Ennistymon Community School has been named National #ThinkLanguages Champion Team of the Year.
The national final of the #ThinkLanguages Champion Team of the Year competition took place yesterday at The Clock Tower in the Department of Education and Youth, marking a vibrant celebration of language learning.
Three finalists’ teams, made up of transition year students from across Ireland, showcased their creativity and commitment to languages, with Ennistymon Community School crowned winners on the day.
This year’s finalist teams also included students from Mark’s Community School, Tallaght and Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone. Their exceptional teamwork and innovative approach to promoting language learning during their #ThinkLanguages Week celebrations secured their place in the final, standing out among entries from schools across Ireland. Each school submitted a vlog-style entry reflecting the competition’s themes of enhancing life skills, creating global opportunities, and fostering broader personal connections.
The competition underscores the essential role that foreign language skills play in both personal growth and professional success. This focus is at the heart of #ThinkLanguages Week, which serves as the foundation for the #ThinkLanguages Champion Team Competition
Commenting on the significance of the #ThinkLanguages final, Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton noted: “#ThinkLanguages highlights the vital role languages play in creating inclusive, connected, and opportunity‑rich futures for young people. I commend all the students, teachers, and partners involved in the initiative. Language learning fosters understanding, empathy, and global citizenship—qualities clearly demonstrated by today’s finalists. Congratulations to them all, especially the winning team from Ennistymon Community School, and may they continue to champion languages in their studies and future careers.”
#ThinkLanguages Week 2025, facilitated by Post-Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) under the Languages Connect Strategy – Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education, took place last November. The eighth annual #ThinkLanguages involved over 21,500 Transition Year students from more than 240 schools celebrating language learning through workshops, cultural events, music, dance, film and talks. The annual event highlights how language learning enhances life skills, fosters inclusivity, boosts employability, and opens doors to global opportunities.
Karen Ruddock, Director of PPLI who led yesterday’s event, commented, “The #ThinkLanguages Champion Team Final showcases huge creativity, teamwork, and passion for languages among students across Ireland. These young people are not only embracing multilingualism but also demonstrating skills that will open doors to global opportunities. At PPLI, we believe that it is important to showcase activities that celebrate language learning and empower students to experience a wider world.
The final also featured Meabh McMahon, Euronews journalist, broadcaster and multilinguist, as a guest speaker, inspiring students with insights into the global impact of multilingualism.
Ennistymon Community School now has the opportunity to travel to Brussels as part of their prize, offering them the opportunity to experience languages in action at the heart of Europe and explore careers within EU institutions.
The prize once again is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and its “A Career for EU Strategy”, which emphasises the need for multilingual Irish representatives in Europe to ensure effective collaboration and communication with counterparts across the continent.
Running alongside the Champion Team Competition was the #ThinkLanguages Individual Poster Competition, which invited Transition Year students nationwide to design creative posters celebrating one of the key themes of #ThinkLanguages Week – ‘Think Global Opportunities’. It was the first year of the competition, with the three finalists’ designs displayed on the day. Shortlisted students came from Loreto College, Cavan; Our Lady of Lourdes, New Ross; and Coláiste Íosagáin, Stillorgan with Jewell Bellenno from Our Lady of Lourdes Wexford announced as the winner on the day.
#ThinkLanguages Week continues to grow year on year and this year the ninth #ThinkLanguages celebration will take place in schools and venues nationwide during the week of 16-20 November 2026.