My year started off in Delphi back in September. For me it was ok. It was not the best. Certainly, I enjoyed the activities, but the food was awful, and the waiting around was annoying.
 

Our next adventure away from family was to Barcelona. For me it was amazing. I really enjoyed every moment of it. I loved the food. I loved the drink. And how cheap everything was. The best part was the city at night. I loved seeing all the lights and the water fountains. The beach was amazing. The sand was soft, and the day and nights were warm. The hotel was lovely, and the place was clean and just fantastic.

It was the first time ever on a plane and I loved it. My favorite part was taking off. I loved the roar of the engines and the feeling of being pushed back into your seat by the G forces, like a formula 1 car. It was amazing, would definitely love to do it again. The city lights were amazing. The smells were amazing. We blared out music and we had a ball. I would recommend going with friends. 

The highlight for me has been either the musical or Barcelona. I will be honest - I really wanted a main part and had I not gotten any main part at all I would not have enjoyed it as much. I loved having a spotlight on me and I loved putting on costumes and having my makeup done. I reveled in the singing and acting in front of an audience. It was the best thing I ever did. I was so proud, and my family were too. A highlight at the end was going into the audience to get pictures taken and being complimented. 

It was, quite simply, amazing.  

I remember being so stressed out while preparing my table and apron the day before my exam. But I was happy to miss a class of French for it. I labelled my apron with my exam number, placed all my bowls on my desk and wrote my “menu” of what I’d serve.  

On the day of the exam, we had to be in the room for 9am. I had my hair in space buns and had to leave the mascara for another day. My friend Emily reassured me that I would do great.  

When the room was ready, the examiner got us to sign a sheet and wait at our tables. We all wished each other luck with happy glances at each other. As she explained the principles of how she expected our behavior to be, confidence began to grow, and I was raring to go. 

When she told us to begin, I started by washing my hands to stay hygienic. Everything was going according to plan until something stopped me in my tracks. My eyes were watering. What was this? Sickness? Sadness? No, this was something that I hadn’t factored into my performance.

Onions. They were awful - my evil vegetables were clearly out for vengeance. But wait, this wasn't solely targeted at me. Glancing around me, I noticed to my chagrin that others were beginning to suffer because of my onions. I was wiping my eyes aggressively, trying to prevent a flood in the classroom. I threw the onions into the pan and covered them in minced meat, shielding the rest of the class from their horrors. We were saved.  

Now that everything was going to plan again, my mission to make my Chile Con Carne was back on track. I won’t bore you with all the details, but I was one of the first to finish. My Chile Con Carne was in a beautiful Mexican dish and my rice was in a cute white bowl on the side with twisted, sliced cucumber to make it look professional. 

I had a slight problem while washing up, though...  

I created a layer of overcooked, crusty, glued to the pan rice, and that was not coming off anytime soon. I scrubbed and scrubbed and... you guessed it, scrubbed. As you probably already know, it still was not coming off. I found it funny when I gave up even though the examiner had a go and put hot water in it (I did that too already I'm not that bad) but she eventually gave up too and totted back to her desk at the front.  

When we had to leave the room for the examiner to taste everything, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Whether it was because they did amazing things or they could just be happy to get it over and done with, everyone was pleased with themselves, as they should be. Ms. Murtagh came along and asked how things went. Everyone said good but I told her about my tragic rice incident (did not tell her that it was still on the saucepan) and she told me “As long as it looks good on the plate it’s fine.” that reassured me a lot and I was happy with my overall performance.  

As we went back into the classroom to clean up, we were all tasting each other’s food and I can say that Abigail’s cookies were a hit.  

Overall, this experience was a bit scary but very useful to build confidence, character and even if you mess up, it even gives you a funny story to tell. I cannot wait to start cooking again.  

