Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence, Unity, and Community Spirit Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré marked a major milestone this week as students, staff, alumni, and the wider community came together to celebrate the school’s 25th anniversary. The event, held at the school, paid tribute to the proud legacy of its founding institutions and honoured the people who helped shape its journey.
Speaking at the celebration, Principal Mr. Flynn, reflected on the amalgamation in 1999 of three distinct schools — Sacred Heart Convent, the Christian Brothers School, and North Tipperary VEC — which together formed Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré.
“The amalgamation was not a simple task,” the Principal said. “It was not just the merging of buildings or administration, but the weaving together of three distinct cultures, visions, and identities. It required courage, compromise, and an unwavering belief in the power of unity and shared purpose.”
Since those early days, Coláiste Phobal has grown into a dynamic and inclusive Centre of learning, combining academic excellence with a strong sense of community. The school is now supported by Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB), whose values of inclusion, care, respect, and equality continue to guide its development.
“We are especially grateful to Tipperary ETB, whose tireless support and vision continue to shape the future of our school,” the Mr Flynn noted. “Together, we look forward to a state-of-the-art facility on the horizon — a testament to belief in what this school can achieve.”
Speaking on behalf of Tipperary Education and Training Board Ms. Clodagh Kelly Chief Executive extended heartfelt congratulations to all who have contributed to the school’s journey over the last quarter century.
“This school was born from the vision and ambition of three distinct and valued institutions, each with a rich tradition and deep commitment to education in this town,” Ms. Kelly said. “Through open hearts, hard work, and a belief in the power of unity, a new identity was formed—one that honours its roots while embracing the future.”
As Roscrea’s only post-primary school, Coláiste Phobal has grown into a beacon of learning, inclusion, and opportunity for the local community. The Further Education and Training (FET) Centre on campus has also played a critical role in expanding access to lifelong learning in the region.
“Tipperary ETB remains committed to supporting the continued development of Coláiste Phobal,” the representative added. “The pursuit of a new school building is one of our top priorities. We are working tirelessly to ensure the young people of Roscrea have access to the facilities they deserve.”
The event also recognised the dedicated work of the Board of Management, Parents Association, and generations of staff members who have helped build and sustain the school over the past 25 years. Attendees paused to remember former students, staff, and members of the school community who have passed away, whose contributions continue to inspire the present.
Johnny McMahon Returns to Officially Open Refurbished School Library
Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré was thrilled to welcome back one of its past pupils, Johnny Mc Mahon of “The 2 Johnnies,” for a very special occasion: the official opening of our newly refurbished school library. Johnny’s visit on 16th May was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impression on students and staff alike.
On arrival Johnny was greeted by members of our Student’s Council and Library Committee eager to meet the familiar voice and face behind the popular podcast, radio show, and television appearances. The newly revamped library provided a vibrant backdrop for the event, a testament to the school’s ongoing commitment to fostering a love of reading and learning.
The official opening ceremony was a heartwarming affair. Following a brief introduction highlighting Johnny’s remarkable achievements since his time at Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré, Principal Mr Jack Flynn expressed the school’s immense pride in his success and his willingness to give back to his alma mater.
Adding to the significance of the day, Mr. Flynn had the distinct honour of presenting Johnny with the Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré Alumni of the Year award. This prestigious recognition celebrates Johnny’s outstanding accomplishments and the positive impact he has made in his chosen field, serving as an inspiring role model for our current students.
The Student Council also took the opportunity to acknowledge Johnny’s literary contributions. They presented him with a token of appreciation in recognition of his two published books, both of which now proudly reside on the shelves of our school library, ready to be enjoyed by students for years to come.
Johnny, ever the engaging storyteller, captivated the students with anecdotes from his own time at Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré. He shared humorous memories, including his involvement in the Student Council, offering a relatable and inspiring perspective on how his experiences in school helped shape his journey. He generously recounted the steps he took to reach his current success, emphasising the importance of hard work, following one’s passions, and embracing opportunities.
His incredible generosity with his time was truly appreciated. Johnny stayed to chat with students, answer their questions, and pose for photographs, creating memories that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. Most importantly before leaving the school Johnny made sure to take the time to share his award with proud Mum, Trish who works here in our school canteen and warmly greets our students each and every day.
The entire Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré community extends its sincere gratitude to Johnny Mc Mahon for taking the time out of his busy schedule to celebrate with us. His visit was a truly special occasion, highlighting the strong connection between our past pupils and the ongoing life of the school. The newly refurbished library, now officially opened by one of our own, will serve as a fantastic resource for our students, fostering a love of reading and knowledge for generations to come and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the students and staff involved in this fantastic project.
