‘Ireland’s membership of the European Union has brought many benefits and some challenges. Europe is more than the EU of course. Ireland’s EU membership is rooted in historical, religious, cultural and political engagement not just with the territories that are now EU member states but with countries on the continent of Europe generally.’
We invite students in Senior Cycle (TY, 5th Year and 6th Year), as well as AS and A level students across the island of Ireland, to submit essays on the theme:
Parliamentary Politics Matters for Europe / Tábhacht na Polaitíochta Parlaimintí don Eorap
We are proudly supported again by PTSB, our Principal Sponsor. We also welcome again support from education publishers CJ Fallon, our longest serving Sponsor, and leading law firm Mason Hayes and Curran, Associate Sponsor. We thank An Post for again supporting this year’s Competition.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD,
Founding Patron
Senator Rónán Mullen,
Competition Convenor
Competition Convenor
Images from Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26
TG4 coverage of the Awards Ceremony in Leinster House
Letter from the Organisers: September 2026.
Dear friends
We are pleased to invite you to take part in our 5th Oireachtas Essay Competition / Aiste an Oireachtais, now underway.
Our topic this year, Parliamentary Politics Matters for Europe / Tábhacht na Polaitíochta Pairlimintí don Eorap, is partly inspired by this year’s Irish Presidency of the European Council.
Ireland’s membership of the European Union has brought many benefits and some challenges. Europe is more than the EU, of course. Ireland’s EU membership is rooted in historical, religious, cultural and political engagement not just with the territories that are now EU member states but with countries on the continent of Europe generally.
Within the EU and throughout Europe generally, parliamentary activity is at the heart of our political life and is essential to our democracy. In our systems, when parliament changes, executive government changes and policies and decisions change. Some of these changes may be dramatic in the coming years.
But this much remains the same: Good decisions inside and outside of parliament depend on people of integrity with a commitment to serving their community, their country, and the wider world – to the best of their ability, with fairness and with respect for all. A strong culture of commitment to democratic practice is vital, now and in the future.
We are again inviting students in Senior Cycle (TY, 5th Year and 6th Year), as well as AS and A level students across the island of Ireland, to reflect on the importance of democratic debate and to submit essays on this year’s important theme.
We are grateful to all those students, teachers, parents, education organisations, Oireachtas staff, expert advisors and of course Competition sponsors for responding so positively to the Competition and contributing to its success to date.
We are proudly supported again by PTSB, our Principal Sponsor. We also welcome again the great support from education publishers CJ Fallon (our longest serving Sponsor), and leading law firm Mason Hayes and Curran. We thank An Post for again supporting this year’s Competition.
Since the Oireachtas Essay Aiste an Oireachtais is an all-island, bilingual Competition, we welcome essays with a focus on the Oireachtas, the Northern Irish Assembly, the British Parliament, the European Parliament or any other decision-making forum. You may send us political analysis or creative writing. We are open to all possibilities.
We look forward to reading your essays and to meeting some of you at our Awards Ceremony, and in your schools, in 2027.
Thank you for participating and the best of luck to you all.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD,
Funding Patron
Senator Rónán Mullen,
Competition Convenor
Competition Convenor
Funding Patron
Competition Convenor
“There are many questions, and perhaps the answers won’t be known for some time.”
Current decision-makers AND future leaders need to be alert to the opportunities and challenges presented by Artificial Intelligence.
We invite students in Senior Cycle (TY, 5th Year and 6th Year for Leaving Cert), as well as AS and A level students across the island of Ireland, to submit essays on the theme:
Is AI a threat to Democracy?
We are proudly supported again by PTSB, our Principal Sponsor. We also welcome again support from education publishers CJ Fallon, our longest serving Sponsor, and leading law firm Mason Hayes and Curran, our new Associate Sponsor. We also thank ESB and An Post for supporting this year’s Competition.
We look forward to reading your essays and to meeting some of you at our Awards Ceremony, and in your schools, in 2026.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD,
Founding Patron
Senator Rónán Mullen,
Competition Convenor
Competition Convenor
Images from Oireachtas Essay Competition
Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26 Awards Ceremony
Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26 Awards Ceremony
Essay Competition Prizes
Two National Winners
Best Essay in English:
€500 for the winning student
€500 for the winning school
Best Essay in Irish:
€500 for the winning student
€500 for the winning school
Five Regional Winners
Best essay from each of: Dublin, Rest of Leinster, Connacht, Ulster & Munster
€250 for each winning student
€250 for each winning school
Awards Ceremony
National and Regional Winners attend Awards Ceremony with Lunch in Leinster House, Spring 2026.
Highly Commended
Two entries per region and two Irish language entries will be Highly Commended. A presentation, to include a commemorative pen and a €100 cash prize, will be made to Highly Commended students in their schools.
Proudly sponsored by
Associate Sponsors
2025/26
Competition Winners / Buaiteoirí an Chomórtais
Overall Winner English Language
Student / Scoláire: Fatima Memon.
