SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2024

Leaving Cert Results Day – Class of 2024

Huge congratulations to all our Leaving Cert class of 2024 who received their results on Friday 23rd August. Excellent results were achieved by the year group who, to a man, were a pleasure to watch grow and develop over their 5/6 years in St Pat’s. It was great to see so many of the Class of 2024 again on Friday and we wish you all the very best for whatever your future holds. Pictured below are some of our happy students along with Mr Rowley, Ms Fiona Brady, Ms Gwen Brady and our new principal Mr Stack. Ad Meliora lads!!

Joyous scenes at St Pat’s | Anglo Celt

 

First Years arrive in St Pat’s

Friday 23rd August was very much a ‘sliding doors’ moment in the college as we welcomed our 2024 First Year cohort on the same day our Leaving Certs received their excellent results. There was a huge buzz of excitement and energy as the 156 First Years were welcomed to life in St Pat’s by their very hospitable 6th year mentors who play such a huge role in assisting with the transition into our school. We wish you all well lads and have no doubt that you will excel across a variety of areas during your time with us in St Pat’s!

                                  

Beginning of Term – Reflection

Attached is a Reflection piece created by Deacon Paul Flynn in preparation for a new school year. Thanks to Paul for all your efforts. We wish all our students, parents, staff, present and recently retired, our new Principal Mr Stack and all within our school community a healthy and happy school year. AD MELIORA! Ad Meliora (cloud.microsoft)

Prefects 2024/2025

Friday 6th September 2024 – Congratulations to our Prefects for the 2024/25 school year who are pictured here with Mr McGuigan whilst being presented with their badges today by Mr Stack. Best wishes for the year ahead lads! Ad Meliora!

First Years 2024 – Céad Míle Fáilte!!

Tuesday 17th September 2024 – Céad Míle Fáilte to our 156 St Patrick’s College Cavan first year students pictured here with Principal Mr. Stack, deputies Ms. Gwen and Ms. Fiona Brady. Also pictured is their year head Ms. Ashling Bouchellia. 

Camán Coláiste Naomh Pádraig 

Tuesday September 17th – Hurling comes to St Pat’s! A great turn out of 1st years got involved on the field at breaktime to give the small ball a go. Many thanks to Mr. Stack and Mr. Carney for coaching and organising the first day out. Thanks to Cavan GAA for providing the hurls and sliothars.

GAISCE Success for St Pat’s Students

Monday 23rd September 2024 – Congratulations to our Bronze Gaisce Award Recipients who were presented with their awards this week. We wish them all the best as they continue their quest for the silver award. 

 

A huge well done agus comhghairdeachas to Cian Dolan and Thomas Halloran who received their silver Gaisce award yesterday. A fantastic achievement and we are very proud of you both.

Basketball Success for Past Student

Wednesday 25th September 2024 – Congratulations to past student Daniel Oyeleye who will join the Superleague Basketball action this year. He was part of the Maree U20 squad last season and this year takes the big step up to the Superleague.Fantastic achievement Daniel & best of luck from all here in St Pat’s!

 St Patrick’s College Open Evening 2024

Tuesday 1st October 2024 – Our annual Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 16th October. We look forward to meeting sixth class boys and your parents/guardians!

Rannafast win in the ‘Hills of Donegal’

Wednesday 2nd October 2024 – Our Rannafast (U16.5A) team got the Ulster Schools season off to a positive start with a 2-7 to 1-6 victory over a gallant St Eunan’s Letterkenny side in Ballyshannon today. Great start for the lads and their management team of Mr Quinn, Mr McKeon and Mr Fitzpatrick!

3rd Year GAA Blitz in Kingspan Breffni

Wednesday 2nd October 2024 – Well done to all who represented the school in the 3rd year Breffni Park Blitz last week. Excellent skill and attitude on display from all.

