Donegal student wins merit in national essay competition

Honor Geary from Loreto Community School, Milford, won a merit award in the national Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition 2025. 

The winners were announced at a special ceremony held at the Law Society in Dublin on Wednesday, May 14.

Now in its third year, the annual competition invites Transition Year students from across the country to submit a 1,500-word legal essay on a specific topic. This year, over 350 essays were submitted by students from 52 schools across 16 counties, each exploring the topic: “The role the law can play in addressing Hate Crime”.

The competition aims to inspire young peoples’ legal learning by encouraging students from a wide range of backgrounds to consider contemporary justice issues.

President of the Law Society, Eamon Harrington, said: “This year’s topic challenged students to explore how our laws respond to hatred and discrimination in society. Their essays demonstrated an understanding of the role that legislation can play in protecting marginalised groups and promoting inclusion for all in society.

“Through the competition students are encouraged to research, reflect and critically apply their learnings to this complex legal issue. The judges were impressed with the breadth of ideas and considered arguments put forward by students.

“The Law Society remains committed to widening early access to legal education for young people from all backgrounds. Congratulations to all students who entered, and in particular to this year’s finalists and winners. We hope many of them will continue their legal education, continue to ask questions and consider a future career in law.”

The Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition honours the life and legacy of the late Judge Gráinne O’Neill. In 2014, Gráinne became the youngest judge in Ireland when she was appointed to the District Court. Gráinne died in 2018 following a period of illness but, during her life and especially during her years as a judge, Gráinne worked diligently to apply the law in a fair, rigorous and compassionate manner.

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The competition was initiated by The Hon Mr Justice Keenan Johnson of the Circuit Court, in collaboration with the Midland Solicitors’ Bar Association in 2019. The Law Society has hosted the national competition for the past three years.