First Minister is Guest Speaker at Senior Prizegiving

October 22, 2024 by Helen O'Hanlon

First Minister is guest speaker at ‘Senior Prizegiving’ in Dean Maguirc College.

Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore recently had the honour of welcoming First Minister, Michelle O’Neill to their Senior Prizegiving for 2024. The First Minister joined members of the Board of Governors, invited guests, pupils, parents and staff, to celebrate and reflect on the outstanding achievements of their GCSE and A Level pupils.

The First Minister was delighted to be invited as guest speaker and spoke of how she couldn’t wait to get out to talk in particular to the young people because “Everything I’m trying to do is about building a better future, it’s about building this place we call home, to be just the best place it can be for all young people and for better futures”. She added “Tonight is about celebrating your outstanding achievements and in life we should always make time to celebrate for whenever we have done good”.

It was clear to all that the First Minister enjoyed taking time to speak to young people as she continued “It’s my greatest privilege to get out to meet people and in particular young people. Your success is amazing to watch and what I’m trying to do is make this a good place for you. When you see the depths of the awards tonight, whether it be academic or sporting, just giving back to the community and school, that’s what makes up the world, that’s what makes up our community. Everybody plays their part; everybody has their strength”.

Speaking about the ethos of the school, the First Minister spoke “Right at the heart of this school ethos is community spirit, school spirit, it’s a school family, it’s that wider community that makes it much more than a school”. She spoke of a proud community in Carrickmore. “You only have to look at how you work in partnership with all the different groups and the fact that the principals of the feeder primary schools are here tonight to be part of the celebrations, just shows that wider ethos that sharing and working together means you can achieve much more”.

She reflected on the journey the school has taken over the last few years and how it has high hopes for the future, “it’s no wonder the school is oversubscribed when you see its achievement and the big plans that lie ahead for the college. I will walk that journey with you”.

Mrs. O’Neill concluded by speaking directly to the pupils in attendance by saying “You have got to this point because you have worked hard at it and from the support which you have around you. Whatever your journey is from here, make sure you take with you the value of friendship that you have learned from here, make sure you take with you the values of respect that you have learnt from your school community and my advice to you all is very simple, when you wake in the morning the road ahead is full of opportunities. Yes, there will be challenging days, there will be difficult days, there will be hard days, but take a breath because the next day will be better”.

The awards began with recognising achievements across the curriculum at A Level, G.C.S.E. Level and Key Stage 4 equivalent courses. Outstanding achievement at A Level were Pierce Byrne, Niamh Clarke, Tara Curran, Kate Fox, Anna Hempenstall, Róise Kerr and Orla Morris. Amy Ayna was top pupil at GCSE Level with Niamh Mullan, Ava Byrne, Rioghnach McAleer and Caislin Tracey receiving awards for outstanding achievement. Grace Donnelly, Clara-Rose Marley, Niamh McElduff, Sara Roszyk and Laura Delaney were the recipients of awards for excellent achievement at G.C.S.E. Level.

GCSE Results

August 28, 2024 by Helen O'Hanlon

Dean Maguirc College celebrates 2024 G.C.S.E. results

There was much excitement and delight when pupils received their G.C.S.E. results at Dean Maguirc College as the grades achieved by the pupils were most impressive indeed. Commenting on the results, the principal, Mr. Warnock said ‘I am delighted with the performance of our pupils who indeed have excelled in this set of examinations. These pupils have worked closely with their teachers during Key Stage 4, resulting in the achievement of their full potential in both the academic and vocational subjects, a feature of our school which caters for all abilities. These pupils have to be applauded for their application and determination and on behalf of the Board of Governors, I congratulate them on their success today’.

He added ‘I thank the staff for their on–going commitment which has undoubtedly enabled such high achievement for our pupils and I also want to acknowledge the continued support and co–operation of our parents. We look forward to welcoming back so many of the year group for their Post 16 Studies and I wish the remainder of this cohort of pupils the very best as they embark on the next stage of their education at South West College.’

Top achievers were: Amy Ayna, Niamh Mullan, Ava Byrne, Rioghnach McAleer, Caislin Tracey, Grace Donnelly, Clara–Rose Marley, Niamh McElduff, Sara Roszyk, Laura Delaney, Oran Curran, Sarah McElduff, Roisin Munroe, Caolan Tracey, Laura Duff, Micheal Gallagher, Daniel Kerr, Meabh McAnespie, Fionn Begley and Bronagh McCloy.

Junior Prizegiving

June 27, 2024 by Helen O'Hanlon

On Monday 24^th June we celebrated the achievements of our KS3 pupils at our annual Junior Prizegiving Ceremony. Guest speaker for the event was past pupil Grace Conneely. Grace qualified as a pharmacist and is now working in Antrim Area Hospital. Those in attendance were delighted to hear of her time at school and her career pathway.

Pupils were rewarded for their effort and achievement in their subjects and through extra- curricular activities along with excellent attendance. For the Year 10 pupils this marked the end of Junior school as they now prepare to enter KS4 and their GCSE pathways.

Congratulations to Year 10 pupils, Grace McCullagh who was awarded the Hugh Rafferty Memorial Cup, Áine Mullan who received the KS3 Achievement Award. Most Endeavour award went to Cara Harte and the Joseph McKernan Cup was received by Marcus Conway.  

Celebration Of Sporting Achievement 2023/24

June 21, 2024 by Helen O'Hanlon

Thankyou to our sponsors for the event and our teams for this year. (pictured below).

