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Mr Frank Diamond shares his inspirational life story with our senior pupils.

My principal motivation in life has always been to help people fulfil their true potential, to help build their self- esteem and knowledge of themselves in order to be happier, more satisfied and more productive in life.”
Frank Diamond

On Tuesday 22nd January 2020 Year 13 and Year 14 pupils had a very interesting and relevant talk from Frank Diamond, former missionary priest who spent more than a decade in Tanzania, Africa. Frank spoke about his experiences in Africa working with people who are living in adverse poverty. Although these people have very little they continue to struggle on and are happy with their lot in life. He told the story of Hope. Hope had polio when she was four years old and as a result was paralysed from the waist down. Her only way to get around was to crawl using her upper body. She crawled for 4km to get to mass each week. She now has a tricycle which she can operate using her hands and arms.

Frank also spoke about the tragic death of Conor McCusker in 2009, and how the McCusker family had dealt with their loss. Conor’s organs were donated and gave life to people with a range of serious illnesses. His family took comfort from the fact that some good had come out of the tragedy. Money was also donated in memory of Conor and given to Frank for his work in Tanzania. This money was used to build a community centre. Conor’s brother Niall was able to be a part of this, helping him to overcome the heartbreak of losing his brother.

On a personal level Frank spoke of his own struggles with mental health. How he had burnt the candle at both ends and managed to burn himself out. He emphasised how we all tend to wear masks and maybe it was time to remove the mask and be ourselves and to share our emotions.

The current chapter of Frank’s life is as a devoted husband and father of two young daughters. His four year old daughter Laoise frequently tells him to put his phone away, teaching him and us the importance of being physically present.

The talk finished with a powerful quote from the Shawshank Redemption.

“Hope is a good thing
Maybe the best of things
And no good thing ever ends”.


Our Sixth form pupils offered the following reflections on the talk.


“Frank’s talk on mental health made me reflect on my wellbeing in a very different way.  I never thought that being resilient can make someone feel better about themselves.

I also enjoyed listening to his stories about his missionary in Africa and how he helped others become resilient even at the most difficult of times.

Frank also helped all of us realise that a healthy human connection is not through our phones but through comfort and caring for others – something our generation needs to improve on.”

Reuben Tosh


“The talk was very informative.  He talked about resilience and how it can help your mental health. He also linked resilience with his own experiences throughout his missionary journey in Africa.  He told us many inspiring stories.  One struck me in particular - a woman called Hope was paralysed from the waist down and carried herself 4km to church so they made her a wheelchair/bike which you use your hands to pedal.  Throughout the talk he spoke about the importance of human connection.  He mentioned his daughter who doesn't allow him to use his phone as she enjoys spending time with him and their human connection. He ended the talk by playing/singing us a song with very meaningful lyrics which encourages you to lean on others for support.”

Hannah O'Donnell and Lisa Doherty

There will be a Year 10 Parents Information Evening for Key Stage 4 options on Thursday 23rd January at 7.00 pm.

Due to the Year 10 Parent Teacher Meeting, school will start for ALL PUPILS at 11.30am-3.25pm.

Mr. Eugene Kelly from our local Saint Vincent De Paul Society came into School on Monday 16th December to collect the food hampers and toys that our pupils and staff have worked so hard to collect.

Over the past few weeks each pupil in each class group has been allocated an item for a class hamper and each child also contributed a small sum of money towards a toy appeal.

Mr. Kelly told pupils about the challenge faced by people within our hometown where to date more than 12,000 pounds have been donated to help those in need. Describing Christmas as being associated as a time of plenty and excess, Eugene also pointed out that it is increasingly a time of people going without.

He told pupils from Dominican College,

“ Well done once again DCP. You have done your bit to help people get back on their feet. There are an awful lot of people in our community in need and you, with your collective efforts, have helped give them a brighter future this Christmas”.

He challenged our junior pupils to reconsider their definition of homelessness in the light of the 3873 children in Ireland now classified as being without a home; a figure that has risen to amount to 37% of the total homeless figure.

Concluding his message to our junior school, Mr Kelly thanked them on behalf of all the people beyond the school who will benefit from our quest for social justice.

The school would like to congratulate all our pupils and their families for all their collective efforts and to wish everyone a very happy Christmas.

Mr Kelly is pictured with Mrs Willighan, Mrs Dallat, members of our SVP and JPII groups and pupils with our 2019 hampers.

Dominican College will welcome parents and pupils, wishing to transfer to the school, to the following Open Events:

Open Night on Wednesday 8th January 2020 beginning at 6.30 pm for P6 and P7 pupils.

Open Morning on Thursday 9th January 2020 commencing at 9.30 am for P6 and P7 pupils.

The opening talk by the Principal, Ms Ronan, will emphasise both the high levels of achievement within the school and the caring philosophy of a Dominican education.

Pupils and parents will have the opportunity to tour the school in groups led by teachers and senior pupils and to meet with staff and pupils.

Sixth Form Open Afternoon on Thursday 13th February 2020, the school will hold a Sixth Form Open Afternoon for pupils considering transferring into Sixth Form in Dominican College in September 2020.

We look forward to welcoming prospective pupils and their families to the school early in the New Year.

Today we were delighted to be able to continue our support our Dominican friends in Mynanmar.

As a consequence of the efforts of our pupils in the 2019 Dominican Beach Walk the school sent another £1,500 from this year’s charity funds to our sister school in Myanmar.  Sr. Lucina has sent us some more photographs to enable us to see the children that the money is benefiting.
 
On behalf of the Dominicans in Myanmar I would like to thank you and the Dominican College in Portstewart, for your generous contribution and help.

Fr. Bonifacio Garcia Solis, OP, sent us the following message from Mandalay today:

“Thank you so much to the pupils, staff and community of Dominican College, Portstewart, for all your efforts in fund raising this year and for continuing to think of us all here in Mandalay from so far away. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you, the administration, teachers and alumni the generosity of your contributions. 
We will continue to keep you all in our St. Dominic prayers and wish you all a Merry Christmas in advance"

Pupils have also been busy this week putting the finishing touches to our Christmas hamper appeal; each class in the school has produced an overflowing hamper of Christmas goodies which will be distributed to those in need next week.