Former Loreto Secondary School student Megan McAuley has been awarded for achieving the best Leaving Certificate History result in the country.

Megan McAuley with her teacher Sena McCreanor

Megan recently received the news that she had achieved first place in Ireland out of 8,752 students who took higher level History in the Leaving Certificate 2016.

On Friday 10 February, Megan was presented with the Deirdre Clancy Medal for her fantastic achievement. Megan is the daughter of Pauline and Joe McAuley from Letterkenny.

Megan is making her own History as she is the first student from Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny and the first student from County Donegal to receive the Deirdre Clancy Medal for History.

Since 1989, the History Teachers’ Association of Ireland has awarded a medal each year to the student who achieves the highest mark in Leaving Certificate History. In 1999,  it was renamed the Deirdre Clancy Medal, in honour of Deirdre Clancy, a former Chief Advising Examiner for Leaving Certificate History. Niamh Crowley, the President of the History Teachers’ Association travelled from Waterford to present Megan with her award.

Megan was joined at the Awards Ceremony by her parents, family members and friends as well as students and staff from Loreto Secondary School.  

Megan McAuley with her parents, Pauline and Joe, history teacher, Sena McCreanor and principal, Nora Friel

Ms Judith McCarthy, Curator of Donegal County Museum and board member of the National Museum of Ireland was the special guest. Judith gave a most inspiring talk on the importance of History in helping us to understand the past.

Megan’s passion for History flourished during her six years in Loreto Letterkenny. Megan’s History teachers were Ms Siobhan Mc Keague for Junior Certificate and Mrs Sena McCreanor for Leaving Certificate.

Megan is currently in first year in NUI Maynooth and it was no surprise to Mrs McCreanor that she chose History as one of her subjects for her degree. She is also studying Gaeilge, English and Spanish.

Megan McAuley , Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny, receiving the Deirdre Clancy Medal for 1st place in Ireland in Leaving Certificate History from Niamh Crowley, president of HTAI.

The Deirdre Clancy Medal for History is one of three awards that Megan received as a result of her outstanding results in the Leaving Certificate. In early November she received an Entrance Scholarship for NUI Maynooth and a few weeks later she received an All-Ireland Scholarship (JP McManus) at a ceremony in the University of Limerick.

Megan is a shining example of someone whose passion for her subject, dedication, hard work and a positive approach result not just in great success but also inspire all those around her.