News:

o Projects on display   
o Guided tour of the school
o Workshops in operation
o Classroom displays in different subjects
o Computer room activities
o Opportunity to meet and consult with staff members
o Principal’s Address: 2 sessions
o Experiments in progress in science laboratories
o Parents’ Association stand
o Availability of school prospectus and other literature
o Opportunity to meet present students

Three students Edel McCarthy, James O Mahony and Tracy Quinn travelled to Dublin accompanied by Ms Nuala Falvey.

The ceremony took place in Talbot House, offices of An Taisce.  The flag was presented on the day by Mr Batt O’Keefee T.D.

The school is planning another ceremony in the school in the coming weeks to launch the flag, in recognition of the work done by the TY students in the school.

The Under 18 senior footballers performed gallantly in the Cork and Munster championships before succumbing to Virginia College, Cavan, after extra time, in the All-Ireland semi-final played at Nenagh on Saturday, March 24th.

The team played Causeway Comprehenisve School  in Round 1, Coliste Treasa, Kanturk, in Round 2 and opposed Coliste Phobail, Beanntra, in the Cork and Munster final. The team was trained/coached by South Kerry duo Paudie Palmer and Hugh Murphy.

In the Under 16 football championships, St. Brogans College played Boherbue Community School in the semi-final of the Cork championship and date and venue for the final versus Mary Immaculata Community College, Dunmanway, has yet to be decided.

The Under 16s were beaten by Pobal Scoil Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, in the Munster semi-final.

The Under 14 footballers are involved in the Cork inter-schools league. they were well-beaten by MICC, Dunmanway and had an excellent victory over St. Gobans College, Bantry. 

Back (L-R)

Peter Daly (St. Marys), Darren Ryan (Bandon), Liam Long (Kilmurry), Michael Deasy (Kilbrittain), Maurice Sexton (Kilbrittain), Garry Twomey (St. Marys), John Mulligan (Bandon)

Front (L-R)

Fionnn Keane (Newcestown), Paddy Mawe (Principal), Chris ODonovan (Valley Rovers Captain), Jerry Walsh (Coach/Trainer), Brian Murphy (St. Marys)

St. Brogan’s College debating team had a run of successes to date, defeating Bandon Grammar School and Coláiste na Toirbhirte (Presentation College Bandon) in earlier rounds of the Credit Union-sponsored West Cork Schools’ competition.

Its latest victory was the expense of Árd Scoil Phobail Beantraí. The team was Vincent Flynn (Ballinascarthy), Neill Bursell (newcestown), Eoin Kelly (Newcestown) and Daniel Cronin (Ballineen). The team was prepared by mentors Ms Vaughan, Mrs Sarah Kelly and Mrs Patricia Warren.

The motion that St. Brogan’s College proposed in the last match was: That the USA is having a positive effect on the world. Congratulations to all concerned. St. Brogan’s have now qualified for the semi-final of the competition.

(L-R) Neill Bursell (Newcestown), Eoin Kelly (Newcestown), Vincent Flynn (Ballinascarthy), Daniel Cronin (Ballineen)

Minister Batt O’Keeffe TD makes the presentation in Dublin.

(L-R)

Ms. Nuala Falvey (Coordinator), Edel McCarthy (Ballinadee), Batt O’Keeffe TD (Minister of State – Department Environment, Heritage & Local Government), Tracey Quirke (Bandon), James O’Mahony (Bandon)

The LCA programme is an excellent one and offers great value to the local community with its focus on the world of work and helping to develop the students in the skills necessary to the workplace. A two-year course, the LCA programme has been successfully introduced to St. Brogan’s College with Ms Nuala Falvey as Coordinator.

She and her LCA team have worked very diligently to provide an excellent, comprehensive programme suited to the needs of our students who are expected to undertake tasks, both in-school and out-of-school in the local community.

Students are expected to organize events and write reports on their experience of same. For example, recently, students organized fundraisers for the Saint Vincent de Paul and the Watergate Centre, two very worthy causes. Within school, the same students organized soccer competitions, a cinema day and an enterprise activity. In addition, students have built up a very strong skills base in the areas of IT and inter-personal communications.

Principal Paddy Mawe is of the view that the LCA students benefit greatly from the several skills honed during Transition Year. There is a natural progression in the methodology used, he stated, especially in IT.

LCA students also do one-day per week work experience throughout the two years and, Deputy Principal Mrs Corrigan believes that these days are a tremendous preparation for employment, being very practical in nature and forging valuable links between school and the local work place.

Maureen Forrest, director and founder member of the Hope Foundation, a voluntary organization committed to alleviating the suffering and deprivation of the Street Children of Calcutta, was the guest speaker at the annual Awards Evening at St. Brogans College on Thursday, May 17^th.

