Transition Year students from Coláiste Pobail Naomh Mhuire in Buttevant and Carrigtwohill Community College claimed first prize in the Chinese learning competition.

The prize will see six students and their teachers embarking on a seven-day study trip to Nanjing, China, later this year.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Mary Linehan Foley commended the student’s achievements by saying:

“The Méihuā Cup has provided a platform for showcasing your talents. Learning a new language is demanding, but through this competition, students have gained an invaluable appreciation of another culture, a skill that will benefit them in future studies and careers.

“Each participant has represented themselves, their families, and their schools with pride. Special thanks to the teachers whose guidance and support were instrumental in the outstanding performances witnessed today,” Ms Linehan Foley.

Coláiste Fionnchua, Mitchelstown finished in second place, while Coláiste Ghobnatan, Baile Mhic Íre secured third place.

Interest in the main Chinese language remains strong in Cork as 11 schools took part in this year’s preliminary round.

Cork County Council and the Jiangsu Provincial Government have worked closely to strengthen educational, cultural, tourism, and economic ties between the regions.

Another aspect of this collaboration is the Shamrock Cup English Language Competition for schools in Nanjing. The final of this reciprocal event took place in Nanjing last November, with the winners set to visit Cork next month.

The competition, an initiative by Cork County Council in partnership with Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB), Nanjing Municipal Education Bureau, and the Confucius Institute at UCC, was first introduced in 2019.