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.

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Online Awards Programme is now CLOSED for entries. Winners to be announced very soon!

KERRY GROUP ONLINE AWARDS 2021

Exciting news this year we are running our Awards programme earlier than usual for all of our schools that registered with the Foundation for Flag Day to submit an entry to our Kerry Group Online Awards Programme which also means the winners will get to feature not only on our website but in the Irish Independent Supplement The People's Flag on March 12th 2021.

By entering the Awards programme, we are hoping that your students will learn about both the Irish Flag and its meaning for peace, and about the flags of all the nationalities in your school and the meaning and symbolism behind these flags.

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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 

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2021 Awards & Scholarship Criteria

2021 Awards & Scholarship Criteria

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Awards & Scholarship Programme

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 usually allows students the chance to win an Award or the overall top prize of a Scholarship. 

This year in 2021 however we are running a slightly different format to the Awards, given the different challenges and restrictions Covid 19 has brought to all of our communities, we would like students to explore their creativity and have a little fun with their entries!

COMPETITION RULES

1. The competition is open to all students from registered schools who take part in Flag Day 2021. 
2. Students can enter the competition individally or by group.
3. Entries to be sent by the teacher or the school not by the student.
4. This years theme is based on the topic "What the Irish Flag means to me in 2021".
5. All entries must be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or sent by post to Reverend Michael Cavanagh, The Rectory, Kenmare, County Kerry.
6. The deadline for entries is Wednesday March 3rd, 2021

ENTRY FORMAT

Entries can be made in any of the following formats: 

1. Tweet
2. Instagram Post
3. Facebook Post
4. Music/Song
5. Video (No longer than 2 minutes)
6. Audio Clip
7. Typed Essay (No longer than 500 Words)
8. Poem
9. Picture or Artwork

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.

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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.

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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.