Carlow student scoops top ETB award at Croke Park

Seán Holt, a student from Ghaelcholáiste Cheatharlach in Carlow was awarded the Gradam Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha, Barr Feabhais sa Ghaeloideachas at the inaugural ETB Excellence Awards on Thursday, 2nd March.

The awards were run by Education and Training Boards Ireland as it celebrated 10 years of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in Ireland.

The Gradam Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha, Barr Feabhais sa Ghaeloideachas recognises someone who made an exceptional contribution to their ETB community in relation to the Irish Language.

Seán has been a member of the Gaeilge Committee in Ghaelcholáiste Cheatharlach for six years and he directs Irish events in the school, as well as working with the local Irish organization Glór Cheatharlach. Last year, he won the prize for best translation from English to Irish in Leinster in the Aistreoirí Oga competition.

Kilkenny and Carlow ETB also won the runner-up prize and were the overall winner in the Excellence Award for Respect category. The Building Restorative School Communities initiative, run by Kilkenny and Carlow ETB schools, took first place. The runner-up in this category was Abbey Community College’s Respect Week, run by Abbey Community College of Kilkenny and Carlow ETB.

The awards were presented at a special ceremony in Croke Park which also marked ‘ETB Day’. Hosted by RTÉ newsreader and former ETB student, Ray Kennedy, the event was attended by representatives from all 16 ETBs across the country.

Some of the awards presented at the ceremony included the ETB Excellence in Education Award, the ETB Excellence Award for Equality, the ETB Excellence in Further Education and Training Award, and the ETB Excellence in Youth Services Award, amongst others.

Congratulating the awardees, Paddy Lavelle, Chief Executive of ETBI said: “It gives me great pride to congratulate all the winners, and indeed runners-up on their success in the inaugural ETB Excellence Awards. We received over 500 entries from ETBs across the country to the Awards detailing the great people and initiatives that are ongoing in all corners of Ireland.

“The standard across all categories was extremely competitive, meaning we had a very difficult job in narrowing the entries down and selecting our winners. The work of all ETBs – not those just officially recognised at the awards – deserves to be commended. Their commitment and passion for education, for learning and for their communities play a vital role in ensuring that there are broad and varied options for people to engage with education and training across the country, no matter what stage of their learning journey they are at.

“This year is a milestone year for ETBs as we celebrate 10 years since their formation in Ireland. Over the past decade, ETBs have delivered learning and education opportunities for everyone – including primary and post primary schools, further education and training and youth services. ETBs have revolutionised Ireland’s education system, and I hope that we can continue to deliver innovative, diverse and flexible learning pathways over the next ten years, and beyond.”

The official ETB Heroes video was also premiered at the awards ceremony, which features five ETB heroes – including famous faces and former ETB students Ray Kennedy, Tolü Makay and Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill – matched with five current ETB learners, exploring what their ETB means to them and the impact it has on their life. Featured in the video is Kilkenny and Carlow ETB student, Michael Farrell.