On the 11th of November, Kinsale Community School held its first in person Awards Night since 2019. In previous years, this annual event was held in a virtual space as a result of Covid-19. Many students in attendance were excited to be physically present and have their achievements throughout the past year were recognised in person with their families and classmates. Our MC for the evening was Deputy Principal Ms. Kathleen O’Brien.

The night began with the Student of the Year awards. There was one winner for each of the years at Kinsale Communty School. The student of the year is often presented to a student who continually makes positive contributions to their class, and school community. It can be a difficult category to identify a winner as there are often many students within a year group who are deserving.   

  Student of the Year  

Oscar Ryan was the winner of the First Year student of the Year with David McCarthy, Edel Ryle, Cian O’Driscoll, Stephen Linehan, Martha O’Sullivan, Katie Rose O’Donovan, Aoibhinn Halpin, Emily Haydon and James Kinahan also nominated for the same category. 

 Alanna O’Shea was the recipient of the Second Year student of the Year with Ruairi O’Daltuin, Emma Quinn, Aisling Mulcair, Farrah Keenaghan, Amy Hayes, Eoghan O’Shea, Theo Barry, Emma Jones, Rian Boulton and Hannah McCarthy also nominated.  

Aoibheann Ferguson was recognised as the Third Year student of the Year and Isabelle Hurley, Anthony Coughlan, Christian McCarthy, Sean O’Keefe, Ian Cullinane, Roan Gili, Maisie O’Callaghan, Aisling Rath, Ellie Coughlan, Sarah Graham, Ronan Hawkins, Rosita Hogan and Maria O’Reilly also being nominated.   

Evan Kelly won the Transition Year student of the Year. Isobel Bergin, Dylan Collins, Arwen O’Donoghue, Jessica Moloney, Isabelle Linehan, Shay Reynolds, Gemma Saddlier, Zoe McLoughlin and Darragh Collins were also nominated for this award.  

Amy Cummins received the title of Fifth Year student of the Year. Her classmates Jasmin Linehan, Ciara Peet, Sarah Redmond, Billy Field, David Kelly, Maja Hermanska and Aoibhe Coleman were also nominated.   

Finally, David Nolan was awarded the Sixth Year student of the Year. Louis Allman, Grace O’Reilly, Sophie Madden, Nathan Good, Ali McGinn, Lily Fitzgerald, Alannah Phelan, Cian Cunningham, Ava Coyle, Anne Marie Collins, Keletso Rentse, Chloe McCarthy and Alice O’Callaghan also nominated for the same award.  

The six recipients of the Student of the Year award are all different in many ways. They all have different personalities and interests. However, the Year Heads presenting these awards continually acknowledged the kindness the recipients and nominees have shown to others. The importance of kindness has become increasingly apparent in recent years. The relationships between the students and staff in Kinsale Community School enjoy a shared kindness and mutual respect. The students recognised as Student of the Year, as well as the nominees are excellent representatives of their respective year groups as.   

Sporting Success   

Sport is a valued part of the school experience in Kinsale Community School. There are three categories that recognise student sporting achievement: the Junior Sports Award, the Senior Sports Award and the Joe McGrath Memorial Award.   

Aoife Cottrell won the Junior Sports Award. Aoife Cottrell has represented KCS with great pride. Aoife won a Junior County Final in 2021 and a Munster U16.5 blitz this year in Camogie. Playing with Cork, Aoife has won an U14 All Ireland, an U16 All Ireland in 2022.    

Kate Redmond won the Senior Sports Award. Kate has won Athletics, Camogie and LGFA medals with the school. Kate has won a Minor All-Ireland Camogie Medal with Cork in 2021 and a Minor LGFA All-Ireland in 2022. Kate is currently playing with UCC and training with the Cork Senior Ladies Gaelic Football Team   

The Joe McGrath Memorial Award is a special award for students who excel at Gaelic football. The 2022 Joe McGrath Memorial Award winners were Anne Marie Collins and Grace O’Reilly. Ann Marie is a very determined and talented camogie player – a key part of any team, fantastic student too, as determined off as on the pitch. Grace again a driven and gifted camogie player, showed huge spirit always, another brilliant student who always gave her best in whatever she was involved in while in KCS. Both tremendous role models to those around them.  

Science  

Kinsale Community School will always be associated with excellent in science and technology education. There are four award categories which recognise student contributions to STEM.   

The Science Award went to Shane Collins, a student of the class of 2022. Shane obtained H1s in Physics, Biology and Maths. He is currently studying Medicine in UCC.   

