AWARD: Sean Coffey presenting the Dr Tadgh MacCutain Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in Maths and Physics to Darren Crowley with Margaret Crowley at the St Brendan's College Awards evening.

By Sean Moriarty

It has been a very busy few weeks St Brendan’s College as students celebrated another year of success in and out of the class rooms.

On Tuesday night last, 75 Transition Year students enjoyed their review of the year in the school chapel where both Micheal O’Meara and Robert O’Shea were named as students of the year.

“Highlights of the night included the drama performance,” Sean Coffey, Principal, said. “It was the culmination of a hectic year for the lads.”

Late last week the First, Second, and Third Year students completed their academic season with a night celebration at the school.

“We celebrated under three categories, School and Community, Diligence and Effort and Academic Awards.”

Prior to these two award nights, the schools Sixth Year students brought their final year of secondary education to a close with their annual end of year celebration.

As well as presenting awards to the outgoing students, the night recognised 2018 Leaving Certificate student Corey Kissane. He was the school’s most-successful student in last year’s Leaving Certificate and was awarded theColáiste Bhréanainn Gold Medal.

A second gold medal was awarded to past student and guest speaker Dr Aidan Forde of Saorgus Energy Ltd., the firm behind the wind farms in the Stacks Mountains outside Tralee.

“Aidan reinforced to the students the importance of remaining positive and optimistic,” Mr Coffey explained.

School chaplain Fr Jim Lenihan celebrated Mass for the 500 students, who were joined by their family and friends in the school chapel for the occasion.

“The Parents Council pulled out all the stops on the night. They ran the barbecue that fed the 500 people present and it was a real family occasion.”

Looking ahead, 270 students from the school will sit state exams, beginning next Wednesday.

“There is a lot of stress in a lot of houses this week, but it is important to reinforce the positives of so many curricular and extra-curricular achievements that add so much to the school.”

[caption id="attachment_26510" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] CHEQUE THIS OUT: Sixth Year students from St Brendan's College presented a cheque for €1,805 to Tim Moriarty and Kathrina Breen from the Killarney/South Kerry branch of Irish Cancer Society. Photo: Michelle Crean[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26511" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] CHEQUE THIS OUT: Sixth Year students from St Brendan's College presented a cheque to Pat O'Neill (Chairman) and Rosemary Nolan from the MS South Kerry branch. Photo: Michelle Crean[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26512" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Sean Coffey presenting the St Brendan's Arts Award to Jonathon Men with Aidan Forde guest speaker at the St Brendan's College Awards evening in The Chapel St Brendan's College, Killarney on Friday.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26513" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Sean Coffey presenting the LCA Award to Jordan Lee with his mother Mary Buckley at the St Brendan's College Awards evening.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26514" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Stephen McKenna and James Lynch who received Business Awards from (left) Aidan Forde, guest speaker and Sean Coffey Principal[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26515" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Robert O'Brien, Fiachra O'Connell, Cian Tangney (back) Partrick O'Leary, Cian Gammell, Sean O'Neill who received Board of Management Award for Academic Achievement from board members Lorna Larkin and Elizabeth Lyne.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26516" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Darren Crowley, Niall Daly and Corey Kissane who received the Dr.Tadgh MacCutain Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in Maths and Physics with Aidan Forde, guest speaker, teachers Marie Vaughan and Bridget Lucey Deputy Principal.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26517" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Corey Kissane who received the St Brendan's Gold Medal for Academic Excellence and the Dr Tadgh MacCutain Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in Maths and Physics with his parents John and Denise, Aiden Forde guest speaker and teacher Marie Vaughan at the St Brendan's College Awards evening.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26518" align="aligncenter" width="1177"] Sean Coffey presenting the Dr Tadgh MacCutain Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in Maths and Physics to Darren Crowley with Margaret Crowley at the St Brendan's College Awards evening[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26519" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Darren Crowley, Niall Daly and Corey Kissane who received the Dr Tadgh MacCutain Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in Maths and Physics with teachers Marie Vaughan and Bridget Lucey Deputy Principal at the St Brendan's College Awards evening in The Chapel St Brendan's College, Killarney on Friday.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26520" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Ian Prendergast, Darragh O'Donoghue and Keith O'Leary at the Leaving Certificate graduation Mass and barbecue at St Brendan's College Killarney.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26521" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Daniel Lucey, Shane Trant, Victor Bojlecki, Harry Knoblauch, Dylan O'Rourke, Darragh Lawlor and Cathal Swords at the Leaving Certificate graduation Mass and barbecue at St Brendan's College Killarney.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_26522" align="aligncenter" width="1261"] Shane Davies with his mother Joanne at the Leaving Certificate graduation Mass and barbecue at St Brendan's College Killarney.[/caption]