Awards & Scholarships

Recognising outstanding students

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIP 2023 WINNERS

awards & Scholarship winners

"the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation were once again thrilled with number and quality of the entries to this year's Awards and scholarship programme 2023. the young people of Ireland clearly understand the meaning and relevance of the irish tricolour Flag's symbolism in this most special of years - the 175th anniversary of the first flying of the irish flag.

The message of inclusion and Peace was expressed with real creativity in each of the award categories. the number of entries we received far exceeded that of past years and we are very proud of all students for the passion they have shown this year, way beyond our expectations.

we also would like to sincerely thank you - our students' educators for encouraging your students to take part in the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation annual awards and learn about the history and important message of peace behind the Irish Flag."

revD. canon Michael Cavanagh, Chair of the tfm Foundation.

OVERALL / scholarship winner

Ciara corcoran - coláiste cois siuire, mooncoin, co. kilkenny

Overall Winner Scholarship ColaisteCoisSiuire Ciara Corcoran 6th Year Song Irish Flag

The overall winning entry is the song: "irish flag" Written and performed by  6th year student ciara corcoran. LINK TO SONG HERE.

 

Best overall entry junior cycle 

mailí de cléir, coláiste cholmchille indreabhán, galway

Best Overall Junior Cycle Coliste Cholmchille Mail de Clir 2nd Year RS

Read more ...

Awards & Scholarship 2022 Winners

Awards & Scholarship winners

"We of the Thomas Meagher Foundation were delighted with the number and quality of the entries to the Scholarship and Awards programme 2022. It is clear that the young people of Ireland are increasingly aware of the meaning and relevance of the Flag's symbolism in this decade of commemoration. The message of Unity and Peace was expressed with real creativity in each of the award categories - and it was particularly pleasing to see the number of entries from people from other birth nations who were eager to identify with Meagher's vision”.

Michael Cavanagh, Chair

 

scholarship winner

donal, hakim, olumide, wiktor - nagle community college, mahon, cork

Children of the Flag

The overall winning entry is a song: 'Children of the Flag' Written and performed by three 6th year students: Donal Ojiekhudu, Hakim Ali and Olumide Ogunlela from Nagle Community College Video filmed and edited by 6th year student Wiktor Owczarek. Available at the following youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgZRSj-M-Dk

 

Best overall entry senior cycle 

jan ronan macatangay, coláiste muire mathair, galway

Jan Ronan Macatangay 5th Year Colaiste Muire Mathair Galway

The Irish flag means and symbolises countless things to me. When I think about it in 2022, there are many pictures and words that come to my mind regarding it.

At the bottom on the art piece, we notice many different flags and hands of different races and ethnicities. This resembles unity and inclusion of many different countries and nationalities now living and working in Ireland. Today, I see an Ireland that fully embraces its diversity. It is at the bottom of the art piece as it portrays the foundation and the pillar of Ireland.

On the right, we see construction and roadwork. This symbolises how Ireland built itself into a wealthy and thriving country today. In the past Ireland went through great hardships and economic depressions in its history including the Famine, the 1930s Economic War, and the 1950s was an era known as ‘the disappearing Irish’.

On the left, we lay our eyes upon the much-talked about Covid-19 pandemic. We see a sense of intuition and innovation with the creation and distribution of vaccines in Ireland. Above that we also have famous drawings of traditional Irish emblems. These include the shamrock, the harp, the 4 leafed shamrock and of course hurling, Ireland’s famous sport.

Back to the middle of the poster, above the unity symbol we can spot a white dove. This white dove portrays peace in Ireland (which is what the white in the Irish flag also resembles.) The white dove also shows that Ireland and Irish people are pacifists and a friendly nation.

In front of the Irish flag we have our front line workers. These are the essential people without whose tireless efforts and hard work, we may have not entered 2022 safely or happily.

These front line workers include the medical workers, the Irish military and the Gardaí of Ireland. They stand in front of the flag because they are proud of their accomplishments and how they serve Ireland.

Last but most importantly, we notice the sun at the very top of the drawing. The bright sunset portrays the entirety of Ireland and its people. The sun peeking over the flag and everything resembles the hope and strength of the Irish during everything that we have experienced and gone through from the famine times to the current pandemic. Without our hope and strength, Ireland and its flag wouldn’t have flown quite so high.  I am so proud of its impact on the world today.

This is what the Irish flag means to me in 2022.

Read more ...

Kerry Group Awards & Scholarship Programme 2021 - Overall Winner

Gracie Friel Artist - SCHOLARSHIP WINNER - scoil mhuire buncrana

"This year and last year have been more challenging than I ever thought they could be, with countless people being affected and taken by the obscenity of Covid 19. People have endured mass suffering and pain both physically and emotionally, facing illness, isolation from those they love, and unfortunately grief .