Among the dignitaries present were: John Desmond TC, Deputy Mayor of Bandon, Monsignor Kevin OCallaghan PPVG, Ms Carmel McSweeney, chairperson, Board of Management, Jim OKeeffe TD, Senator Peter Callanan and representatives of the Parent Association.

In a very thoughtful and, at times, heart-wrenching speech Maureen Forrest challenged the young people present not to let fears or their fear of failure to rule their lives. Expect the best from yourself, she stated, and you will not be disappointed.

Continuing, she said that we are fortunate to live in a society where we have the power to make hundreds of personal choices, from big decisions such as choosing a career to smaller every-day decisions such as what meals to eat, what clothes to wear, where to shop, what television programmes to watch, etc.

By contrast, the city of Calcutta where the Hope Foundation works thousands of people live their lives trapped in a cycle of poverty, disease and despair. They live not knowing if they will get enough to eat to survive that day, where they will get the next mouthful to feed their children, where they will sleep that night. In many cases they are forced to traffic their children into the life of prostitution and child labour. No mother willingly does this; it could only happen when she is faced horrendous circumstances. These are the children, Ms Forrest said, who are faced with true despair and robbed of any power of choice.

Maureen Forrest visited Calcutta for the first time almost twenty years ago and immediately on her return pledged to do whatever she could to alleviate the suffering and despair of the street children especially. Being unprepared, she said, for the sight of thousands of children forced to exist on the streets and in the slum areas with no form of shelter she knew what her response should be. Today, thanks to the outstanding work of the Hope Foundation, founded in 1999, 18,000 children are being cared for on a daily basis.

Concluding, Maureen Forrest thanked the 4^th and 5^th year students of St. Brogans College for their hard work in raising a phenomenal 12,318.82 for the Hope Foundations work in India. She thanked them for reaching out to the most underprivileged and neglected in society. She imagined that the journey of Brogans students Richard ORegan, Eoin Kelly and Patrick OSullivan and their teacher Jamie Wilkinson to Calcutta last February was a life changing experience for them as was her first visit for her. Equally, their visit was a life changing experience for the street children of Calcutta.

Principal Paddy Mawe, in a wide-ranging address, saw the awards evening as a time of celebration of all that is best in St. Brogans College. It was important to recognise the talents and achievements of all students and affirm them in a very special way.

He stated that young people in this country can look to the future with confidence. Further education, college places and good jobs await school leavers. Forced emigration to the USA, UK or Australia is no longer part of our world. Instead we see children of migrants from Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Hungary, the Phillipines and making a vital contribution to our school community and local community. 

He warned that we live in a cash-rich, time-poor society and that this had potential serious repercussions for our children. There is a challenge for parents and schools to provide a stable and safe environment for our young people. For some children living in a community with fewer certainties and fewer boundaries than in times past school offers perhaps the one stable and unchanging environment in their lives. St. Brogans College is seriously committed, he said, to providing such an environment.

In a review of some of the highlights of a very successful and hectic year at the college Paddy Mawe said that sport was one of the great vehicles for creating stability, for giving young people a sense of belonging, for raising self-esteem. He congratulated all the schools teams on their participation and successes, especially members of the senior hurling panel who won Cork and provincial honours. He was delighted that five of the players, Liam Long, Kilmurry, Chris ODonovan, Valley Rovers, Daniel Twomey, Newcestown, Maurice Sexton, Kilbrittain and Darren Ryan, Bandon, had achieved full Cork minor status during the year, the highest representation of any school in the county.  

He also congratulated the schools basketballers and table tennis players on their achievements.

St. Brogans College won the inaugural West Cork Credit Union debating competition some years ago and this years team of Daniel Cronin, Enniskeane, Neill Bursell, Eoin Kelly, both Newcestown, and Vincent OFlynn, Ballinascarthy, are set to emulate this when they take on Mary Immuculate Community College, Dunmanway in this years final.

Paddy Mawe was delighted to salute the excellence of the work of Transition Years who took part in the Amnesty International art project, Voice Our Concern, and whose project was inspired by Andy Warhohls prints of Marlyn Monroe. The students took the powerful image of the dying Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian spy who was poisoned in late 2006, as their subject and, using a variety of techniques and materials such as wood carvings, pencil drawings, paintings, lino painting and embroidery, produced a selection of fifteen haunting images which were recently exhibited in the Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin as part of a larger exhibition.   

