The Graduation Mass for our Leaving Cert class of 2025/26 was held on Thursday 21st of May in our Sports Hall. In attendance were parents, family, friends, staff, students and of course the class themselves. The evening marks the ending of the students time in GCS. Fr. Anthaiah along with Fr. Mooney celebrated the last mass for these students in our school as they face into their Leaving Cert exams and then part on their seperate ways in life.
The evening started with the class entering the hall in pairs wearing their graduation gowns to music by our ensemble. Mr. Higgins welcomed all in his opening speech as well as thanking our former Principal, Mr. Duignan for his help in the last few months and the positive school environment he helped to create in the school. Linking back to music in the charts around when these students were born he noted Rihannas 'Take a bow' which he felt was apt for our students as they take a final bow in the school to salute all their work and achievements during thier time in GCS. He wished them well in the exams and their lives after school.
During the cermony, members of the class read or sang as well as bringing up gifts to the altar. Sam Nolan and Shauna Joyce, as valadictorians, spoke on behalf of thier classmates about their time in GCS, highlighting the up and downs, trips and events, the craic and the laughter. They spoke on how they started in GCS by wearing masks in first year due to Covid and how they went on trips to Errit Lake in 1st Year, Killary in 2nd Year, ski trip to Poland in 5th Year and Emerald Park in LC. They also recounted a smokey bus trip to Macbeth when the bus gave up on the way! Sam congratulated the girls on thier 3 All Irelands and they finished by thanking all that had helped them in their time at GCS. They presented their yearheads, Ms. O'Shea and Ms. Conroy with a gift as a thank you for thier efforts with them over their time in the school and also made a presentation to Mr. Duignan.
Ms. Conroy spoke as yearhead to the LCA group. She commented on how they were seen as a challenging group at first but have developed into a tight group who look out for each other. She spoke on how they are capable and resilient and have been a memorable group in the school. Ms. O'Shea started by thanking the management, staff and parents on behalf of the year group. She when through all the trips and activities over the years with a trip to Barcelona standing out. As the students move into 'Phase 4' of thier life, as she called it, she quoted Mark Twain in urging the students to 'explore, dream and discover'.
Finally, Ms. O'Shea called out the names of all students as they were presented with a bookmark from Mr. Higgins and Ms Hardiman and took thier place for the class photo.
Many thanks to all involved in making the night such a success; staff, students, parents and Fr. Anthaiah in particular for celebrating the graduation mass with us.
View a slideshow of photos from our mass by clicking on the photo below
