Latest news with #TransitionYear
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Life & soul of the dressing room' – Heartbreaking football team tribute to teen who died in Carlow swimming tragedy
A CARLOW football team has paid emotional tribute to "beloved" teen Peter Byrne who tragically died in a swimming incident. The young player for New Oak FC passed away after getting into difficulty in the water at Cloghristick, Milford, Co Advertisement The emergency services, including the ambulance, fire brigade and Peter is believed to have been swimming with friends when he got into difficulty in the river in the Milford area of the county - around eight kilometres from The teen, who had just finished Transition Year in the local CBS secondary It's believed that they then decided to go swimming. Advertisement Read more in News And the student's friend saw him get into difficulty in the water and tried to help him. New Oak FC took to They wrote on "Peter was a pocket rocket in the team over the last number of years. Advertisement MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN Breaking Exclusive Exclusive "Small in stature but big in personality. He was a huge character with a touch of Roy Keane about him, not afraid of anything or anyone." They continued: "Peter was the life and soul of the dressing room and training and will be sadly missed by his coaches Ernie, Danny and all his teammates who have not only lost a fellow player but a friend. Five people killed in 48 hours on Irish roads as Gardai issue safety appeal after telling 'dreaded news' to families "On behalf of everyone at New Oak FC we would like to offer our deepest condolences to Peter's family and friends. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all who loved him. May Peter's gentle soul Rest in Peace." Advertisement The local community was also left devastated by the news of his sad passing, with a few taking to the comments section to express their condolences. One person said: "What heartbreaking and awful news, may he rest in peace. Sincere condolences to his family, friends and also your club." Someone else wrote: "So sorry to all Peter's family, friends and teammates. I can't begin to imagine how you all must be feeling. 'GREAT PLAYER' "Thinking of you all at this sad time. He was a great player, may Peter rest in peace." Advertisement A third wrote: "Condolences to all his teammates, may his gentle soul Rest in Eternal Peace, Forever Young." Mayor of Carlow Fintan Phelan described it as a 'terrible incident' and said he was 'shocked and saddened' by what had occurred. He sent his sympathies to the young man's family and also the friends who witnessed the tragedy. The Advertisement 'My thoughts are with them all at this incredibly difficult time and my thoughts are also with his friends who were there when this terrible incident happened. Look, it's a sad and difficult time for them all.' In a statement yesterday a Garda spokesperson said: "Following a search operation involving Gardai and emergency services, the Garda Water Unit recovered the body of a male, aged in his late teens, from the River Barrow at Milford, Co. Carlow, yesterday evening, Tuesday 17th June 2025. "His remains have been transferred to Waterford University Hospital where a postmortem examination will take place in due course. A file will be prepared for the Coroner." No funeral arrangements have been made as yet. Advertisement 1 Peter Byrne passed away after getting into difficulty in the water on Tuesday evening Credit: SOCIAL MEDIA COLLECT
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Body of a teenage boy (17) has been recovered from the river Barrow
The body of a teenage boy has been recovered from the river Barrow after he got into difficulty swimming on Tuesday evening. The body of the teenager was found by garda divers around 11pm following a search by garda divers. Advertisement The 17-year-old is understood to have been swimming with a friend when he got into difficulty around 6:30pm in the river in the Milford area of the county. The teenager was with his friend at a local gym and it is believed that they then decided to go swimming. The student's friend saw him get into difficulty in the water and tried to help him. However, as he attempted to help, he too was being sucked downwards due to strong river currents. Eventually he managed to swim to safety and raise the alarm. Gardaí and emergency services from Carlow town were quickly on the scene The teenager was a Transition Year student in a local secondary school in Carlow town. Advertisement Emergency services along with gardai remained at the scene for several hours as a search got underway to locate the teenager. The scene remains cordoned off by gardaí. In a statement gardaí said that they along with emergency services were alerted shortly after 6:30pm (Tuesday) after a 17-year-old male 'encountered difficulties' while swimming in the River Barrow at Cloghristick, Milford, Co Carlow. A search operation involving local emergency services and the Garda Water Unit was carried out. At the same location 11 years ago, a 19-year-old man died after he took part in a Neknominate social media challenge, before stripping down to his shorts and jumping into the swollen River Barrow and drowning. Jonathan (Jonny) Byrne, Tomard, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, lost his life on February 1st, 2014 at Milford Bridge. A subsequent inquest heard the victim could not swim and had a fear of water.
