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The ASTI Achievement Awards recognise the outstanding contribution teachers make to schools, students and society.

Nominate an outstanding teacher or teaching team for their achievements in school or outside of their professional life.

The ASTI Achievement Awards recognise teachers in three categories:

The Outstanding Teacher Achievement Award recognises the contribution of individual teachers to their schools and education.

The Outstanding Teacher Team Achievement Award recognises the contribution made to schools and education by groups of teachers.

The Outstanding Individual Achievement Award recognises the outstanding achievements of individual teachers outside of their professional life.


The closing date for nominations has now passed. 

 

Previous ASTI Achievement Award recipients

 

 

Tom Reynolds and Triona Brosnan
With the encouragement and guidance of their teachers, Tom Reynolds and Triona Brosnan, four students from St David’s Secondary School in Greystones worked towards one goal: to win the F1 in Schools World Championship. In September 2009 they achieved their goal.

Over the two years it took to get to that point, Tom and Triona guided the four boys up an extremely steep learning curve. The team undertook all the activities of a real Formula 1 team: they designed, manufactured and tested a working model Formula 1 car; created a team identity; secured sponsorship; developed a marketing plan; and, raced their model car against fellow competitors from around the world. At the international finals in London, the team faced the judges in all these areas and were ultimately crowned World Championships.

Angela Walsh
Angela Walsh teaches PE and Maths at St Augustine’s Dungarvan. She is an accomplished athlete and led the Cork Ladies Gaelic Football team to a fourth consecutive All Ireland Victory in 2008. She has been awarded many prestigious titles including GAA All Star Awards and Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month. 

As a teacher Angela is committed to the whole development of the young people in her care. By encouraging her pupils to participate in sports within and outside the school, Angela is helping them develop characteristics such as working as part of a team, interpersonal skills, goal setting and creativity: skills that are crucial to almost all areas of life.

Donal O’Grady
As Manager of Cork Senior Hurling team, Donal O’Grady took the county to two All Ireland finals and managed the team to victory in 2004. Donal’s sporting talent emerged during the 80’s as a school coach and player. He coached school teams throughout his teaching career and as a player he has club and county medals in both hurling and football.

Donal’s teaching career began in 1976 in Mallow VEC. An Irish and history teacher, he moved to Gaelcholaiste AG, North Mon, in 1978. He would later serve as Principal of Coláiste Eóin in Youghal, and Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal in Blarney before returning to Gaelcholaiste AG as Principal in 1999. While Donal has been enormously successful in his hurling pursuits, he was always 100 per cent committed to the students and staff at his school.

Eileen Murphy
Champion kayaker Eileen Murphy, a geography and maths teacher at Old Bawn Community School in Tallaght, was awarded for her outstanding commitment to motivating young people to reach their potential at outdoor activities through her involvement in water sports, mountain and rock climbing, and the Gaisce President’s Award.

In 2005, Eileen became the first Irish woman to complete a solo circumnavigation of Ireland by sea kayak. Eileen first became involved in competitive water activity in her teens and is a former Irish international in canoe slalom, whitewater and marathon racing. Eileen is also a Gaisce President’s Awards leader at Old Bawn Community School, where she has guided teams of students through the empowering Gaisce experience.

Patsy Toland
After spending 22 years as a geography, English and learning support teacher in Coláiste Phádraig in Lucan, Patsy Toland left his teaching post to take up the position of Development Education Officer with Self Help’s Africa.

Pasty spends much of his time in schools and classrooms introducing the Africa Alive project and working with students and teachers participating in the project. Pasty also takes part in the annual trip for students and teachers to Self Help projects in five East African countries. Patsy has always been committed to the delivery of extra curricular opportunities for students. This commitment led him to establish Coláiste Phádraig’s photography club many years ago. A keen canoeist, Patsy made sure his students also had the opportunity to participate in the sport and some of them even participated in the Liffey Descent.

Eddie O’Sullivan
Before former national rugby coach Eddie O’Sullivan became known as one of rugby’s most professionally thorough and innovative coaches he spent 11 years teaching PE in Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew in Galway.

Eddie’s days as a rugby player saw him excel as a high speed utility back with Garryowen and Munster and his professionalism as a PE teacher was a great asset to the Holy Rosary Basketball team. As national rugby coach, his strategic approach to the game helped to develop a team that exuded a confidence and optimism never before seen in Irish ruby.