'A fantastic day' - Scoil Mhuire Glenties wins All-Island History Competition

Scoil Mhuire in Glenties is celebrating a remarkable success after being named Overall National Winner in the Primary Category of the Department of Education All-Island Schools’ History Competition 2025.

The school’s project, What Caused the Crash of a British WWII Plane in the Blue Stack Mountains, Co Donegal in 1944? had a research team made up of pupils Johnny McGlynn, Danny Boyle, Fabio Ferreira, Christopher Kennedy, Daragh Gildea, Maiia Mashyna, Lilly Bonner, Varvara Horodestka, Danny McGeehan and Senan Molloy.

READ NEXT: Dunkineely Methodist Church donate €700 to Friends of Letterkenny Hospital

Scoil Mhuire posted: “This is a truly outstanding achievement and a testament to the hard work, dedication and curiosity of our wonderful pupils - Senan, Danny, Varvara, Johnny, Danny, Fabio, Christopher, Daragh, Maiia and Lilly.”

Today, the group attended the awards ceremony at the Department of Education and Youth, Marlborough Street, Dublin, accompanied by their teacher Michael Regan and their parents - a very special and well-deserved occasion.

“Congratulations to our brilliant young historians and to Michael for his guidance and support,” the school added. “What a fantastic day for our school!”

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton congratulated the winners. Learners at both primary and post-primary levels, as well as other educational settings in Ireland and Northern Ireland, were invited to connect historical events with contemporary themes, highlight forgotten local histories and under-represented histories, and encourage participation from across the island of Ireland. These objectives are consistent with the objectives of the Government’s Shared Island Initiative.

Minister Naughton said: “The All-Island Schools’ History Competition is a wonderful opportunity for young people all over the Island to engage with their local history, think about how past events shape our lives today, and to explore creative ways to celebrate the rich diversity of legacies that we share.

“The level of interest and engagement from schools has been fantastic, and I am very impressed with the high standard and variety of entries. I am delighted to congratulate the winners who worked so hard on their projects, and I commend everyone who entered, students and teachers alike.”

The competition was organised by the Department of Education and Youth in partnership with Frances Moss, Director, Drumcondra Education Support Centre and Dr. Caitríona Ní Cassaithe, Assistant Professor in History Education in the Institute of Education, Dublin City University. It was supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport; An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta; and the Heritage Council.

Reflecting on the strength of participation from schools around the country, Frances Moss said: “The quality of the entries submitted to this year’s competition was exceptional. Students of all ages demonstrated creativity and deep engagement with a wide range of histories, often uncovering histories that had been overlooked or forgotten.”

Caitríona Ní Cassaithe said: “The submissions showed how history can be active, exciting and meaningful when students are given the opportunity to explore it for themselves.”