 

The Mechan way to Chile Con Carne - Recipe
  

You will need:

500g of mince beef  

1 red pepper  

1 yellow pepper  

1 tin of sweetcorn  

½ tin of red kidney beans  

1 cup of rice  

1 large onion (maybe a snorkeling mask for chopping them) 

1 tin of tomatoes  

2 tbsp of tomato puree  

1 tsp basil 

1 tsp oregano 

1 tsp garlic granules 

1 tsp paprika  

1 tsp chili flakes   

1 tsp chili powder  

Utensils  

2 wooden spoons  

Wok 

Wok lid  

Saucepan  

Saucepan lid  

Cup  

Serving bowl  

Serving plate  

Hob  

Instructions  

Chop up all your onions and cook in your wok 

When onions are 90% cooked add in your mince  

When mince is fully cooked add in your vegetables  

Add a cup of rice and 2 cups of water into your saucepan and start boiling  

After 10 minutes, check your rice and add you tomato puree, tomatoes and seasoning into your wok  

When the rice is cooked, turn off everything and place food in serving bowls  

Optional: place a twisted cucumber slice on your rice and Chile Con Carne  

(WOULD HIGHLY ADVISE USING A PROPER RECIPE AS THIS COULD BE FAULTY AND YOU MIGHT DIE FROM ONION INHALATION!) 

We arrived back on 1st September 2022 eagerly awaiting the upcoming season after falling short to Mountbellew last year. This year we felt more confident in our ability as we had all had a year to get used to each other. Portumna Community School pulls in a myriad of parishes and clubs, for example Lorrha, Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry, Portumna, Eyrecourt and Killimor. All these teams have big rivalries and to be sharing the jersey together with each other was a mighty challenge, but we managed to get through the year without anyone killing each other thank God. 

Our year started off in November when Mr. Lynch and Mr. Madden, our managers, told us about their ambitions for us this year and how they thought with hard work and discipline we could very well win it out. They would not be alone training us, though - TYs Oisin McNulty and Andrew Canning gave up their time to help them train us after school. 

We wasted no time and got to work. Our first outing was on 25th November 2022 against the Bish in the Winter League where, thanks to Nathan Mannion, who scored a hat-trick, we managed to win by 3-09 to 1-12. Even though we were without our first years and third years for this game, we did really well. They would join us later in the year.  

 

We had no more games for the remainder of the year. When we returned in 2023 our first game of championship was against Pres College Athenry on 25th January. It was a cold harsh day for hurling, but the boys managed to pull through and beat the Pres by 1-6 to 6-6. 

We were dealt a major blow before our next game. Our wing-back Cian O’Brien injured his knee playing a club game for Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry. This injury would see him out for the rest of the season. Luckily, we had good squad-depth and had players to fill the gaps, but this was a major loss. It was a month till we had our next championship game against Seamount, Kinvara - a win here and we would qualify for the semi-finals. Everything went right that day for us and thanks to first year Darragh Hayes, who scored 3-3, we won comfortably 6-16 to 0-04. 

Our last game was against the Bish who came out fighting, raring to have another go against us after their disappointing loss against us earlier in the year. The fact that they needed a win to qualify for the knockout stages added to the excitement. It was a tough match, and a miserable day did not help either. The match was close and when the final whistle blew the teams could not be separated and it ended a draw on a scoreline of 3-8 to 2-11. This meant we were through and since we finished first, we would play the second placed team of the other group, which was St Cuans. 

The game was in Ballinasloe on 28th March. It was tightly contested - thanks to Iarla’s frees we managed to keep up to them. We were not at our best and luckily, we managed to get the lead right near the end but unfortunately, they won a free in the last puck of the game and scored it sending the game to extra time. We were disheartened and could not believe we had to play an extra 20 minutes but after an encouraging speech from our managers we went out with a new hunger in our hearts. Cuans were not able to keep up with our new intensity and we pulled ahead. The game finished 1-24 to 0-22. We could not believe we were in a final and the tough game in the semi-finals really stood to us in the final. 

