Award Winners

YH Award Winners

2024 Young Historian winners 

2024 Young Historian Winners

(click on the title to read the submission)


Runners-up

Published in part in the Leitrim Observer, 12 June 2024

Transition Year students reveal the History on their Doorstep


The 2024 Young Historian awards were presented recently to Transition Year students in four Leitrim schools. The judges remarked on the excellent standard this year, and Natalie Fryde noted that much credit should go to the teachers: Seamus Mullen at Ballinamore Community School (BCS); Matt McVeigh and Norma Comyns at Carrigallen Vocational School (CVS); Brian Flannery at Lough Allen College (LAC); and Thomas Nolan at Mohill Community College (MCC).

Personal connection

The judges congratulated the students who connected personally with their story, were critical about their sources, and honest about their challenges. There was a very wide range of topics this year, with most students exploring their personal connection to a person, place or event in history. Family histories and the revolutionary period were the most popular topics, though the overall winner and Best Leitrim History was Nicole Kellett’s (BCS) well-structured, informative and reflective history of the Ballinamore railway and how it shaped the town and Nicole’s own family through the generations. Best non-Leitrim History was won by Lennon Grothe (LAC), for his illuminating history of his Goral heritage. Áine O'Reilly won Best in School for the well-researched story of her grandmother Margaret Fearns’ experience as an evacuee during World War II.

Honing essential skills

Seamus Mullen (BCS) noted how the programme has ‘gone from strength to strength’ and ‘the range of topics encapsulates the diverse cultural history and background of our students in the Ireland of today’, while ‘their research and organisational skills are easily transferable to any area or subject in the future’. This opinion was echoed by Thomas Nolan (MCC) who said that students were ‘empowered to connect with their roots through local and family history, while honing essential research, organisation, and writing skills that will benefit them throughout their lives’, while Brian Flannery at (LAC) noted the value of the programme in requiring the students ‘to evaluate past events based on wide ranging historical sources thus challenging pupils to think critically’. Matthew McVeigh and Norma Comyns (CVS), lauded the programme as ‘a fantastic opportunity for students to dig deeper into their own past, either in their homes or in their locality’.

Diverse topics

Amongst the many noteworthy and memorable entries this year were Rebecca Reilly’s story of her great-grandmother’s safe house during the War of Independence, and Ava Gaffney’s empathetic story of the murder of John Harrison in Aughawillan in 1921. Anybody wishing to know more about smelting on Sliabh an Iarainn should read Kayla Gill’s submission; similarly with Alan O'Beirne’s biography of Albert Reynolds and Reuben McCrann’s recounting of General Humbert’s path locally. Kate McCauley wrote a comprehensive and personal story of her great-grand-uncle, Joe Liddy, the renowned Leitrim Fiddler. Fiachra Curtis-McHugh wrote a fascinating story of an ancestor, Philip Sheridan, who emigrated and became an American Civil War General whose statue stands in Washington DC. The projects will be lodged in the Leitrim County Library Archives for future researchers.

The Young Historian programme was initiated by Fiona Slevin and Natalie Fryde in 2021, and is supported by Leitrim County Library. All entrants received certificates, and all category winners received cash vouchers while the overall and school winners were presented with engraved Leitrim Crystal plaques – all sponsored by Leitrim County Library.

Visit www.younghistorian.ie to read some of the submissions from this and previous years. The website also has useful guidance on archives and online research sources for anyone interested in researching family and Leitrim history. For more information, contact Fiona Slevin at fiona@loughrynn.net.


2024 Young Historian Winners

(click on the title to read the submission)


Runners-up



Young Historian 2023

In 2023, three schools participated in the programme: Ballinamore Community School (BCS), Carrigallen Vocational School (CVS) and Lough Allen College (LAC) in Drumkeerin.

Riain MacManus’ won the overall prize for his account of the life of his grand-uncle Terence Hugh Keegan based on an interview with his great-aunt Kathleen.


See the full list of 2023 winners here >>>

Young Historian 2022

In 2022, five schools participated in the programme.

Brianna Faughnan won the overall prize for her detailed account of the life and deportation of Jimmy Gralton. Fiona Slevin said ‘Brianna’s submission stood out for its originality, diligent research and storytelling’, and she impressed the judges with her mature, sophisticated approach to research and her fearlessness in striving to tell an accurate, unbiased story.