School / Scoil: Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
Congratulations to Fatima, the National Winner of Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Fatima, Buaiteoir Náisiúnta Chomórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Overall Winner Irish Language
Student / Scoláire: Úna Ní Bhaoighill.
School / Scoil: Coláiste an Eachréidh, Baile Átha an Rí, Co. na Gaillimhe.
Congratulations to Úna, the National Winner of Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Úna, Buaiteoir Náisiúnta Chomórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Connacht / Cúige Chonnacht
Student / Scoláire: Emily Ross.
School / Scoil: Presentation College, Athenry, Co. Galway.
Congratulations to Emily, Connacht Regional Winner of Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Emily, Buaiteoir Réigúnach (Cúige Chonnacht) Chomórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Dublin / Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath
Student / Scoláire: Kate Higgins.
School / Scoil: Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Congratulations to Kate, Dublin Regional Winner of Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Kate, Buaiteoir Réigúnach (Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath) Chomórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Dublin / Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath
Student / Scoláire: Dragos Nicolas Mardare.
School / Scoil: Oatlands College, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin.
Congratulations to Dragos, Dublin Regional Winner of Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Dragos, Buaiteoir Réigúnach (Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath) Chomórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Leinster (excluding Dublin) / Cúige Laighean
Student / Scoláire: Christina Plunkett.
School / Scoil: Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
Congratulations to Christina, Leinster Regional Winner of Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Christina, Buaiteoir Réigúnach (Cúige Laighean) Chomórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Munster / Cúige Mumhan
Student / Scoláire: Maeve Ní Chonraoi.
School / Scoil: Coláiste Íde, Daingean Uí Chúis, Co. Chiarraí.
Congratulations to Maeve, Munster Regional Winner of Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Maeve, Buaiteoir Réigúnach (Cúige Mumhan) Chomórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Ulster / Cúige Uladh
Student / Scoláire: Anna Lutze.
School / Scoil: St. Louis Secondary School, Co. Monaghan.
Congratulations to Anna, Ulster Regional Winner of Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Anna, Buaiteoir Réigúnach (Cúige Uladh) Chomórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Connacht / Cúige Chonnacht
Student / Scoláire: Martha Cousins.
School / Scoil: Mohill Community College, Mohill, Co Leitrim.
Congratulations to Martha, Highly Commended (Connacht) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Martha, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Cúige Chonnacht) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Student / Scoláire: Melanie Moran.
School / Scoil: Sacred Heart School, Westport, Co Mayo.
Congratulations to Melanie, Highly Commended (Connacht) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Melanie, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Cúige Chonnacht) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Dublin / Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath
Student / Scoláire: Aidan Hyland.
School / Scoil: Deansrath Community College, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
Congratulations to Aidan, Highly Commended (Dublin) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Aidan, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Student / Scoláire: Riain Leathem.
School / Scoil: Colaiste Choilm, Dublin Road, Swords, Co. Dublin.
Congratulations to Riain, Highly Commended (Dublin) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Riain, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Leinster / Cúige Laighean
Student / Scoláire: Eoin Dillon.
School / Scoil: Athlone Community College, Retreat Road, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
Congratulations to Eoin, Highly Commended (Leinster) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Eoin, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Cúige Laighean) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Student / Scoláire: Muireann Barry.
School / Scoil: Ramsgrange Community School, New Ross, Co. Wexford.
Congratulations to Muireann, Highly Commended (Leinster) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Muireann, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Cúige Laighean) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Munster / Cúige Mumhan
Student / Scoláire: Annie Power.
School / Scoil: Coláiste na Trócaire, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick.
Congratulations to Annie, Highly Commended (Munster) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Annie, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Cúige Mumhan) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Student / Scoláire: Sophie Lynam.
School / Scoil: St Mary’s High School, Midleton, Co. Cork.
Congratulations to Sophie, Highly Commended (Munster) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Sophie, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Cúige Mumhan) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Ulster / Cúige Uladh
Student / Scoláire: Maggie Clerkin.
School / Scoil: St. Louis Secondary School, Monaghan.
Congratulations to Maggie, Highly Commended (Ulster) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Maggie, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Cúige Uladh) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Student / Scoláire: Shea Bell.
School / Scoil: St Malachy’s College, Belfast.
Congratulations to Shea, Highly Commended (Ulster) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Shea, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Cúige Uladh) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Gaeilge
Student / Scoláire: Niamh Ní Dhálaigh.
School / Scoil: Coláiste Mhuire, Ratoath Road, Cabra West, Dublin 7.
Congratulations to Niamh, Highly Commended (Gaeilge) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Niamh, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Gaeilge) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Student / Scoláire: Alyssa Ní Bhrolcháin.
School / Scoil: Coláiste an Eachréidh, Baile Átha an Rí, Co. na Gaillimhe.
Congratulations to Alyssa, Highly Commended (Gaeilge) in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2025/26.
Comhghairdeas le Alyssa, a ghnóthaigh Ardmholadh (Gaeilge) i gComórtas Aiste an Oireachtais 2025/26.
Winning Schools 2025/26
