Tipperary student Young Econimists of the Year revisit former primary school

Outgoing first-year students Niall Egan and Daniel Keating of Rockwell College recently visited their former primary school, St Mary’s CBS in Clonmel, following their recent success at the OIDE Young Economist of the Year awards.

Egan and Keating, alongside fellow Rockwell students Luke Hanrahan and John O’Loughlin, were honoured as Junior Young Economists of the Year and First Year Economist of the Year at the University of Limerick on May 8.

Despite being two years younger than their competitors, the Rockwell students triumphed over 430 other projects, capturing the judges' attention with their insightful project titled "Using Economics to Explain Changing Funeral Practices in Ireland."

The project impressed esteemed judges such as Professor Kevin Kenny of UCD, Seamus Coffey of UCC, and Minister Pascal Donoghue, who praised the students for their innovative approach.

The judges noted, “This project immediately grabbed our attention. It explored the intersection between economic theory and traditional Catholic teachings in funeral practices. It contained both primary and secondary data and they weaved in economic theory with Say’s Law and the Theory of Creative Destruction.”

During their visit to St Mary’s CBS, Egan and Keating presented their award-winning project to current students.

The visit was particularly meaningful as St Mary’s CBS is also the alma mater of Rockwell College teachers Mr. Patrick Egan, Niall’s father, and Mr. James Keating, Daniel’s father.

The staff and students of St Mary’s CBS warmly welcomed the boys, who were thrilled to revisit their old school with their fathers.

The event highlighted the achievements of Rockwell College’s young economists and celebrated the strong ties within the local educational community.