School Farming Club visits Atkins Farm Machinery Yard, Cork Dec 21st.

The Farming club and their teacher Mr. PJ Fitzgerald visited Atkins Farm Machinery Yard on the last day of term. They were given a fantastic guided tour by Mr. Mossie Galvin, Sales Rep. Mr. Galvin gave them two hours showing them the latest farming equipment including a new customized tractor valued at 200,000 Euro. He also showed them the mechanics garage and explained the apprenticeship process. Many thanks to him, Mr. Fitzgerald and Ms. Mary Griffin and Ms. Maire Cullinane, SNA’s for accompanying the Club.

Fittest Year Group Competition, Dec 19th.

Well done to all involved in this year’s “Fittest Year Group Competition”. 144 Students took part from all years in a hotly contested competition. It was run over two days on the pitch, gym and in the hall. Thanks to all the TY students who took the scores, did the music and set up the events. Sincere thanks to Mr. Maurice Moore for organizing and to Mr. Mick Murphy for assisting him.

Congratulations to 6th Year who are again crowned “Fittest Year Group” for 2018/19 with 101 points after 12 events. Well done to 3rd Years who came second with 91 points and 5th Years who came third on 85 points.

The Individual winners are listed below.

Event 1: Rowing

Best Placed Girl was Sinead Coakley, 3rd Year.

Best Placed Boy was Dermot Hegarty, 6th Year.

Event 2: Vertical Jump

Best Placed Girl was Aine Keating, 3rd Year.

Best Placed Boy was Patrick Malinowska, 4th Year.

Event 3: Hang Tough

Best Placed Girl was Olivia Dudek, 5th Year

Best Placed Boy was Jamie Shanahan, 6th Year.

Event 4: Bounce Ball

Best Placed Girl was Kayla Scully, 1st Year.

Best Placed Boy was Donnacha O Donovan, 5th Year.

Event 5: Basketball Shots

Best Placed Girl was Niamh Connolly, 2nd Year.

Best Placed Boy was Eividas Andreikus, 3rd Year.

Event 6: 3 Min Endurance Run

Best Placed Girl was Mallaidh O Neill, 3rd Year.

Best Placed Boy was Elliot Connolly, 6th Year.

Event 7: 20 Metre Sprint

Best Placed Girl was Grace Hendy, 4th Year.

Best Placed Boy was Alex Minihane, 6th Year.

Event 8: 5m by 5m

Best Place Girl was Lisa Harte, 6th Year.

Best Placed Boy was James O Driscoll, 3rd Year.

Event 9: Puc Fada

Best Placed Girl was Emer Crowley, 3rd Year.

Best Placed Boy was Jason Knott, 3rd Year.

Event 10: Upper Body Reaction

Best Placed Girl was Alicia O Sullivan, 5th Year.

Best Placed Girl Boy was Adam O Donoghue, 3rd Year.

Event 11: Quick Feet Reaction

Best Placed Boy Girl was Aoife Whooley, 6th Year.

Best Placed Boy was Cormac Ryan, 4th Year.

Event 12: Soccer Dribble

Best Placed Girl was Rachel O Donovan, 6th Year.

Best Placed Boy was Damien Fernandez, 2nd Year

U16 Boys Basketball team are crowned County Champions, Dec 17th.

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Congratulations to Ms. Marie O Mahony and her U16 Boys Basketball Team who have just beaten Mount St. Michael, Rosscarbery in a cracking match to become crowned County Champions. The final score in a nail biting finish was 34 points to 28. Well done to both teams for a fantastic performance.

The Skibb panel included Cillian Grey, Ger McEoin, Phelim O donovan, Robbie Minihane, James O Neill, Stevie Redmond, Eividas Andreikus, Tomás O Mahony, Tom Kavanagh, Michéal Sheehy and Colm Harrington. Well done lads. You have done your school proud.

FIRST YEARS "GET GOING, GET ROWING", DEC 14TH.

Congratulations to the first group of First Year Students who took part in Rowing Ireland’s Indoor Inter Schools Comp in Cork. Well done to the medal winners and many thanks to Ms. Emily Deloury from Skibb Rowing Club for organizing. Emily has been has been working with all our First Years since Sept. Many thanks to Mr. Dara Crowley for accompanying the squad.

"Big School, Big Heart", Enrolment Evening, Dec 13th.

The School Community would like to sincerely thank all those who made last night’s enrolment evening a tremendous success. Thank you to the 180 students who volunteered as Tour Guides, Ushers and Project demonstrators. Thanks to the TY Food and Hospitality Group, Mini Companies, School Choir and Musicians. Thanks to the Student Council for coordinating. Thanks to all the Staff in their Subject Departments for their projects and presentations. Thanks to the Parents Council for providing the refreshments and thanks to Fields for their sponsorship. Many thanks to the BAM and Cleaning Staff for preparing the building.