As we had approached the final, we got some lovely gear off Mr McLearn for which we were very grateful. We would play Clarin College, Athenry in Killimor on 18th April. There was a great atmosphere as the school had organised a support bus. We expected a tight game but due to a great team performance we were ahead 2-10 to 1-02 by half time. In the second half we really took control. The final whistle blew, and we had won by 4-15 to 1-05. There were great celebrations after the game seeing our captain Padraig Dermody lifting the cup. 

After the trophy presentation we were treated to a Supermacs by Mr McClearn. We got a great welcome home by the student body and staff. The celebrations lasted a long while more and it was a great honour to be a part of this talented team. 

Hopefully next year I will be writing about our success in the Junior competition! 

  

Aaron McDonagh.           

 

Reflecting on the last 5 or 6 years, is a tremendous task, as we sit in our school gym tonight. How will words truly encapsulate our journey at Portumna Community School? Tonight, however, is a night filled with memories, music and magic as we gather to celebrate the incredible young people we have become. Looking back on old photographs and sharing laughs over stories we thought were long forgotten is a testament to the importance of our time here. This school, this community, has given every one of us the space to spread our wings, become the best versions of ourselves and achieve our personal bests.  

Every student sitting alongside me has been inspired by the unique characteristics and knowledge of the teaching staff here, so much so that you may see a couple of us back here in a few years! Upon reaching this day, I am brimming with pride and positivity as we move forward with the next chapter of our lives. I can wholeheartedly say that there is no other group of people I would rather have spent these last 6 years with. Our experience as students has not only been defined by academic, sporting, and creative success; but by the irreplaceable memories and cherished friendships we have forged and shared.   

5 years, 8 months or 2086 days ago, each one of us walked into this gym and were greeted by our respected year-heads, our principal Mr. Long and our chaplain, Ms. Dunne. As we sat together in this very place, looking around at unfamiliar faces, anxious about the unknown and what the future may hold, we were told one thing over and over again: that these next six years would fly. As we are gathered here tonight, 6 hard-fought years later, I can say with confidence that for all of us, they have certainly flown.  

Throughout our time here, we have had the honour of being under the guidance of some of the best. Mr. Kelly and Ms. Fogarty were here to welcome us on our first day, as well as our chaplain Ms. Dunne, former principal Mr. Long and former deputy Mr. Coughlan. The turbulence that was our unconventional Transition Year was steered by Mr. Fallon and Mr. Smith, who ensured we got the most out of the experience despite everything.  

To say that our secondary school journey has been a breeze would be a blatant lie. The journey has been fun, enjoyable and worthwhile, but it can also be said that we struggled, fought our own personal battles, and overcame unbelievable odds. If the leaving cert wasn’t such an arduous challenge on its own, as cohort we faced the Covid-19 pandemic, putting our junior cert, and our lives as we knew them on hold. Looking back, it is an outstanding achievement for all of us to get to where we are today. Tonight, we are back in the gym where it all started - we will walk out of these doors in the same manner we entered in 2017 - together. We have faced challenges and overcome them, we have braved the belly of the beast, but most importantly, we did it as one. The sheer resilience, passion, unity and work ethic that the graduating class of 2023 has exhibited over their time here in PCS is to be admired. We have stuck by each other through thick and thin, good and bad, highs and lows and that isn't something many year groups can say. The friendship, respect and comradery built throughout the past 6 years will remain with us for the rest of our lives as we spread our wings and begin a new chapter in our lives.  

It would be impossible to talk to you all tonight without mentioning our year head and second mother, Ms. Lohan. Although we began our relationship later in our school years than we would have liked, our two years with Margaret Lohan as our year head have been filled with laughs, hugs, birthday cakes and the odd well-deserved telling-off! Ms. Lohan, you consistently drive us to succeed while also never wavering in your pride and support of us. Your words of wisdom, sense of fun and passion for your students are clear every day. It is safe to say, that there is no one else I would rather have to fight my corner. Ms. Lohan not only inspires us as a teacher but as a role model who continues to display resilience, respect and kindness inside the classroom and beyond. Leaving this school, one thing we will certainly always remember is that: “Manners cost absolutely nothing.”   

