Down success in National Awards. Cumann na mBunscol an Dúin had its most successful year ever at the 2009 National Awards ceremony in Croke Park on Sat. 21 Nov. St. Malachy’s P.S. Castlewellan had been nominated for two awards viz. Large School of the Year and Ceiliúradh 124 Bliain. The school was placed third in the highly competitive Large School of the Year, having previously been awarded School of the Year 2009 by the Irish News, and in the Ceiliúradh 124 Bliain category was awarded first place for its imaginative approach to this year’s 125 celebrations. There was a tumultuous applause for Cormac McCabe and Maurice O’Neill as they received the respective awards for the school. What an exceptional year this has been for all the staff and pupils of St. Malachy’s P.S. Castlewellan. In the Public Relations of the Year section, Cumann ma mBunscol an Dúin was one of four of nominations for an award. In each year from 2006-08, our Cumann has received awards for its efforts in public relations and we had high hopes of maintaining this record. This year’s entry received great praise from the adjudicators for the quality, volume and creativeness of the submission. All the representatives from our county warmly applauded the first place attributed to their Cumann. A prize of €1000 accompanied the coveted trophy. Mr Collie Bell, Cathaoirleach Cumann na mBunscol an Dúin congratulated the representatives from his county for their achievements. He praised St. Malachy’s P.S. for their history breaking entries and for their success in all aspects of gaelic games over the past year. He also thanked Paddy Campbell outgoing PRO for his dedication to his role and believed this to be a fitting climax for his efforts.