'Very proud' - Mayo students wished all the best following prestigious accolades 

COMMUNITY NOTES: CLAREMORRIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (MARCH 10 EDITION)

Over the years, St Colman’s College in Claremorris has had many students receive various awards and scholarships to universities, both at home and abroad, and the school is immensely proud of them all.

The University College Dublin (UCD) Ad Astra Scholarship Programme, one of the most sought-after scholarships in Ireland, has three strands – the Academic Scholarship, the Elite Sports Scholarship and the Performing Arts Scholarship. 

Last week, at a very enjoyable ceremony in O’Reilly Hall in UCD, not one, but two, past pupils from St Colman’s College Leaving Cert Class of 2025 received Ad Astra Scholarships from the University.

Dara Morley, from Cloonfaughna, Knock, received the Ad Astra Academic Scholarship as he begins his studies in Medicine. The UCD Ad Astra Academic Scholarship programme recruits exceptional, high-achieving students and provides them with additional support and unique scholarship opportunities as they study at UCD. To be the recipient of the Ad Astra Academic Scholarship, students must have a proven record of academic excellence, a desire to continue to achieve at the highest level and are keen to develop their leadership potential.

Thomas Morley from Bekan, Claremorris, received the Ad Astra Sports Scholarship as he begins his degree in Health and Performance Science.

Thomas is an elite athlete, already having eight caps for Ireland U-19 soccer team, and is currently contracted with UCD, having transferred earlier this year from Sligo Rovers Academy.

A comprehensive battery of support is available to the Elite Sports College Scholarships scholars, including guaranteed on-campus accommodation, academic mentoring, physiotherapy and medical assistance, nutritional and fitness monitoring, sports psychology and strength and conditioning, the latter taking place in UCD’s high-performance gym, under professional supervision.

Both Dara and Thomas Morley (not related!) have always been fantastic students during their time in St Colman’s College, have been wonderful role models for younger students and have shown that hard work and dedication will always be recognised and rewarded. The school community wishes both young men the very best of luck in their studies in UCD and are very proud to call them past pupils of St Colman’s College.