Mount Sion CBS Secondary School

30/08/2026

We have been blown away by the outpouring of love and support for Vincent, his family and our school community.

Vincent will be reposing at John O'Donoghue & Sons Funeral Home, Kickham St. Clonmel (E91PK19) tomorrow from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral mass will take place on Tuesday at 1pm in SS Peter and Paul's Church followed by burial in St Patrick's Cemetery.

We will have a NEPS psychologist with us tomorrow in school to provide support for students and staff.

As a mark of respect for Vincent and to allow staff to attend the funeral, the school will be closed on Tuesday.

There will be a book of condolences in the Edmund Rice Chapel from 12-4pm tomorrow for past students and other members of our school community. Everyone is welcome to call in to sign this book.

You can also add your condolences here:

The death has occurred of Vincent O'Meara of Clonmel, Tipperary Ireland, on 28/08/2026. You can view the full death notice and add your condolences here.

29/08/2026

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our beloved teacher, friend and colleague, Mr. Vincent O’Meara, following a short illness.

For 29 years, Vincent was a pillar of our school. A proud Tipperary man, he made the daily journey along the N24 from Clonmel to Waterford, devoting his entire teaching career to the students of Mount Sion. Though his loyalty to Tipp never wavered, he threw himself whole-heartedly into school life here. He was a passionate English and History teacher, and a devoted GAA man, he spent countless hours travelling the length and breadth of Munster supporting and mentoring our hurling teams.

Vincent was an extraordinary wordsmith. As our school MC and speechmaker, he had a rare gift—whenever Vincent spoke, the entire room was enthralled. His gentle voice, excellent choice of words, and quick, warm humour made every gathering special. As our long-standing JCSP Coordinator, Vincent ensured that our students' efforts were celebrated with the dignity they deserved. Thanks to his dedication, JCSP certificates hang proudly in homes all across Waterford today. Only last week he sent a message to congratulate his year group on their fantastic Leaving Cert results.

To those of us who worked alongside him, Vincent was the definition of a gentleman. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. He greeted everyone with a smile each morning, lifting our spirits with his positivity, humour, and endless hurling banter—he was particularly thrilled to see Tipperary win the All-Ireland in 2025. He was a truly cherished colleague, and his absence leaves a void in our classrooms and staffroom that will be felt deeply for a very long time.

Above all else, Vincent was a family man. His world revolved around his beloved wife, Helen, his family, and his close friends. As a school community, our thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences are with Helen and the O’Meara family during this heart-breaking time. Their loss is the greatest of all.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

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28/08/2026

We’re looking forward to welcoming all our students back to Mount Sion CBS for the start of another great school year! 🔵⚪️
📚 See you all on Monday at 8:45am as we begin a new year of learning, growth and new opportunities.
A quick reminder that our new break times are now in place, check the poster for your year group.

27/08/2026

A huge thank you to our wonderful TY mentors who came in today to welcome and support our new First Years! ✨

It was fantastic to see our TY students helping our newest members of the school community as they begin this exciting new chapter.

Here’s to a great year ahead for all our students! 📚🎓

21/08/2026

🎉 Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on your fantastic results! Wishing you all the very best for the future and whatever comes next. 🌟

20/08/2026

Best of luck to each and every one of these legends for their results tomorrow. What a wonderful journey we've all been on together; tomorrow is just another step along the way.

02/07/2026

Our farewell speech to Mr Kennedy wonderfully delivered by 5th year student Calvin Flynn. Two great legends in this clip.

02/07/2026

As we close our school doors for the summer break, we are saying a fond farewell to our esteemed Principal, Mr. Edward Kennedy.

Mr. Kennedy has been a cornerstone of our school, dedicating many years to teaching Metalwork and Maths before leading us through a highly successful 7-year tenure at the helm.

Under his visionary leadership, Mount Sion experienced unprecedented transformation. The student population doubled, and our staff grew to a team of over 60 staff.

But his legacy is defined by heart, not just numbers. Mr.Kennedy always put the needs of the students at the centre of his decisions. From subject planning to staff recruitment to parental engagements and more, Mr.Kennedy wanted the very best for the students because they deserved the best.

