Ten Donegal students receive Trinity College Dublin entrance awards

Ten students from Donegal have received prestigious Entrance Exhibition awards from Trinity College Dublin in recognition of outstanding performances in their final school examinations.

The 10 Donegal students are Eoghan Strain from Scoil Mhuire Buncrana and Eoin Flanagan from St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, Fern Duff from Clochar Loreto and Gift Eseosa Osagiede from Errigal College, Letterkenny. Ibrahim Hanash attended Finn Valley College, while Mariia Paketa-Melnychuk was a student at St Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs. Aidan Doherty went to Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada, and Dualta Bracken was from St Columba’s Comprehensive School. Dana Reece was a student at Royal and Prior, and Pearl Lily Anna McHugh attended Coláiste Cholm Cille, Ballyshannon.

A total of 602 first-year students from all 32 counties of Ireland and overseas have received Entrance Awards from Trinity this year. The students and their former school principals were invited to receive and celebrate their awards at ceremonies in Trinity’s Examination Hall.

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Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle congratulated all the awardees: “It is our great privilege to welcome these wonderful students to Trinity College Dublin. They deserve enormous credit for the hard work and commitment that have brought them to this point. I have every confidence that they will thrive in Trinity’s incredible academic environment and enjoy the creativity and fun of our 150 sports clubs and societies.

“I also want to congratulate all those who have supported these students on their journeys. In addition to their parents and guardians, I want to acknowledge the dedication of school principals, teachers and wider school staff - both primary and secondary - who play such a vital role in bringing out the best in students during their formative years.”

The awards go to students accepted into the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school, above a minimum of 500 CAO points (or equivalent). When more than one student from a school gets the same high points, all receive an award. Many former awardees have gone on to make a significant contribution to the economic, cultural, and political life of Ireland and beyond. Past Exhibitioners include former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Awardees receive a certificate and a €150 book token.