Oireachtas Essay Competition
2026/27
Details about participating in the Oireachtas Essay Competition 2026/2027 are being worked on will be updated here in advance of the 2026/2027 school year.
Oireachtas Essay Competition
2025/26
A chairde,
We were delighted by the response to our 4th Annual Oireachtas Essay Competition with twice as many students registering this year.
Congratulations to our winners and to all who participated in the Competition. Please keep up your interest in the political process and encourage others to do likewise. Our democracy needs you!
We are grateful to all those who help to make Aiste an Oireachtais such a success.
Special thanks to PTSB, our Principal Sponsor again this year. “The future of our democracy, and of our economy, will not be shaped by technology alone, said CEO Eamonn Crowley at our Awards Ceremony, “but also by the next generation of talented young people like them.”
Gratitude also to our Associate Sponsors: Mason Hayes & Curran, CJ Fallon (our longest-serving sponsor), An Post and ESB.
This Competition would not be possible without the support of school Principals and teachers, education management and representative bodies, our Competition assessors and judges, and of course the parents and families who encourage their loved ones to participate.
Thanks also Western Web Marketing who manage this website, to the Competition organisation team and all the Oireachtas staff who help us in different ways.
We look forward to next year’s Oireachtas Essay Competition, details of which will appear on this website in late summer/early autumn. Keep checking in with us!
Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD,
Founding Patron
Senator Rónán Mullen,
Competition Convenor
Competition Convenor
Images from Oireachtas Essay Competition
TG4 coverage of the Awards Ceremony in Leinster House
Letter from the Organisers: August/September 2025.
Dear friends,
We invite you to take part in the Oireachtas Essay Competition (Aiste an Oireachtais), now entering its fourth year.
Is AI a threat to Democracy? There is increasing concern about the future impact of Artificial Intelligence on our society, on relationships between people and on human nature itself.
There are many questions, and perhaps the answers won’t be known for some time. An issue that needs careful consideration is how AI will impact on the flow of information across society and on decision-making within democracies.
Current decision-makers AND future leaders need to be alert to both the opportunities and the challenges.
We are inviting 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 this important theme.
The Oireachtas Essay Competition has achieved much in its first three years and is valued by schools across the island of Ireland. 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.
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 for supporting this year’s Competition.
Aiste an Oireachtais is a 32-county, bilingual Competition. We welcome essays with a focus on the Oireachtas, the Northern Irish Assembly, the British Parliament or any other decision-making forum. You may send us a piece of political analysis or some fine creative writing. We are open to all possibilities.
This Competition is an opportunity for you to reflect on the importance of democracy to society, to consider how parliamentary life can be a force for good or otherwise, and to think about your own role in the decision-making structures that shape the world around us.
After all, that world depends on you for its future!
We look forward to reading your essays and to meeting some of you at our Awards Ceremony, and in your schools, in 2026.
Thank you for participating and best of luck.
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
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
