CURRENT STUDENT PROFILES

Dara Hartin

Hi, my name is Dara Hartin and I am a 5th Year student in Ardscoil Phádraig. I am currently studying English, Irish, Maths, Construction Studies, Engineering, Geography, French and LCVP and am so far enjoying the varied subject options at Senior Cycle. The teachers here are brilliant and are always at hand to help us in any way they can, which I know will really help us all as we prepare for Leaving Certificate exams. I have always loved GAA and I have been playing with school teams since I started here as a First Year.

What I also love about sport in the school is that we are encouraged to try out new sports which we may not have been involved in before. Ardscoil Phádraig has introduced me to Athletics and I have been competing in the 100m sprint and relay events in regional competitions for the last three years. I have also been a member of the soccer and basketball teams each year. My younger brother Enda also represents the school in GAA and basketball. Ardscoil Phádraig is a great school and we are both very happy here. We have made great friends in the school, found it very easy to settle in when we first came here and have always felt supported by our teachers, who push us to work hard in everything we do.

Erin Flynn

Hi, my name is Erin-Louise Flynn and I am a Second Year student in Ardscoil Phádraig. When I started in First Year I was determined to join as many clubs and sports teams as I could so I could make new friends and learn new skills. One of the activities which I really enjoyed was being a member of the Pupil Voice committee. Our Pupil Voice committee ensures that students views and opinions are always considered when planning events and developments in the school.

I loved being on Pupil Voice as I got the opportunity to represent my year group and I could share everyone’s great ideas with the rest of the committee. Last year, I also had the opportunity to take part in the Longford Junior Enterprise Programme where we were delighted to be awarded the runner-up prize for our ‘Plushie Cushies’ business idea. I also represented our school in the Regional Finals of the Credit Union Schools Quiz last year.

There are so many opportunities to join a range of activities in Ardscoil Phádraig and I definitely recommend that First Year students join as many clubs as you can as it is so much fun to meet new people, represent your year and enter competitions – and maybe even win an award or two!

Finlay Clarke

Hello, my name is Finlay Clarke. When I started in Ardscoil Phádraig as a First Year student last year, I found the change from primary school to secondary school huge. I came from a small primary school in St.Columba’s Mullinalaghta and I was worried that I would never be able to find my classroom or keep up with all the work. However, I found that everyone in the school helped me to settle in quickly and that there was always help at hand if I ever had any issues. In Ardscoil Phádraig, teachers push you to do your best in every class and in every piece of work you do.

They are approachable and students always feel comfortable asking for help when they need it. Some of my favourite subjects are History, Woodwork and Music and I am happy to admit that there is not one subject that I don’t enjoy. I have really enjoyed trying out the new subjects and opportunities which secondary school provides. Outside of the classroom, I have been a part of the First and Second Year Football and Basketball teams and I have found that taking part in extra-curricular activity really helped me to meet new people and make new friends. Overall, although there is lots of work to do, I love coming to school in Ardscoil Phádraig each day.

Lorraine Moore

I have always loved Art and selected it as one of my subject options for Junior Cycle when I first started in Ardscoil Phádraig. I particularly enjoyed creating 3D Models using clay and drawing portraits. When I was in First Year, I had the opportunity to take part in Junk Kouture, using twine, straws and other recycled materials to create our dress. We called our creation ‘Lady in Blue’ and the idea to base our design on a blue theme came from the Autism Awareness campaign which takes place in our school each year.

We reached the Regional Finals of Junk Kouture and it was one of the most memorable experiences I have had in school so far. I am currently in Transition Year which I am really enjoying. As part of our Art module we are now in the process of creating this year’s Junk Kouture entry as well as creating a new mural in one of the many outdoor student spaces in our school and I am looking forward to completing these projects during the coming months.

Maria Ledwith

Hi, my name is Maria Ledwith and I am a Transition Year student in Ardscoil Phádraig. In my four years here in Ardscoil Phádraig I have had so many amazing opportunities – I have represented my year group on the Gaelbhratach and Pupil Voice committees and I have also played football and basketball throughout my time in the school. I have a huge love for music and drama and becoming a member of our school Trad band and panto cast has given me an opportunity to develop these interests further.

I played the role of Dorothy in the ‘Wizard of Goz’ and Billy in this year’s production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and I really feel that becoming a member of the school Panto cast is a fantastic way of helping students to gain great confidence. Ardscoil Phádraig has a very warm, friendly atmosphere and the teachers are very supportive and push you to do your best always. Academically the teachers strive for excellence and if you work hard enough you will achieve what you deserve.

Nadine Smith

When I first came to Ardscoil Phadraig, I found that there was a very welcoming atmosphere in the school, I could see students were happy here walking around smiling and laughing with their friends. This is when I knew it was the right school for me. Coming from a big primary school with over 400 students I was used to only really knowing the people in my own class but here in Ardscoil Phadraig I have made loads of friends from different year groups throughout the school. There is a wide range of extra-curricular activities to suit the interests of all students including sports, music and various student committees.

Sports plays a big role in the life of our school. I love staying fit and doing as many sports as I can. I was a member of the school football and basketball teams which reached Midlands finals last year and outside of school I am captain of the Longford Ladies U14 Football team.

One of my favourite times of the week in Ardscoil Phádraig is our ‘Trad Band’ rehearsals when a group of students in school come together to play trad music. There is also a school choir, ukulele band yearly school Pantomime. Last year’s production was ‘Beauty and the Beast’ which was amazing!

The teachers here in Ardscoil Phadraig really want the best for us academically. They assist and encourage us to become the best we can be. I am proud to say I go to Ardscoil Phádraig and hopefully you will be too.

Tiernan Flood

My name is Tiernan Flood and I started in Ardscoil Phádraig in August 2020 which was a very different experience for this year’s First Year group. So far, I am really enjoying adapting to secondary school life. The teachers in our school are helpful and welcoming and I have found it very easy to settle in here. I have made loads of new friends from lots of different primary schools over the last few months. I am really enjoying trying out all of the different subjects. My favourite subjects are Maths, Woodwork, Technical Graphics and Metalwork. I am glad I have chosen Ardscoil Phádraig to be my secondary school and I look forward to spending the next five years here.