Glanmire Community College honouring its talented teachers as well as its exceptional students

Glanmire Community College recently came up with the brilliant and novelty idea to putting up a wall of fame with their former and present students and staff who excelled at their respective sports.

The Cork Education and Training School who are based in Brooklodge in Glanmire starting by putting former students Mia Furlong ( basketball), Oliva McAllen ( Senior Camogie), Cathal O’Sullivan and Alex Healy-Byrne ( both Soccer) and Jack O’Connor (Hurling) jerseys up on the wall before they added Irish basketball stars and staff members Niamh Dwyer and Claire O’Sullivan and Irish Athletic long distance runner Lisa Hegarty to the wall.

The Principal of the school is former Cork and Douglas football manager and player Ronan McCarthy and he is so proud of his students and staff’s achievements in their respective sporting endeavours. 

McCarthy was a sporting icon himself on and off the field and those qualities and standards he set are shining through within the school academically and in all the different sports that GCC are involved in.

“The School will always recognise the exceptional academic, sporting and cultural achievements of our students," Ronan said.

“We are fortunate in GCC to also have a large number of staff who have also excelled in their chosen field. 

"Acknowledging their achievements recognizes that they have gone above and beyond, reaching significant milestones and received awards. 

"We hope that seeing their accomplishments sets an example for our learners, promotes high expectations and will motivate students, staff, parents and all in our school community to strive for excellence and contribute even more to school life.

“I’m am very proud of all our students and staff’s accomplishments both in sports and in the classrooms so this novelty idea of the Hall of Fame wall hopefully inspires all our follow students and staff going forward," Ronan said.

Claire O’Sullivan, the former the Address UCC Glanmire and Irish Senior International basketball player is a teacher at Glanmire Community College. 

The former Galway native has had a stellar career on the court with her local side Maree and Cork side Glanmire and has won every honour in the game. 

She has always set the highest standards for herself and her teammates and has represented her Country at Underage, Senior levels and also played in different 3x3 teams recently.

“It is an immense source of pride for all in GCC and fosters a positive learning environment for Sport and extracurricular activities play an important role in the GCC community.

“It's a great privilege to have my jersey included in the teacher's wall of fame and hopefully this gesture will inspire the next generation of athletes at our school.

“I always gave it my all for all the clubs and all the Irish teams on the court that I had the pleasure of playing for and I hope I can be a role model for all the students in the school and in the community itself,” Claire added.

Leevale and Irish International athlete Lisa Hegarty is an PE and Biology teacher with GCC, however, the Ballyclough lady is a top class long distance runner. 

She has been running with the Cork club since competitively since 2016 and has represented Ireland in her preferred race the cross country in the European Clubs Championships in Portugal in 2018 and has also ran in numerous Echo Women’s Mini Marathon.

“It is always an honour to get your hard work and commitment recognised in the sport you were involved in and if it can inspire the next generation of athletes reach for their dreams I would be very happy,” Lisa said.

“To enjoy the process while doing so in my sport it’s that’s all I’d ever hope for and I hope to bring that focus and dedication into the school so that the students can aspire to. 

"We have a great tradition in the school both in the classrooms and in all the sports activities and it’s something that I’m really proud of to be associated with,” Lisa said.

Basketball star Niamh Dwyer is probably one of the best players that ever played in this country and is also a teacher and coach with GCC. 

She has played at the highest level for over three decades and also is a very respectful coach with her peers in the game and she id thrilled to be inducted to the wall of fame.

“I'm delighted to be part of the wall of fame in GCC and it’s something that I’m very proud of,” Niamh said.

“It's great for the current students to see the accomplishments of past pupil and staff, so they may have role models in their own community and know they can strive for their ambitions too."