St. Brogans College also achieved Green Flag status during the year thanks to the work of Transition Year students under the direction of Ms Nuala Falvey. The prestigious An Taisce award was presented in Dublin by Mr Batt OKeeffe TD, Minister of State, Arts, Heritage and Local Government and Mr. Brian Crowley MEP visited the college recently to assist in the hoisting of the flag.

Daniel Cronin, Enniskeane, had his local history project on his native place commended by the school principal who said that his third place in a UCC history department promoted competition was a fantastic achievement given that entries were received from all over Munster.

Colum Walsh, Stephen Hayde, Alan Coleman, Patrick Murphy, Vincent OFlynn and Colm OSullivan were also congratulated on their getting Bronze Gaisce awards and the voluntary work of those involved in Operation Christmas Child and fund-raising for the local branch of St. Vincent de Paul was also acknowledged by the school principal.

The following received Achievement Awards:

Transition Year Student of the Year: Daniel Cronin,

Enterprise: Colum Walsh, Stephen Hayde, Daniel Harrington, Darren Cullen, Colm OSullivan

Work Ethic: Vincent OFlynn

Leadership/initiative: Chris Carey

Computers: Brian Kerr

Mathematics: Liam Murray

Technical Drawing: Patrick Hartnett

Home Economics: Raymond McCarthy

Construction Studies: John Galvin

Engineering: Paul Twomey

English: James Davies

Artistic Talent: Michelle Dalton

History: Neill Bursell

French: Fionnn Keane

Gaeilge: Raymond McCarthy

Geography: Gearid Lehane

LCA Student of the Year: Kealan Collins

Business: Ann Marie ODonovan

Accounting: Hugh ONeill

Sciences-Physical: John Flynn

Biological Sciences: Hugh ONeill

Best Attendance Record: Emma Coomey(Senior Cycle), Brendan Cullen (Junior Cycle)

Business Skills Course: Marion ODriscoll

The debating team which reached the final of the West Cork Credit Union competition received a special award as Edel McCarthy, Tracy Quirke and James OMahony of the Green Flag team.

Sporting heroes were honoured too: Chris ODonovan (Footballer of the Year), Alan Coleman (Athlete of the Year), Robert Wilmot (Rugby), Mat and Nandoor Meszaros (Table Tennis), Michael Deasy (Hurler of the Year), Shane Walsh & Marie Biggs (Basketball)

Five senior players from the school, Maurice Sexton, Chris ODonovan, Liam Long, Daniel Twomey, Daniel Twomey, Darren Ryan, played for the Cork minors this year and were given special recognition on the night.

Conor OLeary received the Parents Association Award, Justine Lawlor the Principals (Mr. Paddy Mawe) Award, Ms. Maura Kiely (Solicitor) was presented with the Past Pupil Award and Denis ODonovan, chairperson, Bandon Tidy Towns Committee, received the Community Award on behalf of the voluntary organization.

Merit Awards were given to one from each of the various class groups in St. Brogans College: Jayson Ramos, William ODriscoll, David Quinn (First Year), Ethan OMahony, Daniel Lynch, Anthony Collins (2nd Years), Eoin OShea, Sandra ODonovan, Lisa OShea (3^rd Year), Patrick Murphy, Marco Quatrana, Kevin Hanley (4^th Year), Brendan Foley, Edel McCarthy, Colette Wilmot, Jason McCarthy (5^th Year), Sen Truscott, Emma Coomey, Michael ODriscoll, Eoin OSullivan (6^th Year), Grace Crowley, Laura Love, Sen Murphy, Noelle OFarrell (Rang Iosaif)

The Awards Night ceremony was coordinated by staff member Dan Tobin who also acted as MC for the occasion.

Magnificent Results

St. Brogan’s College students achieved outstanding results in both the Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations. A total of 68 sat the Junior Cert. and 72 sat the Leaving Cert. Mr Paddy Mawe, school principal, expressed delight with the results and deep satisfaction that all Leaving Cert. students gained the required points for their chosen third level courses. He was especially pleased with the high percentage of students who gained 500+ and very high 400+ points in the state examinations.

Students and their parents deserved the highest praise, he said.  He also complimented and thanked the teaching staff on their vital contribution to the success of the students of 2007.

Leaving Certificate Applied

Nine students are in the current LCA class group and completed Year 1, two sessions, very successfully with several credits being awarded. Sessions 3 and 4 are due to be completed this year and students will sit a final examination in 2008. Ms Nuala Falvey, LCA Coordinator, reported that the LCA provision at St. Brogan’s College was subject to a School Inspection last year and the official report was highly complementary of the school’s efforts.

