News & Press Releases

In The Picture — 17 June 2015

Irish-Medium Commencement Ceremony

Caitríona Ni Mhurchú,  Séagh Mac Siúrdáin, Megan Burns,  Professor Peter Finn;  Mary McKee and Colm Duffin

The Irish-medium Commencement Ceremony, held on Friday, 12 June 2015, was an exciting and enjoyable event in which forty PGCE (TICO) and BEd students celebrated the end of their initial teacher education (ITE) programmes in St Mary's taught through the medium of Irish. This year, Professor Peter Finn made an introductory address to explain the new three-strand format of the commencement ceremonies for PGCE, BEd and LA students. The morning began with celebration of the commencement Mass by Bishop Anthony Farquhar. Staff, students and parents contributed to the music and liturgy. Bishop Farquhar urged the students always to remain open to growing in wisdom and to sharing that approach to life with their pupils. At the end of Mass, TICO primary students participated in the commissioning ceremony and received their Religious Education Certificates.
 
The sun continued to shine through the second part of the morning when students and guests gathered for presentations of Certificates in Bilingual Education. Mr Gerry Rainey represented the Board of Governors at the event. Professor Finn congratulated everyone present who had taken action to counter the threat that had been posed to the College's sustainability during the year, and he reaffirmed the unique and distinctive role of St Mary's University College.

This year, guest speaker Mr Seamas O Donnghaile, Principal of Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain, one of the college's Irish-medium partner schools, shared insights that would guide the students at interviews and also in their future careers as Irish-medium teachers. He congratulated the College on the high standards demonstrated by students who have taught in his school.

Pobal Ghaeltacht Bhéal Feirste Award:  Caitríona Ni Mhurchú, Professor Peter Finn, Principal

Special achievement awards were made by Mr Pól Ó Mórdha, on behalf of Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta. Recipients were: Colm Ó Duifinn and Máire Mhic Aoidh (TICO primary), Séagha Ó Riúrdáin (TICO post-primary) and Megan Ní Bhroin (BEd). The award in honour of the Shaw's Road Gaeltacht community in Belfast, recognising community awareness, was made to Caitríona Ní Mhurchú. Irish-medium lecturing staff Dr Gabrielle Nig Uidhir, Dr Eibhlín Mhic Aoidh and Dr Seán Mac Corraidh each paid tribute to the students.

Finally, a light lunch was enjoyed by everyone, and there were ample opportunities for photographs and lively conversation. Some students have already been successful in applications for teaching posts, and all are set to enjoy a well-deserved summer break.

Rinne 40 de na mic léinn lán-Ghaeilge, atá cláraithe don Bhaitsiléir an Oideachais agus TICO i gColáiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire, ceiliúradh i gcuideachta a dteaghlach, Dé hAoine, 12 Meitheamh 2015, i nduaidh dóibh cúrsaí san oideachas tosaigh múinteoireachta a thabhairt chun críche. Nuair a d'fháiltigh an Príomhoide, an tOll Peadar Ó Fionn, roimh an phobal, mhínigh sé go raibh 3 shnáithe- B.Oid, B.Eal agus TICO, i gcroíchlár an tSearmanais Tosaigh sa Choláiste.
Thosaigh an lá le hAifreann i séipéal an Choláiste. Is é an tEaspaig Anthony Farquhar a bhí ann mar cheiliúraí an Aifrinn i gcomhar leis an Ath Paul Fleming agus leis an Ath Niall Coll. Spreag an tEaspag na mic léinn chun dearcadh fadsaoil a eiseamláiriú maidir le fás eagna agus críonnachta. I ndiaidh an tsearmanais choimisiúnaithe, bronnadh Teastais Reiligiúin ar mhic léinn TICO (bunscoile).
 
Bhain mic léinn, teaghlaigh agus an fhoireann sult as an dara cuid den lá grianmhar nuair a bronnadh Teastais san Oideachas Dátheangach ar na mic léinn. Thug an tOll Mag Fhionn buíochas do gach duine a thacaigh leis an Choláiste in éadán bagartha a sáraíodh le linn na bliana seo. Bhí an tUas Gerry Rainey i láthair mar ionadaí den Bhord Gobharnóirí agus is é an tUas Séamas Ó Donnghaile, príomhoide Bhunscoil Mhic Reachtain, a thug óráid an aoichainteora, 2015. Rinne an tUas Ó Donnghaile comhghairdeas leis an Choláiste as ardchaighdeán na mac léinn a chaitheann tréimhsí i mbun teagaisc ina scoil féin.

Ar son Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, bhronn an tUas Pól Ó Mórdha duaiseanna ar mhic léinn barrchumais: Colm Ó Duifinn agus Máire Mhic Aoidh ( TICO bunscoile), Séagha Ó Riúrdáin (TICO iarbhunscoile) agus Megan Ní Bhroin ( B.Oid). Bronnadh Corn Phobal Gaeltachta Bhéal Feirste ar Chaitríona Ní Mhurchú ( TICO bunscoile). Mhol baill den fhoireann acadúil, an Dr Gabrielle Nig Uidhir, an Dr Eibhlín Mhic Aoidh agus an Dr Seán Mac Corraidh ardcháilíochtaí na mac léinn agus d'aithin siad an ról luachmhar a bheadh acu san earnáil lán-Ghaeilge. Tugadh cuireadh do na alumni nua fanacht i dteagmháil le pobal an Choláiste mar chleachtóirí gairmiúla agus tairbhe a bhaint as na deiseanna ar fhorbairt ghairmiúil.

Cuireadh lón ar fáil don phobal agus thapaigh idir mhic léinn agus aíonna deiseanna neart grianghraf a ghlacadh amuigh, faoi spéir ghorm an tsamhraidh.