U19 All Ireland Badminton
The U19 Badminton All Ireland took place in the Kingfisher Arena, Galway last Saturday. The Tipperary team played against Galway first. They beat Galway 6 games to 3 and went into the All Ireland Final against Dublin. Tipperary lost to Dublin after very close and exciting matches and narrowly loosing out 5 games to 4. So congratulations to Ciara Crofton, Luke Marks, Abi Marks and Fia Dooley who represented Tipperary and came home with silver. We at Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré are all so very proud of you.
6th Year Graduation: Blooming into our future
Our 6th Year graduation ceremony took place in the school gym on Friday evening. Well done to all of our students who participated in prayers, music and singing. A special thank you goes to the students who decorated the hall so beautifully alongside their art teachers. A thank you also goes to the religion and music department for all of you hard work and effort over the last number of weeks. We wish our Leaving Certificate students the very best of luck in their upcoming state exams.
Munster Finals in Schools’ Athletics – A Proud Day for Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré
A glorious day of sunshine set the stage at MTU Cork on Saturday, May 17th, for the Munster Schools’ Athletics Finals. Representing Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré were three outstanding young athletes who brought pride and excitement to the school community.
First up was Marie Shanahan, competing in the Intermediate Girls’ Hammer Throw. Marie, throwing the 3kg hammer, delivered a strong performance, with her best throw of 42.46 metres securing her a well-deserved bronze medal. This result also earned her qualification for the prestigious All-Ireland Finals in two weeks’ time.
Later in the day, Marie returned to the field for the 1kg Discus. Hitting top form early on, she took an early lead and maintained her composure throughout the event. Her best effort, a superb throw of 35.46 metres, claimed gold—edging out her long-time rival, Méabh O’Connell from Cork, by just 4cm. It was a thrilling and tightly contested competition, and Marie’s determination and consistency were key to her victory. She now looks ahead to the All-Ireland Finals in this event also.
Meanwhile, Kailum O’Meara lined up in the Junior Boys’ Long Jump. After setting a personal best of 5.12 metres and finishing second in the East Munsters, Kailum faced stiff competition in Cork. Rising to the occasion, he produced a stunning new personal best of 5.22 metres, which earned him a bronze medal and a spot on the podium. As a second-year student, Kailum’s achievement is remarkable, and his qualification for a second consecutive All-Ireland Final is a testament to his talent and dedication.
Rounding out the team’s efforts was Ramai Havatitye in the Senior Boys’ 1500m. The race unfolded as a tactical contest, with the first two laps run at a slower pace before the competition intensified dramatically in the final stages. Despite a valiant effort, Ramai finished just outside the medals. Nevertheless, the experience was invaluable for the talented athlete, who is relatively new to track competition. With more races ahead, Ramai is sure to build on this performance.
The All-Ireland Schools’ Athletics Finals will take place at The Harriers Athletics Grounds in Tullamore on Friday, May 30th, and Saturday, May 31st. We extend our warmest congratulations to Marie and Kailum and wish them every success in the upcoming competition. They have already made Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré proud, and we look forward to cheering them on as they compete among the best in the country.
Marie Shanahan and Kailum O’Meara
Ramai Havatitye
Kailum O’Meara
Marie Shanahan
Munster and All-Ireland Senior Hurling Medal Presentation
On Tuesday the 20th of May, the Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré community gathered in the school gymnasium to celebrate our victorious Senior hurlers that claimed Munster and All-Ireland honours earlier in the year. It had been 11 years since the school had claimed such honours, so it was great to come together once again to celebrate such successes. Deputy Principal, Niall Behan welcomed the large crowd in attendance before sitting down to enjoy a lovely meal which was cooked and served by the wonderful catering staff in the school.
Once the meal was finished, the crowd in attendance heard speeches from team coaches, Mr. Smyth and Mr. Sheedy before hearing from special guest on the night Seamus Dennison. Seamus, a former teacher and deputy principal of the school, as well as an acclaimed international rugby star in the past, paid tribute to the contribution of parents and guardians to the group, congratulated the boys on their achievements and wished them every success for their future academic and sporting endeavours.
Then came the main event of the evening: the receiving of the medals. Each player was greeted to the stage to rapturous applause after a brief citation, before being awarded their medals by Seamus. Proceedings concluded with the reading of a poem ‘The Coláiste Warriors’ which was written in recognition of the teams’ achievements by Mr. Tomás Slattery and recited brilliantly by Mr. Liam O’Brien.
This was a great occasion and something that the entire school community is immensely proud of. We would like to thank Seamus Dennison for presenting the medals, Aoife Maher for taking photos on the night, Kasey and her team for the lovely food and refreshments, caretaker Ger Maher for decorating the gymnasium so beautifully and the management of the school, Ms. Ciara Ormond and Mr. Niall Behan for organising such a terrific event. We would like to wish all members of the 37 man panel the best of luck for their upcoming house and state examinations.
