Mayo winner of Oireachtas essay competition

The Connacht winner of the inaugural Oireachtas Essay Competition, Aiste an Oireachtais, is Dara Morley of St. Colman’s College in Claremorris.

He received his award from Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghail, at Leinster House.

The new competition, devised by Independent NUI Senator Rónán Mullen with the support of An Ceann Comhairle and the Oireachtas Education Unit, is aimed at Senior Cycle (5th and 6th Year) and AS/A Level students across the Island of Ireland.

Students were invited to submit essays in Irish or English on the theme ‘Parliamentary Politics Matters’ or ‘Tábhacht na Polaitíochta Parlaiminte’.

The Ceann Comhairle spoke about the essay saying: “The judges were impressed with the wide range of arguments in the essay which included diverse references from all sides of the political spectrum including Churchill and Chomsky. It was excellent essay and Dara Morley should be very proud.”