Civic Reception Held For Liam Carew And Shane O’Connor, BT Young Scientist Winners 2023

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From Left to Right, Back Row: Cllr. John Crosse, Deputy Mattie McGrath TD, Cllr. Declan Burgess, Cllr. Mary Hanna Hourigan, Liam Carew, Shane O’Connor, Cllr. Roger Kennedy County Cathaoirleach, Cllr Mairin McGrath, Cllr. Michael Fitzgerald. Front Row: Mr. Anselm McGowan District Administrator, Mr Anthony Coleman Director of Services, Cllr. Micheal Anglim, Mr. Joe MacGrath Chief Executive, Cllr. Annemarie Ryan (Shiner).

Glowing tributes were paid to Liam Carew and Shane O’Connor at a Civic Reception held in their honour at the Council offices on Rosanna Road Tipperary town yesterday. The students of the Abbey School in Tipperary town were named as winners of the BTYSTE competition on January 13th 2023. The Students have enjoyed a whirlwind of events since then including meeting with the Minister for Education to present their project and contributing to Oireacthas Committees in respect of their findings.

The students project titled Assessing the Impact of Second Level Education on Key Aspects of Adolescents Life and Development is the result of 3 years’ work involving feedback from over 2500 students and over 220 teachers.  The project examined the impact of school life on student’s physical, mental and social development and identified actions to improve these aspects of the student’s life. The findings recommend that the best way to foster a good mental health status amongst the student body is to create positive and caring student/teacher relationships and provide excellent pastoral care. Students should be given every opportunity to socialize and participate in peer based activities to assist their social development and as regards their physical health  the findings support Group activities of sports that involve the whole school community.

The attendance at the Civic Reception included parents Anne and Brendan Carew from Aherlow and Michael and Mary O’Connor Tipperary town along with extended family members of the Carew and O’Connor families. 

Cathaoirleach of Tipp Cahir Cashel MD Micheal Anglim proposed the motion to award the Civic Reception and it was seconded by Councillor Michael Fitzgerald. 

Councillors, CEO of Tipperary county Council Joe MacGrath and Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath all spoke at the Reception and acknowledged the Abbey School teaching and student body and the student’s families for their contribution to the successful project. The students are both sitting their Leaving Certificate exams in June and will travel to London for the International Youth Science Forum in August and then represent Ireland at the European Contest for Young Scientists in Brussels in September.

The students were presented with a framed certificate noting their selection as worthy recipients of a Civic Reception which is the highest honour the Local Authority can bestow on a member of the community in recognition of their achievement. The Council also presented a gift of an Apple Pen each to Shane and Liam to mark the occasion.

Left to right: Mr. John Kiely Principal of Abbey CBS, Mr. Anthony Coleman Director of Services, Niamh McCarthy Science and Biology teacher in the Abbey CBS, Mr. Joe MacGrath Chief Executive, Cllr. Roger Kennedy, County Cathaoirleach.

Attendees with winners Shane O’Connor and Liam Carew with the extended O’Connor and Carew Families.