Guidance Counselling

Ms Kathleen Murphy informs us that both the Transition years and 6^th years will be attending the Career Options (Cork) 2007 exhibition in the Rochestown Park hotel on Tuesday/Wednesday, October 16^th/17^th. A host of visiting speakers have been engaged to come to the college in the near future as part of the Career Guidance programme at St. Brogan’s College.

All Transition Year students will undergo the DATS tests, the results of which suggest the suitability of students for various careers. The DATS tests have proved very useful in the past.

Sports Roundup

GAA

St. Brogan’s College, renowned as a GAA nursery, has already played two senior A hurling matches. Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary were the opposition in the Munster Vocational Schools’ championship in a game played at Charleville on September 11^th. Bandon ran out convincing winners 1-19 to 0-05.

The team that played was:

No.1 Robert Hayes, Kilbrittain

Mark O’Leary, Bandon

Peter Daly, St. Mary’s Ballineen

Ciarán Walsh, Kilbrittain

Liam Long, Cloughduf

Thomas Harrington, Kilbrittain

Cormac Ryan, Newcestown

Daniel Twomey, Newcestown

Robert Wilmot, Bandon, Roy Payne, Bandon, Joe Crowley, Valley Rovers

Owen Kelly, Newcestown

Jason McCarthy, Bandon

James O’Mahony, Kilbrittain

Garry Twomey, St. Mary’s Ballineen

There were no substitutions on the day. Mr. Jerry Walsh was coach/manager.

St. Brogan’s College played the Patrician Academy, Mallow in the Cork Colleges’ O’Callaghan Cup and recorded a fine 2-18 to 1-12 win. On this occasion a number of substitutions were made from the previous game with the following giving their all for the cause:

Diarmuid Murphy, No. 4, Valley Rovers

Joseph Harrington, No.7, Bandon

David Crowley, No.10, Valley Rovers

Stephen Lynch, No.11, Bandon, Ronan Crowley, No.15, Bandon

Daniel Twomey, Owen Kelly and Cormac Ryan were introduced as substitutes.

 Athletics

Athletes from St. Brogan’s College competed in the West Cork Schools’ Crosscountry championships held on Wednesday, September 19^th, at Drumleena, Dunmanway. Coach Mr Jamie Wilkinson reported that all athletes performed very well with some figuring in the top ten. The following competed:

Year 1 Girls     Chloe O’Leary

Year 2             Kelli Fitzgerald 8^th

                        Ciara Wilmot

                        Sarah O’Sullivan

                        Jessica McCarthy

Year 1 Boys    Darragh Lordan

                        Christopher Harrington

                        Jonathon O’Leary

Year 2             Mark Murphy 4^th

                        Nandoor Meszaros

                        Maté  Meszaros

                        Alan Foley

                        Mark O’Brien

Year 3             Andrew Moynihan

                        Ben Cotterell

                        Pat Murphy

Year 5             Alan Coleman 4^th

                        Colm Walsh

Last years Brigids 1 and Patricks 1 classes who as a result of winning UCC+ Awards for their outstanding projects in S.P.H.E. and Maths received a prize of a trip to the Blackrork Observatory in Cork . Brigids 1 completed a maths project on the life and works of Pascal while Patricks 1 compiled an S.P.H.E project on Friendship.  Both received the highest of accolades at the awards ceremony held in U.C.C.
Picture 1 shows how we have St. Brogan's College students to thank for averting a comet from wiping out our planet
Picture 2 Ben Murphy and David Lane are obviously enjoying learning about our solar system
Picture 3 Daniel Harington and David O' Neill demonstrating the power of magnets
A great day was had by all our deserving winners.

Tadgh O’Donovan (current student council president) and Daniel Cronin (past student council president) present a cheque to Ed Jordan of the Belarusian Orphanage project on behalf of St. Brogans College. Both Daniel and Tadgh travelled to Belarus with the charity in July of 2009 with the help and fundraising of the school. Both of the students worked in two children’s orphanages and two adult institutes in Belarus and found the experience to be life changing. The charity has been in existence for over ten years and we wish them the best of luck with all their great work in Belarus.

Past Pupil, Míchéal Manning, paid a visit to the school to speak to Ms Connolly's 5th and 6th Year Engineering Students about his career as a Formula 1 motor racing engineer. This high flying past pupil (Leaving Cert Class of 2000) was on route to Brazil for the next Grand Prix when he stopped by. The students were enthralled by his account of life in the high tech field of engineering in Formula 1 and of course the tales of travel and off-track entertainment also. 

Míchéal studied electronic engineering in CIT and was employed by the then Jordan F1 team out of college. The team has had a few name changes since then and is now Force India F1 team.

He shared his passion for engineering with our current students and gave them very good educational and career advice. He showed them that the dream career is possible!