Principal tells students to "hold their head high" as St Mary's celebrate best ever results - Headline

A fantastic night was had at St Mary's Irvinestown prize night as the school celebrated their best academic results ever with 96% of pupils achieving the target of at least five A* to C grades.

Speaking to the pupils Principal, Ms Ann Flannagan said:

"It is indeed something to be celebrated, where we recognise the hard work and the efforts of these pupils in front of me. As you face the next phase in your lives, we send our good wishes, our luck and our love with you."

She went on to say that it was "offensive" that a school such as theirs was called a "secondary school" and she implored the students to have faith in themselves:

“The only thing that I sometimes get impatient about is where you don’t believe in yourselves. I understand why you don’t. You are told at 11 that you are a failure because you didn’t pass the 11+ and go to Grammar school. Even our name – “secondary school” is offensive! As if we are second best! There is nothing secondary going on in this school. You leavers are now sitting in classes with pupils who did pass their 11 + all those years ago and your GCSE results are better than theirs! Hold your head high and don’t let anyone tell you that you are “secondary.”

The special guest on the evening was Michaela McFarland, a former student at the school and she challenged the students to "follow their dreams."

Miss McFarland did just that after leaving St Mary's as she pursued a career in equestrienne.

"I went down the route of Showing, where I was NI champion and Young Handler of Europe. I had the leading stallions in Europe for 3 years and I won my class at the Horse of the Year Show," she explained to the audience before revealing how she has brushed shoulders with Olympians.

"I currently run a Pony club centre, with International show grooming on the side. I am educating pony club members about horse management and I am teaching the next generation of young people in equestrian sports. Last year, I was really pleased to be a part of the team of Olympic Show Jumper, Cian O’Connor, schooling and grooming his horses."

Miss McFarland finished by offering a rallying call to the students in the hall: “The lesson here is that when you really want something, you should follow your dreams- put the work in, keep your chin up and keep pushing for that goal. Sometimes you will find yourself on a path that doesn't really suit you or a door closes for one reason or another. In that case do as I did: go down a different road. Keep your eye on the goal, the lifestyle you want. Do not listen to people who tell you that you can’t achieve it, listen to those who tell you that you can, and go for it!”

Last year's head girl Erin Keane addressed her classmates and used the opportunity to thank the teachers in the school:

"We were pushed hard! We were in after school classes, being challenged on our report grades. We were taught ways to manage our time and the pressure we felt. We were even given work plans and schedules for our school holidays! On behalf of my year group, I would like to thank every single member of staff at St. Mary’s, not just for taking care of us, for getting us our grades, for giving us our future but also for making this celebration important for us."