The Law Society of Ireland has announced the winners of the National Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition at an event held at the Law Society on Tuesday 30 April 2024. Transition Year student Patrick Galvin, Abbey Community College, Waterford was announced as the overall winner of this year’s competition.

The competition aims to inspire young peoples’ legal learning by encouraging students from a wide range of backgrounds to consider contemporary justice issues. The competition received almost 140 essays from 48 schools across 16 different counties. Each student submitted a 1,500-word essay examining the topic, “Climate Change Mitigation; the role the law can play in addressing the climate crisis.”

President of the Law Society Barry MacCarthy, said, “The solicitors’ profession is changing, and the Law Society is committed to supporting legal education for the next generation. With this year’s essay focused on climate change, the students offered passionate, engaging and reflective essays.

This competition encourages students to consider the law and helps them understand how the law can impact issues that are close to their hearts and areas of their daily lives. We hope this essay competition will inspire students from across the country to continue their legal education, nurture their curiosity for justice issues and to consider a future career in law.”

Patrick’s essay was selected as the top entry and won a €1000 prize and a cup for his school. The judges commended Patrick for his essay’s superb analysis of the law. The judges said, “it was clear he was passionate about the law and the subject matter making him a deserving winner.”

Commenting on his win, Patrick Galvin said, “I am so grateful to have won the top award at the Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition. I have learned so much about the law, and how it impacts and helps climate issues. The competition allowed me to consider these issues deeper.

“I would like to thank my teachers and school, Abbey Community College, Waterford for their encouragement in entering, and my parents for their support.” 

Jack Wu, Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone, Sligo was awarded second place and Ella Mae Gavigan, Wilson’s Hospital School, Westmeath came third. Two merit certificates were awarded to Conal McMahon, Saint Joseph’s Secondary School Tulla, Clare and Evie Quigley, Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin.

About the competition

The Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition honours the life and legacy of the late Judge Gráinne O’Neill. In 2014, Gráinne became the youngest judge in Ireland when she was appointed to the District Court. Gráinne died in 2018 following a period of illness but, during her life and especially during her years as a judge, Gráinne worked diligently to apply the law in a fair, rigorous and compassionate manner.

The competition was initiated by The Hon Mr Justice Keenan Johnson of the Circuit Court, in collaboration with the Midland Solicitors’ Bar Association in 2019. This is the second year the competition has invited entries from transition year students across the country.

“I hope Gráinne would be honoured to know that her legacy is making a positive difference to the next generation of legal learners, encouraging education, and helping them better understand how the law impacts everyone in society,” said Mr MacCarthy.