Students from 10 different counties have been honoured for their interest in and understanding of the political system, as part of the annual Oireachtas essay competition.
The students - from Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Louth and Mayo - were commended for their engagement in the "health of our democracy" at a ceremony in Leinster House today.
Now in its third year, the annual Oireachtas Essay Competition was established to help encourage young people to become more engaged in politics and more aware of the political system.
Among the winners were:
- National winner (English language) - Patrick Galvin, Abbey Community College, Abbeylands, Co Kilkenny
- Buaiteoir náisiúnta (Gaeilge) - Eimear Nic Dhonnchadha, Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua, Contae na Gaillimhe
- Dublin winner - Iseult McGovern, Rathdown School, Upper Glenageary Road Glenageary, Co Dublin
- Leinster winner - Chukwudike Kpaduwa, Dundalk Grammar School, The Crescent, Townparks, Dundalk, Co Louth
- Connacht winner - Marissa Illiana Divilley, St Joseph's Secondary School Castlebar, Convent of Mercy, Castlebar, Co Mayo
- Ulster winner - Jamie Anderson, St Catherine's Vocational School, Donegal Road, Corporation, Killybegs, Co Donegal
- Munster winner - Saoirse O’Connor Buckley, Colaiste Muire Realt na Mara, Crosshaven, Co Cork
A further 12 students, from counties Dublin, Wexford, Mayo, Galway, Antrim, Cork, and Kerry will also be given "highly commended" awards in their schools in the coming weeks.
The Oireachtas Essay Competition was devised by Independent Senator Ronan Mullen, along with the support of the Dáil ceann comhairle’s office and the Oireachtas education unit.
Senior cycle students and AS/A Level students across the island of Ireland were 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 chosen by an expert panel of judges which included DCU Professor of Politics Gary Murphy and journalist, writer and academic Alan Titley MRIA.
Prof Patrick Geoghegan of Trinity College Dublin, who authored a two-part biography of Daniel O’Connell, also provided expert views to the competition.
The event was attended by CJ Fallon chief executive Brian Gilsenan and PTSB chief executive Eamonn Crowley, the latter of whom's company sponsors the competition.
Presenting the prizes, the competition founding patron and Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl 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".
