What Our Students Say

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  Lauren Henry

  My name is Lauren Henry and I am a past student of Athboy Community School, graduating in 2026. I now attend Maynooth University. When I got my Leaving Cert results, I got offered this course, my first choice on my CAO. I am studying a Level 8 Degree in Criminology and have a dream of becoming a Guard in the near future. My modules include Criminology, Psychology and Sociology, which I have been really enjoying. Secondary school in Athboy C.S. prepared me for third level by allowing me to gain confidence in my own work and giving me the skills to approach and write up my assignments. My teachers did an incredible job in guiding me towards college and I wouldn't be here studying Criminology if it wasn't for them. I hope you enjoy your time at ACS as much as I did with my best friends!

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  Charlotte Colgan

  My name is Charlotte Colgan. I graduated from Athboy C.S. in 2026 and I am studying Law with French Law at UCD. My modules include Contract Law, Tort Law, Constitutional Frameworks, French Public Law, and French Language and Literature. Contract Law is currently my favourite because our professor is so enthusiastic, and he makes what would ordinarily be a complex topic feel light and engaging. I love the nuance of contract law, where every answer depends on the specific scenario. Plus, the vast amount of case law gives it a story-like quality that reminds me a lot of Leaving Cert History. Looking back to my years in Athboy C.S, my secondary school subjects prepared me in many ways. History built my research skills and memory for key details, which saved me during my first assignment. English taught me how to construct logical arguments and write under time pressure. French gave me the language foundation, but mastering its grammar also trained me to think abstractly - a skill that directly translates to analysing legal cases. As for what's next, there is definitely more study in my future! First, I’m heading to France for two years as part of my dual degree (and hopefully for some great pastries and coffee). After that, I plan to complete a Master's to specialise in a specific area of law before training at King's Inns to become a barrister.

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  Darragh Murtagh

  After graduating from Athboy C.S. in 2020, I did Agricultural Science at U.C.D. I come from a farm and have always had a huge interest in agriculture, so I wanted to pursue a career in this field. I could choose from 6 different specialties, so I chose Animal and Crop Production, which looks at all types of animal husbandry from Ruminants (cows and sheep) to monogastrics (pigs and poultry) as well as all crops from grass, to cereal crops, root crops and maize. I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of the course and it really helped to build my knowledge from the ground up and opened my eyes to different agricultural systems. In the PWE (Professional Work Experience) part of the course, I got the opportunity to travel to England to work on a large beef and sheep farm for six weeks at the peak of lambing and calving season, which helped me gain some practical insights into what I had learned in college. I also got the chance to work on a 900-dairy-cow and arable farm in Denmark, spending three months doing everything from milking to harvesting grain. This was a completely different system compared to Ireland, and I learned so much. After returning from Denmark, I completed my fourth year. I then went on to complete a one-year graduate programme with Alltech, a global animal nutrition company, where I was trained in Ruminant Nutrition. I was placed in Dubai for 3 months, where I was working on diets for over 3,500 cows. After the graduate programme, I got a full-time role with Alltech covering nutrition in Northern Ireland, where I further enhanced my nutrition skills. Recently, I joined McNamara Feeds as a Sales Representative and a Ruminant Nutritionist, assessing cattle milk production and body condition, doing up diets and advising farmers on how to maximise production on their farm to ensure profitability.

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  Marie Makiela

  Hello, my name is Marie Makiela, and I graduated from Athboy C.S. in 2025. I am currently studying General Nursing in TUS Athlone. Some of my modules include sociology and health, anatomy and pharmacology, and evidence-based practice. The modules in my course change each semester. My course is balanced between practical work and academic theory. We do practical work in the simulation labs in college and out on clinical placement, where we are exposed to clinical settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. I personally really enjoy the practical learning aspect of nursing as I learn by doing. The exposure to a clinical environment assists in connecting and applying the theoretical knowledge in labs to reality. One of the things I enjoy about nursing is the ability to make a positive change in people's lives. Working with patients and healthcare staff has shown me the impact nurses have every day. There are many sectors in nursing, such as paediatrics (children's nursing), theatre nursing (in the operating room) and emergency department nursing. As of now, I am undecided on which sector I wish to specialise in, but In the future I wish to work as a registered nurse. In General Nursing, we are exposed to many different sectors throughout our training and placements. I would definitely consider a post-graduate course to further develop my knowledge. Secondary school prepared me well for college by helping me develop study habits, teamwork skills and communication skills. The support and encouragement from my teachers helped me build confidence in my ability to take on a course like nursing. Looking back, I feel that secondary school gave me a strong foundation for college.

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