3 Ulster Camogie Titles For Dean Maguirc College

June 13, 2024 by Helen O'Hanlon

Congratulations to our Camogs who have had such success making history this academic year by winning three Ulster titles in Camogie. Success came in victories over Bailieborough Community School, Co. Cavan in both the U–14 and U–16 Ulster Finals and in the Senior Girls’ Ulster Final, the ‘Dean’ defeated St. Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh.

We look forward to recognising these achievements at our Celebration if Sporting Achievement on June 2oth in The Patrician, Carrickmore.

Lift the ‘cap’ and recognise the Dean

April 29, 2024 by Helen O'Hanlon

For years now, our very popular school has been capped with an ‘Admissions Number’ of 80 and ‘Enrolment Number’ of 440. We have sought to get an increase in these respective numbers on various occasions but have met with resistance from our employing authority, CCMS who have yet to acknowledge us as a growing post primary school at the heart of its community. We continue to be oversubscribed by nearly 50% annually for Year 8 places, and this coming September will see a pupil population of 670 (approx.).            The Department of Education did identify us a school which has to continually seek temporary variations to enable us to meet the demand for places in the college and its recent pilot exercise gave us some hope of getting the capped numbers increased to 100 and 600, which would be more indicative of present numbers. Unfortunately, CCMS did not again support such an increase, stating that one of the reasons being, the availability of places in another school, eleven miles away. Knowing you as stakeholders, I doubt you would entertain such a notion. As a thriving post-primary school, the time has come for us now to embark on a campaign to seek an ‘Admissions Number’ and ‘Enrolment Number’ that truly reflects our current pupil numbers.

Thanking you as always for your on-going support and for the overwhelming confidence you have in  us a s a rural post-primary community school.

Yours sincerely,

James Warnock

Best wishes to Fr O’Neill

September 13, 2023 by Helen O'Hanlon

On our first Senior Assembly of the new school year we sadly said goodbye to our chaplain, Board of Governor but most importantly our friend, Fr O’Neill. After 16 years in the parish he is being moved to Keady. Our loss is definetly their gain. A token of our appreciation was presented by Anna Hempenstall, top student at AS Level .

We wish Fr O’Neill health and happiness in his new role, he will be sadly missed.

Exam Revision Timetable

May 17, 2023 by Helen O'Hanlon

May 15, 2023 by Helen O'Hanlon

Feis, 2023

Dean Maguirc College saw much success in this years, West Tyrone Feis.

The Year 12 GCSE Music class took first place in the Vocal Ensemble competition.

Cara Fox, Rebecca Rafferty, Clara Conlon, Sorcha Hughes, Georgia McCrory, Carleen McCrory and Cliodhna Toner.

Danielle McCaughey and Alisha McCorkell came second in the same competition.

Grainne Donnelly took place in her piano competition. Carleen McCrory came second and Georgia McCrory came third in their age piano competition.

The Dean Maguirc College Ballad group came first in their competition.

(L-R), Cliodhna Toner, Carleen McCrory, Georgia McCrory, Cara Fox and Rebecca Rafferty.

Our school Traditional Group came second in their competition.

(L-R), Aoibhin Kelly, Maria Ward, Grace Brogan, Darragh Woods, Ella Mae Woods, Caitlin McCullagh, Dearbhla Toner, Hannah Colgan, Erin Gormley, Aoife Kelly, Aine Mullin, Darragh Brennan, Carleen McCrory and Cliodhna Toner.

Cliodhna Toner came first in the senior accordion competition.

Dearbhla Toner came second in the miscellaneous section playing the flute.

Maria Ward came second in the button accordion section.

Aoife Kelly came first in the tin whistle competition.

Darragh Woods, Ella Mae Woods and Caitlinn McCullagh all successfully competed in the banjo competition.

Corn Colmcille Ulster Final

March 28, 2023 by Helen O'Hanlon

Dean Maguirc College booked its place in the final of The Corn Colmcille competition (U13.5) by beating Abbey Vocational School on Friday past at Irvinestown’s Bawnacre centre. Having topped the qualifying group with victories over St. Louis’ Ballymena, St. Ciaran’s Ballygawley and St Joseph’s Donaghmore, The Dean entered the semi final on Friday as slight favourites over its Donegal counterparts.

Weather conditions were not ideal as the players took to the pitch but both teams adapted well to the wet ball and produced high quality football from the outset. It was Abbey who impressed most in the early exchanges and got the first two scores on the board. The Dean duly upped the tenacity in their tackling and this paid great dividends with them scoring a goal on the counter attack through ace marksman Brayden McNally. This team prides itself on gaining turnovers and they did this regularly during an excellent first half. Great pressure was applied to the Abbey kickout and The Dean were rewarded with scores from Marcus Conway and Mark Harte. From then on goals were on the mind of the attackers and they went on to score three from Pauric Broderick, Finbar Donaghy and Brayden McNally again. Abbey kept themselves in the game by scoring a goal after some great work from their half back line. At the half time break Dean Maguirc College were seven points in the ascendancy with a score line of 4.3 to 1.5.

The second half was a more cautious affair with The Dean seemingly more determined to hold on to the lead rather than extend it. They suffered for this in conceding two goals to Abbey, one of which was a penalty. Some substitutions brought fresh impetus to The Dean’s attack and one in particular, Matthew Meenagh, can count himself very unlucky to have had his goal disallowed. A goal each for Marcus Conway and Brayden McNally, alongside to a point from midfielder Lochlann Gillen paved the way for a nine point victory for Dean Maguirc winning by 6.6 to 3.6. They go on to play another Donegal school, St. Eunan’s Letterkenny, in the final which is due to take place on April the 20^th, after the Easter holidays.