24/06/2026
Our student awards day for 2026 took place on May 14th. Conor Curley, lead guitarist with the world famous band Fontaines D.C and a St.Macartan’s College graduate in 2013 was our guest speaker this year. Conor spoke passionately to our student body about following your dreams, believing in yourself and told his remarkable and inspirational story. We are greatly indebted to Conor for making time from his busy schedule to be with us and our Principal David McCague and Deputy Principal Sharon O’Shaughnessy presented Conor with a personalised replica “SEM” GAA jersey as a token of our appreciation.
Francesco Pio Laera, a remarkable fifth year student from Italy won awards in three major areas. He was firstly named as 5th year International student of the year, secondly he took the cup for best athlete having secured the Ulster title for the hammer throw and thirdly Francesco won the most prestigious Bishop Liam McDaid Spiorad na Scoile award for most outstanding student in the College. Francesco was joined from Italy by his parents Lucrezia and Albano and younger brother Gabriele on the day to his great surprise!
St. Macartan’s best Leaving Certificate results attaining students from 2025, James Gunn and Darragh O’Hare, two students who received well over 600 points both spoke with great honesty about their time and experiences in school and provided two different pictures of how outstanding success can be achieved to our students. Mr McCague made a presentation to both young men.
Seán MacCinna was presented with the award for best Junior Certificate results 2025 by Mr. McCague. Senior academic application awards were presented to sixth year students Shay Cawley, Dáire McKenna, Daithi McKenna, Konrad Oleksy & Shane Sherry while Darragh Coyle, Nafis Tausmiah Talukder, Pauric McDwyer, Jun Yi Ma, Damhin Brett, Yu Heng Wang, Daithí Flanagan, Xi Zheng Chew and Gabriel Cunningham received Junior academic application awards.
In sport Leo Rooney became the first ever second year student to take the Sportsman of the year award, while Paddy Mulligan was named as the Senior basketball player in a year where our senior basketball team were probably our best ever basketball team in the College. These awards were presented by Mr Garrett Coyle. Our Ulster hammer champion Francesco Pio Laera won Athlete of the year presented by Mr Karl Kildea. In Gaelic football Tiarnan Treanor followed in Brian McArdle’s (2007) footsteps becoming the second ever Tyholland GAA player to win the Brian McEniff Cup for MacRory Cup player of the year and this award was presented by team manager Mr Mark Counihan. Seán MacCinna, An Bhoth won Rannafast player of the year presented by Mr Finbar Burns. Fionn Clerkin, Sean McDermotts won the award for Oisín McGrath presented by Mr John McCarron, Joe Mallen Scotstown took the award for Corn nÓg player of the year presented by Mr Gerard McCrudden. In first year Callum McCormilla Monaghan Harps won the D’Alton player of the year and Ryan Corrigan Scotstown took the award for D’Alton development player of the year completing the gaelic football awards. In basketball the aforementioned Paddy Mulligan won the award at Senior level, Ignas Prudenas U-16, Shay Corey 2nd year and Eli Mohan 1st year completed the basketball awards presented by Mr Garrett Coyle.
The highly prestigious Geraldine Garvey Cup for Senior Maths went to Conor McMeel, with Jun Yi Ma taking the Junior Award. Tom Forde Flagway winner completed the Maths awards which were presented by Ms. Catherine Keirn’s.
Dónal Mac Eachaidh (Daniel Aughey) won the MacCormack Cup for Spreagthoir presented by Mr Patrick Meehan. Kevin Koska won for Robotics presented by Mr Brendan McAvera. Blake McVicar won the Enterprize award which was presented by Mr Paddy Hughes. Mr David Shevlin presented the Technology awards to Konrad Oleksy Senior and to Pauric McDwyer Junior. He also presented the Senior Construction award to Shane Connolly and the Junior Wood Tech award to Daire Sherry.
Ms. Cathy Kirke presented the Senior Music award to Cathal O’Reilly with Jonathan Kearns taking the Junior edition. Performing Arts awards were presented to Oran McConnon, Ben Sexton, Darragh Hagan, Conal Hannigan, Seán MacCinna and to Kyle Rooney all stars of our sold out Musical hit “High School Musical”
Ms. Fionnuala Finnegan presented the Arts awards to Josh Brennan and Deimas Jocys in Senior and to Jun Yi Ma and Yu Heng Wang in Junior grade.
The Senior debating title went to Pablo Rafael Lopez presented by Mr Dermot McAree and the Senior History award was won by Joey Hughes also presented by Mr McAree.
