Inspiring past pupil addresses Scoil Mhuire Secondary School awards night in Carrick-on-Suir

Caption for picture above: Guest speaker Rhona Butler, Student of the Year Sophie Brady, John Casey of Carrick Credit Union, which sponsors the Mossy Casey Award, and Scoil Mhuire Principal Mary O’Keeffe at Scoil Mhuire Secondary School’s annual awards ceremony. Picture Anne Marie Magorrian

A young Carrick-on-Suir woman, whose campaigning means bereaved students can now defer their Leaving Cert exams for a number of weeks, received a standing ovation when she addressed Scoil Mhuire Secondary School’s annual awards last Thursday.

Rhona Butler from Carrickbeg, a past pupil of Scoil Mhuire, was the special guest speaker at the awards night.

She was accorded the standing ovation after her powerful speech to students and staff recalling the death of her late mother Margaret during her Leaving Certificate exams in 2018.

Rhona finished her State exams despite the grief and distress she was suffering.

But her experience spurred her to begin a campaign to help future students who lose a loved one during their Leaving Cert exams.

She lobbied the Minister for Education who conducted a review and changed the State exam rules in 2019 that now allow students who suffer the bereavement of a close relative during or in the run up to the Leaving Cert exams to sit alternative papers in July. 

Rhona’s speech was one of many highlights at the Carrick school’s awards night, which celebrated the talents and skills its students display daily.

Student Leadership, Class Spirit, Academic Excellence, Excellence through Effort, Improved Attendance and Gaisce Silver Medals were among the awards presented at the ceremony.  

Student of the Year Sophie Brady was presented with the Mossy Casey Award, kindly sponsored by Carrick-on- Suir Credit Union. 

Special Awards were also received by students who excelled in specific areas such as art, music, camogie, Gaelic football, soccer, athletics, Green Schools, drama, leadership and performing in Scoil Mhuire's Talent Show.

The evening ended with some traditional music and song. On behalf of the staff, Scoil Mhuire PRO Louise O’Connor congratulated the awards recipients.

“They represent all the talent and excellence we are privileged to witness daily in our students,” she said.

Pictured below: Scoil Mhuire School sports award winners: Teacher Ms Catherine McConalogue, Senior Camogie winner Leah Cooney, Junior Camogie winner Emily Cooney; Junior Soccer winner Emily Blackmore; Senior Athletics winner Jade Barry and Junior Athletics award winner Luiseach Donohue. Picture Anne Marie Magorrian.

More photos from the Scoil Mhuire Secondary School awards ceremony are published in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops.