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Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Wexford student's ‘perseverance and creativity' results in outstanding first place in Ireland
New Ross Standard Today at 20:00 A Wexford student has been commended for his outstanding achievement having received top marks in last year's Design and Communication Graphics (DCG) Leaving Certificate exam. Staff and parents of CBS New Ross gathered recently to celebrate Shane Duhig, who was awarded joint-first in the state examination. Speaking about the achievement, school principal, Sarah Rice said: 'We are immensely proud to celebrate Shane's incredible accomplishment, which places him among the very best in the country and reflects his exceptional talent, creativity and dedication.' Ms Rice added that Shane's success is a testament, not only to his hard work and commitment, 'but also to the support and guidance of his teachers, Ms Mary O'Hanlon and Ms Ellen McCarthy, who nurtured his skills and passion for design throughout his time in CBS New Ross. Their expert teaching and encouragement helped Shane develop the precision, problem-solving ability and visual communication skills that DCG demands.' This national recognition is a source of 'great pride for the school community' and, Ms Rice stated that achievements as such 'highlight the standard of teaching and learning at CBS New Ross'. "Shane's achievement serves as an inspiration to all students, showing what is possible through perseverance and creativity. We warmly congratulate Shane, his family, Ms. O'Hanlon and Ms. McCarthy on this remarkable success,' concluded Ms Rice.
The Journal
a day ago
- General
- The Journal
Quiz: Could you answer these Leaving Cert questions?
IT MAY NOT be Leaving Cert weather outside but come rain or shine, the 2025 Leaving Certificate exams are kicking off this Wednesday. In case you haven't been plagued by a recurrent Leaving Cert nightmare yet this year, here's a quiz to test whether you could answer these questions that came up recently. Advertisement The questions are taken from higher level papers on the 2024 Leaving Cert exams (occasionally with some modification to put them in a quiz-friendly format). Bonne chance. Geography: Is it true or false that waves are known as constructive when the swash is greater than the backwash? True False Biology: Which of these is NOT considered a principle of good experimentation? Safe Unique Random selection Double-blind testing Accounting: When does an error of principle arise? An error of principle arises when an item is posted to the incorrect side of the correct class of account An error of principle arises when an item is posted to the correct side of the incorrect class of account An error of principle arises when an item is posted to the incorrect side of the incorrect class of account An error of principle arises when a school principal makes a philosophical mistake French: "Billie vit en banlieue parisienne, dans le département de Seine-Saint-Denis. Elle en a assez des clichés qu'elle entend sur son quartier. D'après elle, la ville où elle habite est super calme." After reading that passage, how would you answer the question, "Comment Billie décrit-elle sa ville de banlieue en Seine-Saint-Denis?" D'après elle, la ville où elle habite est cliché. D'après elle, la ville où elle habite est calme. D'après elle, la ville où elle habite est super calme. D'après elle, la ville où elle habite est super. Maths: h: R -> R is a continuous function. The graph of h(x) has a local minimum at the point (0, 5). State whether the following statement is true or false: 'The value of h(x) must be at least 5 for all real values of x." True False What?? Politics and Society: Which of these is NOT one of the ways Senators are appointed to Seanad Éireann? Nominated by the Taoiseach Elected by NUI and Trinity College graduates Nominated by the President Elected by TDs English: Write a short story focusing on tensions either in a family or in a group of friends in which a connection between the past and the present is important. Ah yeah, I could do that pretty well within an hour. Uh, no, I couldn't do a good job of churning that out on the spot. Gaeilge: Cé a chum an dán Géibheann? Maud Gonne Nuala NÍ Domhnaill Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin Caitlín Maude Business: Which of these is the definition of a partnership? Two businesses join together to form a new legal entity. A business taking control of another business by purchasing the majority of its voting shares. A business set up, owned and controlled by its members for their mutual benefit. A business with a minimum of two and a maximum of 20 owners. And finally, some chemistry: Name a suitable indicator for a titration of diluted vinegar solution against a 0.09 M sodium hydroxide solution in a conical flask. Litmus Methyl Orange Phenolphthalein Indicators are for cars. Answer all the questions to see your result! Alamy You scored out of ! Fail Back to school with you Share your result: Share Tweet Alamy You scored out of ! You've passed, barely Should have done a bit more cramming Share your result: Share Tweet Alamy You scored out of ! Average performance You'll get some points alright, but will it be enough for your course? Share your result: Share Tweet Alamy You scored out of ! Pretty good! Hopefully it'll impress everyone at the Debs Share your result: Share Tweet Alamy You scored out of ! Top of the class You've nabbed that H1 and you're off to college. Comhghairdeas. Share your result: Share Tweet Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
