Raphoe woman accepted into unique University of Cambridge course

A Raphoe woman has been awarded a place at the prestigious Girton College at The University of Cambridge to read Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Studies.

Niamh Coyle, a former student at The Royal and Prior Comprehensive School, is a keen history student.

Only two students are admitted to the ASNC course each year at Girton and is not available in any other university.

“It combines history, literature, and language in one course,” Niamh says.

Niamh is currently enjoying a gap year au-pairing in Brussels and visiting some of the institutions of the European Union in her spare time.

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She selected Girton as her top choice due to ‘its pioneering and progressive history’.

She says: “It was the first residential institution to offer university level education to women, and its fourth mistress was Emily Davies, the Suffragist”.

Niamh has always had a keen interest in history, but after completing a summer course in Celtic Studies with The Centre for Talented Youth, Ireland, she really fell in love with the subject.

That was cemented when Niamh recently completed a short course in Mediaeval Icelandic Sagas in Iceland.

Niamh describes the application process for Cambridge as ‘long and incredibly intense’.

Her time The Royal and Prior afforded her opportunities that have been ‘hugely beneficial’ such as entering the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad and completing challenges with The New York Academy of Sciences.

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Joining the Debating Club developed important skills needed for the two entrance interviews.

Dr Howard Welch, the Principal of The Royal and Prior, said: "The whole school community is delighted to hear Niamh's wonderful news.

“We wish her all the very best as she takes up her well earned place at Cambridge.

“It is very encouraging for us as a school to see that our students are supported in every way possible in order to help  them reach their potential, whether that be at college, in an apprenticeship or at university."