Over the past seven years we have become a designated School of Sanctuary, we are opening our 3rd ASD classroom in September and the seeds have been set for our new school building; these are a testament to the visionary leadership of Mr.Kennedy.

We had two very special retirement events; the first involved all the students at Sports Day in the Mount Sion GAA club grounds.

Mr. Kennedy was presented with a beautiful, bespoke commemorative box handcrafted by our own Mr. Jack McGrath (Woodwork teacher) and Frank Moran (Caretaker), filled with retirement essentials (including some golf gear and a classic Cross pen). A giant card was also presented and it included messages from every student in our school. 5th year student, Calvin Flynn, made a wonderful speech on behalf of everyone.

The second event was held at the Tower Hotel, where staff, family, and special guests—including members of the Christian Brothers community, BOM Chairperson Pat McEvoy, and our primary school colleagues Principal Catherine Burke and Deputy Principal Tracy Barry—gathered to toast his remarkable career.

Although we are sad to say goodbye, we know how lucky and privileged we were to have Mr.Kennedy as our principal and teacher for so many years. He truly made our school a better place and we will always remember his kindness, positivity and fairness. We would also like to wish Mr.Ciaran McGrath the warmest of welcomes as he steps into the principal's role.

We will finish with a few words from Calvin's speech:
To Mr. Kennedy, this was always more than just a job; you genuinely care for everyone in our school. We wish you quality time with your wife and family, excellent health, and many happy days hitting the fairways.
Remember, the door is always open, and you will always carry the spirit of Mount Sion and Edmund Rice with you.

18/06/2026

What a magical day our students enjoyed today as part of a special collaboration between the School Completion Project, Mount Sion and Kilfane House.

The day began with a relaxing and energising Tai Chi session led by Paul Kearney in the conference room, setting the perfect tone for the day ahead. We then moved next door for a creative workshop with Mia Carney, where students crafted beautiful wind chimes and stunning copper art pieces.

We were also privileged to hear from Lorna Byrne, who shared an inspiring account of her remarkable life journey and the many extraordinary people she has met along the way. A special mention to Ahmed, Calvin and Kayden, who spoke so eloquently and made a lasting impression on everyone present.

Thanks to the incredible organisation of Eleanor Browne from the School Completion Project, we enjoyed a fine dining experience(blaas, Taytos, flapjacks and more goodies ) in the beautiful surroundings of Kilfane House, before finishing the day with a guided walk through the gardens led by James.

From start to finish, it was a day filled with laughter, creativity, inspiration and joy. Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a memorable experience for all.

12/06/2026

Today, our community came together at Ballybricken Chapel for a truly beautiful and memorable farewell Mass for Br. Peadar, who is moving on to a new community in Limerick. The service was a huge success, filled with gratitude, emotion, and immense pride.

We would like to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who made this collaborative celebration so special:

*John Dunne for his wonderful work in organising the entire service.
*Fr. Rogers, for celebrating the Mass so beautifully.
*Catherine Burke (Primary School Principal), for her heartwarming and emotional speech on behalf of both the Mount Sion Primary and Secondary schools.
*Our incredible students from both schools, who filled the church and showed such immense respect and impeccable behaviour for Br. Peadar.
*Our beautiful choir, whose music added so much poignancy to the service, culminating in a rousing, unforgettable rendition of Slievenamon for our proud and treasured Tipperary man! Thanks to Tara Heffernan for leading this song; Tara is a great friend of Peadar over the years.

People came from all over Waterford to celebrate Peadar. It was wonderful to welcome members of the three Boards of Management (Primary, Secondary and Heritage Centre), leaders from the Edmund Rice Camps and the many people who have worked alongside Peadar for years.

A truly unforgettable highlight of the morning was an incredible speech from Br. Peadar himself. He detailed his extraordinary teaching and vocational career in Mount Sion—a journey that began all the way back in September 1959. Peadar has truly dedicated his entire life to our community.

In a deeply moving moment, he spoke directly to the young students in the church, sharing how much joy and inspiration they have brought him over the years.

Br. Peadar, thank you for being such an unwavering pillar of support to us all over the years. You will be missed more than words can say.

Wishing you the very best in your next chapter.