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Bishop Noel Treanor, pictured with the president and vice president of St Anselm College, Students representatives of winning sports teams, the College Principal, Professor Peter Finn and the Rev Dr Paul Fleming the Head of Religious Education

Rev Dr Paul Fleming (Head of Religious Education), Professor Peter Finn (Principal)
Caitriona Bannon (BEd with Mathematics from Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, and a member of the College’s winning Netball team)
Kevin McKernan (BEd with Physical Education from Newry, Co Down, and a member of the College’s winning Sigerson Cup team)
Dr Steven DiSalvo (President of St Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire)
Dr Joe Horton (Vice-President of St Anselm College)
Most Rev Dr Noel Treanor (Bishop of Down and Connor, Trustee and Chairperson of the Board of Governors)

 

Religious Education

Bishop Noel Treanor presented one hundred and fifty students at St Mary’s University College with Certificates in Religious Education at a commencement ceremony held at the College on Thursday, 15 June 2017

The students were joined by their families and friends, as well as College staff and guests. During his address, Bishop Treanor spoke about the worldwide family of Catholic universities and welcomed the president and vice president of St Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire, USA.

The St Mary’s principal, Professor Peter Finn, highlighted his college’s high ranking for Education in the Guardian Higher Education Guide: fourth out of ninety-one university providers in England, Scotland, Wales and the north of Ireland. He also commented on the College’s ranking in the National Student Survey of 160 UK universities, where St Mary’s is ranked third for overall satisfaction. Dr Steven DiSalvo, President of St Anselm College, which is a Benedictine higher education institution in New Hampshire, spoke about the historical parallels between the cities of Belfast and Manchester. He looked forward to further collaboration with St Mary’s.

 

Liberal Arts

The Liberal Arts class of 2017
The Liberal Arts class of 2017

Bishop Anthony Farquhar presented Higher Education Achievement Records (HEAR) to the graduating Class of 2017 at a commencement ceremony held in the College on Wednesday, 21 June 2017.

The commencement speaker was Mr Paddy Tally, manager of the College’s victorious Sigerson Cup team this year.

Awards were made to the following students:

  • Student of the Year (BA Liberal Arts Perpetual Cup) - Imelda Ward
  • International Student of the Year (Eugene Morrissey Cup) - Cillian Vallely-Gilroy
  • Entrepreneurship Award (Fr O’Callaghan Cup) - Gary Dunlop
  • Chengelo Prize for Contribution to Student Life - Martin O’Toole

 

 

Professor Peter Finn (Principal), Gary Dunlop, Bishop Anthony Farquhar, Martin O'Toole,
Professor Peter Finn (Principal), Gary Dunlop, Bishop Anthony Farquhar, Martin O'Toole,
Cillian Vallely-Gilroy and Fr Feidhlimidh Magennis (Chair of the Liberal Arts Programme)

Commencement speaker Paddy Tally with Bishop Farquhar and Cory Quinn
Commencement speaker Paddy Tally with Bishop Farquhar
and Cory Quinn (Liberal Arts student and a member of the winning Sigerson Cup team)

 

 

Irish-Medium Education

Oideachas Múinteoirí do na Gaelscoileanna á Cheiliúradh

Rinneadh oideachas múinteoirí do na Gaelscoileanna a chomóradh i gColáiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire ar na mallaibh nuair a tháinig múinteoirí nuacháilithe de chuid trí chlár acadúla le chéile le Searmanas Tosaigh a cheiliúradh.

Tá Coláiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire i dtús cadhnaíochta i dtaca le soláthar sainiúil d’earnáil an Ghaeloideachais in Éirinn. Mar aon leis na cláir acadúla sa B.Oid agus TICO, soláthraíonn an Coláiste clár Máistreachta san Oideachas a thacaíonn le múinteoirí Gaelscoileanna agus cúrsaí gairmiúla a thacaíonn le Cúntóirí Ranga. Ina theannta sin, bunaíodh an tÁisaonad chomh fada siar le 1998, agus cruthaíonn an tÁisaonad acmhainní agus áiseanna oideachasúla den chaighdeán is airde do Ghaelscoileanna ar fud na hÉireann.

