Loreto’s Molly takes Omagh Rotary’s youth leadership honours

The Rotary Club of Omagh members and competitors at the Rotary Youth Leadership Development competition, from left, Interview panel member John Campbell, Omagh Rotary Past President; Oscar Canning Year 13 Student at Omagh CBS, Interview Panel member, Ronnie Allcroft, immediate Past-Oresident, Omagh Rotary, Jayden Sproule Year 13 Studfent at Omagh Acadmey, and Mona Allan Omagh Rotary Vice-President and Club Youth Coordinator. SU4845CD26 | TC

placeholder image — The Rotary Club of Omagh members and competitors at the Rotary Youth Leadership Development competition, from left, Interview panel member John Campbell, Omagh Rotary Past President; Oscar Canning Year 13 Student at Omagh CBS, Interview Panel member, Ronnie Allcroft, immediate Past-Oresident, Omagh Rotary, Jayden Sproule Year 13 Studfent at Omagh Acadmey, and Mona Allan Omagh Rotary Vice-President and Club Youth Coordinator. SU4845CD26 | TC

Loreto Grammar School pupil wins Rotary Club of Omagh club final

MOLLY O’Donnell, a student from Loreto Grammar School, has won the Rotary Club of Omagh club final and will now progress to the Zone final in this year’s prestigious Rotary Youth Leadership Development competition.

Omagh Rotary President, Nick Smith, presented the winner’s certificate to Molly O'Donnell, Year 13 Student at Loreto Grammar School Omagh, winner of the 2026 Rotary Youth Leadership Competition. SU4945CD26 | TC

Molly, who is a Year 13 student in the school, emerged as the winner of the club final which was held last Thursday. Students from Omagh Academy, Christian Brothers Grammar School and Drumragh Integrated College also competed in the club final.

The competition, which is one of Rotary’s longest-running youth projects, rewards young people with clear leadership potential. It is run in conjunction with the EU Parliament office in Dublin and Euroscola in Strasbourg.

Molly impressed the judges with her understanding and knowledge of leadership, current affairs and the European Parliament with her articulate and fluent presentation.

As a result, Molly will now progress to the Zone final which is being hosted this year by Omagh Rotary Club, where she will compete with Rotary club winners from other clubs in the Zone, including Strabane, Letterkenny, Enniskillen and Limavady.

The winner of the Zone final will enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Strasbourg, Belfast and Dublin in February with fellow Zone winners from throughout Ireland.

Rotary Club president, Nick Smith, congratulated Molly on her achievement and praised all the students who had entered this year’s competition.

“The enthusiasm of all the participants and the standard of presentations was very high this year and great credit is due to all the entrants and their schools for putting in the time and effort to enter this competition,” he said.

“We hope everyone enjoyed the experience and benefitted from taking part. And, of course, we extend our very best wishes to Molly in the Zone final. Once again, we would like to thank teachers and parents for all the help and encouragement they gave to the students,” Nick added.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Development competition is open to 16 and 17-year-olds in Ireland.