The Munster Schools' Cross Country Finals took place in Riverstick on Thursday.
Despite all the rain in the last few weeks,the ground conditions were remarkably good,so the races were fast and furious.
Caoimhe Flannery paced herself superbly throughout the 3,000m course and finished very strongly to finish 2nd out of the 44 qualifiers, from all over Munster.
With the first 15 individuals and 3 teams qualifying for the All Ireland Schools' Cross Country, Caoimhe will now proceed to the finals in Belfast on March 7th.
Well done Caoimhe!
The LRC students enjoyed a trip to our local Heritage Centre on Friday 13th February.
They heard stories about the famine that reinforced what they had already learnt in their course 'Around the World in 80 days'.
Thanks to the staff in the Skibbereen Heritage Centre .
It turned out that the weather gods were not on our side on this trip (the curse of the Home Economics tour strikes again…!) We woke to a yellow rainfall and storm warning for our trip to the Amalfi Coast – not ideal but “we’re not sugar cubes” as they say so off we went.
Even in the rain & fog the Amalfi Coast has a mystical beauty as our bus driver expertly snaked around the coastal cliff road, definitely not for the fainthearted (we were in good hands). A quick stop in Positano to admire this pretty vertical village, has to be see to be believed. A little further along the coast, we stopped off in Amalfi to explore the quaint cobbled streets. The Church of Saint Andrea was an imposing presence in the square and as is customary when visiting a new Church, we claimed our three wishes and lit a candle for the remainder of our trip.
Due to the inclement weather our visit to Amalfi was cut short in favour of a longer visit to one of Europe’s largest shopping centres, a cross our students bore bravely. After drying out here and some lunch, our next stop was Pompeii where the majestic Vesuvius was hidden under cloud and the rain continued to pour. But every cloud……… who knew rain ponchos would be the discovery of the trip – soon to be making an appearance in SCS – you heard it here first!
Pompeii did not disappoint. We were guided through the villages giving us a fascinating glimpse into life over two thousand years ago. A recently opened aerial exhibition gave us a unique perspective of the layout of the houses below. We really just scratched the surface of what is here to discover. Our guide told us there is at least another one hundred years of excavation still to complete. Definitely on our list of places to return to.
Back to our hotel then for a quick change (we ditched the ponchos), before arriving at the cookery school for our pizza making class. Mama Lucia demonstrated the technique for making the dough. Students then made their own, chose their toppings before baking in a spectacular wood fired oven. The evening was made more special by the arrival of a group of traditional Sorrento dancers and musicians – everyone got involved, such fun!
The singsong continued on the bus back to the hotel where we all reluctantly packed our bags for our early morning journey to Rome. And yes you guessed it …..day four greeted us with yet more rain…….. slightly soggy, a few more bits of shopping and a few more slices of pizza, we arrived safely at the airport after an amazing few days.
Despite the inclement weather our SCS students radiated sunshine and were a credit to themselves, their families and our school. They were complemented on their behaviour wherever we went. As you can imagine the tour took an incredible amount of work to organise and this would not have been possible without the hard work and support of the following:
· Our principal Anton O’ Mahony, 4th yr Deputy, Tom Foley and all SCS Management.
· Our TY Co – Ordinator, Conor Uhl & Year Head Gretta Burchill
· The Parents of our TY Students
· Our tour Co-Ordinator Lyndsey O Loughlin from Saffron Travel
· Matteo our tour leader in Italy
· Damien Long Coach Travel
· Our Home Ec Department and accompanying teachers Sarah McCarthy, Laura Corkery and Emer Quirke
· Our amazing TY students who made this trip by being such fantastic ambassadors for themselves, their families and SCS.
Arrivederci!!
LCA horticulture group were once again graced with the presence from local horticulture educator Michael Burke.
Today students were afforded the opportunity to learn about Camellia flowers, carry out vegetative propagation of potatoes and potted their own strawberry plants.
Again sincere thank you to Michael for giving of his time and advice.
Skibbereen Community School was delighted to host a powerful Road Safety Authority (RSA) event for our Transition Year students, along with our neighbouring school Mount St. Michael, Rosscarbery, who joined us for the day.
