A young student at Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada on Arranmore Island has won an individual prize for his work on a first aid project.
Fifth year student Sean Boyle was recognised for his project, which involved creating a first aid handbook for his local community.
Sean’s project, Guide to First Aid: A Community Care Handbook, was praised for its heartfelt manner and its intention to make a real difference within his community.
He claimed the €500 prize on offer for the Senior Individual Prize, at the AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards ceremony in Dublin on Monday.
The AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards celebrate schools making a positive impact on their community, centred on three key pillars of activity: Environmental, Social, and Financial. These pillars encompass a wide range of activities that contribute to the betterment of communities, including volunteering, fundraising, awareness campaigns, mentoring, peer education, skills-sharing, and environmental conservation.
The event was hosted by digital creator, presenter, and teacher John Sharpson, and participating schools across Ireland were celebrated for their amazing work contributing to the betterment of their communities.
Speaking about Sean’s win, Lisa Brennan, teacher at Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada, said: “It is our first year entering it so we are delighted! Sometimes these competitions don’t cater for all different types of students but the 2025 AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards fitted Sean’s project down to a tee.”
As part of AIB’s commitment to sustainable communities, the AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards provide a platform to showcase and reward the endeavours schools are undertaking to inspire and ignite positive change, such as fundraising, volunteering, activism, mentoring, and more.
Orlaith Ryan, Chief Customer Officer at AIB, said: “I want to congratulate all the winners of today’s AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards. We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding contributions made by schools and young people across Ireland through the AIB Future Sparks School Impact programme. These awards not only offer students a chance to engage in a new form of learning outside of the regular syllabus, but also inspire students to continue to make a positive impact on their local communities.”
