Student from Kilkenny school wins prestigious Oireachtas Essay Competition

A Kilkenny student has been named national winner of the third annual Oireachtas Essay Competition

Patrick Galvin, Abbey Community College, Ferrybank, was presented with his award last week. He was praised for writing a "thoughtful and balanced reflection on the significance of individual and political liberty in the context of nineteenth and twentieth century Irish history.”

Patrick is no stranger to top essay-writing achievements. He also previously won the Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition for TY students.

Students from Counties Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Louth and Mayo, accompanied by their parents/guardians and teachers, attended the awards ceremony in Leinster House where they received cash prizes and certificates. A further 12 students, from Counties Dublin, Wexford, Mayo, Galway, Antrim, Cork, and Kerry will receive ‘Highly Commended’ Awards in their schools in the coming weeks.

The event was attended by Eamonn Crowley, CEO of PTSB and Mr Brian Gilsenan, CEO of CJ Fallon. PTSB has begun a three-year commitment to the competition as Principal Sponsor and CJ Fallon is Associate Sponsor for the third year running.

Presenting the prizes, the Competition Founding Patron, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, said that greater engagement by young people with the political system was “vital for the health of our democracy and for our ability to overcome the many challenges we face at home and abroad.”~
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“We are delighted with the growing support for Aiste an Oireachtais – with a significant increase this year in the number of entries received,” says Competition Convenor, Senator Rónán Mullen. Since Aiste an Oireachtais began in 2022, we have had registrations and entries from almost half the secondary schools on the island of Ireland (47%). “It is clear that schools recognise the importance of getting students to think about our democracy and the need to work it for the common good.”

The Oireachtas Essay Competition was devised by Senator Mullen with the support of the Ceann Comhairle’s Office and the Oireachtas Education Unit.

Senior Cycle students and AS/A Level students across the island of Ireland are invited to submit essays in Irish or English and to compete for a prize fund of €6,000.

Hundreds of students registered for this year’s Competition which invited essays on the theme ‘Parliamentary Politics Liberates’ / ‘An tSaoirse agus an Pholaitíocht Pharlaiminteach’ – reflecting the 250th Anniversary of the birth of ‘The Liberator’, Daniel O’Connell.

Winners were determined by an expert panel of judges which included DCU Professor of Politics Gary Murphy and journalist, writer and academic, Alan Titley MRIA. Professor Patrick Geoghegan of TCD, author of a two-part biography of O’Connell also provided expert input to the Competition.

Eimear Nic Dhonnchadha was Buaiteoir Náisiúnta don Aiste Ghaeilge. “Aiste chomair deascriofa a thugann aghaidh go díreach, go léannta is go macánta ar an ábhar atá le plé,” said Professor Titley, a member of the Competition Judging Panel.
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