What Our Students Say

Fiona Boylan

My name is Fiona Boylan, and I am currently entering my second year of Primary Education at DCU (St. Pats). After finishing my time in Athboy C.S, I knew I wanted a career that was impactful, and so far, my experience in St. Pats has been everything I hoped for and more. The Bachelor of Education is an intense but incredibly rewarding degree. My modules cover a massive range of subjects - it’s not just about what to teach, but how children learn. On any given day, I could be in a lecture for learning the best methods to teach Irish, Maths, Geography, Religion, etc., or the Psychology of how children develop and the Philosophy behind modern education. The social side of college has been great, too. I’ve gone from the familiar halls of school to a community where I’ve made friends and enjoyed a great social life. Making the most of the college experience while keeping up with my studies has made my first year truly unforgettable. At the moment, my primary goal is to get into the classroom as a primary school teacher. I have a growing interest in potentially working within a Special School setting, as I find that area of education fulfilling. One thing is for certain: I plan to use my degree to teach abroad for a few years. The opportunities with my degree are endless. During my final year in school, I had the privilege of being one of two School Captains. That experience was foundational for me. It allowed me to build fantastic relationships with both my teachers and my peers, and it taught me the communication skills I use every day in my degree. The help and encouragement from my teachers to stay on top of my work was exactly what I needed. That work ethic has been my biggest asset in the third level, and it has helped me navigate the transition from secondary school into college life. I’m excited to continue my journey and hopefully inspire students in the same way my teachers inspired me!
Zachary MacPherson

My name is Zachary MacPherson. I graduated from Athboy Community School in 2015 and began studying Mathematics and Mathematical Physics in Maynooth University later that year. My modules included Pure Maths, Applied Maths and Mathematical Physics. While I found the subjects interesting, I realised during second year that the course structure didn’t fully suit me or align with what I wanted long term, so I made the decision to defer my studies and instead completed a Diploma in Professional Musicianship and Songwriting with BIMM Institute Dublin in 2018. At the same time in 2018, I started working with Bus Éireann as a Network Analyst. This role became a key turning point for me. I worked in a team responsible for national operations and took every opportunity to get involved in different aspects of the job. I contributed to process improvements, including rewriting procedures that improved efficiency and reduced compliance risks, and became involved in project management work around bus stop infrastructure, legislation and delivery. In 2021, I progressed into a management role within Travel Information, working under an agreement with the National Transport Authority. In this role, I became responsible for the provision and maintenance of publicly funded bus stops across the Republic of Ireland. I helped grow the team from 5 to 20 people and managed multi-million Euro work programmes at a national level. Alongside my career, I continued my education through work and completed Level 7 and Level 8 qualifications in Sustainable Resource Management, as well as Lean Six Sigma, in 2024, both in the University of Limerick. I am now planning to pursue a Master’s degree through work, likely in Project Management or Sustainable Transport, to continue developing my skills and open up future opportunities. Secondary school in Athboy C.S. prepared me by giving me a strong foundation in problem-solving and adaptability. More importantly, it showed me that it’s okay not to have everything figured out straight away. My path wasn’t linear, but by staying open to opportunities and getting involved, I found a direction that suited me.
Shannon Curran

Hi my name is Shannon Curran. I graduated from Athboy Community School in 2015. I completed a one year PLC course in pre-Nursing Skills in Dunboyne before going on to study Applied Social Studies in TUD Blanchardstown. I graduated in 2020 as a Social Care Worker. I worked in Homeless Services, Family Support Services, Community Development and for the majority of my career so far, I have been in Disability Services, supporting young adults with disabilities, helping them to advocate for themselves and lead meaningful lives by teaching them essential life skills and building independence and confidence. I found my passion in advocacy and understanding people’s behaviours. Social Care also opens up opportunities to take different career paths and specialise in areas you enjoy. I am thinking of taking a slight career change to specialise in Behavioural Analysis and support. I am looking into doing a Masters in Behavioural Analysis Studies after gaining 6 years of Social Care experience. In Athboy C.S. I utilised the career guidance classes and the one-to-one meetings with the Guidance Counsellor to understand the college application process. I became resilient during secondary school and also learned important life skills like structure, organisation and self-discipline. Secondary school helped me understand my passion for a career in helping others and knowing what courses and careers were available that would align with that interest in helping others. Becoming a Social Care Worker is a great career opportunity as the field is so broad and diverse and perfect if you’d like to have a purposeful, meaningful and people-focused career. No two days are the same. If you are an empathic, caring, patient and resilient person, then Social Care could be for you.
Liam Kelleher

My name is Liam Kelleher from the Athboy C.S Class of 2024 and I am studying Commerce (Global Experience), at the University of Galway. The course includes a range of Business modules including law, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, IT, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Economics and many more. It's a four-year course in which you can specialise in a particular area that interests you in your final year. As I am enrolled in the global experience, this allows me to study abroad in colleges from around the world for a semester. I am currently studying at UMBC, Maryland, USA, and it has been an incredible experience to date. Commerce is an excellent course to take if you plan on working in companies like Deloitte, KPMG etc. but the course also has supplied me with lifetime skills in business that can be applied in many areas of work. I studied Accounting in secondary school and this prior knowledge helped me tremendously when taking any college accounting modules. Maths has also played a huge role in preparing me for both the Economics and Finance modules. My time in Galway post secondary school has been amazing and I couldn't recommend the college and course enough!