Founding Principal, R.I.P.

 Michael was appointed as Principal of Carrigaline Community School in 1981, before our school building was even open and led the growth of the school through to 1999. His legacy of creating a happy, caring and inclusive school which prioritizes  personal and academic excellence and encourages a strong sense of social responsibility based on mutual respect lives on in testament to the vision  Michael had for the school all those years ago. Our condolences to Michael’s family at this sad time, particularly to his wife, Mary, a great friend to the school and former member of our Board of Management. Our deepest sympathies to all of Michael’s family and friends, including Keri and Hugh, his grandchildren and current students of CCS.

Well done to all of our third year students from last year who were recently awarded their Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement, which recognises the Junior Certificate results along with the Classroom Based Assessment descriptors and learning in the areas of wellbeing and other areas of learning.

As part of Engineer's Week we were delighted to welcome to CCS a team of engineers from BAM and Cork County Council who met our TY students to talk about engineering as a career and the new M28 road project. Two young graduate engineers working with BAM talked about their route to becoming an engineer and the job they are now doing working on the M28 project.

The engineers from Cork County Council spoke about their backgrounds and the various civil and structural engineering projects they had worked on. Finally the students were given information about one of the most exciting engineering projects happening in Ireland right now, the new M28 road.

Overall it was a very interesting presentation and hopefully has inspired some of our students to be engineers in the future.

Cork County Council have given us two links to share with you that you might find useful:  

Link to sign up to the M28 newsletter

https://mailchi.mp/corkrdo/7gl631lhgr

Link to live traffic cameras: https://m28.ie/traffic-locations/

Congratulations to the students who participated in our Lenten Digital Detox. Students began the weekly detox on their return from the midterm break and completed it today (Friday 27th March). As well as doing the detox the students raised money for Trócaire and a special visit from Trocaire representatives was arranged and will feature on the charity’s social media platforms in the coming weeks. All students who took part deserve great praise for the sacrifice they made, the money they raised and the inspiration they are to their peers. 

Picture shows students receiving their Easter Eggs and Phones in completion of the Detox.

A huge thanks to our school community for the support given during our Stand For Féile jersey day. Over €1450 was raised in support of Féile. 

On Friday 13th March, our 5th Year History students visited the Cork City museum in Fitzgerald's Park They were given great insights into how Museums operate, as well as having an opportunity to look around and study a variety of artefacts and sources from the Irish War of Independence and Civil War. Following this, we visited the County Library where students were introduced to the process of finding sources that will help them in their Leaving Cert research project. The library staff guided them through a number of online newspaper catalogues, journals and books, all of which can be easily accessed through the local library system. Our students were very engaged throughout and it was a valuable way of introducing them to the study of history. Thanks to Mr Cahill and Ms Regan O'Broin for organising the trip. 

Our school continues to be at the heart of the community. It is what defines our role, that of guiding, helping and nurturing a community in the spirit of respect. A community needs a library. In the early days of the school from the building's earliest construction we hosted the village library! Of course Carrigaline was a lot smaller then. 

This shared arrangement reflected wider policy: Community schools were intentionally built as “shared community infrastructure” all around Ireland and Carrigaline was no exception. 

Local authorities (like Cork County Council libraries) often didn’t yet have buildings in new suburbs/towns. 

Later the library moved into its own dedicated space on the Crosshaven Road. The building had previously been the Oakwood Cinema in the 70s. This move allowed the library to expand into its own space and move out of the shared school environment as the town's population exploded.

We are delighted by the fantastic response to this year's School Journal Design Competition, with so many creative and impressive entries submitted. Designing the school journal is a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their artistic talents, and CCS is incredibly proud of how these designs help our journals stand out each year.

Choosing just three winners was no easy task, given the high standard of work. However, we are pleased to announce that the designs selected to feature in next year's journal are by Senuni Kodithuwakku, Ellie Saunders and Alicja Korpal. 

We wish all the best to past pupils Eoghan Hegarty and Mark O'Connell (Leaving Cert class of 2020) as they launch their new business Fíor Matcha. Their new business will be launching next month and they will be the first to sell canned matcha in Ireland. Great to see the friendships formed in CCS continuing into adult and business life.  https://www.fiormatcha.com/

Congratulations to 5th Year Sam Akinsanya the new Munster U18 200M Indoor Champion to continue the C.C.S. domination of this event with Past Pupil Max O' Reilly having the Championship Best Performance in 2022. Well done Sam!  