See the full list of 2022 winners here >>>

Riain MacManus
A Hometown Hero: Terence Hugh Keegan

2023 Overall Winner, Best in School, and Best Family History

Read

School: Ballinamore Community College

Teacher: Seamus Mullen

Brianna Faughnan
Jimmy Gralton: deported without trial

2022 Overall Winner, Best in School, and Best Biography

This project discusses Jimmy Gralton, the only man since the beginning of the Free State in Ireland to be deported without trial. He was targeted by both the Catholic Church, landlords and the Royal Irish Constabulary due to his socialist beliefs. He could also be considered one of the first targeted by the anti-jazz movement as those who attended the Pearse-Connolly dancehall Gralton founded were often threatened by the local priests.

Read

School: Mohill Community College

Teacher: Thomas Nolan

Felicity Watt
Comparison of New Zealand Primary School - 50 years apart

2023 Best in School/Best Social History

Read

School: Lough Allen College

Teacher: Brian Flannery

Sandra Kanstantsinava
My father as a Soviet Soldier in the USSR 

2023 Best in School, Best World History

Read

School: Carrigallen Vocational School

Teacher: Matthew McVeigh

Lucy Murphy
History of Seán O’Heslin’s GAA club

2023 Best in School/Best Social History

Read

School: Ballinamore Community College

Teacher: Seamus Mullen

Lauren Maguire
Conall Cearnach and Queen Maebh in Ballyconnell 

2023 Best Folklore

Read

School: Carrigallen Vocational School

Teacher: Matthew McVeigh

Aislinn Murphy
How my grand-uncle was involved in the 1981 Hunger Strike 

2023 Best 20th Century History

Read

School: Lough Allen College

Teacher: Brian Flannery

Aisling Quinn
Ballinamore Island Theatre

2023 Best Cultural History

Read

School: Carrigallen Vocational School

Teacher: Matthew McVeigh

Teodora Usatii
My Romanian Grandad and Grandmother 

2023 Best Best Contemporary History

Read

School: Ballinamore Community College

Teacher: Seamus Mullen

Ríona Redican
Fenagh Abbey and its Connection with my Family 

2023 Best Built Heritage

Read

School: Lough Allen College

Teacher: Brian Flannery

Ríona Costello
The Cavan and Leitrim Railway

2022 Best Built/Natural Heritage

This project discusses the history and significance of the railway in the Mohill area.

On Station Road, Mohill, there is a large, red brick building in an overgrown field. A faded wooden sign on the fence says, ‘Narrow Gauge Railway Station.’ This building was a train station on the Cavan and Leitrim Railway, which closed over 60 years ago.

Read

School: Mohill Community College

Teacher: Thomas Nolan

Grace Donlon
My Great-Grandfather Frank Davis 

2022 Best Family History

This project is an account of my great-grandfather, Frank Davis’ life and includes information on various ambushes and events in and around County Longford. 

During the War of Independence, he was a member of the old IRA (Irish Republican Army), the North Longford Flying Column, the Irish Volunteers and the IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood). 

He was the first commandant of the North Longford Army Barracks and oversaw the takeover of the Connolly Barracks in Longford in 1922. 

Read

School: Mohill Community College

Teacher: Thomas Nolan

Anna Modrzejewska
Poland and Solidarność in the 1970s and early 1980s

2022 Best Contemporary History

This project is about the beginnings of the movement Solidarność, and how its actions affected the daily life of people living in Poland between 1970 and 1985.

Following strikes in Gdansk in 1980  led by Lech Walesa, Solidarność emerged as a movement, then a trade union. Over 10 million people joined Solidarność and it marked the beginning of the end of communism in Poland.

This is the period of time in which my parents grew up and they have told me of their struggles and joys during that time. In this project, I investigate how life was during the 1970s in Poland, what exactly the movement Solidarność did, and how it affected people's lives, by interviewing my grandparents and researching online.

Read

School: Drumshanbo Vocational School

Teacher: Sheree Conefrey

Rhianna Woods
A comparison: my grand-aunt’s home, my home 

2022 Best in School; Best Folklore

My project is about the changes that have happened in my area/townland since my grand-aunt and her sisters lived here in the 1930’s. I chose this topic because when my grand-aunt was in school she wrote an essay about her area (part of the 1938 Schools Collection) including the population, how emigration was affecting it at the time, and the landscape. I now live in the same area, so I think it would be interesting to note what has changed since then.

