Young Carlow historians awarded at annual CHAS competition

YOUNG historians from County Carlow delved into the past to find fascinating stories when they entered this year’s Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society (CHAS) writing competition.

Youngsters from across the county were encouraged to write a local historical story, based on the history of a place, person or an event.

A prize-giving event was held in Carlow County Museum recently when a large attendance of prize-winners, parents and teachers were welcomed by Jenny Greiner on behalf of the museum.

President of CHAS, Helen Doyle, gave a brief address in which she congratulated the winners and thanked the parents and teachers who had helped them to produce such good work. She also thanked the museum for providing the venue.

This year’s competition had been particularly successful, attracting 173 entries from 16 schools, while the adjudicators also considered that the quality of the entries was well up to the high standard set in previous years.

Helen then presented the prizes to the winners, including awarding the first prize to Jennifer Barron from Borris NS for her entry The Story of Maggie O’Toole. Joint second was awarded to Luke Sutton, Rathmore NS for A History of Tullow Show and Patrick O’Flaherty, Ballyconnell NS for a story about Tom Kehoe.

Highly commended were James George, Leighlinbridge NS for a story about Fr John Murphy, Lauren Osborne, Bennekerry NS for her entry about Cranavane Well, and Molly Horgan, Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc for her essay about the life of John Tyndall.

Helen then presented prizes for the best entry from each of the other ten participating schools. The winners are: Zachary McCarrick, Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Tullow; Abbie Fagan, Rathvilly NS; Rian Mulvihill, Rathoe NS; Nina Carroll, Nurney NS; Ella Coady, Glynn NS; Masa Nad, Carrigduff NS; Freddie Durdin Robertson, Clonegal NS; Anna Mathews, Newtown-Dunleckney NS; Thomas Quirke, Grange; and Karolina Wojcik, Queen of the Universe, Bagenalstown.