The programme began with an informative and engaging presentation by Caroline Casey of Cork County Council, who spoke about the far‑reaching impact of road accidents on individuals, families, and the wider community. Her message encouraged students to reflect on their responsibilities as future road users.
Students also met representatives from An Garda Síochána, the National Ambulance Service, and the Fire Service. Each service shared invaluable insights and real-life experiences from responding to road incidents, helping students understand the seriousness of road safety from a frontline perspective.
One of the standout elements of the day was a live crash‑scene demonstration. Three TY students volunteered to act as crash victims while the Fire Service team demonstrated how they respond to a serious collision. In an impressive display of skill and teamwork, firefighters cut the roof off a car to safely access the students, showing the precision and urgency required during real emergency extractions.
This impactful event reinforced the crucial message that safe driving choices save lives.
We extend our sincere thanks to Caroline Casey and to the members of the Gardaí, Ambulance Service, and Fire Service for their time and expertise, as well as to Mount St. Michael for joining us in what proved to be a memorable and important learning experience for all involved.
Unfortunately we brought the rain with us to Sorrento but we decided the Italian rain would not dampen our spirits as we headed off on our tour of some of the very many artisan producers in this part of Italy.
Beginning with a farm visit that could not have been more different from our farms in West Cork - literally carved into the hillside, every last inch of this fertile coastal soil is made into terraced land. Here we were treated to a mozzarella and ricotta demonstration and tasting. This farm had a total of seven cows which produced the milk for the "fior di late" particular to this area. It was fascinating to see the orange, lemon and olive groves and how every inch of ground is used.
Then it was on to our Gelato Demonstration where there was plenty opportunity for our students to get stuck in making a deliciously refreshing lemon gelato.
Some free time for our students then to explore the cobbled streets and take in the breathtaking views of Sorrento Bay.
After lunch it was back on the bus to visit a modern Olive Oil Factory and Co-Operative - more tastings of every conceivable flavour of olive oil.
Next stop on this epic food tour was to a Honey & Marmalade Factory both of which Sorrento is famous for - the honey has a very particular flavour due to the orange and lemon nectar available to the bees, and the Sorrento oranges, harvested twice yearly make the most delicious Marmalade.
Last stop was to one of Italy 's oldest woodfired coffee roasters. We heard the fascinating history of the Maresca Family and how their business is still thriving today. We each got an espresso- a much-needed caffeine hit at that hour of the day.
Back to the hotel then for a quick freshen up and then we were off to Mama Lucia's Cookery School where our students quite literally had to make their own dinner!
Word is that gnocchi is making an appearance on dinner menus in Skibb v soon.....watch this space! Such a fun end to our second day.
The SCS Italian Tour 2026 kicked off with an early collection by Damien Long Coaches to Cork Airport for a hassle free flight to Rome.
Blue skies and sunshine greeted us, which was perfect for our walking tour of Rome. What a beautiful city. Our tour guide, Georgio expertly guided us through the bustling streets, taking in some very special sights, including the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Colosseum. It was a quick visit but we definitely felt the buzz and energy within the walls of this ancient city.
Back on the bus and it was straight on the road south to Sorrento which would be our base for the next three days. On arrival we were blown away by the moonlit bay of Naples in the shadow of the imposing Mount Vesuvius. We finished off day one with a delicious dinner, hotel check in and bed for our weary travellers.
The trip of a lifetime comes to a fantastic ending.
From barely being able to put on our boots at the start, to confidently, skillfully and bravely taking on and conquering the black slopes of the Alm.
The students progression is a testament to the energy, patience and enthusiasm with which they have approached each and every day. They were simply magnificent and should be incredibly proud of how they represented Skibbereen Community School, their families and their country.
New friendships were formed, old friendships cemented and many, many laughs were had a long the way (as well as many falls).
Homeward bound with skills and memories to last a lifetime. Thank you Ehrwald.
Thank you Ms. Sheehy for organising this wonderful trip and to the teachers who accompanied.
Students enjoying skiing at the Alm resort.
They were skiing down red and blue slopes topped off by tobogganing in the evening.
Onto our final day of skiing in what was a great week.
A sincere thank you to past pupil Ciara Dennehy and farm owner Mike Coughlan for warmly welcoming our students today and providing such an informative and engaging farm walk.
