courier - January 2015

Students from St Patrick’s Comprehensive have reached the shortlist of five schools out of 34 entries to a new Transition Year competition designed to give them an understanding of the pivotal role that sea-ports play in the life of the region.
TY students from the Comp will proceed to the final on February 9th next of the Shannon Foynes Port Company Transition Year Schools along with three schools from Limerick and one from Kerry.
The winning schools will receive a cheque for €2,000 while team members will each win a new iPad (teams are confined to a maximum of seven).
In this, its inaugural year, the bi-annual competition adopted the theme ‘The Importance of Ports in the Mid-West Region’.
This was devised to encourage the to develop a greater understanding of ports and their function in modern economies.
It will also foster greater awareness amongst students of their local region, particularly on the businesses and resources which play an important role in its development.
The competition was open to schools in Clare, Limerick and Kerry, all with shorelines on the Shannon Estuary.
Many of the 34 participating schools availed of the opportunity to visit the port facilities, with given tours under the supervision of Captain Hugh Conlon, Shannon Foynes Port Company’s community liaison officer and schools coordinator Evelyn Adams.
Commenting on the experience, Emer Magee, Transition Year coordinator at St Patrick’s Comprehensive said, “We found the tour really informative and allowed for the students to take ownership of their projects.
“It gave us a great insight into the port company and the Shannon Estuary. The competition and tours were very well run and I would definitely recommend taking part in this project in the years ahead”.
Pat Keating, CEO of Shannon Foynes Port Company, said he was very pleased with the interest shown in the company’s first schools competition.
“We see this as a vital initiative as part of our mission to engage with the community and region.
“So much activity happens in our ports that impacts positively on virtually every household across the region, from fuels that heat our homes or feedstuffs to feed livestock, and a programme like this really helps grow awareness of this activity.
“In addition, this competition creates a platform for the second level students of the region to become more aware and involved in a large scale maritime business such as the port, while at the same time providing them with an opportunity to test their creativity and initiative.”
On 9th February students from St Patrick’s Comprehensive and the other finalists will make a public presentation of their projects at a gala event in the Foynes Flying Boat Museum and a winner will be chosen. The event is open to all contestants, their school colleagues and guardians.

Intel GIFTed Programme
10 Second Year girls took part in the Intel Gift'ed ( Girls influenced for Technology in Education) programme aimed at promoting,engaging and influencing female students on the career opportunities in technology through providing female role models from industry.

The programme took place over a 10 week period and included trips to the CSIS and ECE departments of UL and also a tour of Intel in Shannon.

The girls learned html coding which they used to create a website based upon their experience of the programme

U16 Boys Basketball
Our U16 boys won silver medals in the regional finals played in Killarney on Friday 12th December. They now go on to play in the All-Ireland series.