'A good and kind boy': Funeral of Buncrana drowning victim Matt Sibanda takes place
A YOUNG MAN who died in a double-drowning tragedy off the Co Donegal coast has been remembered for his quiet but sociable presence, smiling face and ability to always listen and respond with a deeply respectful and generous heart. Matt Sibanda, 18, was laid to rest following his funeral mass at St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana today. He was due to begin sitting his Leaving Certificate exams in the coming days at Crana College in Buncrana. It is two weeks to the day since Matt's friend, Emmanuel Familola, 16, was also laid to rest in the same church after the pair perished in the same tragedy in Lough Swilly. Both young men were understood to be trying to retrieve a ball from the water while swimming during the recent good spell of weather off Buncrana on May 10th. Another friend who also got into difficulty managed to swim ashore. Matt's body was found hours after he went missing following a huge search by the emergency services and local volunteer vessels. His friend Emmanuel was plucked from the sea earlier in the day and rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital but tragically passed away a few hours later. Emmanuel was laid to rest on May 17th. However, Matt's funeral was delayed until today to allow family members travel from their native Zimbabwe. Included among the traveling group was Matt's beloved grandmother Josephine. Earlier this week, Matt's family traveled to the scene of the tragedy to see where their beloved son, brother and grandson died. A small ritual took place at the pier which was overseen by Matt's grandmother in her role as head of the family so they could release his soul and allow him to go to heaven. A large crowd attended today's funeral to say a final farewell to the young man who had carved out a special place in the heart of the local community despite his short time there. As well as Matt's beloved mother Bonnie, his brother Thembalethu and sisters Modest and Sandy, were present to say a final farewell to the young man who have played such a huge part in all their lives. Before Matt's mass began, a member of Matt's family thanked the local community for their support and friendship for the family since Matt's tragic passing. Fr Francis Bradley, parish priest, said Matt was undeniably wise and good beyond his years. Advertisement He said 'From his earliest days in Zimbabwe through to his time here in Buncrana, Matt has always been recognised for his quiet but sociable presence, his smiling face and his ability to always listen and respond with a deeply respectful and generous heart. 'In the Old HSE Building which became his home since his arrival here in late 2023, Matt was the eldest child, and with his great gifts and talents, particularly the respect he showed to everyone but most especially to his mother, he became a natural leader – a first among equals. 'He was undeniably wise and good beyond his years with an ability to sit with other children reading, debating and learning with great enthusiasm, always curious to know a little more. 'His surname, Sibanda, means 'Lion'. Our new Pope has taken the name Leo, which also means 'Lion'. Pope Leo and Matt Sibanda shared something important in common – their ability to listen to all sides of the debate, never judging, but helping all sides to reach a better solution. 'All of this stemmed from his profound respect for his mother. He always listened to her and he never ever spoke back to her even once throughout his eighteen years. A man of few words, a good and kind boy, a humble kid who would play with the other children, always looking out for his sister Sandy. 'He adored her, and she him. He would watch her when his Mam was working; he taught her to ride a bike; he would play piggy back with her and chase her after school – always kind and happy. 