Limerick and Clare ETB learners honoured at National Awards Ceremony in Thomond Park

Limerick and Clare ETB learners honoured at 2024 National Awards Ceremony in Thomond Park. Donncha Ó Treasaigh, Director of Schools, Limerick and Clare ETB, Mary Lavin, Tara O’Sullivan (Limerick Olympic athlete Sarah Lavin’s aunt), Seán O’Sullivan, ETB Bursary winner and BT Young Scientist of the year, George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive, Limerick and Clare ETB, Róisín Ní Riain, Limerick Paralympic swimmer and ETB Alumni award winner, Gerard O’Sullivan, Principal of Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom (Seán’s father), Paul Patton, Director of Further Education and Training at Limerick and Clare ETB, Eamon Murphy, Director of OSD, Limerick and Clare ETB and Phil Lavin (Sarah Lavin’s uncle who accepted her ETB Alumni award on her behalf). Picture: Brian Arthur

Some of Limerick and Clare ETB’s top past and present learners were recently honoured at 2024 National Awards Ceremony showcasing the depth of talent ETB supports through its schools

The national awards ceremony hosted by Education and Training Boards Ireland were part of a week-long series of local, national and international events taking place from 11th – 15th of March for #ETBWEEK, celebrating the education services provided by all 16 Education and Training Board regions across Ireland.

RTÉ newsreader and journalist Ray Kennedy, a former City of Dublin ETB learner, was MC for the event that saw his fellow alumni from ETB’s all over Ireland honoured. There was a diverse group of award recipients including fashion designers, musicians, engineers, campaigners, company founders, journalists and scientists, recognising those who have excelled in their field through their exceptional abilities and leadership.

Limerick and Clare ETB had the honour of recognising for alumni awards two Team Ireland athletes competing at Paris 2024, Róisín Ní Riain and Sarah Lavin.

19-year old world-class Limerick swimmer Róisín from Drombanna completed her Leaving Certificate last year at the ETB’s all-Irish secondary school Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh. Described as a delight to teach, Róisín was also honoured as a great classmate, kind, fun-loving and a wonderful person to be around.

Thursday Throwback to when some of our top students were honoured at the #ETBWEEK awards ceremony @thomondstadium showing the depth of talent the ETB supports through its schools. @LCETBSchools @ETBIreland Full story here: https://t.co/pEdJocSDmL#etbschools #AwardWinningStudents pic.twitter.com/2JddLZSryF— Limerick & Clare ETB (@LimClareETB) March 21, 2024

“In between balancing her studies last year she achieved incredible success, winning Gold and Silver medals at the Para Swimming World Championships in July and was named Swim Ireland’s Para Swimmer of the Year in November. Commenting on receiving her award, Róisín said: “It’s been an amazing day here today getting to meet so many people from all over Ireland. Everyone is so talented and there has been so many great achievements, I’m honoured to be here today and to receive this award.”

29-year old Sarah Lavin from Lisnagry is a former Castletroy College student and is currently Ireland’s fastest woman. Sarah specialises in high hurdles, enjoying major success and breaking records in various championships in recent years, including achieving a personal best at the recent World Indoor Championships.

During her time at Castletroy College she always showed great confidence when competing in the school’s events but off the track she was described as having huge humility and was never one for the limelight. She is held in high esteem by all her teachers and is a fantastic role model to all the school’s students.

Sarah was in training camp on the day of the awards preparing for Paris 2024, but her aunt and uncle Mary and Phil Lavin proudly picked up the award on her behalf and she also sent a special video where she expressed her delight at the award, “I’d just like to thank everyone associated with my nomination, I’m truly honoured to be chosen as part of the Limerick and Clare ETB alumni awards for 2024. I’m sure you’re all having a wonderful afternoon celebrating the past, present and future of ETBs and I’m sending you all my best wishes.”

ETB Week celebrations at Thomond Park today. Congratulations to all award winners and recipients of Alumni presentations. #ETBWeek @LimClareETB_FET pic.twitter.com/7pkEnWiXJ9— Paul Patton (@PaulPatLCETB) March 14, 2024

This year’s BT Young Scientist winner Seán O’Sullivan from Pallaskenry, County Limerick was also at the event, he made national headlines recently when his AI related project ‘VerifyMe’ saw him scoop the top prize at the 60th BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in January.

Sean is a student at Limerick and Clare ETB school, Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom and he was at Thomond Park as a nominee for an ETB Bursary award.

A panel of experts awarded bursaries to exceptional current ETB learners to support their further study, entrepreneurship or community activism. Each bursary included €5,000+ and professional support and were awarded in the areas of Technology and AI and Green Innovation.

A standing ovation today in Thomond Park as a very special Alumni award is presented to Vicky Phelan from Kilkenny & Carlow ETB. In 2018, four years after her own cancer diagnosis, Vicky Phelan gave a now-infamous address on the steps of The High Court that would result in… pic.twitter.com/m96dkfUudu— ETBI (@ETBIreland) March 14, 2024

Sean was accompanied by his mother Tara and father Gerard who is also his principal at the school and they were delighted when he was announced as the winner in his category.
Speaking about his achievement Seán said, “It’s incredible, the bursary is going to be so helpful when I move from second to third level education, it will also help support my AI project ‘VerifyMe’ and help with mentorship, guidance and college fees, so I’m very grateful.”

They say good news comes in threes and Seán also had the honour of being Grand Marshal at Limerick City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade as part of Limerick’s St Patrick’s festival celebrations which was a fantastic way to end a very exciting few months for the award winning student.

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