Loreto Crumlin student wins ‘Speak Out Ireland!’ Competition

Ekenenna Chukwuewuzie, from Loreto College, Crumlin, has won the inaugural ‘Speak Out Ireland!’ competition.

In the height of lockdown and school closures ‘Speak Out Ireland!’, an All-Island speech writing and performing competition for students in secondary school, launched itself in search of the defining voices of a young generation.

They were asked one simple question, ‘What matters to you?’ and the responses were overwhelming and ambitious – addressing not just local, but global issues:

Solving Climate change

Protecting LGBTQ+ rights

Promoting Women’s rights

Combatting racism

Tackling poverty

Overcoming educational divide

Engaging young people in the arts

After an incredibly difficult judging process there was one speech that stood out for its power, eloquence and oratory.

Inspired by the talented Felispeaks, Ekenenna Chukwuewuzie of Loreto College Crumlin blew the competition away.

Ms. Chukwuewuzie, an accomplished musician, debater and aspiring medical student is the voice of a generation of young people who in the darkest of times can still find hope for the future and inspire us all to be better.

In her winning speech, Ekenenna declared:

“We need to empower the youth! 

“We are a highly educated and informed body.

“We need to give our youth more platforms to discuss legislative issues in Ireland.

“We need more media coverage on issues that the youth care about and we need to make these platforms more consequential in the running of our states…The world, our evergreen tree.  

“It is for all of us and all of us must work together for our world to survive.”

As part of her prize, sponsored by Matheson, Ekenenna’s winning speech has been professionally produced by Dublin based production company Big Red Engine, and can be found here.