Our newly elected Senior Student Leadership Team for 2025-26 are to be congratulated on their appointment and are now looking forward to the challenges ahead as we start the 2024-25 academic year at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School.
left to right
Luke Bailey (Deputy Head Boy), Eloise McDonagh (Deputy Head Girl), Jake Irwin (Head Boy), Anna Cairns (Head Girl), Mariana Bell (Deputy Head Girl) and Barry Hutchinson (Deputy Head Boy)
Subjects studied: Biology, Sports Science and The Active Leisure Industry, and Religious Studies
Involvement in School Life: I have been heavily involved with the school rugby programme since joining ERGS in Year 8 and I have been given the privilege of captaining the 1st XV this year. Through the foundations built within the school programme, I got selected for the Provincial Talent Squad with Ulster Rugby and have represented them at U18’s and U19’s level and was also involved in an Irish U18 clubs camp at Clongowes Wood where we played a blitz against Wales, Scotland and Italy. I also was given the opportunity to complete my coaching qualifications a few years ago, and last year I helped coach Enniskillen Model Primary School, and this year I am helping out with the talented Year 9s. I have also been involved with the school football team over the past years as well as Table Tennis.
I have also been quite involved with Music in the school. I was fortunate enough to complete my Grade 8 for Saxophone last year. I have been part of the Senior Wind band, and I also am a part of the Senior Choir, which is very enjoyable performing in special events such as the Remembrance service or Carol service.
Career Plans: In the future I would love to go on to study Physiotherapy at Ulster University
Subjects studied:Maths, Biology and Chemistry (Nutrition and Food Science AS)
Involvement in School Life: Since year 8, I have been part of the school netball team. I train weekly with the team and enjoy taking part in all the competitive, local and regional tournaments. For the past two years, I have captained the Inter and Senior netball teams and we have experienced much success, reaching the Inter Bowl Final in 2024. Last year, I had the opportunity to coach the first year students netball, a role I thoroughly enjoyed and am looking forward to continue. I have periodically played hockey throughout my 6 years at school, featuring in the first and second teams. Sport has been a huge part of my school life in ERGS and from which, I have gained so many invaluable experiences and memories and have made great friendships.
Career Plans: In the future, I am hoping to study Medicine in Queen’s University, Belfast.
Subjects studied: Maths, Chemistry and Biology (Physics at AS)
Involvement in School Life: I have enjoyed playing netball with school since year 8 and I am currently part of the senior netball team. I have completed my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award through school and I have been involved with the German Exchange Program and the Better Together Project. I have also been a member of the School Council in both junior school and sixth form.
Career Plans: I hope to study Medicine at university.
Subjects studied: Business Studies, Technology & Design and Engineering
Involvement in School Life: During my time at school, I have tried to take part in a wide range of activities. I have participated in sport throughout school, through first and second year I played rugby but after an injury I stopped and switched my attention to rowing. Last year I was appointed the Rowing Club Captain. I have achieved two Irish national titles and one British title in the past two years, also in August 2025 I represented Ireland in Austria at the junior Europeans. I was also a part of the school Wind Band up until year 12 where I played in all carol services and achieving my grade six in the tuba.
Career Plans: I hope gain a place on a higher level apprenticeship in renewable engineering or mechanical engineering through either Queens or Ulster University.
Subjects studied: English Literature, Government and Politics and Geography (Technology AS)English Literature, Government and Politics and Geography (Technology AS).
Involvement in School Life: Throughout my time at school, I have been committed to a wide range of extra curricular activities in both sport and the arts. I have represented my school in hockey, netball, athletics, and rugby, while also taking part in the school band and choir. As captain of the 1st XI hockey team, in which I have played in since 3rd year, I was honoured to receive senior colours in 5th year, as well as the junior hockey cup, and I have enjoyed the opportunity to coach younger teams. I have also participated in public speaking, gaining a Highly Commended award in the Edgar Graham Memorial Competition at Stormont and reading at the Carol Service. I have engaged in debate and been privileged to attend the Royal Schools Debate. Alongside this, I have completed my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Expedition. My most notable achievement throughout school was being the Rotary Club Youth Leadership Competition winner 2025 which gave me the opportunity to represent Enniskillen Rotary Club and ERGS during a week-long programme taking me to Belfast, Dublin, and the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where I debated in a team of 19 other young people from across Ireland and Northern Ireland against teams from across the EU.