 I would now like to invite Ms. Lohan to receive a token of our year’s appreciation, presented to her by Áine Kelly.  

Of course, we couldn’t leave here tonight without giving a very special mention to our inspirational, kind and compassionate principal and vice principal, Mr. Shane McClearn and Ms. Elaine Shanahan Dunne. In 2020, we were lucky enough to be introduced to the new management of our school, or at least that’s what they called themselves. It didn’t take long for the two of them to build personal relationships with many different students in our year, yet whether they were for the right reasons or not is a different question! However, after spending many years under their close supervision, we realised how lucky we were to have such hardworking, understanding and compassionate leaders to see us through our school days. If you haven’t noticed, I don’t think either of them have stopped smiling since tonight began, probably because they're finally going to see the back of us walk out those doors in about half an hour! Regardless of whether they are going to miss us or celebrate our departure, we hope that they remember us, as we will remember so many of the valuable life lessons they have taught us over the years. Not only have they helped us to prepared for our exams, they have left us with qualities that much more valuable, that you won't find in any textbook. They taught us respect, discipline, instilled confidence in us, but above all they have ensured that we achieved our personal best. So, on behalf of the graduating class of 2023, Míle Buíochas, and thank you for everything you have done for us. 

This night and our entire secondary school journey would not be possible without the expertise and dedication of the entire staff. Our school community has taught us all the importance of teamwork, collaboration and to represent our school with great pride. We would like to extend a warm thanks Mary Mitchell and Esther in the office, who keep the school running smoothly behind the scenes; to Tom Quinn and Martin Hackett who go above and beyond every day; and to the cleaning staff who we have gotten much closer to the last year thanks to our late evenings in study! To the Music, Religion and Chaplaincy departments who made this celebratory night possible, we wholeheartedly express our gratitude for your time and effort in making this night so memorable.  

     

Although this is the end of our time here in PCS, we will leave here with memories that will last a lifetime, friendships that we cherish and for some, a few outstanding detentions.  

As tonight finally draws to a close, I hope that most of you haven't already dozed off. I want to extend one final congratulations to the most diligent, kind and admirable group of people I have ever met. To the class of 2023, I am delighted to say that we have made it! We can finally say that every essay, every project, every late night spent cramming content for some silly exam was finally worth it. There won't be any more differential equations, Macbeth essays or day practicals to worry about for the rest of our lives, and for that we can be grateful.   

Not one of us could have completed this journey alone, we embarked on this journey together in 2017, and tonight, on our final ‘last day of school’ we will finish this journey together.  

Each and every one of us has been sculpted into the amazing people we are today because of the intelligent, kind and charismatic students you see around you. It has been an absolute pleasure to travel on this journey together and I can safely say that there isn't anyone else in the world we would have rather spent our secondary school days with. We have all made lifelong friends and memories, and we hope that when we walk out of these doors tonight that those bonds and relationships built will stay with us as we begin to spread our wings. I'd like to take this opportunity to invite the Graduation Class of 2023 to stand, and receive the well-deserved round of applause that they have worked tirelessly for over the past 6 years. Thank you. 

Our next match was against Glenamaddy Community School. In the first half we took the lead with a great through-ball into our striker, who swung a pass across the pitch straight into the winger's path. leaving him to bury it into the back of the net. After an excellent performance we won 4-3 - our first win of the season!  

 

Our 3rd match of the season saw many more improvements to our cohesion and communication but we ended up narrowly losing to a strong St. Cuan’s side. 

However we had done well enough to have made it through to the Shield quarter-final and we were playing  Glenamaddy CS once more. A riveting game, it went to penalties as Jakub Wysocki slotted away the fifth on-target penalty for PCS, then our goalkeeper Eoghan Ward O’Meara made the hero’s leap to save Glenamaddy’s fifth, and win us the game. 

We were through to the semi-final and we were facing a tasty Belmullet side. We took the lead early on with a mighty Michael O’Sullivan half-volley. Unfortunately, 15 minutes later Belmullet struck back with a very well-taken free-kick.  