Irish Independent
03-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
All the photos as creativity, good humour, and excellence is celebrated by CBS New Ross students
Both teachers, Mr John Halligan and Ms Eleanor Tighe, coordinated the awards programme with great care and attention, while the smooth running of the event on the day was ensured by organisational expertise of Ms Amanda Butler, Ms Mag Rowe and Mr Jim Kavanagh. The Principal of the school, Ms Sarah Rice extended 'special congratulations to three major award winners' on the night. Ellie O'Connell was recognised for her 'outstanding sporting talent and commitment', being crowned the Sports Person of the Year; Head Girl, Niamh Doyle Maher, was presented with the Sixth Year Academic Award as her 'exceptional academic performance and leadership were rightly celebrated'; and Aidan Douglas was presented with the Edmund Rice Spirit Award 'for living out the values of compassion, service and integrity at the heart of our Edmund Rice tradition.' Another special mention and presentation was made to Sean Royce on receiving the LCA 1 Student of the Year Award, which recognises a student who has 'demonstrated outstanding commitment, growth and excellence' throughout the Fifth Year Leaving Certificate Applied programme. The Transition Year students were also celebrated on the night, commemorating 'a year of growth, experience and leadership,' according to Ms Rice. 'Our Transition Year students marked the conclusion of a dynamic and memorable year at their Graduation Ceremony. The event reflected the breadth of experiences undertaken by the TYs, and the personal growth they each achieved along the way,' she continued. The programme was led 'with great energy and vision' by Ms Aoife Codd, TY Coordinator, along with Ms Amanda Butler, TY Year Head, whose 'dedication and support ensured a rich and varied TY programme'. The two standout awardees from TY are Hannchen Van Der Merwe, for the Leadership Award as she was recognised for her 'initiative, maturity and positive influence among her peers'; and Logan Venn Keane upon winning the TY Spirit Award, 'whose enthusiasm, creativity and good humour embodied the true spirit of Transition Year.' 'We are proud of all our TY students and look forward to seeing what they go on to achieve in the Senior Cycle and beyond,' concluded Ms Rice.
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Beloved former RTE star bags totally different role 12 months after shock station departure after 37 years
FORMER RTE star Bryan Dobson is set to chair the new State Commemorations Advisory Committee. The group has been set up to "guide future commemorative efforts", according to Culture Minister Patrick O'Donovan, following recent work on the Decade of Centenaries programme that concluded in 2023. 1 Bryan Dobson is set to chair the new State Commemorations Advisory Committee Credit: Fran Veale The committee will include Professor Marie Coleman, former ministers Heather Humphreys and Eamon O Cuiv, Orlaith McBride, Professor Paul Rouse and Dr Audrey Whitty. Ex- RTE reports that the committee is tasked with maintaining an inclusive, respectful, and consensus-based approach to all commemorative matters. Minister O'Donovan said today: "The Decade of Centenaries was a period of deep historical and national significance. Read more in News "As Minister, I am proud of how we, as a nation, commemorated that complex and formative chapter always with respect, sensitivity, and scholarly integrity. "Today, we build on that legacy by establishing a new Commemorations Advisory Committee to guide future commemorative efforts." Minister O'Donovan and some of the committee members met today at the new HQ of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to view a historical document recently acquired by the State, a signed agreement between Eamon de Valera, Austin Stack, Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins relating to the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. They were also shown a memorial card of Michael Collins. Most read in Celebrity Mr Dobson, 65, He said at the time: "I will miss working with some wonderfully talented and hardworking colleagues. RTE's Bryan Dobson 'looking forward to retirement' as TV veteran issues emotional final message after retirement " "I am grateful too to the listeners and viewers who have given me their time and attention over the years. "I hope to Recently, the former RTE presenter told how he reckons his career in journalism started way back in Transition Year in Newpark Comprehensive school in Dublin, where he made his first radio programme. 'I WASN'T ACADEMIC' Speaking to the Roasted with Mark Moriarty podcast, he said: "I wasn't academic, didn't do a very good Inter Cert or Leaving Cert… I just knew journalism was for me. "And the broadcasting came about because I was never a very good speller, so maybe written journalism wasn't for me." He then ventured into pirate radio, joining Radio Nova, before heading to the BBC. Then, he joined the RTE newsroom in 1987, where he was appointed as anchor of the Six One News in 1996. STANDOUT MEMORIES One of the standout memories of his career was covering 9/11. He was due to do an interview in Government buildings that morning and instead ended up on a marathon session on the news from 3pm that afternoon. Mr Dobson also covered the Good Friday Agreement being announced, the historic visit of Queen Elizabeth II and many more moments. He moved to RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland in 2017 before presenting the News At One throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. DAD WISH Speaking to the Roasted with Mark Moriarty podcast, Mr Dobson also told how he believes that reporters are becoming increasingly subjected to hostility, often as a result of fake news and protests around asylum seekers, and how some reporters are now going for 'Hostile Environment' training. Asked about who his four dream dinner guests would be, he chose "If I could shoot the breeze and maybe go for a pint… I would like that chance."
