PAST PUPIL SPOTLIGHT
See what some of our past pupils have to say about their experience at Ardscoil Phádraig.
Tommie Cunningham
Hi, my name is Tommie Cunningham and I have just finished my Leaving Certificate in Ardscoil Phádraig. Throughout my last five years in the school, I have been given incredible support from all of the staff in all that I have done and they have played a huge role in ensuring that I have finished my time in the school equipped with all the skills which I will need to succeed in my future endeavours. The atmosphere in this school is unlike any other and it allows teachers and students to interact and learn with ease, this is evident from the bonds which are formed and the daily conversations heard within the walls of each classroom.
Thanks to the encouragement and guidance I received in Ardscoil Phádraig, I am delighted to have secured my first choice CAO preference and I have recently commenced a Bachelor of Technology (Education) in Materials and Architectural Technology in the University of Limerick. My interest in this area blossomed from my love of DCG and Art throughout Leaving Certificate which allowed me to further develop my interest in creative design. I also intend to continue to explore my interest in Music and will continue to use all that I have learned from my many school experiences in the area of performing arts. Ardscoil Phádraig has created a foundation for me to move forward with confidence and I will continue to represent the school with pride in all that I do in the future.
Niamh & Áine Reilly
We have never felt more comfortable and at home than we have throughout the last six years in Ardscoil Phádraig. The relationship between students and teachers is one you will find nowhere else and we have created memories over the last few years which we will treasure forever. Teachers in Ardscoil Phádraig are willing to help students in every possible way and thanks to their support and encouragement we have both succeeded in securing places on our dream Third Level courses. Thanks to Ardscoil Phadraig, we have just started our university journeys in General Nursing in UCD (Áine) and a degree in Nua-Ghaeilge and Geography in NUI Galway (Niamh).
Throughout our time in the school we were guided and encouraged to consistently work to the best of our ability and we now realise that this support had a huge impact on our final results. Ardscoil Phádraig has also given us many opportunities outside of the classroom. We have played football at all levels, been members of the Pupil Voice and Gaelbhratach committees, received Gaeltacht scholarships and had many amazing experiences throughout Transition Year. Another highlight of our time in Ardscoil Phádraig was our school tour to Barcelona – five days we will never forget! As well as ensuring that we can both now pursue the careers we have dreamed of, our time in Ardscoil Phádraig has helped us to grow in confidence and ensure that we are ready to embrace university life. We are so grateful to everyone in Ardscoil Phádraig for making our secondary school experience so memorable.
Stephen Walsh
My name is Stephen Walsh and I am a past pupil of Ardscoil Phádraig, completing my Leaving Certificate there in 2019. I really enjoyed my time in the school as it is such a tight-knit community where teachers and students work really well together to ensure that every student reaches their maximum potential. I loved the practical subjects and received awards for my Leaving Certificate Construction Studies and Agricultural Science projects.
After completing my Leaving Certificate, I progressed to study an honours degree in Manufacturing Engineering in GMIT which I am really enjoying. The course has allowed me to continue to develop the many skills which I learned in school even further. I am so glad that I chose to attend Ardscoil Phádraig as I thoroughly enjoyed my six years in the school and have made life-long friends there.
Lochlainn Massey
I remember back in September 2012 as I began my first day in Ardscoil Phádraig, I was a shy boy and I found the thought of moving from the environment of primary school to that of secondary school quite daunting. I was quite scared and nervous on my first day, but I will always remember how pleasant the staff and other students were and how they immediately put us all at ease. Right from the start the school prepared us well for exams and never hesitated to give us extra help to ensure we reached our full potential.
This included teachers volunteering to stay back after school to prepare us for exams or providing study skills workshops to assist us with techniques for effective study. However, the staff at Ardscoil Phadraig have also helped us in ways which go beyond exams. If they ever thought something was bothering you, they would be there to provide any help that you needed, would quietly consult with you about the matter and make sure you left the school on that day a happier person.
From an early age, I always had a love of planes and I excelled in Engineering during my time in the school. I therefore decided to pursue a career in aircraft maintenance and after spending my 5th Year work experience with Dublin Aerospace, I was sure that this career was the right one for me. What I really loved is that when I told my teachers about what I wanted to do not one of them questioned my decision, they just helped me in any way they could. I could have chosen to become an astronaut and they would have gotten me a direct line to NASA!
After completing my Leaving Certificate exams, I received CAO offers for two degree courses in the aircraft maintenance industry. In the meantime, I had also been attending interviews and carrying out assessments for aircraft maintenance apprenticeships with companies like Aer Lingus and Ryanair. Just as I was preparing to begin my degree course in the University of Limerick, I was offered a very prestigious apprenticeship opportunity with Ryanair. I have spent the last three years working in Stansted, Dublin and Shannon as well as attending DIT at various intervals, alternating between theory and working on live aircrafts. I will be continuing to work with Ryanair throughout the coming year and am due to graduate as an aircraft maintenance engineering in September 2021.
My time as a student in Ardscoil Phádraig has helped me to get exactly what I wanted out of life and I can safely say that I have developed and grown as a person as a result of attending the school. I love every day of my job and I look forward to seeing were the future takes me.
Edel Gettings
I thoroughly enjoyed my six years at Ardscoil Phádraig. The close-knit and welcoming community that greeted me on my first day was there to support me to my last. The teaching staff in Ardscoil Phádraig are like no other. Each and every teacher went above and beyond the call of duty. Between extra morning and evening classes, additional notes, oral work and help with projects, the additional resources and support we were provided with was endless.
Aside from academic resources, we were given the opportunity to participate in a wide range of sports and clubs. During my time there, I was part of the girls’ football team and Pupil Voice, amongst other things. All these clubs would not have been possible if it weren’t for the countless hours of hard work and dedication that each teacher put in.
There are many memories that I cherish fondly from my time at Ardscoil Pádraig including our trips to Achill, Barcelona and our many day trips that found us all over the country. However, some of my favourite times were spent in the classroom, engaging in a lively debate or participating in group activities. Transition year gave us lots of opportunities to meet new people, experience the working world, bond as a year group and take part in countless activities each week.
Thanks to all the support and guidance I received throughout my time in Ardscoil Phádraig, I am currently studying in NUI Galway. I am completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, English and Philosophy and I was recently awarded an Academic Excellence Scholarship from the University based on my Leaving Certificate results. Alongside this I am also completing a Level 5 course to become a Healthcare Support Assistant. None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the work ethic and skills I learned during my time in Ardscoil Pádraig
Aideen Kiernan
My name is Aideen Kiernan and I graduated from Ardscoil Phádraig in 2018. Throughout my five years in Ardscoil Phádraig I was given the opportunity to grow on a personal level and to apply myself to develop academically, especially throughout Senior Cycle. I received fantastic encouragement and support from school staff who frequently provided extra classes to students in the build up to exams.
After exploring all my options, I decided to progress onto Third Level education and I am currently studying Agricultural Science in University College Dublin. Last year, I choose to specialise in Food, Agriculture and Business Management. So far, I am really enjoying all of my course modules as they are both varied and challenging This course is so diverse and as a result there are multiple career opportunities available to me. The areas that I could progress to work in after I graduate are Food Processing, Distribution and Marketing, Financial Services, Consultancy Services, Agri-food Media, Farm Management and education. I am really grateful to everyone in Ardscoil Phádraig for the brilliant foundations it has given me which have allowed me to progress to UCD and to pursue a career in an area I am really passionate about.
