3 days ago
Olympian returns to former Wexford school as special guest
Last week, over 1000 students gathered in the school gym as awards were given out across a wide range of subjects, sports, and community activities.
Teacher Justin Kelly said the event really illustrated the high level of success and talent that the students have achieved over the last year.
"It was a brilliant display of the success and talent that our students from first to sixth year possess. From academics, to sport, to leaning and kindness – it really makes you proud to see all that our students achieve and are capable of!' he said.
As a result, it was apt that former student, Irish rugby player and Olympian Lucy Mulhall was invited to present a number of awards.
"We were delighted to welcome back past student Lucy Mulhall. Lucy was an Irish rugby sevens player, and the former captain of the Women's Irish ruby seven teams, not to mention an Irish Olympian!'
Lucy announced her retirement from the sport last year following a bad hamstring injury and subsequent reinjury during their Olympic run in Paris.
Taking to social media at the time, she wrote: 'Sin a bhfuil. It's been the honour of my life to play for and captain the Ireland Women's Sevens team for the past 10 years, but now it's time for me to step aside and watch my amazing team-mates and friends take this team forward and on to bigger and better things.'
Two major awards on the night were named in honour of two much-loved FCJ greats. The Sr Madeliene Hayes Kindness Award went to third year Annie Kavanagh, while the Pat Connaughton Award, named after their late colleague, went to Luke Burke.
The Roscommon native, a father of four, was a teacher at the FCJ School in Bunclody and an influential stalwart of the stage before his sad passing in 2013.
