Laois Leaving Cert student Seán Murphy of Knockbeg College recently undertook a fundraiser skydive, along with 18 of his fellow classmates and three teachers.

The Leaving Cert skydivers consisted of Seán Murphy, Oscar Siney, Luke Kehoe, Tom Hughes, Evan English, William Doyle, Conor George, James Kelly, Seán Rainey, Ran Lafford, Jamie Duggan, Cathal Brady, Jack Milton, Seán O’Sullivan and Callum Hayden.

"In a school steeped in history, the embers of an old tradition were set ablaze by 18 members of this years Leaving 2 cohort, adjoined by teachers Mr.  McNeill, our Yearhead, Mr. Bolger and Mr. Cody," Knockbeg College student Sean Murphy explained.

Pictured: Knockbeg College staff undertaking the jump with students

"As if our final year wasn’t going to be memorable enough, a group of us took to the skies to raise money for two great causes. All funds raised were in aid of St. Claire’s Hospitality Kitchen and the Sacred Heart Hospital Carlow.

"Our unorthodox fundraising method is suitably apt for this one in a kind year group: a skydive. Inspired from a daring suggestion from Mr. McNeill last November during his highly regarded Leaving Certificate Geography class, we decided to go out with a bang!" he said.

The skydive, facilitated by the Irish Parachute Club, which is the oldest Parachute club in the World being formed in 1957, took place on Thursday the 10th of April in Clonbulloge, County Offaly.

"Our eventful bus journey from Knockbeg began with a redirection from Belfast to Portarlington – an unpromising omen for the jump that awaited us," Sean explained.

Pictured: a number of the Leaving Cert students undertaking the jump

"It wasn’t long, however, before we arrived…it was too late to turn back now. Each tandem instructor gave us a debrief on the strict safety protocols after we practiced inscribing our signature many times on what seemed to be our own ‘voluntary death warrant’.

"Then it was time to leave our instinctual habitat on the ground. The plane, which had recently passed the equivalent of a plane’s NCT, was no disservice to our self-imposed torment and we quickly climbed to an altitude of 13,000 feet!" he said.

"We were no more than 15 minutes climbing up to our designated altitude when the side door of the plane opened, I was first to jump.

"The roaring cacophony of the wind was no longer exclusive to my auditory senses; now I could feel it…and what a rush it was, with the rushing wind surging powerfully into my chest, mimicking a second heartbeat," Sean described.

Pictured: More students from Knockbeg College who undertook the jump

"The ground below, like an unfinished jigsaw puzzle of different paddocks and fields, looked impossibly distant. At this height, fear and exhilaration were indistinguishable…but there was no turning back now for any of us…this was what we were here for…to fulfil a lifetime dream…a bucket list if you will…. And then, I jumped.

"The first few seconds challenged every natural partiality of my mind as I was at the mercy of the Earth’s gravitational power. Then, once I had gathered my thoughts, it struck me.

"The wave of adrenaline-infused thrill was next to nothing I have ever experienced in my entire life…until now! Thankfully, all our parachutes deployed and (despite Jackie boy’s mishap) and we all returned to the safety of the landing area. We had all made it…and what was ‘the best experience and day of our lives, thus far, was complete," he said.

On the way home, the student's predisposed appetites were cured in Supermac’s, Portlaoise, rounding off a day that they say they will never forget.

Pictured: The Knockbeg students suiting up before their jump

"Thank you to all those who contributed to this wonderful initiative, allowing us to raise a total of €5.730.00  for both local charities who go above and beyond for the sick and afflicted in our community," Sean said.

"The boys cleverly raised money from ‘GoFund Me’ pages, pub quiz nights, from our generous family and friends to the old-fashioned door-to-door method. Thank you sincerely to our three teachers who helped make this an amazing life experience that we never thought would be part of our life and studies here in Knockbeg College. This truly was a cause worth dying for.

Finally, I would like to extend our gratitude to Mr. Maye and the school for kindly sponsoring our bus journey, ensuring our safe right of passage to the Biffo county- and nearly Belfast!" Sean finished.

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