In the second half the ball gets hit up the pitch into an accelerating Tyler Hannigan who easily outpaces the defender to scoring a well-driven goal into the back of the net. After an off-field incident involving advice the referee did not appreciate, our performance dipped, and in the 80th minute Belmullet burst through our defensive line to equalise. Things then went from bad to worse; within two minutes of the restart, a rejuvenated Belmullet had the ball and hit it long. A cruelly unfortunate bounce took it over the keeper’s head and the full-time whistle went. 3-2 to Belmullet at the finish.  

 

Overall, for our first year playing competitive soccer for PCS, the season was a resounding success. To get to a Connacht Shield semi-final then only lose to a cruel bounce, all within a few months of starting? Portumna is back on the soccer map, and we will return for next year’s campaign hungry to improve and with even stronger performances. The mission? To bring back a trophy for our efforts. 

Many thanks to Mr. McClearn for letting us run out for the school, and of course to Mr. John ‘The Gaffer’ Enright for all his time and effort helping to make our dream of playing for the school a reality.  

A group of TY’s helped organize the walk by setting out the candles and marshalling the walk. It was a beautiful, fun and productive way of getting involved in the community and it is all for a great cause.

Portumna Forest Park is an ideal venue to host this event and the community has embraced it by attending the walk, wearing yellow t-shirts and even some local coffee shops open at five o clock in the morning to serve breakfast to all those involved.

The walk is a beautiful way to remember those we have lost to suicide and a way to show people in dark times that there is help for them out there.

Maedhbh Cowan.

Your favourite part/time of each week this year: 

Last class on Friday with my 5th years, they definitely helped me get the Friday feeling

Who you'd like to thank most, and why? 

All the staff for being extremely welcoming and sound all year

Sound will you most miss from PCS: 

Hearing word that Ms Skelly had brought in biscuit cake

What you will be wearing this summer: 

Anything other than my teacher clothes

If I remember one thing from my time at PCS, it will be: 

The students/staff

My advice to incoming 1st Years, in a sentence: 

Make the most of your time and get involved in everything you can because these will make some of your best memories

The one word that best sums up your experience of PCS: 

Warm-in every sense of the word

What would you most like us to remember you for/as: 

Genuinely caring for the students and wanting the best for them

Where you want to be in 5 years: 

With a notes selection like Ms Kelly

 

Five Years by David Bowie

 

Your favourite part/time of each week this year: 

History, Art and French classes.

 

Catchphrase of the year: 

“I’ll just make it look like I did it like that on purpose.”

 

Person you secretly most admired all year: 

Zara Walsh and Marc Bolan

 

Who you'd like to thank most?

Everest from Roma and David Bowie

 

One person who changed your life for the better: 

Everest from Roma

 

Sound will you most miss from PCS: 

Zara

 

What you will be wearing this summer: 

My birthday suit

 

If I remember one thing from my time at PCS, it will be: 

Pythagoras’ theorem

 

My advice to incoming 1st Years, in a sentence: 

Branch out don’t limit yourself

 

The one word that best sums up your experience of PCS: 

Slayed

 

What you are going on to next: 

Spread my path of destruction to a different school that lies unsuspecting.

 

What would you most like us to remember you for/as: 

Carpe-ing my diem

 

Where you want to be in 5 years: 

Studying philosophy

 

Your theme song of 2022-23: 

Oh Lord, Won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin

 

Your favourite part/time of each week this year: 

Being in the Art Room with students.... always!

 

Catchphrase of the year:

Bish, Bash, Bosh…Knock it out Mate!

 

Person you secretly most admired all year:

My daughter for keeping her head down and getting on with it in her usual sassy way!

 

Who you'd like to thank most, and why? 

My friend and colleague Anne Keane for being the Lady she is

 

Sound will you most miss from PCS: 

My squeaky runners on the corridors

 

What you will be wearing this summer: 

Naught but a flower in my hair!

 

If you remember one thing from your time at PCS, it will be: 

The genuine emotion from students when I told them that I was not returning next year.

