A fantastic day was had at the GPO this Wednesday May 8th. Josh Kenny, a first year student in Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary School, was the overall national winner in the Junior category of ‘An Scéal Eile’, a creative writing competition in it’s 35th year organised by An Post and the INTO. A speech was given by the head of the INTO and the head of An Post to the winning students, where the importance of story telling was emphasized. David McRedmond, head of An Post, remarked that the most common degree held by CEO’s was History and English because a key element of success was the ability to communicate and tell a story. Josh certainly has this skill as it was revealed that his winning story was picked among 30,000 entries!

Josh’s story, told through the eyes of Daisy the dog in the novel ‘Wonder’ inspired established children’s author Dave Rudden to write a personal letter to Josh detailing the reasons that he found the story so touching. A reading of Rudden’s award winning book ‘Knights of the Borrowed Dark’ was given to the winners, along with their English teacher and parents, and a signed copy of his book was gifted to each student. 

Josh was the overall national winner of the Junior Cycle entries which carried the fantastic award of €500 towards Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary School and a lovely framed plaque which is displayed proudly in the school.

Congratulations Josh, you have done the school proud!