 

The class of 2017 with Bishop Donal McKeown, Professor Peter Finn (Principal) and College lecturers
The class of 2017 is pictured with Bishop Donal McKeown (a governor of the College),
Professor Peter Finn (Principal) and lecturers in Irish-medium, as well as Religious Education


Irish-medium teacher education was the focus of a celebration at St Mary’s University College recently with a commencement ceremony for newly qualified teachers in three academic programmes.
Certificates in both Bilingual Education and in Religious Education were presented to St Mary’s students who had successfully completed the PGCE and BEd programmes in Irish-medium education for primary schools. In addition, six students from Queen’s University and Ulster University received certificates from St Mary’s in the field of post-primary teacher education for the Irish-medium sector.

St Mary’s has a unique range of provision for Irish-medium education (IME) which is the most advanced on the island of Ireland. In addition to its academic programmes at BEd and PGCE levels, the College also provides a Masters in Education degree programme to support Irish-medium teachers, as well as professional courses for classroom assistants. Furthermore, An tÁisaonad (the Irish-Medium Resources Unit) at St Mary’s, which was established as far back as 1998, produces the highest standard of educational resources for Irish-medium schools across Ireland.

Speaking at the annual commencement ceremony the College Principal, Peter Finn, said:

“The commencement ceremony for Irish-medium students is an occasion for celebrating both their achievements and their promising future as the next generation of teachers for Irish-medium schools. Irish-medium teacher education students are familiar with the concept of community. They are valued members of the St Mary’s community, and, as alumni of St Mary’s, they will remain confident in their identity and in their strengths. The Irish-medium students’ commencement is celebrated with a sense of expectation for their future success.

The ceremony at St Mary’s started with a Mass of Thanksgiving, which was celebrated by the Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown. This was followed by the presentation of certificates in bilingual education, special awards to students and a series of presentations by members of the Irish-medium education community in the north. Family and friends of the newly qualified teachers, as well as College staff and visitors, then enjoyed a celebratory lunch.


Mr Liam Ó Flannagaín and guest speaker, Eilís Uí Neill
Mr Liam Ó Flannagaín (Interim Chief Executive of the Comhairle)
and guest speaker, Eilís Uí Neill (Principal of Scoil na Fuiseoige)

 

 

 

Recipients of special awards at the St Mary’s Commencement Ceremony for Irish-medium Teacher Education.

Recipients of special awards at the St Mary’s Commencement Ceremony for
Irish-medium Teacher Education.

      Catherine Grieve from Belfast (BEd Primary with Irish programme)
      Geraldine Strain from Omagh, Co Tyrone (Primary PGCE programme)
      Niamh Ní Bhroin from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh (Post-Primary PGCE programme)
                Diarmuid Ó Tuama from Belfast (Primary PGCE programme)

Professor Peter Finn and Diarmuid Ó Tuama

Professor Peter Finn presented Diarmuid Ó Tuama with thePobal Gaeltachta Bheal Feirste award
in recognition of his contribution to community awareness and cohesion during his postgraduate studies
in Irish-medium teacher education.

 

 

IRISH-MEDIUM CLASS OF 2017

TICO BUNSCOILE

Agnew, Niamh
Burns, Lorcan
Donnelly, Teresa
Duffin, Stephen
Hanna, Corey
Mac Cú Uladh, Ciarán
McCann, Sinéad
Mistéil, Aodán
Mooney, Niamh
Ní Chearáin, Eilís
Ní Dhufaigh, Fionnuala
Nic Aindreasa, Maedhbh
Nic Corraidh, Róise
Ó Néill, Domhnall
O Tuama, Diarmuid
Simpson, Una
Strain, Geraldine
Toman, Sinéad
Toner, Megan

TICO IAR-BHUNSCOILE

Burns, Niamh
Hughes, Colleen
Mac an Ailín, Dónal
McCracken, Claire
Nic Giolla Rua, Órla
O’Donoghue, Sarah

BAITSILÉIR OIDEACHAIS

Connolly, Sara
Donaghy, Niamh
Fox, Cailín
Grieve, Catherine
McAteer, Fiona
McKeown, Cathal
Ní Bhraoin, Sinéad
Ní Bhroin, Niamh
Ní Cheannúbháin, Orlaith
Ní Mhuireagáin, Cara
Nic Alastair, Aileen
Nic Aogáin, Momháine
Nic Bhloscaidh, Seanán
Nic Cionnaith, Saoirse
Ó Doibhlin, Ruairí
Reel,Gary