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31 Jan 2026

List of 29 Kildare students who won entrance awards from Trinity College Dublin

A total of 602 first-year students from all 32 counties of Ireland and overseas have received Entrance Awards from Trinity this year

29 Kildare students receive entrance awards from Trinity College Dublin

Images by Paul Sharp show Eoin Dowling and Neala Kelly

29 students from Kildare have received prestigious Entrance Exhibition awards from Trinity College Dublin in recognition of outstanding performances in their final school examinations.

A total of 602 first-year students from all 32 counties of Ireland and overseas have received Entrance Awards from Trinity this year.

The Kildare students are:

Zoe Hughes Leinster Senior College Kildare
Eoin Dowling Salesian Secondary School Kildare
Euan Brendan Handley Salesian Secondary School Kildare
Samuel Collins Dominican College Kildare
Sean Keogh Patrician Day College Kildare
Kate Marie Long Meán Scoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa Kildare
Ishita Gautam Scoil Dara Kildare
James Cornally St. Paul's Secondary School Kildare
Shane Whelan Meán Scoil Iognáid Rís Kildare
Fionn Lardner Meán Scoil Iognáid Rís Kildare
Hugh O'Sullivan Sexton Clongowes Wood College Kildare
Oluwatobi Baruwa Clongowes Wood College Kildare
Emily Drennan Coláiste Naomh Mhuire Kildare
Niamh O Carroll Coláiste Naomh Mhuire Kildare
Sean Kiely Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara Kildare
Mariam Al-Azraa Shami Athy Community College Kildare
Mahzala Shah Confey Community College Kildare
Timothy Murphy Maynooth Post Primary School Kildare
Rynz Melle Bazar Piper's Hill College Kildare
Libby Fallon Vocational School Kildare
Michelle Finnegan Vocational School Kildare
Neala Kelly Naas Community College Kildare
Kurians Biju Coláiste Chiaráin Kildare
Erin Lenihan Community School Kildare
Hannah Foley Wollmer Community School Kildare
Lucy Anna Keville Community School Kildare
Heather Robyn Hanlon Kildare Town Community School Kildare
James Carolan Kildare Town Community School Kildare
Caoimhe Doyle Celbridge Community School Kildare

The students and their former school principals were invited to receive and celebrate their awards at ceremonies in Trinity’s Examination Hall from January 20-22, 2026. 

READ NEXT; Concerns that Kildare bridge is creating a hazard. 

There are 59 students receiving awards from 39 countries outside Ireland. Of the Irish awardees, 393 are from schools in Leinster, 67 are from Munster, 42 from Connacht and 41 from Ulster.  

Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle congratulated all the awardees: “It is our great privilege to welcome these wonderful students to Trinity College Dublin. They deserve enormous credit for the hard work and commitment that have brought them to this point. I have every confidence that they will thrive in Trinity’s incredible academic environment and enjoy the creativity and fun of our 150 sports clubs and societies. 

“I also want to congratulate all those who have supported these students on their journeys. In addition to their parents and guardians, I want to acknowledge the dedication of school principals, teachers and wider school staff - both primary and secondary - who play such a vital role in bringing out the best in students during their formative years.” 

The awards go to students accepted into the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school, above a minimum of 500 CAO points (or equivalent).  When more than one student from a school gets the same high points, all receive an award. Many former awardees have gone on to make a significant contribution to the economic, cultural, and political life of Ireland and beyond. Past Exhibitioners include former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.  

Awardees receive a certificate and a €150 book token.  

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