UCC Quercus Scholarships

Pictured below are:

(1) Daniel O’Mahony, LC 2018 receiving his Quercus Scholarship (Academic) from Professor Patrick G. O’Shea, President University College Cork, at a ceremony in UCC recently.

(2) Orla McCarthy and Daniel O’Mahony LC 2018 at the UCC Quercus Scholarship (Academic) Ceremony. Both students were recipients.

(3) Aoife Casey & Paul O’Donovan receiving their UCC Quercus (Talented Youth) Scholarships, photographed with Principal Mr. Anton O’Mahony.

(4) Mairead Carey, Aoife Casey, Hannah Collins & Maria Carey (recipients of UCC Quercus Scholarships over the last 4 years) pictured with Prof. John Hanrahan Vice President of UCC & Mr. Anton O’Mahony Principal Skibbereen Community School.

UL Sports Scholarship

Congratulations to Aoibhinn Keating (Leaving Cert 2018) on receiving a Sports Scholarship at the University of Limerick recently. The scholarship was presented by Professor Kirstin May.

Aoibhinn is currently studying Sport and Exercise Sciences in UL.

Official turning on of our Christmas Lights, Dec 13th 2018.

Our Christmas Lights were officially turned on to day. Thankyou to all the First Year Students, Religion Department, Music Department, JCP Department, LRC, the MC’s and to our Principal for making it such a wonderful occasion. Well done to the 5th Year Religion students who produced the Christmas Newsletter!

First Year Mixed Football Blitz, Dec 11th.

Well done to all those brave First Years who braved the elements in today’s Inter School Mixed Football Blitz. Despite the conditions there was a great array of talent on show. Many thanks to the TY coaches and referees. Many thanks to Mr. Dara Crowley, School Coach and Mr. Paudie Crowley, Games Development Officer with the Carbery Board for organising. The D team were the overall winners at the end of the day where each received a Munster GAA Jersey.

Cadet Girls Basketball, Dec 11th.

Hard luck to the Cadet Girls Basketball Team and their coach Ms. Marie O Mahony who were beaten at home today in the Cup by a very strong Blarney team. Our girls did their best and we are extremely proud of their performance.

Gael Linn Debating Team

Pictured are members of the School’s Gael Linn Debating Team who won the first round of the Munster Championship last week in Macroom. Comhghairdeas to them and the Irish Department. 

Cadet Girls Fall short in Battle with St. Angelas

Despite the heroic efforts of our hardworking girls, the much anticipated battle between Skibbereen Community School and high flyers St. Angelas ended in a 36 to 32 point defeat for our side.


 While we knew the formidable challenge that we faced, this was a game we should have won. When you keep a talented side like St. Angelas to 36 points, you know you have done an excellent job in defence and our girls are all tenacious defenders who have a Tomás O'Mahony - like work rate. Before tip off, the talk on everyone's lips was how we were going to curb the Daire Dignan threat and indeed her beautifully taken 3 pointer was the opening score of the game. The promise of more to come was the focus of our attention from the off and our girls stepped up to the challenge confining her to a mere nine points.
However, our side was slow to get our offence firing. Our motion offence allowed us exquisite opportunities for easy scores but we squandered them time and time again. It takes time to get used to strange boards. Under the relentless Angela's pressure, our passing was often weak and indecisive. You can get away with this against a weak side but we paid a heavy price for our carelessness here. Angelas extended their lead and early in the third quarter, the Skib girls faced a deficit of 16 points. 
But these girls never know when they are beaten.  In the middle of the third quarter, Lia Hogan emerged as the real leader on the court. She took the game by the scruff of the neck and threw everything she had at the city side. Her tenacious defence and stunning drives had a dramatic effect on the game and St Angelas comfortable lead crumbled fast. The Skib side were within touching distance of completing a fairy tale comeback but just failed to get over the line. Apart from Lia's magnificent 16 points, Aine MacCarthy took full value from the read and react system and contributed 12 points of her own.

Maria, Mollaidh and Ellie played excellent roles in defence and were the main girls responsible for keeping Angela's scores to a minimum.  But Eabha Lucey and Niamh Connolly  played  strong defensive roles too. These girls have come on in leaps and bounds under the positive influence of their wonderful club coaches Dave Quinn and Pat Dwyer.. 
As a result of this defeat, we now face Scoil Mhuire from Blarney on Wednesday on our home court. We face into this battle without our talented point guard Ellie O'Donovan and there is no doubt she is a huge loss to our side. This is a must win game to get through to the All Ireland series.
It's not how many times you get knocked down that counts, it's how many times you get back up that determines the character of our players. These girls have spirit, character and enthusiasm coursing through them and we have every reason to be hopeful.

Cadet Boys through to County Final

The boys took on Coláiste an Chraoibhín Fermoy on Monday which ended in an emphatic victory. Every player on the panel played their part with M.V.P. James O'Neill producing an inspired performance from the off and top scorer Eividas Andreikius slotting 18 points, some taken with beautiful precision.

