Kildare student reaches regional final in ActionTalks speech writing competition

Caolainn Hanlon, a student at Maynooth Post-Primary School in Kildare, has won a place in the regional finals of the ActionTalks speech writing competition.

The competition is run by ActionAid Ireland, which works with women and children across the world, as they take the lead in claiming their human rights to build a more just world.

The competition, now in its twelfth year, was open to students across Ireland and this year ActionAid received 135 entries from 33 schools across 14 counties. This year’s themes focus on the climate crisis, girls' education, and women’s rights organisations.

Regional finalists are asked to provide a video of themselves reading their speech. This will be graded on the quality of the speech and also on delivery.

Two winners from each of the three regional finals will win a €50 voucher and proceed to the final which will be held in Dublin in March. This year the overall prize is a €500 voucher for the winner and a €100 voucher for their teacher.

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CEO of ActionAid Ireland Karol Balfe said: “In these very difficult times we are living in, the ActionTalks competition continues to shine a light on the passion and interest that young people have for global issues, which gives us so much hope for the future.

“It was extremely hard to choose the regional finalists this year, with the quality of entries high across the country. We hope those who didn’t make the final continue their interest in women's rights and global justice. And my very best of luck to Caolainn in the regional finals.”

This competition is supported by Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, as part of a women’s rights programme in Kenya, Nepal and Ethiopia.