Read

School: Lough Allen College

Teacher: Brian Flannery

Cian Kelly 2022 Carrigallen
The History of Michael Leo O'Reilly

2021 Best in School

Michael Leo O’Reilly was my Great-Grandfather. He fought for Irish independence and when he died, he had a military funeral. His dad Andrew was an ex RIC police man; when Michael Leo was 17,  he joined the Irish Volunteers in 1917. He was arrested 4 times and was in Mountjoy, Brixton, Wormwood Scrubs and Dundalk prisons. After the War of Independence, he joined the anti treaty side and trained troops as a senior officer. Later he was arrested and put in Dundalk prison. After the Civil War he started up his own printing company printing out newspapers such as the Catholic Herald and the United Irishmen.

Read

School: Carrigallen Vocational School

Teacher: Matthew McVeigh

Emma Geoghegan
How my grand-aunt ended up working for one of the wealthiest families in America

2021 Best Memoir

My project was to do with my Grand-Aunt’s emigration to America in the 1950’s. The project is based on two interviews conducted over the phone with my Grand-Aunt about her experience with emigration, and life in Ireland before and after America. It is especially the story of how she came to work for the wife of David Rockefeller (Margaret "Peggy" Rockefeller, nee McGrath), doing secretarial work and helping with entertainment service in the evenings - which is how she met people like Aristotle Onassis and Picasso.

Read

School: Ballinamore Community School

Teacher: Seamus Mullen

Letizia Sheridan-Seery
Cavan Orphanage Fire 1943

2021 Overall Winner, Best in School and Best Social History

On 24 February 1943, a fire broke out in Cavan orphanage, and took the lives of 35 girls and one adult. For reasons explored in this project, a decision was taken not to evacuate the orphans, and they retreated to an upstairs dormitory. Attempts to put out the fire were in vain. As the fire took hold, escape through the main entrance of the building or the fire escape became impossible. Fire department ladders were not long enough and the girls were faced with the option of staying or jumping. Three girls jumped and sustained injuries. At the end of the night, eight more orphans were saved. This project explores whether the deaths could have been prevented.

Read

School: Carrigallen Vocational School

Teacher: Norma Comyns

Anya Stringer
Leitrim’s part in making history at the Eurovision

2021 Best in School and Best Contemporary History

The Eurovision international song contest has been going since 1956. Ireland has won the competition seven times, more than any other country. Not only that, but in 1994 Charlie McGettigan and Paul Harrington won with a song named Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids, making Ireland the first and only country to win three times in a row.

This project is about two Leitrim people's association and involvement with Eurovision: Charlie McGettigan's experience winning the Eurovision, and Cyril Smyth's experience as a juror. 

Read

School: Ballinamore Community School

Teacher: Seamus Mullen

Neil Sweeney
Soloheadbeg ambush

2021 Best Decade of Centenaries

The Soloheadbeg ambush – often seen as the first engagement of the Irish War of Independence – took place on 21 January 1919, when members of the  –Irish Volunteers (or Irish Republican Army, IRA) ambushed Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) officers who were escorting a consignment of gelignite explosives at Soloheadbeg, County Tipperary. Two RIC officers were killed and their weapons and the explosives were seized: they were constables James McDonnell and Patrick O’Connell of the Royal Irish Constabulary. This project tells the story of James McDonnell’s death and his relationship to my family.

Read

School: Ballinamore Community School

Teacher: Seamus Mullen

Killian Maguire
Haymaking in Leitrim in the 1930’s

2021 Best Folklore

It is about a composition that my Dad's neighbour wrote about haymaking from the 1930’s school folklore collection. It was a composition about what the day was like. Everyone came outside including neighbours to help each other. The neighbour they helped would repay them by making them dinner that evening after working all day. They then did the same until all the neighbours hay was ready for the winter.

The project describes  the folklore collection and  haymaking in the 1930’s – how they did it, what tools they used and what it was like making hay back then.

Read

School: Ballinamore Community School

Teacher: Seamus Mullen

Share by: