Sligo students finalists in Law Society’s memorial essay competition

Transition Year student Patrick Galvin, Abbey Community College, Waterford was announced as the overall winner of this year’s competition. Jack Wu from Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone, Sligo was awarded second place.

The competition aims to inspire young peoples’ legal learning by encouraging students from a wide range of backgrounds to consider contemporary justice issues. The competition received almost 140 essays from 48 schools across 16 different counties. Each student submitted a 1,500-word essay examining the topic, “Climate Change Mitigation; the role the law can play in addressing the climate crisis.”

Aoibhe Gordon and Ellie Cowley from Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone and Michael McDonnell, Summerhill College were also among the 30 finalists that attended the event in Dublin.

President of the Law Society Barry MacCarthy, said, “The solicitors’ profession is changing, and the Law Society is committed to supporting legal education for the next generation. With this year’s essay focused on climate change, the students offered passionate, engaging and reflective essays.

“This competition encourages students to consider the law and helps them understand how the law can impact issues that are close to their hearts and areas of their daily lives. We hope this essay competition will inspire students from across the country to continue their legal education, nurture their curiosity for justice issues and to 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.

The competition was initiated by Sligo native, The Hon Mr Justice Keenan Johnson of the Circuit Court, in collaboration with the Midland Solicitors’ Bar Association in 2019. This is the second year the competition has invited entries from transition year students across the country