Kerry, Longford and Monaghan Students win Central Bank of Ireland Awards at Young Economist of the Year

• Budding economist Luke Diggin from Killorglin Community College in Kerry wins top Central Bank Award
• Students from Patrician High School in Monaghan, and Mercy Secondary School in Longford claim Silver Award

A Budding economist from Kerry – Luke Diggin – has won the Central Bank of Ireland Award at the Young Economist of the Year competition.

The Killorglin Community College student was honoured for his project which explored the impact of central banking and monetary policy on inequality. Luke was also was also recently part of the Killorglin Community College team who claimed the runner-up prize at the Generation €uro Students Award.

Luke’s achievement was recognised at the Young Economist of the Year awards ceremony streamed online yesterday which included guest speakers Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath, and Central Bank Deputy Governor Sharon Donnery.

Aaron Tighe, from Patrician High School in Carrickmacross, Monaghan, was highly commended for his project which looked at the EU economic response to Covid-19.

Economic students Michelle Laffan, Aoife Duffy and Katie Brogan from Mercy Secondary School in Ballymahon, Longford, were also highly commended for their project which considered regressive taxation and carbon tax.

The competition is organised by the Department of Education Professional Development Services for Teachers.

The Central Bank of Ireland Award at the Young Economist of the Year aims to discover and highlight the talent of emerging economists in Ireland, with a focus on the Irish economy and monetary policy. The entries by second-level students are reviewed by a judging panel made up of Central Bank economists.

Sharon Donnery, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank praised the students for participating in the competition, saying: “It’s exciting for us at the Central Bank to see the economic minds, ideas and ambitions of our younger peers. Through this award, we invite students to explore issues of importance to the Irish economy, or to monetary policy. The projects, which covered a wide range of topics, were of a very high standard and gave us cause to believe that we have a great generation of economists to come. I congratulate all the students on reaching the final and Luke on winning the Gold Medal. The students showed a great understanding of the principles of economics and monetary policy. We would like to commend the Department of Education Professional Development Service for Teachers and the Young Economist of the Year Working Group for the continued success of this hugely valuable initiative.”