Loreto girls win top prize at prestigious Ireland wide competition

by Gráinne Connolly

A small team of girls from Loreto Grammar School in Omagh came away with the top prize at the Ireland wide 'Build a Bank' Competition. 

It's an annual competition sponsored by First Trust Bank and AIB. 

The 6 year 13 girls who call themselves 'Go Bank Loreto' were required to set up a bank within their school, but also make a unique difference in their communities. 

Along with the bank they had set up, the girls spent the year promoting road safety to young people, as well as raising the profile of two charities - Enda Dolan Foundation and Loreto Sudan (their sister school in Africa). 

Out of the 200 schools that entered the competition, their were only 6 prizes up for grabs. 

The girls impressed the judges with their efforts throughout the competition and came out on top with the 'Backing Your School' award in the grand final in Dublin. 

The team consisted of: 

Bronach Falls, Niamh McConnell, Grainne-Rose Murphy, Holly Emerson, Dervla Martin and Grace Murphy - aided by Irish Language teacher Cait Finnegan and First Trust's Debbie Deans.