'He had the perfect balance in life, for he loved food, healthy food, and loved exercising, lifting weights; ironically, he was a powerful swimmer.' Emmanuel Familola and Matt Sibanda. Fr Bradley added that while the world is now moving on from the terrible tragedy of May 10th, the local community in Buncrana and Donegal is still coming to terms with it. He added, 'While some distance has been drawn now from those terrible moments, the loss of Matt and Emmanuel is still an open wound, a sore blow for all of us, but most especially for his grieving family. 'We are all struggling still to come to terms with the loss, still speechless at the suddenness of it, still heartbroken at the enormity of it. While the world has moved on in some respects, we are nevertheless still numbed by the sadness of what happened. 'For these reasons and more we feel the need to reach out in hope to one another and to God in a search for peace more than answers, and for the healing consolation which can only ever come from the heart of God alone.' Among those present to support Matt's family was Commandant Joe Glennon, Aide de Camp to An Taoiseach, representing Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, Kate Gillen of IPAS, CEO of the Donegal Education Training Board Anne McHugh as well as various public representatives. Many of Matt's teachers and fellow pupils from Crana College as well as Principal Mr Kevin Cooley were also present. A huge bloom of white flowers reading Matt's name lay at the foot of the altar accompanied by a photo montage of Matt and a football made from flowers to reflect Matt's love of the game. As well as traditional hymns, songs from Matt's native Zimbabwe filled St Mary's Oratory as both communities came together to remember a fine young man taken too soon. Matt's heartbroken family led his white coffin out of St Mary's church to the haunting sounds of 'Amazing Grace' before his burial in the nearby Cockhill Cemetery. Outside, dark clouds hung over Buncrana on the last day of May as a town which has seen more than its fair share of tragedies, closed the page on another sad chapter. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Tragic Donegal drowning victim remembered for smiling face and generous heart
Matt Sibanda, 18, was laid to rest following his funeral mass at St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana. The remains of Matt Sibanda being carried out of St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana. (North West Newspix) The remains of Matt Sibanda being carried out of St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana. (North West Newspix) The remains of Matt Sibanda being carried out of St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana. (North West Newspix) A young man who died in a double-drowning tragedy off the Co Donegal coast has been remembered for his quiet but sociable presence, smiling face and ability to always listen and respond with a deeply respectful and generous heart. Matt Sibanda, 18, was laid to rest following his funeral mass at St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana today. He was due to begin sitting his Leaving Certificate exams in the coming days at Crana College in Buncrana. It is two weeks to the day since Matt's friend, Emmanuel Familola, 16, was also laid to rest in the same church after the pair perished in the same tragedy in Lough Swilly. Both young men were understood to be trying to retrieve a ball from the water while swimming during the recent good spell of weather off Buncrana on May 10th. The remains of Matt Sibanda being carried out of St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana. (North West Newspix) Another friend who also got into difficulty managed to swim ashore. Matt's body was found hours after he went missing following a huge search by the emergency services and local volunteer vessels. His friend Emmanuel was plucked from the sea earlier in the day and rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital but tragically passed away a few hours later. Emmanuel was laid to rest on May 17th. However, Matt's funeral was delayed until today to allow family members travel from their native Zimbabwe. Included among the traveling group was Matt's beloved grandmother Josephine. The remains of Matt Sibanda being carried out of St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana. (North West Newspix) News in 90 Seconds - May 31st Earlier this week, Matt's family traveled to the scene of the tragedy to see where their beloved son, brother and grandson died. A small ritual took place at the pier which was overseen by Matt's grandmother in her role as head of the family so they could release his soul and allow him to go to heaven. A large crowd attended today's funeral to say a final farewell to the young man who had carved out a special place in the heart of the local community despite his short time there. As well as Matt's beloved mother Bonnie, his brother Thembalethu and sisters Modest and Sandy, were present to say a final farewell to the young man who have played such a huge part in all their lives. Before Matt's mass began, a member of