Writing contest winners announced

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians sponsor an Irish history contest every year, and this year’s topic was “The Involvement of Women in the Easter Rising.”

The topic was chosen in honor of the centennial of the Rising this year and to honor the brave women who fought, died and suffered for Ireland.

There were two levels of the writing contest. Level 1 was for grades six through eight, and Level 2 was for grades nine through 11.

Four Mahoning Valley students won the divisional and state contest and will advance to the national level to compete with students from across the country.

The first-place winner of Level 1 is Ashlyn Garthwaite of Salem. She is a sixth-grader at Southeast Elementary and an Irish step-dancer for MacConmara, a member of the junior LAOH and a volunteer for www.SavingGrace.ie. She likes to read and write. Ashlyn is a fourth-generation Irish-American on both sides of her family.

The second-place winner is Brighid Donnelly of Austintown, who attends Austintown schools and is in 4-H, the Junior LAOH, band and has performed on stage with Larry Kirwan. Brighid is a third-generation Irish-American on her father’s side.

The third-place winner is Brian Royea of Youngstown. He is a student at St. Christine School. He plays football and basketball and competes in track and field, where he excels in shot put. He was a spelling bee finalist and is a video gamer and sports lover. Brian is a fourth-generation Irish-American on his mother’s side.

The first-place winner of the Level 2 writing contest is Morgen Donnelly. She attends Austintown schools and is a junior member of the LAOH and 4-H. Morgen loves history, science and reading. Morgen is a third-generation Irish-American on her father’s side.

Judges for the divisional writing contest were Dr. Beckie Williamson Brown from Essential Vision Care, Salem, and Craig Brown and Karen Daly.