The first ever CCS Darts Championship began in February. This was one of the most anticipated events of the school year. Competition was fierce! Over fifty students across all year groups competed at lunchtime throughout February and March. Many of the 'favourites' fell and 'surprise' contenders emerged. We are now proud to announce the two finalists - Harry Brown Fifth Year and Sean Coleman Third Year. The Grand Final will take place on Friday the 24th of April.

Concurrently we have the teacher competition. Again there have been some very powerful displays with surprise contenders for the top prize showing real skill and accuracy. 

The entire event is being coordinated by LCA1 and all proceeds will be divided between the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation. These charities were chosen by our Fifth Year Parent Bereavement group. Special thanks to our fantastic Hall Monitor Elaine Fitzgerald who has been instrumental in the running of the championship.

Also, special thanks to our sponsor TW Murray.

To keep up to date with the championship and the ongoing Teacher's Darts Competition follow us on Instagram where we will continue to post details.

Updates and information pertaining to the running of the school 

We would ask that only parents/guardians would have access to Vsware. Parents/Guardians should not share log in details with their children as it undermines the system when we see students putting in absence notes etc. Please change your password if you feel that your child is accessing vsware.

Remember attendance can be checked by parents/guardians on vsware.

We ask parents/guardians not to drive on to the school grounds as it is a Health and Safety issue when we have cars trying to turn in the  carpark when students are arriving or leaving school. Unless a student has an injury or a specific requirement to be dropped to  the door, they should please walk from the gate. Thank you.  

We would ask students to respect that the lift is only to be used by students who aren't able to use the stairs due to an illess / injury and with the express permission of a teacher or management.  

Thank you. 

We are looking to source a few sets of crutches......with so many students in the school there are occassions where students twist or sprain an ankle etc. Spare sets of crutches would be very useful for us in these situations to help students to get to the car when being collected. If you have spare crutches at home and are happy to donate them to the school please drop them to the main office. Thank you.

The annual student activity fee will remain unchanged for the 2026/2027 school year. The fee is now active on vsware for parents/guardians to pay.This money is essential for the running of the school and enables us to give students a broad, rich and engaging experience in school. 

The annual Student Activity Fee of €120 for an individual pupil is requested to help defray the running costs of the many activities within the school. For students in Transition Year the fee is €300, which includes the costs of most of the in school activities/programmes students take part in during TY (bonding trips, workshops and guest speakers). The TY fee can be paid in two installments of €150 if this is preferable. We request that the first TY fee be paid by 31st October 2026 to facilitate the booking of workshops etc.  We ask for the student activity fee for all other students to be paid by 31st December 2026.

The Board of Management of the school has capped the fees to a maximum of two students per household but the full TY fee must be paid.

The Student Activity Fee (which is voluntary but relied upon) goes a distance to helping the school provide a quality service for all students. This student activity fee contributes towards:

• The vsware app including messaging

• Individual pupil insurance

• Use of locker for the year

• Cost of in house examinations (not including Pre Exams)

• Photocopying

• Materials for subjects such as Art, Wood Tech, Engineering

• Subsides the cost of buses for trips/outings etc

• Photocopying costs

• Guest speakers 

• Affiliation and entry fees for clubs and societies

• Prizes for school activities and competitions such as bonding days, masterchef etc 

• Eirquest interest testing and My Future Choice aptitude testing with 4th years

• Cognitive Ability Testing (CAT) for First Year students

• Reach plus careers programme for Fifth and Sixth Year students

• Health Week activities and guest speakers - mental health, physical health, sexual health,

• Subsidised study skills seminars

To pay the student activity fee: Go to the Fees link on your VSware app 

or 

Call into the school Reception ( Cheques payable to Carrigaline Community School).

Thank You.

Friday 24th April - no classes for students, teacher training Oide

Thursday 30th April - Transition Year PROM

Monday 4th May - no school Bank Holiday

Wednesday 13th May - classes finish at 12.20, Leaving Certificate Graduation Ceremony at 13.00

Thursday 14th May -17:30-18:00- Transition Year Graduation  - Displays for parents/guardians to view  18:00-18:45 -Transition Year Graduation - Presentation in the cafeteria