Mallow student William Stokes has been named the winner of Moonpig Ireland’s nationwide 2026/2027 Leaving Cert competition, receiving up to €2,500 towards his student contribution as he begins studying Chemical and Biochemical Engi-neering at the University of Limerick.
The nationwide competition launched ahead of Leaving Cert Results Day, inviting students across Ireland to share what finishing school meant to them and how winning would help them take their next step. Following a judging process, William’s entry stood out for its personality, originality and honest reflection on the highs and lows of completing the Leaving Cert, as well as his excitement about what comes next.
In his entry, William compared completing the Leaving Cert to reaching the summit of an Everest he had been climbing for years; a journey filled with early mornings, late nights, friendships, sport, sacrifices and moments of self-doubt.
He also captured the nerves of Results Day itself. Working on a building site that week, William recalled “bumping into things” while Adele’s ‘Skyfall’ seemed to soundtrack his mood as he waited to discover how all his hard work had paid off. Those nerves quickly turned to elation when he opened his results and saw a line of H1s on the screen.
Now, William is preparing to take on his ‘next climb’, having secured a place to study Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of Limerick. William said the prize would give him valuable “breathing space” as he begins university, allowing him to worry less about money, concentrate on his studies and make the most of his first year.
Alice Kinsella, Country Lead at Moonpig Ireland, said: “We were blown away by the entries we received from students across Ireland, each sharing such personal reflections on what finishing school and beginning this next chapter means to them. William’s entry really stood out to our judging panel. It was full of personality, warmth and honesty, and perfectly captured that mixture of nerves, excitement and pride that surrounds Leaving Cert Results Day.”