Cormac wins Una Begley scholarship
KILCURRY National School pupil Cormac Short was announced as the privileged recipient of the second annual Úna Begley Gaeltacht scholarship award at a special ceremony last week.
The award was presented to him by Pádraig Begley, husband of the late Úna at an award ceremony held in the school hall in front of teachers and senior students.
Una taught in Kilcurry for over a decade before her tragic passing in October 2013, and her family decided to offer this scholarship to mark both, her love of the school and pupils that she worked for, as well as her affection for the Irish language.
In the aftermath of the presentation, Pádraig Begley explained the importance of the scholarship and the Irish language to his family as a way of remembering Úna.
Pádraig said: ‘We, as a family wanted to offer the scholarship to remember Úna, to help show her love for the language and to pass on her passion to the students of the school.”
The winner of the bursary, Cormac Short then expressed his delight at being able to avail of the prestigious offering from the Begley family.
‘I feel thrilled that I won the award and that I can go to the Gaeltacht because I’ve been hoping to go to Rannafast for a while. The Irish language is used throughout my whole family and I really enjoy using it.’ Outgoing school principal Frank Short too commended the input that Úna had during her time teaching in Scóil Phádraig Naofa and expressed his delight that the Irish language is being promoted so vibrantly through the award.
‘Úna’s contribution was huge to the school. Her love of the Irish language was evident in her teaching and she held it very close to her, so we believe that the award is a very fitting way to honour her memory,’ Mr. Short explained
The school also used the occasion to hand out other annual accolades which are equally respected among the school community.
Eimear Whitmarsh received the Student of the Year award, Killian Carroll attained the Academic Excellence accolade, while Kirsty Thornton was named the school’s Most Improved Student.
Best and fairest – 3rd class: Cathal Corcoran and Ciara White 4th class: Luke O’Connell & Rachel McKay
5th class: Eoghan Maguire and Ella Thomas 6th class: Mark Byrne and Katelyn Rogers/Aoife O’Connell. GAA top-scorer: Luke O’Connell (25 goals and 12 points) & Ellen Smith (14 goals and 19 points)
Best block: TJ Begley and Erinn Dooley. Best Catch: Killian Carroll and Aoife Savage Winning teams: Boys: Niall Lennon (capt.), Cormac Short, Eoghan Maguire, Diarmuid Reilly, Conor Litchfield, Mark Litchfield, Jake Cairns. Girls: Morgan O’Hare (capt.), Lucy-May Fee (v.c.), Aisling Reilly, Neamh McEneaney, Clíodhna O’Hare, Sorcha Brennan, Tiarna O’Malley and Kayla Haughey.