Academic Year 2026-27 Opening Ceremony in Athboy C.S.

Athboy Community School held its annual Opening Ceremony in the school gymnasium today to mark the beginning of the academic year 2026-27. Over 700 pupils and their teachers packed the gym as the ceremony, co-ordinated by school Chaplain Miss Halligan, opened with beautiful music from 3rd year student Annie-Mai Ludlow and 2nd Year Emily Doherty.

Miss Halligan delivered an initial welcome speech before readings from a representative of each year group in the school welcomed the entire community back from summer break and wished them well for the year ahead.

Principal, Miss Garrihy, then addressed the gathering. She emphasised the school’s Core Values of Care, Safety, Inclusion, Creativity and Respect and how they underpin every aspect of school life in Athboy C.S. She encouraged the listening students to set goals, to challenge themselves, to support each other and to celebrate their successes.

Some of the school Prefects were next up to the podium to lead the gathering in some reflective moments before Student Leadership Coordinator Ms. Di Lucia announced this year’s two School Captains. Although there has been a thriving, active Prefect system in Athboy C.S. for many years now, it has been only in the last three years that Captains were chosen from the student body. The two Captains are excellent role models for other students to look up to, and were chosen from the cohort of 6th Year Prefects.  To widespread acclaim and rapturous applause, Ms. Di Lucia announced that the School Captains for the 2026-27 Academic Year are Cormac D’Arcy and Josh McCole, two very worthy and exemplary candidates. 

Deputy Principal Mr O’Dowd then gave a welcoming address to the new first year students and explained that each home class were named after iconic Irish landscapes and landmarks; Burren, Cashel, Newgrange, Skellig, Shannon and Tara and he wished them well for the journey ahead of them in Athboy C.S. One student from each of these first year classes led the congregation in a series of reflections before more music from Annie Mai Ludlow and Emily Doherty brought the ceremony to a close.