Career Plans: I hope to study an English or Politics based degree, ideally at Queen’s University Belfast
Subjects studied: French, mathematics and politics (further mathematics at AS)
Involvement in School Life: Throughout my time at ERGS, I have been involved in music, playing flute in the woodwind ensemble and also the piano. I have completed my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. I am a keen chess player and set up the school club in Year 10. Furthermore, I have partaken in the debating club and represented my school, reaching the semi finals of the Northern Irish schools’ competition. The opportunity to participate in the UK Mathematics Challenges and Anthea Bell translation competitions has been invaluable.
Career Plan: In the future I would like to read law or sociology at Cambridge.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School is a new academically selective voluntary grammar school that opened on 1 September 2016.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School is co-educational and non-denominational.
Hannah Shaw
I left ERGS in 2020 during the start of COVID - crazy times.
I studied Biology, Chemistry and Business Studies at A’ Level.
After ERGS, I joined Queen’s University Belfast to pursue a degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. Between my second and third year, I undertook a placement year working as a Pharmaceutical Analyst for Almac in Craigavon. I finished my degree with First Class Honours and received two awards sponsored by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry for Best Research Project and Overall Distinction in Final Year Studies.
After finishing my degree, I applied for - and was awarded - a scholarship funded by the Department for the Economy to pursue a full-time research-based PhD. I started in 2024 and my project focuses on breast cancer research.
Outside of academia, I have supported my sister in growing her business, Enniskinn, which opened its second store in Enniskillen last week. We manufacture all of our products in Enniskillen and now have over 100 wholesalers across the world, mainly across the UK and Ireland. My Business Studies A’ Level with Mrs Donnelly has definitely been useful at times!
When I have the time, I enjoy sailing, with my most ambitious trip so far being an English Channel crossing from Southampton to La Rochelle in France. I obtained a Day Skipper licence for yachts up to 80ft and I’m hoping to complete a transatlantic crossing in the next few years. If I wasn’t any good at science, I would most definitely be a sailor!
National Schools Regatta Day 3
The rowers have arrived back home after finishing off a very successful weekend at Nat Schools for ERBC
The 2 First Eights were in action yesterday, with the girls coming 5th in the A Final and the Boys 6th in the B Final. Well done to both crews on their performances, we are so very proud of you all.
Thanks to our coaches and parents who travelled to Dorney to support the rowers over the weekend, it is very much appreciated.
Summary of the weekend’s great results
Girls Junior 14 Octo - National Schools Regatta Champions 🏆
Girls Champs Eight - A Final
Girls Champs Four - A Final
Boys Champs Eights - B Final
Boys Champs Four - B Final
Boys Junior 16 Eight - B Final
Congratulations to all 6 crews.
Henley is just around the corner, if you can make a donation, big or small to support our 2 crews at Henley they would really appreciate it. Thanks to everyone who has already donated
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/olivia-donaghy?utm_medium=CF&utm_source=CL
Ruth Fannin
Year I left ERGS: 2019
A” Level subjects studied: Technology and Design, Mathematics and Business Studies (Spanish at AS Level)
Pathway after school: Started university in September 2019 whilst working part-time in my family business as Assistant Shop Manager
University attended: Queen’s University Belfast
Course studied: Business Management with Placement (4 years)
I started at Queen’s University Belfast in September 2019 and enjoyed a few months of a “normal” university experience before COVID-19 brought a sudden shift to online learning in March 2020.
During my time at university, I was awarded Top Business Management Student (2019/2020) and Top Student for History and Philosophy. I also completed the Degree Plus Award for Future Ready Skills in Management before graduating in 2023 with a First Class Honours degree.
After graduating, I was approached on LinkedIn about an opportunity that led to me joining the Oil Market Journal (OMJ) as Business Development Manager in Enniskillen in September 2023.
Although I have always lived at home in County Tyrone, I am very grateful for the opportunities I have had to travel with work, including visits to Dubai, Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany, as well as across the UK and Ireland.
Outside of work, I help out in my family business and volunteer both as a Girlguiding leader and as a youth club leader within my church. Through Girlguiding, I have also enjoyed incredible experiences, including spending a week as part of the crew on a Tall Ships yacht and, more recently, completing the Queen’s Guide Award — the highest award available within Girlguiding UK.
I am very grateful to both the Collegiate and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School for providing me with such a strong foundation and for encouraging the values of hard work, resilience and determination from an early age.