Matt's family thanked the local community for their support and friendship for the family since Matt's tragic passing. Fr Francis Bradley, parish priest, said Matt was undeniably wise and good beyond his years. He said "From his earliest days in Zimbabwe through to his time here in Buncrana, Matt has always been recognised for his quiet but sociable presence, his smiling face and his ability to always listen and respond with a deeply respectful and generous heart. "In the Old HSE Building which became his home since his arrival here in late 2023, Matt was the eldest child, and with his great gifts and talents, particularly the respect he showed to everyone but most especially to his mother, he became a natural leader – a first among equals. "He was undeniably wise and good beyond his years with an ability to sit with other children reading, debating and learning with great enthusiasm, always curious to know a little more. "His surname, Sibanda, means 'Lion'. Our new Pope has taken the name Leo, which also means 'Lion'. Pope Leo and Matt Sibanda shared something important in common – their ability to listen to all sides of the debate, never judging, but helping all sides to reach a better solution. "All of this stemmed from his profound respect for his mother. He always listened to her and he never ever spoke back to her even once throughout his eighteen years. A man of few words, a good and kind boy, a humble kid who would play with the other children, always looking out for his sister Sandy. "He adored her, and she him. He would watch her when his Mam was working; he taught her to ride a bike; he would play piggy back with her and chase her after school – always kind and happy. "He had the perfect balance in life, for he loved food, healthy food, and loved exercising, lifting weights; ironically, he was a powerful swimmer." Fr Bradley added that while the world is now moving on from the terrible tragedy of May 10th, the local community in Buncrana and Donegal is still coming to terms with it. He added "While some distance has been drawn now from those terrible moments, the loss of Matt and Emmanuel is still an open wound, a sore blow for all of us, but most especially for his grieving family. "We are all struggling still to come to terms with the loss, still speechless at the suddenness of it, still heartbroken at the enormity of it. While the world has moved on in some respects, we are nevertheless still numbed by the sadness of what happened. "For these reasons and more we feel the need to reach out in hope to one another and to God in a search for peace more than answers, and for the healing consolation which can only ever come from the heart of God alone." Among those present to support Matt's family was Commandant Joe Glennon, Aide de Camp to An Taoiseach, representing Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, Kate Gillen of IPAS, CEO of the Donegal Education Training Board Anne McHugh as well as various public representatives. Many of Matt's teachers and fellow pupils from Crana College as well as Principal Mr Kevin Cooley were also present. A huge bloom of white flowers reading Matt's name lay at the foot of the altar accompanied by a photo montage of Matt and a football made from flowers to reflect Matt's love of the game. As well as traditional hymns, songs from Matt's native Zimbabwe filled St Mary's Oratory as both communities came together to remember a fine young man taken too soon. Matt's heartbroken family led his white coffin out of St Mary's church to the haunting sounds of 'Amazing Grace' before his burial in the nearby Cockhill Cemetery. Outside, dark clouds hung over Buncrana on the last day of May as a town which has seen more than its fair share of tragedies, closed the page on another sad chapter.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tragic drowning victim had something in common with Pope Leo, mourners told
A young man who died in a double-drowning tragedy off the Co Donegal coast has been remembered for his quiet but sociable presence, smiling face and ability to always listen and respond with a deeply respectful and generous heart. Matt Sibanda, 18, was laid to rest following his funeral Mass at St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana today. He was due to begin sitting his Leaving Certificate exams in the coming days at Crana College in Buncrana. It is two weeks to the day since Matt's friend, Emmanuel Familola, 16, was also laid to rest in the same church after the pair perished in the same tragedy in Lough Swilly. Both young men were understood to be trying to retrieve a ball from the water while swimming during the recent good spell of weather off Buncrana on May 10. Another friend who also got into difficulty managed to swim ashore. Matt's body was found hours after he went missing following a huge search by the emergency services and local volunteer vessels. His