Congratulations to Caoimhe Newell (Leaving Cert 2017) who was presented with the Peadar Ó Cillín medal last Saturday (October 20th) at the annual Post-Primary Music Teachers’ Association Conference in the Strand Hotel, Limerick.
For many years, the PPMTA has awarded a silver medal to the student who has achieved the highest grade in Leaving Certificate Music. Before being presented with the 2017 medal, the Examinations and Assessment Manager of Music, Marian Mullen, spoke of the remarkable quality and character of Caoimhe’s response to all strands of the Leaving Cert Music exam which, along with her exceptionally high marks across the board, made her a worthy winner of this coveted prize.
The Leaving Certificate medal is named after Peadar Ó Cillín, the first second-level music inspector who oversaw the growth of music in schools from small beginnings to fully fledged courses in music, musicianship, choirs and orchestras.
Present at the award ceremony was Caoimhe’s Music teacher, Ms Carmel Vesey, as well as her parents Fiona and Kevin, Caoimhe’s violin teacher Máire Ní Dhuibhir, and Caoimhe’s little sister, Síofra. Caoimhe’s aunt, Martina Miland, a teacher in Moylough N.S. also travelled to Limerick to celebrate this fantastic achievement for both Caoimhe and the Music Department of HRC.
After receiving her medal from Siofra Cox, Chairperson of the PPMTA and Music teacher at Convent of Mercy, Roscommon, Caoimhe gave a short, spell-binding performance on the violin to an assembled audience of Music teachers, many of whom are examiners at Junior and Leaving Cert level.
Previous recipients of the Peadar Ó Cillín medal include the internationally-renowned pianist Finghin Collins from Dublin.
HRC wishes to gratefully acknowledge all the messages of congratulations and good wishes received from Music teachers in schools across the counties of Galway and Mayo. Caoimhe’s achievement is a well-deserved salute to all our fabulously talented Music students and their teachers in the West of Ireland.
