Maynooth student narrowly misses out in national competition

Aoibhe Curley a student at Maynooth Post Primary School in Kildare presented her speech at the ActionAid National Speech Writing Competition in Dublin last week, but narrowly missed out on winning the competition.

She was presented with a certificate by award winning Cork-based author Louise O’Neill.

Aoibe was one of ten finalists who delivered their speeches in front of a panel of judges including Author Louise O’Neill; Board Member of the National Women’s Council Frances Byrne, and Brian Caden from Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Jane Oyenuga, a student at Loreto Secondary School in Kilkenny and Lauren Conway a student at Coláiste Éinde school in Galway were selected as winners at the competition in the Royal Irish Academy (RIA).

Winning finalists Lauren and Jane will travel with their teachers to visit Malawi and see first-hand ActionAid’s Irish Aid funded women’s rights programme.

Atotal of more than 70 students, aged 14 to 17, from over 30 schools across the country who entered the competition.

There were three speech topics to choose from which focused on European Year for Development, Human Rights Based Approach to Development and Women’s Rights.