21/09/2026
Today was a very proud day in the history of St. Colman’s College as we welcomed Sam Maguire, carried by all 7 of our former students who were involved in the magnificent victory of July 26th, into the college. Our students lined the avenue, cheered and clapped their heroes as they made their way up to the school and into the gym where we gathered, as a school community, to receive them with a tumultuous welcome.
We had some lovely words of welcome from Acting Principal, Ms. Suzanne Lohan followed by GAA Coordinator of St. Colman’s, Mr. Gareth Duggan, who both spoke of the historic nature of the success and the pride we all feel in the lads and their huge achievement. Mr. Duggan also remembered some GAA stalwarts of St. Colman’s who soldiered on the pitches for years, training future Mayo footballers but are no longer with us such as PJ McGrath, Tony Geraghty, Michael McDonnell, TJ Farragher and James O’Toole. How they would have loved to have been here for this day!
We then had a speech from Colm Boyle, representing the players and management, who spoke so well and captured what it means to go on and represent your club and school to play for Mayo. He also heaped praise on the dedicated young men to his right who had achieved this historic feat.
We are so grateful to each of our 7 past pupils who took time out of their busy schedules to come and bring Sam to their Alma mater. Eoin McGreal, Enda Hession, Stephen Coen, Darragh Beirne, Fenton Kelly, Colm Boyle and Conor Finn were all with us as students. Their involvement in St Colman’s ranges from Colm and Conor who first walked in the doors here in 1999 and 2000 respectively right up to Darragh, who left the school having been joint captain of the team that won our 7th Senior A Connacht title and also contested a Hogan Cup Final, in 2025. It actually goes even further back as the lads were joined by Kieran Kilkenny who himself was a student here, won an All Ireland Senior B title in 1996, and was instrumental in organising the day for us all.
All of the lads spoke at different stages and answered questions that the students came up with. Their kind words about their time in the school and the influence St. Colmans College had on the development of their lives and their football careers was deeply appreciated and will never be forgotten. They also encouraged our students to work hard, listen to their teachers and coaches and mentioned honesty, perseverance and resilience as being important qualities to have, both on and off the field. A theme that was mentioned, and has often been before, is that successful sports people are rarely just dedicated to their sport but also excel in the way they conduct themselves in their academic, professional and personal lives. These men have been so supportive since they left the school, have taken training sessions for our teams, organised gym sessions, spoken to groups, shared their wisdom and inspired our students. They have always been available to support and help us out when asked. They are wonderful ambassadors for our school and we feel so lucky to be able to say these hero’s walked among us and we are very proud of this monumental achievement and also of the men they have become in the years since graduation.
Our current students, like all of us, have had their chests out and have been proud to be from Mayo since that historic day in Croke Park and will surely be inspired further seeing 7 of our former students, who sat in the same seats as they do now, come back in triumph, having achieved greatness. It was a wonderful occasion for all who were lucky enough to attend and we will be eternally grateful to each of the lads for bringing Sam to us.
Maigheó go deo. Coláiste Cholmáin abú.
