Cork girls recognised for their writing skills

TWO Cork students have finished among the top finalists in a prestigious national essay competition which encourages young people to consider issues of social justice.

Every year, the Law Society of Ireland sponsors the National Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition, which aims to inspire students from a wide range of backgrounds in legal learning.

Emma McCarthy from St Brogans College, Cork and Ornaith O’Donoghue from Coláiste Muire Realt na Mara, Cork were among the 30 finalists that attended the event at the Law Society Of Ireland in Dublin.

Transition Year student Patrick Galvin, from Abbey Community College in Waterford, was announced as the overall winner of this year’s competition, winning a €1,000 prize and a cup for his school.

The competition received almost 140 essays from 48 schools across 16 different counties, with each student submitting a 1,500-word essay entitled: “Climate Change Mitigation: The role the law can play in addressing the climate crisis”.

Barry MacCarthy, president of the Law Society, said the solicitors’ profession was changing, and the Law Society was committed to supporting legal education for the next generation.

“With this year’s essay focused on climate change, the students offered passionate, engaging and reflective essays.

“This competition encourages students to consider the law and helps them understand how the law can impact issues that are close to their hearts and areas of their daily lives,” Mr MacCarthy said.

“We hope this essay competition will inspire students from across the country to continue their legal education, nurture their curiosity for justice issues and to consider a future career in law.”

The Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition honours the life and legacy of the late Judge Gráinne O’Neill, who in 2014 was appointed to the District Court, becoming the youngest judge in Ireland.

She passed away in 2018 following a period of illness.