Notable success for Mayo student in Oireachtas essay competition

St Joseph’s Secondary School, Castlebar, student Marissa Illiana Divilley landed the prize for best essay in Connacht at the third Oireachtas Essay competition prizegiving in Leinster House.

Marissa received her prize from the Competition Founding Patron, former Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, at a ceremony attended by the winning students, their parents/guardians, teachers, as well as competition judges and sponsors.

The prizegiving ceremony was followed by lunch and a tour of Leinster House.

The judges praised Marissa Illiana Divilley for “an essay that skillfully employed historical examples, such as Daniel O'Connell and Martin Luther King Jr., to demonstrate the effectiveness of parliamentary politics in achieving liberation.”

The event was attended by Mr 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.

The competition was devised by Independent NUI Senator Rónán Mullen with the support of the Ceann Comhairle’s Office and the Oireachtas Education Unit.