'Deserving' Arranmore student takes home ETB Hero Award

Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) scooped a national award at this year’s ETB Excellence Awards, held in Croke Park on Thursday, March 27, with Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada student Seán Boyle winning the 'ETB Hero' award.

Another win came for Donegal ETB school Gairmscoil Chu Uladh in Béal an Átha Móir who received a 'Highly Commended' award for their hard-work work in the local community.

The awards were hosted by former ETB learner and RTÉ Newsreader, Ray Kennedy, and featured a special musical performance by former ETB student and singer-songwriter Tolü Makay. The event highlighted learner and staff excellence across primary, secondary, further education and training, and youth services.

Opening the event was Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD.

He said, “Congratulations on winning an ETB Excellence Award. Your dedication reminds us that education is not just about what we learn, it is about what we become. It is about pushing limits, breaking barriers, and striving for excellence every single day.

"My Department is committed to removing barriers to education and ensuring that opportunities are available to all—regardless of background, age, or circumstance. Education changes lives, and through your efforts, we are ensuring that more people in Ireland have access to learning opportunities that empower them to reach their full potential. True excellence can only be achieved when everyone has an equal chance to succeed," Mr Lawless added. 

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Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada Principal Derval Newman spoke highly of her student, Seán Boyle, who picked up the well-deserved 'ETB Hero' award.

She said, “This award couldn’t have gone to a more deserving young person. He’s an inspiration to all of us here in Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada and to the wider community on Árainn Mhór. His kindness, his drive, and the way he includes and uplifts everyone around him really reflects the best of what education should be. It was a very special day for our school and for Donegal ETB — one we’ll never forget.”

Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) also highlighted the sectorial core values of equality, community, respect and care throughout the week.

Speaking at the awards, Paddy Lavelle, ETBI’s General Secretary concluded, “These core values are not a given in today’s world, indeed they are increasingly contested.  ETB Week and these ETB Excellence Awards provide an opportunity for us to champion them: we’re proud of our inclusive approach to education which reaches beyond the ordinary, and brings teaching and learning into communities, to people of all ages and abilities, including the most marginalised groups in society.”