About Judge Gráinne O’Neill

The Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition honours the life and legacy of the late Judge Gráinne O’Neill. In 2014, Gráinne became the youngest judge in Ireland to be appointed. Gráinne died in 2018 following a period of illness but, during her life and especially during her years as a judge, Gráinne worked diligently to apply the law in a fair, rigorous and compassionate manner.

In four short years, she left a rich legacy of strong, compassionate justice with a profound, empathetic regard for those struggling to make ends meet and to make good in life. Gráinne infused spaces and places with her joyful gratitude for life and desire to make a difference to people and their lives.

She reflected greatly on all matters to do with the law and on best ways to build a fair, just society. She was courageous, creative and deeply committed to doing good work and work of a high standard.

About the Competition

The Gráinne O’Neill memorial legal essay competition enables TY students to explore a chosen essay title in a way that will help them be creative and innovative in their thinking and writing.

The essay competition aims to inspire legal learning amongst students across the country, by encouraging them to consider contemporary justice issues, and legal matters that they might encounter in their daily lives. The judges will be looking especially at freshness of approach and an approach that’s unique and different from other students. We hope that all those who enter the competition will enjoy the process and feel a great sense of achievement when they submit their essay. All finalists will be invited to an awards event at the Law Society of Ireland. For the overall winners, we have three cash prizes and a special Memorial Trophy and medal. The trophy will remain with the prizewinning school for a period of one year.

2025-26 competition

The topic for the 2025-26 competition was Protecting Voices, Preventing Harm: Legal Challenges in Online Freedom of Speech. Over 500 essays were submitted by students from 67 schools across 20 counties.

Rhea Schreiber from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore was announced as the winner at a special ceremony for finalists held at the Law Society of Ireland on Wednesday 6 May 2026. 

Thirty six finalists attended this special event, where Aishling Heavey, Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew, Galway was awarded second place, and Niamh Doyle, Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone, Westmeath took him third place.

Seven merit certificates were awarded to: Euan Stewart, Moville Community College, Donegal; Nathan Keane, St. Geralds DLS College, Mayo; Louise Tynan, St. Paul’s Secondary School, Greenhill’s, Dublin; Matias Ó Conaill, Christian Brothers College Cork; Roiri Gately, Mercy College, Roscommon; Muhammad Ibrahim Tariq, Marist College, Athlone, Westmeath; and Primrose Scully, Árdscoil Na Tríonóide, Athy, Kildare.

The 2026-27 Competition will launch in October 2026.

Past winners

• 2024: Patrick Galvin, Abbey Community College, Waterford
• 2023: Saorla McDonagh Sharkey, St Vincent's Dundalk, Co Louth

In the videos below, Patrick and Saorla share their experiences of the competition.