New Ross student announced as overall winner of Think Languages competition

The creativity and global awareness of Transition Year students were front and centre yesterday at The Clock Tower in the Department of Education and Youth, where the national finals of the #ThinkLanguages Poster Competition and the #ThinkLanguages Champion Team of the Year were celebrated…

The #ThinkLanguages Individual Poster Competition, held for the first time this year, invited students nationwide to design posters inspired by the theme ‘Think Global Opportunities’, which highlights one of the key benefits of having foreign language skills and one of the themes of the national #ThinkLanguages Week Celebration which took place in November.

Three finalists’ designs from Loreto College, Cavan; Our Lady of Lourdes, New Ross; and Coláiste Íosagáin, Stillorgan were displayed at the event, with Jewell Belleno of Our Lady of Lourdes, Wexford announced as the overall winner.

Running alongside the poster competition was the highly anticipated #ThinkLanguages Champion Team of the Year final, where Ennistymon Community School, Clare was crowned national champion. Finalist teams from Mark’s Community School, Tallaght and Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone also impressed judges with their creativity and commitment to promoting language learning.

Each team submitted a vlog‑style entry showcasing how language learning enhances life skills, expands global opportunities, and helps build meaningful personal connections. Their innovative approaches during #ThinkLanguages Week earned them places among the top three entries submitted by schools across the country.

The competitions highlight the essential role of foreign languages in both personal development and future career success. This ethos sits at the heart of #ThinkLanguages Week, which underpins the Champion Team Competition.

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton commented on the significance of the #ThinkLanguages final:

“#ThinkLanguages highlights the vital role languages play in creating inclusive, connected, and opportunity rich futures for young people. I commend all the students, teachers, and partners involved in the initiative. Language learning fosters understanding, empathy, and global citizenship—qualities clearly demonstrated by today’s finalists. Congratulations to them all, especially the winning team from Ennistymon Community School, and may they continue to champion languages in their studies and future careers.”

#ThinkLanguages Week 2025, facilitated by Post‑Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) under the Languages Connect Strategy – Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education, took place last November. The eighth annual celebration involved over 21,500 Transition Year students from more than 240 schools, participating in workshops, cultural events, music, dance, film, and talks that champion the value of multilingualism.

Karen Ruddock, Director of PPLI, who led yesterday’s event, remarked:

“The #ThinkLanguages Champion Team Final showcases huge creativity, teamwork, and passion for languages among students across Ireland. These young people are not only embracing multilingualism but also demonstrating skills that will open doors to global opportunities. At PPLI, we believe that it is important to showcase activities that celebrate language learning and empower students to experience a wider world.”

The final also welcomed guest speaker Meabh McMahon, Euronews journalist, broadcaster, and multilinguist, who shared insights into the global impact and career value of multilingualism.

As part of their prize, Ennistymon Community School will travel to Brussels to experience languages at work in the heart of Europe and explore potential careers within EU institutions. The prizes of both competitions is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs through its “A Career for EU Strategy”, which aims to increase Ireland’s multilingual representation in EU roles.

#ThinkLanguages Week continues to grow each year, with the ninth celebration scheduled to take place nationwide from 16–20 November 2026.