 

Your advice to incoming 1st Years, in a sentence:

Be Brave, Have Fun. Learn, Grow, Make New Connections, The Year WILL fly.

 

The one word that best sums up your experience of PCS: 

Creative

 

What you are going on to next: 

Starting with being at Steward at Glastonbury Festival and after I'm not sure but it's definitely going to have FUN in it!

 

What would you most like us to remember you for/as:Single line text. 

My creative vision, my candid responses and my steady hand.

 

Where you want to be in 5 years: 

Retired!

 

I would normally be a bit shy around my peers and quite reserved, but the musical brought me out of my shell.  Getting to preform on stage with my friends was a dream come true, and thanks to the amazing people behind the scenes I had the confidence to go up there and give it my all.  

The environment was both professional and fun and I had many laughs backstage.  I would recommend that all future TYs get involved with the musical as much as possible; you won't regret it.

Lily Rose McAuley

1. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – The Smashing Pumpkins

Despite the depressing name, this album is perfect for creating new memories or looking back on old ones. There are also a whopping NINETY-SEVEN SONGS on the album, so you’re bound to find something you like. My top songs on the album are 1979, Tonight, tonight and Thirty-Three. The songs are really beautiful and nostalgic, perfect for those cool summer evenings. You can listen to it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTi0H2XF69Q

2. Hunky Dory – David Bowie

This is THE summer album. It’s perfect for dramatic road trips to exciting places with the volume TO THE MAX. The song Changes must be screamed at the top of your lungs during a drive with friends. It’s a transcendental experience. Here’s the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a_hBAx3ioE

3. Maggot – Dazey and the Scouts.

This is an iconic Riot Grrl album best suited to screaming and dancing with friends, with my top song being Groan. I love this album but have a personal vendetta against this band. Why? Because they dropped this absolute MASTERPIECE then completely disappeared. So don’t get too attached to the band, because you will probably never see them again. You can listen to them on Spotify.

4. Born to Die – Lana Del Rey

This album is beautiful. It’s one of my zero-skips albums because all the songs are so perfect. If I had to choose my favourites (a gun to my head would be necessary) they would be National Anthem, Off to the Races and Diet Mountain Dew.  You can listen to it here:

youtube.com/watch?v=X-VdHRROubI&list=PLrKqYl7FgK1SYT46S4UxrmnBcd9cLhixu

5. Grace (Legacy Edition) – Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley is a musical god. His songs are a religious experience. The legacy edition of Grace is amazing because it has a bunch of extra songs, one of these being a cover of Lana Del Rey’s The Other Woman, and don’t even TALK to me about Lover, You Should've Come Over. This playlist is quite sorrowful, so it’s suited to being played after you have dropped your ice pop on the ground and are watching it melt away. You can find it here:

youtube.com/playlist?
list=OLAK5uy_kwpfRB56ThszEloyBpqEYIHwEiHXt_Z_s

I really hope you give these albums a chance, or at least try some of the songs I’ve listed. Enjoy your summer and don’t drop your ice pops!

Your favourite part/time of each week this year: 

Doing PE with students and helping students out in An Cuan.

 

Who you'd like to thank most, and why? 

I would like to thank the staff as a collective as they were so kind and welcoming throughout the year.

 

One person who changed your life for the better: 

A young lady who showed determination and growth to become more outgoing which proved the power of always having a positive outlook on life no matter what is thrown at you.

 

Sound will you most miss from PCS: 

The intercom.

 

If you remember one thing from your time at PCS, it will be: 

Locking myself in hand cuffs during the school play.

 

Your advice to incoming 1st Years, in a sentence: 

Make the most of your school years and the friends you make along the way.

 

The one word that best sums up your experience of PCS: 

Rollercoaster.

 

What you are going on to next: 

Not sure at the moment.

 

What would you most like us to remember you for/as: 

A friendly outgoing teacher that is helpful and resourceful where possible.

 

Where you want to be in 5 years: 

Hopefully in a permanent position teaching in Ireland or abroad.