friend Emmanuel was plucked from the sea earlier in the day and rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital but tragically passed away a few hours later. Emmanuel was laid to rest on May 17. However, Matt's funeral was delayed until today to allow family members travel from their native Zimbabwe. Included among the traveling group was Matt's beloved grandmother Josephine. Earlier this week, Matt's family traveled to the scene of the tragedy to see where their beloved son, brother and grandson died. A small ritual took place at the pier which was overseen by Matt's grandmother in her role as head of the family so they could release his soul and allow him to go to heaven. A large crowd attended today's funeral to say a final farewell to the young man who had carved out a special place in the heart of the local community despite his short time there. As well as Matt's beloved mother Bonnie, his brother Thembalethu and sisters Modest and Sandy, were present to say a final farewell to the young man who have played such a huge part in all their lives. Before Matt's mass began, a member of Matt's family thanked the local community for their support and friendship for the family since Matt's tragic passing. Fr Francis Bradley, parish priest, said Matt was undeniably wise and good beyond his years. He said "From his earliest days in Zimbabwe through to his time here in Buncrana, Matt has always been recognised for his quiet but sociable presence, his smiling face and his ability to always listen and respond with a deeply respectful and generous heart. "In the Old HSE Building which became his home since his arrival here in late 2023, Matt was the eldest child, and with his great gifts and talents, particularly the respect he showed to everyone but most especially to his mother, he became a natural leader – a first among equals. "He was undeniably wise and good beyond his years with an ability to sit with other children reading, debating and learning with great enthusiasm, always curious to know a little more. "His surname, Sibanda, means 'Lion'. Our new Pope has taken the name Leo, which also means 'Lion'. Pope Leo and Matt Sibanda shared something important in common – their ability to listen to all sides of the debate, never judging, but helping all sides to reach a better solution. "All of this stemmed from his profound respect for his mother. He always listened to her and he never ever spoke back to her even once throughout his eighteen years. A man of few words, a good and kind boy, a humble kid who would play with the other children, always looking out for his sister Sandy. "He adored her, and she him. He would watch her when his Mam was working; he taught her to ride a bike; he would play piggy back with her and chase her after school – always kind and happy. "He had the perfect balance in life, for he loved food, healthy food, and loved exercising, lifting weights; ironically, he was a powerful swimmer." Fr Bradley added that while the world is now moving on from the terrible tragedy of May 10, the local community in Buncrana and Donegal is still coming to terms with it. He added "While some distance has been drawn now from those terrible moments, the loss of Matt and Emmanuel is still an open wound, a sore blow for all of us, but most especially for his grieving family. "We are all struggling still to come to terms with the loss, still speechless at the suddenness of it, still heartbroken at the enormity of it. While the world has moved on in some respects, we are nevertheless still numbed by the sadness of what happened. "For these reasons and more we feel the need to reach out in hope to one another and to God in a search for peace more than answers, and for the healing consolation which can only ever come from the heart of God alone." Among those present to support Matt's family was Commandant Joe Glennon, Aide de Camp to An Taoiseach, representing Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, Kate Gillen of IPAS, CEO of the Donegal Education Training Board Anne McHugh as well as various public representatives. Many of Matt's teachers and fellow pupils from Crana College as well as Principal Mr Kevin Cooley were also present. A huge bloom of white flowers reading Matt's name lay at the foot of the altar accompanied by a photo montage of Matt and a football made from flowers to reflect Matt's love of the game. As well as traditional hymns, songs from Matt's native Zimbabwe filled St Mary's Oratory as both communities came together to remember a fine young man taken too soon. Matt's heartbroken family led his white coffin out of St Mary's church to the haunting sounds of 'Amazing Grace' before his burial in the nearby Cockhill Cemetery. Outside, dark clouds hung over Buncrana on the last day of May as a town which has seen more than its fair share of tragedies, closed the page on another sad chapter.