Senior soccer win against St Clare’s Ballyjamesduff

Wednesday 2nd October 2024 – Well done to our senior soccer team who defeated St Clare’s College Ballyjamesduff on a scoreline of 5-4 today in Tullacmongan. Congrats to the team and Mr Reilly!

1st Year GAA Blitz in Kingspan Breffni

Thursday 3rd October 2024 – Today was the turn of our first years who got a great run out at the Cavan GAA First Year blitz in Kingspan Breffni. Great skill and application on show from all involved!

First Year Taster Day 2024

Thursday 3rd October 2024 – St Patrick’s College was alive with excitement today as we welcomed 6th class boys and their teachers to our campus for our annual taster day!
The boys had an action packed day where they got the opportunity to walk in the shoes of a St Pat’s student by trying out our vast array of subject options and sampling some of the many extra-curricular activities on offer in the college 😀📚 🏃 Huge thanks to all of the primary schools who attended and to our guidance teacher Mr Donohoe and his excellent team of Prefects and Mentors for organising such a fun-filled, informative day!
We look forward to seeing you all again at our Open Evening on Wednesday October 16th from 7 – 9 pm

Corn na nÓg get off to positive start in PJ Duke Park Stradone

Friday 4th October 2024 – Well done to our Corn na nOg (U14.5) panel & management who got off to a positive start today defeating Abbey CBS Newry on a score line of 1-11 to 0-8. Keep it going lads.

U16 Development Basketball Team

Monday 7th October 2024 – Well done to our u16 development basketball team & coach Mr Sheridan who defeated St Clare’s Ballyjamesduff today on a scoreline of 32-17 👏 🏀

St Patrick’s College 13th Christmas Album goes vinyl

Wednesday 9th October 2024 – A sneak preview of the front of the St. Pat’s Christmas Vinyl Album featuring 13 original songs written by students and performed by members of the choir, orchestra and traditional Irish group. The 2024 song written by Peter Flynn, Jerome Brady, Garry McGovern and Jack Walsh was written during a song writing workshop that took place in early September. This workshop was facilitated by Joshua Mc Clorey & Daragh Slacke. The album will be available from the 2nd week in December ! Also shown the 20 students who took part in the songwriting workshop, a photo from the choir recording session, members of the traditional Irish group bracing themselves for a recording take and the trumpet section getting into the Christmas album spirit !

