June 20th 2006
National Educational Welfare Board presents award to student with exemplary attendance

“The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is delighted to present 16 year old Conor McGinty with a special award for his outstanding achievement of unbroken school attendance”, Collette McGlynn, the NEWB’s Acting Regional Manager, of West / North said at a presentation ceremony in Achill Co. Mayo today (Tuesday 20th June 2006).

Speaking at Conor’s local school, Scoil Damhnait, where he has just completed his Leaving Certificate, Collette McGlynn continued: “Through a combination of determination and very good health, Conor has achieved a remarkable feat of not missing a single day of school in Primary and Post Primary Education, from 1993 – 2006.”

“The NEWB’s motto is that Everyday Counts in a child’s education and the magnitude of Conor’s achievement is even more impressive when you take into account that the average primary school students misses 11 days on average each school year and the average Post Primary Student misses on average 15 days a year.

“The NEWB is delighted to congratulate Conor and would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the other people in Conor’s life who made his perfect attendance possible – his schools and his family” Ms McGlynn added.

Conor attended Primary School in the Convent of Mercy Achill Sound and secondary school at Scoil Damhnait, Achill. Commenting on Conor’s achievement, Maire Sweeney, Principal of Scoil Damhnait said; “I am delighted to congratulate Conor on his achievement. I have no memory of a student achieving this feat before and I would imagine that the number of students with such flawless attendance records are rare and deserving of  recognition. Conor is a credit to his  school and to his parents Mary and Michael McGinty.”

For further information contact:

Elaine O’Mahoney

01 8738603/087 1308799