Muireann Hickey, a TY student at Coláiste Íde agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale, has won first prize in an All Ireland History Essay Competition about the Spanish Civil War. Muireann, a native of Mountcollins, will travel to Madrid in February where she will be invited to read her essay and get an opportunity to visit some sites associated with the Spanish Civil War. Historian and writer Harry Owens visited the school to present Muireann with her prize. He commented on the very high standard of essays received.
The All Ireland Essay Competition, now in its third year, invites students aged 16-19 to write on the roles and experiences of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War in relation to Ireland. Previous winners of the competition have come from Wexford and Armagh.
Muireann was guided and encouraged by her history teacher Ms Mary Walsh- Foley who brought the competition to her attention. Principal Jim Tierney commented, “I’m delighted for Muireann and congratulate her and her teacher on this success.”
Aside from the trip to Madrid with a parent, Muireann has also an additional prize to look forward to later in the year. As part of Limerick City of Culture, a weekend remembering the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War will take place in the city, and the organisers of the weekend festival, which will attract many leading historians, have extended an invitation to Muireann to attend.