The O’Brien BioTech Award went to Oisin Joyce and Dylan Collins who were part of the 2022 Vex Robotics team. Oisin Joyce helped bring our Vex robotics program to the next level introducing pneumatics to the robot design. He is an incredible robot builder as he is hardworking, persistent, decisive and action oriented. We can see a fantastic future for him in whichever STEM field he chooses to pursue in the future. Dylan Collins is a team member of the 2022 World Championship for Vex Robotics. As well as being a gifted coder, he has shown incredible self-motivation and patience.  

The Young Scientist and Sci Fest award recipients included Momo Sheehan, Lucy McCarthy, Isabelle Lenihan, Lilian Gleave, Hannah Collins, Edel Ryle, Martha O' Sullivan, Aoibhe Kirwan, Jessica O'Keffee and Conan O' Brien.   

Don O’Shea was a Science and Maths teacher in Kinsale Community School who sadly passed away. Don’s talents and passion for science and education can be seen in his market leadering Chemistry textbook and his work in UCC supporting pre-service teacher. The Don O’Shea award is an special award that recognises a student who achieved exemplary results in science subjects in 5th Year. Maya Meade is the recipient of the 2022 Don O’Shea award. She studies Biology and Chemistry.   

The Historical Society Award:  

History is a very popular subject in Kinsale Community School. Many of the students choose History as one of their subjects at Senior Cycle. Emma Hurley is the winner of the 2022 Historical Society award. Emma’s passion for history was evident throughout her time in KCS and she is currently studying the subject as part of her degree programme.   

Catherine O’Byrne Memorial Award  

Catherine O’Bryne taught German in Kinsale Community School. Catherine joined KCS from Thomastown, Kilkenny in 1996. As a teacher, she was involved with the school debate team and also enlighted students about human rights issues. Catherine was passionate about her specialist subject, German. The Catherine O’Byrne Memorial Award was given to Emma O’Callaghan, a student of the class of 2022. Emma’s German teacher, Ms. Hurley has said that Emma is “hard working, focused, determined and kind - always had a lovely smile for her teachers and classmates”. Bestehen einer Prüfung, Emma!  

Kilian Ryan Memorial Award:  

The recipients of the Kilian Ryan Memorial Award were three sisters: Eva, Ellen and Grainne Crowley. Kilian Ryan was a member of a local Kinsale drama group, the Rampart players. The three sisters are gifted musicians and performers. They have contributed massively to KCS’ arts programme over the years. The Kilian Ryan Award was presented by Kilian Ryan’s grandson, Fergal Ryan.   

Community and Civic Virtue:  

The Community Award was given to Ted O’Callaghan. Ted has contributed very significantly to his community in numerous ways. He has consistently shown kindness to those in his class and has recently been to Lourdes to volunteer.   

Lilian Gleave was the deserved winner of this year’s Civic Virtue Award. Her  BT Young Scientist Exhibition entry, ‘To investigate the world of fast fashion and how to incentivise mending clothes instead of discarding them’ won the inaugural Education for Sustainable Development award. She volunteered and took part in many projects and activities in the school, always promoting a more sustainable lifestyle and supporting a safer and more just world.  She gave numerous presentations, including her ‘Let’s Fix Fashion’ talk, to students both at KCS and from around the country, and confidently spoke at conferences impressing everyone with her knowledge, hard work and commitment.  

Principal’s Award:  

The Principal’s Award was given to Shane Collins, a student of the Leaving Certificate class of 2022. Fergal McCarthy presented this award to Shane, who has contributed massively to the school experience during his time in KCS. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Shane found a plan for a visor that could be printed using the school’s 3D printers. Shane coordinated efforts to create visors that could be used as PPE. This came as a response to the national shortage of PPE. The PPE that Shane developed was sent to front line health care workers around the country. When discussing Shane’s achievements, Mr. McCarthy commented on how much of what Shane did featured a combination of ingenuity and heart.   

The Guest of Honour:  

Distinguished Justine McCarthy, an Irish writer, broadcaster and a columnist with The Irish Times was the Guest of Honour for the event. She has been described as forensic in her approach and never shirks from the tough controversial topics of the day. She is one of Ireland's most respected commentators on politics and culture, she is Adjunct Professor of Journalism at the University of Limerick. She began her address to the students of KCS and their families towards the end of the event by playfully joking that she was intimidated by the talents being recognised in the room. Before Justine shared her experiences and ideas, Justine described her education as a ‘passport’ to the life that she currently leads. Her friendly and informative speech spoke on many themes – education, identity courage and feminism. Students found the topics she touched on to be relatable and insightful.   

At the Awards Night, excellence in the sporting field and classroom is recognised. Contributions to the arts are celebrated. Community involvement, civic duty and kindness is commended. It is clear that KCS is a school with classes of talented students who have kind hearts, a positive disposition to learning, undeniably bright futures, as well as teachers and families committed to supporting these students achieve their dreams.