Ronan Up the Walls

We hear that Ronan Barr is now a very valued instructor at the Tollymore Mountain Centre climbing wall. Great to hear how much he is appreciated.

Ciaran Graduates

We were delighted to see photos of Ciaran Curran graduating in Architectural Technology. Well done Ciaran, really delighted!

More Matt Success

This time, one of Matt's films has taken a Highly Commended at the Foyle Film Festival, which is a really, really big deal. Millions of congratulations.

Ruth Kidd M.A.

Ruth Kidd is currently living in Leeds, getting as much experience of international development agencies as possible, now that she has graduated with and MA in International Security.

Claire Franklin is Famous

When Rebecca Murphy was completing her training in Home Economics at the University of Ulster this summer, a video of Loughry College was shown, and there was our Claire looking competent and gorgeous. We would love to hear how you are getting on, Claire!

Successful Job Hunting

Luke Bannon has just been in touch to let us know he is heading off to his first job as a graduate with Belfast City Council. Well done Luke, and best of luck in the new post.

Extra Nursing guidance from Zoe

Zoe Woolsey called in with ideal timing to give to this year's nursing degree applicants the benefit of her experience in the Ulster Hospital. Zoe was able to pass on tips about the selection procedure at Queens. Zoe graduated from Queens a couple of years ago with a first class honours degree. It's great that we can now call on successful OldScholars to advise our current students.

Well Done Claire

Great to see Claire McCauley smiling from the photo of the SERC Ladies Soccer team which won the Northern Ireland Dale Farm Fives. they beat Queens and Armagh College on their way to defeating University of Ulster.

Doran Update

Ruairi Doran is having a great time at Liverpool Hope University, doing Sports Studies. He plays on both the soccer and gaelic first teams, and plays regularly at Liverpool Academy with ex Liverpool FC players Babel, Alan Kennedy et al. He is working his way through his coaching badges. Niall is in Australia, working as a joiner, and playing gaelic for Melbourne. He was selected for the Victoria State team, won the Interstate Cup for the team and an All Star Award for himself. Great to hear all their news.

Stephen Recommends Nottingham

Stephen Lowry called in resplendent in his Nottingham Law School sweatshirt. He says he loves every minute of it and would highly recommend Nottingham University to any of our students.

Really Cheered Me Up

It really cheered me up to met Paul Harpur, one of our founding students. He was on his way to meet his new client in the behaviour management scheme where he now works in Downpatrick. Paul was always one of our most cheerful and positive students, and I can think of nobody better to be supporting people through physical and behavioural challenges.

Jordan Goes to Work

It was good to see Jordan Cullen at the formal, and to catch up with his news. Not only did he carry off half of the 'best couple' award at the formal, but he is delighted to be starting work with the Ulster Bank on Monday. It is quite a coup to succeed in the Ulster Bank recruitment process, and we are very proud of him.

Darren in Malaysia

a message has just got through from Darren Stockdale. He was in Malaysia last week, and is heading for all parts East and ending up in Australia and New Zealand. If anybody is in touch with him, tell him to register on the OldScholars network.

Get Signed Up, Old Scholars

Get onto the homepage of our website. Click on the OldScholars link, and invest a bit of time getting signed up. The first bit takes no time at all, then, when your registration details come through, you need to spend ten to fifteen minutes getting all your details on, and, crucially, writing up your news. Alternatively, Click HERE to get straight on to the site.

Lots More O'Hare News

Michaela O'Hare is studying Travel and Tourism and working as a receptionist. She hopes to move into a PR career in and airline. Brothers Chris and Ryan are both in Australia, both working hard and loving it.

Mark's Still Smiling

We met Mark O'Hare at an event I'm sure he would rather we didn't mention. He has graduated and is taking his time looking about to find what he really wants to do next. In the meantime, he is doing an excellent job as concierge at the Slieve Donard.

Jack, Callie, Ronan et al

It has been good to catch up with Old Scholar news as they call up for their formal tickets. Jack Lyon looks great, and is enjoying his music technology course at South Eastern Regional College. Callie Carrigan Cork and Ronan Jordan are both studying cooking at Southern Regional College and enjoying their course. Sam has his application in to the Army.

Rachel Manages

I was woken up this morning with the news that Rachel Miles has just been promoted to the post of deputy manager of the project she works for. Since she left Shimna Rachel has been working in all sorts of hostels and projects which support homeless people. We hear she did a spectacular interview. Millions of congratulations, Rachel, and good luck in the new post. Let me know the name of the project.

Stirling Planning

Mark Laird starts today as a graduate town planner for Stirling in Scotland. Fantastic news.

Child Development and Customer Service

News arrived of more success for our students: Claire Sawey has completed her qualifications in Children's Care, Learning and Development; Leanne Mills and Rebecca Owens in Custormer Service. Well done all!

What about the OldStaff

I met Nancy McHenry yesterday at Kearney. Nancy was Principal of All Children's, travelling over each day on the ferry. She was delighted to hear all the news of her past pupils, particularly the cluster of first class honours degrees her first P1s have accumulated.

Double Fantastic

Jane Lugea has just achieved a double First Class Honours degree in English and Spanish, also with lots of prizes. She is graduating from Queens, and intends to carry on studying in the area of linguistics and stylistics. And are we surprised? Never - Jane's writing was always bliss to read and we are truly delighted to see her do so well.

Theology and English

Luke Bannon graduates on Thursday from Queens University in Theology and English Literature. Luke was a terrific student through all his years at Shimna, and he obviously took his love of learning with him to Queens. The message came through from Luke's father Tony, pillar of the Parents' Council and past member of our Board of Governors.