I tried to encapsulate this within my piece, sketching an elderly man being taken care of by a nurse. On her face she wears a mask displaying the Irish flag, her loving nature a symbol of our country in whole.

During these harsh and historic times, Ireland has successfully and without hesitation stood tall and showcased strength in the face of the unknown. We have obeyed by the rules to keep ourselves, but most importantly others safe, and it is this sense of loyalty and togetherness that makes me so proud to belong to the Irish tricolour. I feel that in 2021, what the Irish flag means to me is strength, compassion,  unity and above all else, is love"

Kerry Group Awards & Scholarship Programme 2021 - Winners

Announcing the kerry group awardS & scholarship Winners for 2021!

We were delighted to receive such a wealth of diverse entries to the Awards programme this year despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.  We applaud all the students and their teachers for their efforts and creativity.  we don't doubt that Thomas F. Meagher would be thrilled to see the school children in 2021 celebrating the Irish flag in such a wonderfully inspiring way.

Read more ...

2019 Kerry Group Awards & Scholarship Winners

The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation’s Awards and Scholarship Programme has been held annually since 2016. This education programme allows students from registered schools to enter the Kerry Group Awards and Scholarship Programme. This allows students the chance to win an Award or the overall top prize of a Scholarship.

If your school would like to enter please see our Flag Day Page 

Read more ...

Awards & Scholarship Programme 2023

The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation’s Awards and Scholarship Programme has been running annually since 2016.

This education programme allows students from secondary schools across the state to enter the thomas f. meagher Awards and Scholarship Programme in association with our sponsor the irish american partnership.

students have the opportunity to win one of many awards or the overall prize of €1000 with winning students invited to attend the annual awards presentation ceremony. 

closing date for entries is 31st march 2023. winners will be announced after the school easter holidays.

2023 is the first anniversary of the first flying of the irish tricolour flag and we invite students to enter on the theme "175 years on. what the irish flag means to me in 2023".

Each year we are delighted for students to explore their creativity and have a little fun with their entries! 

DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIP 2023 POSTER

  

 marking scheme

1. demonstrate knowledge of the history of the flag and commitment to the message of peace and inclusion 50 marks 

2. innovation (original and unique) 25 marks 

3. quality of entry (photos, videos, composition of essay, overall presentation) 25 marks

2018 Kerry Group Awards & Scholarship Winners

The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation’s Awards and Scholarship Programme has been held annually since 2016. This education programme allows students from registered schools to enter the Kerry Group Awards and Scholarship Programme. This allows students the chance to win an Award or the overall top prize of a Scholarship.

Below are some of the previous entries to the programme and if your school would like to enter please see our Flag Day Page 

To see our winners from previous years and pictures from the Awards and Scholarship Lunch held annually in Leinster House, please click on the links below.

 

Here are the winners of the 2018 Kerry Group Awards & Scholarships.

Read more ...

2017 Awards and Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to Kate Lynch of Regina Mundi Cork.

 

 

The 7 schools and the charities they raised money for are below

​Regina Mundi, Cork - Trocaire and Down Syndrome Ireland

Mary Immaculate College Cork- West Cork Wheelchair Association

​Colaiste Phonail Cholmcille Tory Island- Make A Wish

​Colaiste Bride Dublin- Mens Cancer Alliance

North Monastery School Cork City- Irish Cancer Society

​Castleknock College Dublin- Project in Ambo Ethiopia

​Christ Kings Girls School Cork- Pieta House

2016 Kerry Group Awards and Scholarship Winners

The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation Awards and Scholarship Programme in Association with Kerry Group

The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation Awards and Scholarship Programme in Association with Kerry Group was officially launched at the Flag Presentation Ceremony in Waterford on 12th March 2015 at which President Michael D. Higgins was present. This programme, recognises outstanding students who have promoted pride in and respect for the Irish Flag and its message of peace and who are active citizens within their communities. Winning schools will be awarded a scholarship from one of our Nation’s 7 University Education Partners.

 

More details...

 

The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation Awards and Scholarship Programme 2016

On the 16th of May 2016 the seven chosen schools who demonstrated active citizenship in their communities and raised money for charities were presented with third level scholarships at a Scholarship Presentation Lunch in Leinster House.

The winning schools were:

St. Nathy's, Roscommon

Glanmire Community College, Cork

Stratford College, Dublin

Colaiste Bríde, Dublin

Schull Community College, Cork

Presentation Secondary School, Tipperary

Representatives from each school accepted their Scholarship Certifiicates at the Presentation lunch. Presidents from the Foundation's Education Partners - University of Limerick, University College Cork, NUI Galway, Dublin City University, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and NUI Maynooth were in attendance. Chairman of the Foundation Reverend Michael Cavanagh, the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Eireann Sean O'Fearghail and Senator Mark Daly spoke at the event and thanked the schools for their whole-hearted involvment in helping local charities and encouraging pride in the Irish flag.

Our Education and Challenge Partners