Ceithleann Ní Chonluain wins gradireland National Student Challenge 2018

A final year Politics, Philosophy, Economics and Sociology (PPES) student in Trinity College, Ceithleann Ní Chonluain, has won the gradireland National Student Challenge 2018.

The gradireland 2018 National Student Challenge, sponsored by Lidl, puts teams through their paces through different challenges testing their teamwork, technical, communication and problem solving skills. The students compete in teams, yet were judged individually by assessors from each of the companies involved. All the challenges are designed to test the candidates for the skills that employers are looking for.

“When I was announced as winner, it wasn’t just surprise, it was total shock,” says Ceithleann, on the announcement  that she emerged victorious from a field of over 50 of Ireland’s best and brightest students. The competitors for the final day, held at Chartered Accountants House on Dublin’s Pearse Street, were drawn from those ranked highest in the online National Student Challenge. As the overall winner, Ceithleann took away the gradireland National Student Challenge trophy and a cheque for €1,000.

Hailing from Monkstown in County Dublin, Ceithleann attended Alexandra College before taking up her studies in Trinity College, Dublin. She was raised in a bilingual household, fluent in both Irish and English, and went on to expand on her range of languages by studying French at second level and completing an Erasmus year in Germany. “Being from a bilingual household and growing up speaking Irish meant that I was comfortable in a multilungual setting. I probably could have come back with more German, but Erasmus is something I would wholeheartedly recommend.” she adds.

In terms of what it means for her CV, Ceithleann is very proud to be able to add ‘Winner of National Student Challenge’ to her credentials. “It’s a huge boost for my confidence and obviously for my CV, as it’s sure to be a conversation starter with future employers. As for my career, I’m very much drawn to the political element of my course so I’ll definitely be seeking opportunities in the area of policy, research or lobbying.”

Congratulating Ceithleann on her achievement, Foras na Gaeilge CEO Seán Ó Coinn said “Ceithleann is an excellent ambassador for any student considering the value of maintaining or learning an additional language. Having a second language adds another set of skills to a CV but a third or fourth language can open up an entire new world of opportunities through spending an Erasmus year in another country or, as we have seen with many Irish speakers, working with languages in the EU. I am thrilled that Ceithleann, a fluent Irish speaker, has won the gradireland National Student Challenge in what is Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 and have no doubt that her language skills will continue to benefit her in her future career”.

Ends

Notes for the Editor

About Do Ghairm le Gaeilge

Fluency in Irish enables graduates to develop interesting careers, not only in more traditional sectors such as teaching, translation and media, but also in the arts and cultural sector, in public sector organisations, and in professions such as healthcare, ICT and marketing.  

Visit the gradireland website to hear about how bilingualism benefited Irish speakers such Breda Ní Mhaoláin, Translator and Interpreter and Micheál Ó Ciaraidh, TG4 presenter: http://gradireland.com/get-started-fyi/gaeilge

About gradireland National Student Challenge

For more information on gradireland National Student Challenge visit: www.gradireland.com/challenge

Media queries:

Foras na Gaeilge

Anna Davitt, Programme Manager: Communications, Marketing & Awareness, Foras na Gaeilge

Tel: 0035387 673 6175    

Email: adavitt@forasnagaeilge.ie

gradireland National Student Challenge

Ruairi Kavanagh, Editor, gradireland

Tel: 00 353 1 645 1500

Email: Ruairi.kavanagh@gradireland.com