MEPs present awards to Tipperary students who completed European Parliament programme
Students from Clonmel's Loreto Secondary School received the European Parliament Ambassador Schools Programme awards at a ceremony in Cashel
Students from Clonmel's Loreto Secondary School were presented with awards for completing the European Parliament Ambassador Schools Programme by Ireland South MEPs Seán Kelly and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú at a ceremony in Brú Ború in Cashel last Friday, May 1.
The ceremony was hosted by the European Parliament's Liaison Office in Ireland ahead of Europe Day on May 9.
Students had the chance to present their work to the MEPs and take the floor to ask questions, leading to a wide-ranging discussion from fuel prices to Mercosur, women’s safety, and the Irish language.
This year the EPAS programme is celebrating its 10th anniversary, growing from 11 schools as a pilot project in Ireland to 85 schools in 2026.
These awards are a timely reminder of the importance of the EU in daily life as Ireland prepares to host the European Council Presidency from July.
What is the European Parliament Ambassador School programme?
The European Parliament Ambassador School programme is a network of over 2000 secondary and vocational schools across the EU that are committed to raising awareness about democracy and EU values. Students learn about the history of the EU, European values, and their rights as EU citizens.
Receiving the EPAS award is the culmination of a year-long effort to bring Europe to life in their schools. In order to become a certified European Parliament Ambassador School, schools must successfully complete the required criteria.
All schools designate a Senior Ambassador (teacher), and a number of Junior Ambassadors (students) who take on an active role in the programme. Schools also have an EU info-point, an area or noticeboard dedicated to Europe, where they display information about the EU, the work of the European Parliament and its MEPs. In addition, schools organise a Europe Day event, to celebrate the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration on 9 May.
To apply to take part in the 2026-2027 cycle of the European Parliament Ambassador School programme, please contact [email protected].
For more information, visit https://dublin.europarl.europa.eu/en/dossiers/youth/ambassador-school-programme