St Pat’s Reign Supreme in Corn na nÓg Decider

St Patrick’s Cavan 0-14
St Colmans Newry 2-5
St Mary’s Park Castleblayney was the setting for the 2024 Corn na nÓg (U14.5A) final as St Pat’s Cavan sought to land their first title at this grade since 2017. St Colman’s Newry entered the final after reaching last year’s Dalton final and overturning St Pat’s Armagh in the semi-final. The Cavan lads overcame St Pat’s Maghera in their respective semi-final and a tight contest was anticipated by the large crowd gathered at the well-appointed Monaghan venue.
St Pat’s Cavan started strongly and opened the scoring through Belturbet’s lively corner forward Ben O’Reilly from an acute angle in the right corner. O’Reilly’s effort was followed up by two neat points off the left boot of midfielder Killian Smith & a point from play from Butlersbridge’s Senan Graham. St Colman’s opened their account after 15 minutes from full forward Patrick Joyce after his shot from 45m bounced up and over the crossbar.
Cavan’s response was strong however, as the industrious wing forward Enda Burke hit a point on the run off his left which was quickly followed by Mullahoran’s Darragh McKenna drilling over from play off his right after quick hands by full forward Donncha Gaffney. By this stage, St Pat’s were dominating the middle sector of the field and were teak tight at the back which was encapsulated by an excellent piece of defending by full-back Noah Costello when he prevented a certain goal opportunity. In the lead up to halftime, they made their dominance show on the scoreboard with two more points from open play from full forward Senan Graham, the first after brave play by midfielder Jack Forde which created the chance.
Half time:
St Pat’s Cavan 0-8
St Colman’s Newry 0-1
The second half began with St Colman’s starting with renewed impetus as they hit a quick point off the throw in from impressive wing back Eoghan Bradley. This was responded to by Cavan’s centre forward Darragh Maguire, who cut in from the left wing and floated over smartly from the edge of the ‘D’. Eoghan Bradley hit his second, this time an excellent score off outside of right boot from right wing to bring the score to 0-9 to 0-3 after 10 minutes of the second half.
Drumlane’s Enda Burke then hit his second of the day, this time a neat point from play off his left boot from the left wing to increase the St Pat’s lead to 7, before Colman’s were then awarded a penalty by Monaghan inter county referee Niall McKenna. Up stepped Joyce who excellently dispatched to the top right corner to leave 4 between the sides entering the final quarter as the Down school started to apply the pressure on the Cullies lads.
At this juncture a response was needed from the Cavan lads & Darragh Mckenna duly obliged by clipping over off his left to register his second of the day. Drumalee goalkeeper George Donohoe was then called into action & tipped a rasping shot around the post to prevent a goal bound effort from the Newry men. Laragh United’s Jack Forde was  then chopped down after a rampaging run on the counter attack and Ben O’Reilly made no mistake from the resulting dead ball. St Pat’s had stemmed the Colman’s revival and picked off another Burke free to stretch the lead back to 6 entering injury time as the huge Cavan support behind the Carrickmacross end goals longed for the final whistle. Deep into injury time, St Colman’s hit their second major after a goal line scramble to leave 3 between the sides but it was no more than a consolation. This was then followed by Niall McKenna’s long whistle with the Cullies lads deserved three point victors.
St Pat’s captain Zach Byrne from the Cavan Gaels club, became the 6th student from the Cavan college to lift the Corn na nÓg trophy after the game. Jubilant scenes followed as students, family members, staff and the wider college community revelled in what was a great victory for St Patrick’s College, their first at Ulster schools level since the 2022 Oisín McGrath (U15.5A) success.
Huge credit must go to every one of the 1st and 2nd year students involved in the panel for all their hard work since our return to school in September & to their families and clubs for their unwavering support. Finally, a massive well done to the management team of Mr Gavin McNerney, Mr Garry Duignan and Mr Fearghail Sheridan whose commitment to leaving no stone unturned in preparing their charges was visible for all to see on the day. The panel and management will now look forward to regrouping and launching an assault on the Oisín McGrath Cup next year.
Ad Meliora lads!!!!! 🟦🟨🏆⚽️

St Patrick’s College Cavan Celebrates Success at 2025 Wesley Interschools Festival

