LOCAL STUDENTS RECEIVE TRINITY ENTRANCE AWARDS

Several local students have been named amongst those set to receive Trinity College Entrance Exhibition awards this year.

The awards go to the 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.

Local students to receive the award include former Loreto Secondary School, Fermoy student, Martha Cosgrove who achieved 625 points - the maximum achievable - in the 2021 Leaving Certificate.

Two Glanmire students were also named as recipients of the prestigious awards, including Jill O’Flynn of Coláiste an Phiarsaigh and Louise Hennessy of Glanmire Community College. Enda Sheedy, a former student of Scoil Pól in Kilfinane, was also named as a recipient.

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 Tánaiste and former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.

Of the 2021 entrants to Trinity, 686 students qualified for an award, up from 527 in 2020, with 97 of the recipients from Munster. Awardees receive a certificate and a €150 book token.

The students come from a record 497 different schools, 458 schools on the island of Ireland, up from 438 in 2020, and 39 schools from overseas, up from 17.

This year, the awards were delivered via an online virtual ceremony

“We are delighted to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our talented students, especially in a year when their lives and studies were so badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Provost of Trinity, Linda Doyle.

“We are pleased that, since we revised the Entrance Exhibition Awards in 2018 as part of our commitment to boosting diversity, more and more schools are being represented, including a growing number from overseas. We wish them all the best in their studies at Trinity. Maith sibh go léir,” she added.

Changes made to the awards scheme in 2018 meant that students who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school with a minimum of 500 points in the Leaving Certificate (or its equivalent second-level final examinations) are eligible for an Entrance Exhibition Award. This includes bonus points for Mathematics.

Previously, any students receiving 560 or more points (excluding bonus points) were awarded Entrance Exhibition Awards, which meant that up to 20 students from any one school could qualify.