Ciara led students around the farm, sharing her passion for dairy farming and offering valuable first-hand insights into key areas of herd management. Students learned about essential aspects of dairy production, including:
Calf Rearing: Best practices in feeding, housing, and maintaining the health of young calves.
Mastitis: Understanding the causes, prevention, and treatment of this common dairy cow infection.
AI & Breeding: The role of genetics and breeding decisions in improving herd performance and efficiency.
Students also had the opportunity to view the farm’s new milking parlour, where Ciara explained how modern technology improves efficiency, animal welfare, and working conditions on the farm.
The visit provided excellent real-world learning, clearly linking classroom theory with practical application. Ciara also spoke about her own journey in agriculture, sharing her experience of studying in Clonakilty Agricultural College and encouraging students to consider Agricultural Science as a future career with a wide range of opportunities.
Many thanks to Ciara for sharing her knowledge, enthusiasm, and genuine love for farming. The visit was thoroughly enjoyed by all and was a valuable learning experience for everyone involved.
A huge thank you to Sinéad and Donal Buckley, and their children Ellen and Hugh, for warmly welcoming us to their dairy farm and providing such an insightful look into modern dairy farming.
Donal spoke to the students about the crucial role nutrition plays in milk yield and overall herd performance. He shared his passion for his Holstein and Fleckvieh herd, explaining how careful selective breeding helps produce high-yielding, disease-resistant cows that thrive in Irish conditions. Students also learned about the vital importance of colostrum which is rich in nutrients and antibodies, essential for calf health. Donal demonstrated how they use a Brix refractometer to measure colostrum quality, bringing textbook learning to life.
We were given a tour of the calf housing facilities and learned about feeding routines and herd health management, highlighting how the Buckleys ensure each calf gets the very best start in life. Donal also linked his talk to the theme of “inputs and outputs,” which is central to the current 5th year project, offering students practical ideas and real-world examples.
This visit was a hugely valuable learning experience that deepened students’ understanding of dairy farming, animal welfare, and the modern technologies and practices shaping today’s dairy industry. To top it all off, we were all treated to tea, coffee, and delicious breakfast baps — a very welcome bonus!
We are incredibly lucky to have such an excellent example of progressive farming right on our doorstep. Sincere thanks to the Buckley family for sharing their time, knowledge, and hospitality, and for making the visit both educational and enjoyable.
Some of our Second Year RE classes recently enjoyed making traditional St. Brigid’s Crosses to mark St. Brigid’s Day.
This hands-on activity gave students the chance to reflect on St. Brigid as a symbol of kindness, faith and new beginnings, while celebrating the arrival of spring.
It was a lovely way to connect with Irish tradition and spirituality following the St. Brigid’s Day bank holiday weekend.
Another amazing day on the slopes of Ehrwald.
These enthusiastic and energy filled students have made even further skiing progress all day and were entertained by an electric night time ski show in nearby Lermoos.
The adventure continues.
Great first few days in Ehrwald, Austria on Skibbereen Community School’s inaugural ski trip.
Fantastic ski resort, located right on the slopes.
Students are making great progress, having lots of fun and making life long memories. Their resilience, enthusiasm and laughter has been noticed by all on the slopes, from the locals to the ski instructors.
All eagerly looking forward to what lies ahead for the rest of the week.
Despite Storm Chandra looming, over 1,000 athletes from schools all over Cork and Kerry ,lined up for the South Munster Schools Cross Country races at Tramore Valley Park yesterday.
Under high winds and torrential rain, the underfoot conditions deteriorated very quickly and the races became as much of a mental challenge as a physical one.
Caoimhe Flannery ,representing SCS ,made light of the conditions, coming home in 2nd place in the Senior Girls' race.
With the first 15 individuals and 4 teams qualifying for the Munster Schools, Caoimhe will now proceed to the Munsters on Thurs Feb 12th .
Well done Caoimhe.
5th Year LCA students welcomed experienced horticulturist Michael Burke into their class.
He discussed the importance of horticulture in terms of environmental and economic benefits.
He emphasised the importance of 'grow it yourself' culture with all students sowing their own seeds of chamomile, and starting their own growing journey.
