Nine Donegal students receive prestigious entrance awards from Trinity College

Nine students from Donegal were among a total of 626 first-year students from Ireland and overseas who received prestigious Entrance Exhibition Awards from Trinity College Dublin.

The Donegal recipients are Sarah Mary Canny of Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town; Aimee Bonar of Clochar Loreto, Leitirceanainn; Katie Mc Gee, Coláiste Ailigh Letterkenny; Rian Gallagher, Crana College, Buncrana; Zeina Hanash, Finn Valley College Stranorlar; Matthew Hull, Loreto Community School, Milford; Molly Eve Kay Moville Community College; Caoimhe Burke St Columba's College, Stranorlar, Lifford; and James Patrick Curran of St Eunans College, Letterkenny. Awardees receive a certificate and a €150 book token. 

The awards go to students accepted into the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school, above a minimum of 500 CAO points (or equivalent). 

Many former awardees have gone on to make a significant contribution to the economic, cultural, and political life of Ireland and beyond. Past Exhibitioners include Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. The awards were delivered at three ceremonies at Trinity, to which the students and their school principals were invited.  

“The Entrance Exhibition Awards are our way of recognising these fantastic students and acknowledging the huge effort they put into their Leaving Certificate exams,” Provost of Trinity Dr Linda Doyle said.

I am really honoured that they have chosen Trinity College Dublin for this next step of their education.  

"This year’s award recipients are now in the First Year of their studies and I hope they are finding their studies enjoyable and rewarding, and enjoying the huge variety of clubs and societies in Trinity. 

“Our Entrance Exhibition Awards programme includes a special event for school principals, and I want to really acknowledge the amazing work of principals, teachers and school staff who are so dedicated to making sure that students achieve their full potential.”

The Entrance Exhibition Awards were awarded to 408 students from Leinster (257 from Dublin), 84 from Munster, 53 from Connacht and 44 from Ulster.  

Awards also went to students from the following countries: Austria (2), Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany (4), Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal (2), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (2), Ukraine (3) and the UK (5).