Scoil Mhuire Buncrana student Caoimhe Lafferty flew the flag for Donegal in the ActionTalks final in Dublin last week.
Caoimhe was a highly commended runner-up in the national speech writing competition run by ActionAid. ActionAid works with women and children, as they take the lead in claiming their human rights to build a more just world.
Out of over 143 entrants from 40 schools in 16 counties across the country, Caoimhe was one of seven chosen to deliver her speech in front of a panel of expert judges in Dublin’s Royal Irish Academy this week. Judges included Jennifer O’Connell, Irish Times; Oisín Coghlan, Friends of the Earth; Maria Riordan, Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs; and Jessica Mandanda, a gender and communications specialist from Malawi. Caoimhe lost out narrowly to Aimee Plunkett, a student at Colaiste Chiarain, Athlone.
CEO of ActionAid Ireland Karol Balfe said: “The standard of the speeches submitted in this year’s competition was very high, and difficult to judge at every stage of the competition. It was heartening to see so many students across the country take part and share their views on global issues so articulately, and with such passion. Caoimhe narrowly missed out on the top spot today but should be so proud of her hard work and delivering such an excellent speech.”
ActionAid Ireland CEO, Karol Balfe with Caoimhe Lafferty. Photo Maxwell Photography.
The competition, now in its ninth year, is an opportunity for young people to explore the root causes of local and global injustices and inequalities. This year students wrote speeches on climate justice, economic barriers to accessing education, and valuing unpaid care work.
This competition is supported by Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, as part of an ActionAid Ireland women’s rights programme in Kenya, Nepal and Ethiopia.
