Student Aoife O’Donnell presented with third Coogan Gallagher Scholarship Award

Caroleann recently travelled home to Arranmore Island to present Aoife with the third annual Coogan Gallagher Scholarship Award

placeholder image — Caroleann recently travelled home to Arranmore Island to present Aoife with the third annual Coogan Gallagher Scholarship Award

Aoife, who is a Leaving Certificate student, will now receive a scholarship of €3,000 to assist with financing further education

Aoife O’Donnell has been presented with the 2025 Coogan Gallagher Scholarship.

The Leaving Certificate student at Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada is the daughter of James Gerald and Noreen O'Donnell. Aoife was awarded the scholarship as she embodied the qualities the award stands for, such as hard work and dedication.

The scholarship, which is not based on academic performance, was established by a past student, Caroleann Gallagher, who currently works as a lawyer in Chicago. Caroleann was one of the first pupils to attend Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada in 1990. The award was created out of her gratitude for all that the school brought to the island and to help students with financing further education.

Now in its third year, the scholarship will be available annually and will award the winner €3,000 to assist them on their career path. She recently travelled home to Arranmore Island to present Aoife with the third annual Coogan Gallagher Scholarship Award.

“I was so proud to meet and present Aoife O'Donnell with the 2025 Coogan Gallagher Scholarship Award,” Caroleann said. “Her dedication shines through in everything she takes on - whether it’s her schoolwork, her music, her writing, her photography, her love of the Irish Language or her volunteer efforts - she always gives her best without ever seeking the spotlight.

“What an incredible, inspiring young lady Aoife is! Aoife has worked hard to secure her dream college placement at Marino College, Dublin and we couldn't be prouder to support a little part of her journey! - Comhghairdeas agus ádh mór ort, Aoife."

Aoife will now go on to study at Marino College Dublin, pursuing her dream of becoming a primary school teacher through Irish.

“The Coogan Gallagher scholarship was created to celebrate hard work, dedication, and community spirit, and Aoife embodies all of those qualities and more,” The CooganGallagher Firm shared. “We are so proud to support her journey and can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes in the years ahead.”

Aoife follows in the footsteps of JJ O’Donnell and Finn Trocmé, the previous two winners of the award.