Kilcommon student’s top essay
The Tenth Annual National Secondary School Essay Writing Competition organised by the University of Limerick Regional Writing Centre has been won by 17-year-old student William Quinlan from Kilcommon.
Competitors from schools nationwide were asked to discuss the topic: “To what extent is the current one exam system of the Leaving Cert suitable and fair for students? Is there a better system that could be implemented in Ireland?”
The primary purpose of the nationwide competition is to give students the opportunity to engage in a social debate through writing and to prepare them for argumentative writing at third level.
In addition, the competition highlights the University of Limerick’s commitment to supporting the educational advancement of prospective students. The Regional Writing Centre is dedicated to helping students to become more confident, critical and autonomous writers.
William was announced as the overall winner at an online ceremony for the finalists hosted by Professor Kerstin Mey, President of UL. The event was chaired by Laurence Cleary, director of the UL Regional Writing Centre alongside Professor Mary Fitzpatrick. William was awarded a Microsoft Surface Go Tablet and Winner Certificate. Professor Mey congratulated William and the runners up for the excellent standard of their writing. William is a former student of Kilcommon National School and attends St Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh.
The runners-up were Oscar Murphy, Sandford Park School, Ranelagh, Co Dublin and Kate Owens, Coláiste Iognáid, Galway.
The three winning essays can be located at the Regional Writing Centre's website ulsites.ul.ie/rwc/essays-3