Double Trinity scholarship success for Athlone student

Athlone native Lily O’Connell Byrne is celebrating a remarkable academic achievement having being awarded two prestigious scholarships from Trinity College Dublin (TCD).

Lily, a second-year Psychology undergraduate, has been awarded both the Foundation Scholarship and the Laidlaw Scholarship.

Regarded as one of Ireland’s highest academic honours, the Foundation Scholarship (‘Schols’) recognises exceptional academic achievement and offers a range of benefits including accommodation, tuition exemption, a stipend, complimentary dining, and support for further study.

Established in Trinity’s 1592 Foundational Charter, becoming a ‘Scholar’ is considered Ireland’s highest undergraduate academic honour. Taking on this daunting challenge is no easy feat. The Schols examinations are notoriously difficult.

“Becoming a Trinity Scholar is a major achievement, requiring a second-year student to perform exceptionally well in examinations and demonstrate a deep knowledge of their subject,” said Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Linda Doyle.

For reference, some notable Scholars include Nobel laureate Samuel Beckett, the first female President of Ireland Mary Robinson, and Oscar-nominated director Lenny Abrahamson.

To succeed, students must average a first-class honour across all of the exams.

The announcement was made on ‘Trinity Monday’, April 20, and came just days after Lily was also awarded the prestigious Trinity Laidlaw Research Scholarship, which is an 18-month (two summers) intensive leadership and research scholars programme that aims to develop a new generation of data-based leaders.

A past pupil of Cornamaddy National School and Our Lady’s Bower Secondary School, Lily also attended the Institute of Education Dublin and took part in the DCU Talented Youth Programme during her Transition Year.