The Herald Scotland
26-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Could Scotland learn from Ireland's exam-free fourth year?
In Scotland, the main qualifications in upper secondary – National 5, Higher and, to a lesser degree, Advanced Higher – are one-year courses; in contrast, Ireland certifies school leavers via a two-year programme known as the Leaving Certificate. As with the Scottish system, Ireland's culminates in a set of high-stakes exams that serve a key role in university applications. But a single, two-year course for school leavers opens an obvious gap in the fourth year of secondary school, when Scottish students typically take six or seven one-year National 5 courses. The experience for the vast majority of their Irish peers is radically different. Ireland encourages young people at this age to participate in something called a Transition Year (TY), which is part of the latter stage of secondary, but is not assessed using formal exams or structured around an exam-focused timetable. The Transition Year concept was introduced in 1974 in response to what the then Minister for Education called the 'growing pressures on students for high grades and competitive success'. This phenomenon, he warned, meant that education systems were 'becoming increasingly academic treadmills' and schools, 'because of these pressures', were also 'losing contact with life outside.' In the early years results were good, but uptake was low. In the mid-80s, the provision of greater support and the effects of wider structural changes led to an increase in the number of schools offering the programme; further guidance and major senior cycle reform then sparked a huge jump in provision, with the number of participating schools jumping from 19 percent in 1993 to 60 percent the following year. At this point, just under a third of all students took up the offer of a Transition Year. Over the next two decades, both figures continuously increased: by 2021 coverage had reached 98 percent of schools, with 74 percent of pupils taking up the option of a Transition Year. According to Dr Majella Dempsey, Associate Professor of Education at Maynooth University, the programme is almost entirely unique. The only other country to offer something similar is Korea – which like Ireland, is a high-performing country in PISA international tests, and which has actually been inspired to introduce its own programme by the success of the Irish approach. Although there is 'no designated curriculum', schools do operate under a 'framework for how they can organise the year.' This decentralised approach leaves schools free to develop their own programmes, incorporating various different subjects, broader areas of study, specialist educational modules, one-off events, out-of-school learning activities, and more. 'They can't just use the class time to do a three-year Leaving Cert,' Dr Dempsey notes. 'Students tend to do a lot of project-based learning, and even travelling to other European countries all sorts of different things.' Subjects studied all year as part of the 'core' layer include Gaeilge, English, Maths, PE, ICT and RE. A 'subject sampling' layer allows students to complete modules from a range of other traditional subjects, and a 'Transition Year specific layer' provides opportunities to study areas such as photography, mental health, tourism, innovation, psychology and more. The final 'calendar' layer means that programmes such as work experience, outdoor pursuits, field trips, and dramatic or musical productions can all be included in the Transition Year model. A major part of the focus for schools is on supporting the development of independent learning skills while encouraging students to explore both existing and emerging areas of interest. Irish actor Cillian Murphy has spoken about the positive effect that the Transition Year had on him, once describing the period as a 'real oasis' and himself as a 'big advocate' of the system. According to a 2022 report as part of updates to the TY programme, 'students and teachers describe the classroom as liberated due to the learning-led focus of TY and the absence of exam-pressure.' Evidence also suggests that the benefits of the Transition Year are carried over in some way into Leaving Certificate studies. Students participating in the programme have been found to be more engaged in their studies overall, and a report for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment states that there is 'reliable evidence that students who do TY achieve a substantially higher performance in the Leaving Certificate' – although it adds that the precise reasons for this correlation remain unclear. It's also clear that the system isn't perfect. Around a quarter of young people report being disappointed or underwhelmed by their Transition Year, with an apparently common complaint being the feeling that some teachers don't take the classes as seriously as others. According to Dr Dempsey the quality of a student's Transition Year is also affected by socioeconomic factors, because some of the activities that a school might want to consider – like foreign travel – cannot be entirely funded by schools. But even at its weakest, she adds, the research would say that the Transition Year, and being free from exams throughout that period, 'is very good for young people.'
