A DONEGAL student has won a merit award at a national essay writing competition.
Euan Stewart from Moville Community College was awarded at the Law Society Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition 2026.
He was one of 34 finalists at a special ceremony held at the Law Society in Dublin on Wednesday, and he was one of seven students to receive a merit certificate.
Offaly Transition Year (TY) student Rhea Schreiber from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore, was named as the winner.
Now in its fourth year, the annual competition invites TY students from across the country to submit a 1,500-word legal essay on a specific topic. This year, over 500 essays were submitted by students from 67 schools across 20 counties, each exploring the topic: Protecting Voices, Preventing Harm: Legal Challenges in Online Freedom of Speech.
The essay competition aims to inspire legal learning amongst students across the country, by encouraging them consider contemporary justice issues, and legal matters that they might encounter in their daily lives.
President of the Law Society, Rosemarie Loftus, said: “The Gráinne O’Neill Legal Essay Competition is a highlight in the Law Society’s public legal education events calendar each year. It is an opportunity to engage with students from every corner of Ireland, to encourage them to consider law and legal concepts, and to provide them with an opportunity to reflect on how these might relate to their daily lives.
“This year’s topic, Protecting Voices, Preventing Harm: Legal Challenges in Online Freedom of Speech, is particularly relevant in our modern world.
“Students were invited to explore how we balance our laws and rights when it comes to freedom of speech, preventing harm and how this translates to social media.
“Congratulations to all students who took part, with special recognition for this year’s finalists and winners. We hope many will go on to pursue legal studies, remain curious, and consider a future in the field of law.”