Once again, the talented musicians of St. Patrick’s College celebrated remarkable achievements at the Wesley Interschools Music Festival in Dublin. On Saturday, March 1st, 45 students made the now well-trodden path to Wesley College for the fourth time since 2020. Representing the school were the orchestra, the small traditional Irish ensemble, two rock bands, a plethora of solo performers, and a piano duet, all competing with schools from across the country.
The proceedings got off to a very good start with Jay Newman a 3rd Yr student winning the U16 brass competition playing the 2nd movement of Joseph Haydn’s trumpet concerto. Odhran McKernan also came 3rd in this competition performing Scherzo by Ciarán Tackney.
Peter Flynn had a very busy day at the Wesley Interschools festival winning 1st place in the O15 classical guitar competition, 2nd place in the O15 rock guitar competition, highly commended in the U16 piano competition and was part of the school orchestra that came 2nd in its competition.
Oisín Hilton and Louis McEntee had a busy but rewarding day with both of them having come 2nd place in the piano duet competition and highly commended in the O16 piano competition. Both of them were part of the 2nd place orchestra success and Louis was part of the 1st place traditional Irish group competition.
Caoimhín Cryan and Eoín Smith impressed with their strong performances on trumpet in the Over-16 brass competition and later contributed to the senior orchestra, which earned second place.
Eoghan Gunn and Michal Tarczynski showcased exceptional talent with their interpretations of Debussy and Bach on saxophone before also joining the orchestra.
Additionally, Michal Tarczynski was a member of the Bruite band, who claimed the runner-up position in the Under-15 rock bands competition. Their rendition of Gerry Rafferty’s iconic “Baker Street” received high praise and was met with great enthusiasm.
The members of the band ‘Detached Grassbox’ were also runners up in a competition with stiff competition from 15 other bands. They delivered a very fine performance of the song ‘By The Way’ by The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The band Detached Grassbox consisted of Rowan Davis, Oisín Hilton, Shane Galligan and Ben Lynch.
St. Pat’s has had a long tradition of students creating original music and students Ben Lynch and Conall Mc Manus upheld this reputation having been awarded joint 3rd place in the own performed song competition.
The traditional Irish group had a fantastic day out. St. Patricks College has won this competition on all four occasions on which they competed 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2025. This year the 12 member group (competition maximum) beat traditional Irish groups from 16 other schools. They presented a very polished performance of contrasting Irish melodies and dance tunes which greatly impressed the adjudicator Robert Harvey. This group included three 1st year students and this was a great start to their musical life in St. Pat’s.
St. Pat’s Traditional Irish Group which achieved a 1st place finish consisted of the following students:
Caolán Briody, Louis McEntee, Senán Lynch, Diarmaid Martin, Oisín Flynn, Eoghan McGovern, Lorcan Lynch, Rowan Davis, Ruairí Griffin, Seán Galligan, Aaron O’ Gorman and Ultan O’ Reilly.
The last competition of the day on Saturday 1st of March was the secondary schools orchestra competition. For the 2nd year in succession St. Pat’s achieved 2nd place in this competition beating competition from seven schools including Belvedere College, Loreto College Foxrock and St. Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School and Wesley College (1st).
St. Patrick’s College is very proud to have been the only orchestra outside Dublin to have competed in this competition. The 40 piece orchestra delivered a very polished rendition of the Farandole from George Bizet’s L’Arlésienne Suite No 2.
The College Orchestra who achieved a 2nd Place finish consisted of the following students:
Rowan Davis, Joseph Jordan, John Kelly, James Muldoon, Caolán Briody, Eoghan McGovern, Egors Socnev, Lorcan Lynch, Josh Jorvina, Ollie Rafferty, Killian Leddy, Ryan Leddy, Senán Lynch, Peter Flynn, Shane Galligan, Oisín Hilton, Rónán O’ Meara, Peter Muldoon, Louis McEntee, Diarmuid Murphy, Michael Mulfaul, Sean Galligan, Oisín Flynn, Aaron O’ Gorman, Diarmaid Martin, Ryan Hand, Charlie Flynn, Caoimhín Cryan, Jay Newman, Odhran McKernan, Eoín Smith, Ryan Mc Govern, Alexander Gerins, Senan Burke, Eoghan Gunn, Michal Tarczynski, Cathal McEntee and Conall McManus.
St. Patrick’s College’s outstanding success at the Wesley Interschools Music Festival is a testament to the many individuals whose remarkable support made it all achievable. This includes the principal, Mr. Seán Stack, as well as the school’s management, administrative, and teaching staff, the incredible instrumental tutors, the deeply supportive parents and the unwavering dedication and co-operation of the students involved.
Special thanks go to Eileen Tackney, who accompanied the soloists so well on the day, and to Mr. Gerard Gunn. Ciarán Tackney, who coordinated the project, extends heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed in any way to this fantastic accomplishment. Many thanks to Fiona Brady, Tom Davis, Paul Flynn, Jenny McEntee and Linda O’ Reilly for the photos.

End of School Year 2024/25 – Re-Cap Video

Attached is a re-cap video which aims to provide a flavour of what life has been like during term 2 in St Patrick’s College Cavan.