Rewarding night for ISK students at end of year

FORMER PUPIL RECEIVES STANDING OVATION ON RETURN TO SCHOOL

IT was an inspiring end to the year at the Intermediate School in Killorglin (ISK) last week as a former student returned to address the school at the end of year awards ceremony – three years after he successfully defeated an aggressive form of cancer.

Thomas Fleming was a student at the ISK in September 2015 when he woke in the middle of the night struggling to breathe. Rushed to Kerry General, scans revealed that he had a tumour the “size of a rugby ball” which was hampering his lung capacity. He was subsequently diagnosed with Stage 3B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

It was Thomas’ Leaving Cert year and last week he returned to the school to tell his story. He told those gathered how he discovered that the condition has a 20 per cent survival rate, how he underwent six months of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, and how three years on he is now a student of Law and History at UCC.

“I was scared that I would not survive [when I first heard the news],” Thomas said on the night.

“The next meeting I had with the doctor was quite an insightful one. She said: ‘Your mind-set will determine the outcome of the next few months’. You see, you only respect something when it is taken from you,” Thomas added.

“He was our youngest ever guest speaker in the school and he was the first speaker to ever get a standing ovation from everyone present,” said teacher Maria Randles, speaking to The Kerryman on Tuesday.

Another student who received a great reception was the ever-popular James Doyle, who has Down syndrome and is finishing his time at the school. He has been the ISK Green Schools Officer and proudly held up his Green Schools award on the night.

The strong tradition of excellence in life and academics continues at ISK.

TJ Palmer receives an award for winning gold in the Schools Judo All-Ireland Championships. TJ’s brothers Stephen and Christopher were also successful in Dublin.

ISK Basketball stars: Back row: Thomas Fleming, Eoin Evans, Principal Joe O’Dwyer. Middle row: John Buckley (teacher), Daragh O’Connor, Cillian Buckley, Anna Maria O’Donoghue (coach) Front row: Ronan Fitzpatrick, Patrick Lyons, Daire Murphy, Stephen...

Guest speaker Thomas Fleming with music students and teacher Evonne Roche. Back row (from left): Thomas Fleming with Liam Carroll and Alex Boyle; Middle row: Laura Fleming, Aona O’Shea, Rachel Evans, Meadhbh O’Sullivan, Rory McDonnell, Julie...

Thomas Fleming, Amy Dunphy, Owen Moynihan, Rachel Evans and Principal Joe O’Dwyer. Amy and Rachel were rewarded for their excellence in developing the school bank.

A delighted James Doyle picks up his award for being Green Schools Officer and shows it off to the school to a huge round of applause.

Guest speaker Thomas Fleming addresses the annual school awards evening at the Intermediate School Killorglin.

Thomas Fleming; Erin Dee who represented the school at the Soroptimist Public Speaking All-Ireland; and teacher Cliodhna Dorgan.