But this was a facile  victory that the 56 to 22 points margin reflected and there are sterner tests ahead. We will know the strength of character of our players when they are tested to the limit and the towering skillful players of Rosscarbery will test our resilience to the limit.

Recent battles with Mount Saint Michael have rarely failed to thrill and our recent All Ireland Cup game was a testament to both teams resolve, determination and courage when the stakes are raised. There is no doubt we are closing the gap and for the first time this year, we are playing them on a neutral  court. 

Two of our players have shone in our recent meetings. The exciting Stevie Redmond has produced sparkling performances and sliced through the Ross zone with guile and ease. Stevie top scored for us in the last game contributing 16 points, all taken from play. There is something in the Redmond D.N.A. that ignites in the face of challenge. The majestic, multi - talented Robbie Minihane was our M.V.P. in that game playing a starring role from start to finish. I would like to acknowledge the huge amount of trojan work done by Coach Steve Redmond in the Skibbereen Eagles Basketball Club in bringing the club players to the highest level. Without the brilliant work being done in the club, we would be a pale shadow of ourselves. 

But we are only tipping the iceberg in terms of what can be achieved and players need to step up at training to bring us to the next level.

In the words of Mark Twain, 'The secret to getting ahead is getting started'.

 The losses against Ross  are true gifts now for all that they are painfully won. Without failure, what is our success anyway?  The school is behind us on Thursday and we will take ownership of this game and leave everything on the court. Good luck in the final boys.

Mr. John Mc Carthy. May you rest in peace.

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It was with deep sadness and regret that we heard the news of the passing of our former colleague and friend Mr John McCarthy, a post-primary teacher of Science and Maths in Skibbereen Community School, and formerly of Rossa College.

John taught in both of these schools for the past number of years and also served as advising examiner in Higher Leaving Cert Maths with the State Examinations Commission.

John had a great way with students who found school difficult. He stopped and chatted to give a supportive word or talked about sport and encouraged many to stick with it.

John’s contribution was not confined to the academic as he was also an avid sportsman. In his younger years in London, John played with Crystal Palace. Later he shared and imparted that knowledge and skills in different areas of West Cork, notably, Lyre Soccer Club, MICC, Rossa College and Skibbereen Community School. John prepared those underage teams, enjoying much success and more recently was ably assisted by one of his students Sean Finn Gallagher who coached the teams under his guidance.

John was very actively involved in the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) and was a member of the National Treasury and former Treasurer and auditor of the Co. Cork Branch. He regularly attended meetings and was a great support to younger members entering the teaching profession.

John was a devoted family man and enjoyed many events with his three sons Tadhg, Conor and Michael, together with his wife Ruth. These people were always foremost in his mind and this was so evident with the recent birth of his grandson Michael-John. It is testament to his character that he made the long flight to Australia during the mid-term break to welcome this family addition.

John will be deeply missed by his friends, colleagues, family, and all of us in Skibbereen Community School.

School Closure Friday December 7th

Skibbereen Community School will be closed this Friday, Dec 7th as a mark of respect to the late John McCarthy, our Teacher, Soccer Coach, Colleague and Friend. May he rest in peace.

Mr. John McCarthy, Our Teacher, Coach, Colleague and Friend. R.I.P

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Dear Parent,

It is with great sadness that I wish to inform you that this weekend, one of our staff, Mr John McCarthy, teacher and soccer coach, has died after battling an illness.

We are all profoundly shocked and saddened by his death.

Our thoughts are with John’s family at this sad time.

We have shared this information with your children today and had discussions with all the students in their classrooms. The school Guidance Counselling staff, Chaplain, teachers, and other support staff have been, and will continue to be available to students, teachers and parents. Please contact the school if you have any questions or concerns.

As a parent, you may want to talk to your child about death because it impacts each person in different ways. How children react will depend on the relationships they had with the person who died, their age, level of development, and their prior experience with death. Your child may: appear unaffected, ask questions about the death repeatedly, be angry or aggressive, be withdrawn or moody, be sad or depressed, become fearful or scared, have difficulty sleeping or eating.

We suggest that you listen to your children. If they want to talk, answer their questions simply, honestly and be prepared to answer the same questions repeatedly.

Sincerely,

Anton O Mahony

Principal

Skibbereen Community School

Art Department welcomes Artist Ms. Charlotte Donovan.

Artist Charlotte Donovan who is an artist in residence in the Uilinn Arts Centre came to SCS and did a print making workshop with our TY Creative School Group. The prints that the students created will be used to decorate the Arts Centre for craft fair on the 15th and 16th of Dec. Well done to all the students involved and many thanks to Ms. Donovan and our art teachers, Ms. Olivia Hoskins and Ms. Hannah Phelan.