Degree Results Roll In

Joanne McMullan called in to tell us her great results in Sports Studies from Manchester. Donna McDowell did equally well in geography at Queens. Rebecca Cunningham will graduate in Biomedical Sciences from Queens and has already started a Studentship and begins study for a PhD in September. Vaughan Yabsley's results came through for Computer Science at Queens. It is such a pleasure to hear how well our students have done.

Old Staff get Firsts Too

Not that she is so terribly old! Past and current staff member Clare Drummy has just achieved a First Class Honours Degree from Stranmillis University College in Health Studies. She will now be taking up a Phd post investigating the causes of obesity. The last time she was doing research for her dissertaion, Clare came in to Shimna to run questionnaires on us all. Unfortunately, I can probably offer myself as a case study in fast developing obesity!

Eamonn's First

News from Stirling University that Eamonn Quinn has just achieved a First Class Honours degree. This is fabulous news, and we wish him all the very best of luck in whatever he chooses to do next.

Well Done Matt

Grainne bumped into Matt Davis who is justifiably pleased with himself because he has just completed a BTEC National in Media at South Eastern Regional College. He says he and Zac Mallon were together on the course and are planning to visit us soon. Matt is currently looking into trainee posts and is especially keen on video editing.

Off to Dubai

Janine Johnston breezed in today. She is completing a year's teaching in London after her PGCE there, and has now got herself a two year contract in Dubai and is going to be rich! It's wonderful to see her, and she will be helping track down some of the rest of you to get you signed up to WebAlumnus so that our OldScholar system will run forever,and will be able to have ten, twenty, thirty year reunions. On the day she came, Paul Swail was taking out Rebecca Murphy's first Duke of Edinburgh Bronze group and James Magee was down on the pitch training the year 8 soccer squad. We do produce a great class of student - and Clare Murphy, All Child and Lagan, was there to photograph them.

Sophie goes to Chile Too

Everybody seems to be heading to Chile. First Kevin headed over for a week and will be returning next year. Then a group of Chilean school principals came to stay with us. Then Laura O'Hare decided to travel to Chile for six months from next January. Now Sophie Astruc, Shimna old scholar and teacher of French in our evening class programme, has chosen Chile for her year out as part of the degree in Spanish she is doing at Queens. I want to go too.

Getting Laura Back

We are delighted that Laura O'Hare will be back with us volunteering on our Sharing Education Programme teaching languages in our partner primary schools. Laura graduated last year, and has been working in Spain ever since. She hopes to build up experience teaching German and Spanish, both in primary schools and as evening classes before she heads off to spend time in Chile, and then completes her PGCE.

The Oldest of Scholars

Great to see Barry Maginn in for possibly his fifth or sixth A level? this time in maths. Barry graduated from Manchester University, now works as a high flying accountant and is planning a PhD in political economy. He'll be giving Chris Skillen a run for him money soon on sheer numbers of academic qualifications.

Yo Mark Laird

Alicia ran into, literally, Mark Laird the other night. He has graduated in town planning from Manchester, is home for the summer and intends to start consulting in Manchester in the Autumn time. Terrific news, and we told you so!

Siun and Shane

News from Siun Carden who wants to give a plug for Stitch 'n' Bitch, where she is to be found knitting every Wednesday from about 4:30 in Starbucks in Castlecourt. She also learning to spin, with a view to becoming a proper spinster, and enjoying her PhD research on the Gaeltacht Quarter, even venturing back to the Donegal Gaeltacht which she hated so much when she was fourteen.



She met Shane Clendenning in a bar recently - he's just bought a house!

Lorna and Ria

Ran into Lorna Quinn, not long back from her travels: Thailand; New Zealand; Australia etc. She thinks maybe Edinburgh next. Ria tried banking, after her excellent degree in music, but went back to complete a Masters, and thinks maybe Edinburgh next too.

Andrea Looked After Me

I had a dental emergency the other day, and I felt very well cared for when Old Scholar Andrea Lambe appeared as the dental nurse to look after me. Her lovely calm manner is just perfect in the job, and it was great to see her again.

Sorry Reece

One day after misspelling you, I ran into uncle Chris, who put me right.

Finally recognised Ciara

Ciara Laverty called in and I absolutely failed to recognise her. She looks fantastic and so does baby Rees (apologies if I have misspelt you!). She is in the second year of her Management degree at Queens and doing well.

News from David Murray

Great to hear the David is doing well on his HNC in software engineering.

Kerri heads for Chicago

You remember Kerri Smyth, who used to be quiet? She has just bagged herself a place on a terrific placement in an insurance company in Chicago, having beaten off hundreds of other applicants to one of only six placements. It was really nice to get her message. Kerri is currently studying Actuarial Science at Queen's University Belfast.

Psycho-visitors

We had two surprise psycho-visitors today. Suzanne and Roisin, now studying psychology, came to carry out some psychological experiments on our sixth form students! No better subjects for study! Great to see the girls looking so glamourous and enthusiastic.

Really Annoying Gavin

It was really annoying to see Gavin Laverty. Really annoying because we want his life instead of ours. He and his family have moved to Cork, and are still in the boat business, and it seemed to us that Gavin's life is sailing about on the high seas having a fantastic time. Seriously though, it was wonderful to see him and catch up with his news. He looks terrific and sounds really happy. He had news too of sister Cara and David Ashe, parents of 20mnth baby Charlotte and still living up here. Cara is working away for Translink. Sail round and see us anytime, Gavin. We would love to meet Charlotte too!

Three Cool Dudes

Three cool dudes strolled in to give us an update: Jorel Vakil is well into his degree in English Literature and Ancient History at Queens, and Michael McQuitty, also at Queens, is studying Computer Science. Dualta, with the biggest car, is doing marvellously in business. Great to see all three.

Taylor and Shauneen

Great to read of Taylor Newell's success in his IT examinations and Shauneen Boyle's in Business Administration. Well done both.