Great pride in young Laois woman’s prestigious scholarship
Mountrath Community School past pupil becomes a Naughton Scholar at Trinity College Dublin
A Mountrath family and all at Mountrath Community School are celebrating the outstanding achievement of Miriam Senior, who has been awarded the prestigious Naughton Scholarship in recognition of her academic excellence.
The young Mountrath was presented with the award at a ceremony in Trinity College Dublin on Saturday, October 24, which was attended by her family and her former school Principal Kathryn O’Brien.
The Naughton Scholarship is a prestigious merit-based award established in 2008 by Martin and Carmel Naughton through the Naughton Foundation to promote and reward undergraduate study in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) across Ireland.
The school says that having achieved the maximum 625 points in her Leaving Certificate, Miriam has continued to distinguish herself through her dedication, talent and commitment to learning. The school says her scholarship is a fitting recognition of the exceptional academic ability she demonstrated throughout her time in Mountrath, where she enrolled after attending primary school in Mountmellick.
Miriam received the Excellence in Junior Cycle Award for her outstanding Junior Certificate results. During Senior Cycle, she continued to excel, earning the school's Academic Subject Awards in both Music and Physics, which Mountrath CS is a testament to her impressive ability across two very different disciplines.
Beyond the classroom, Miriam represented Mountrath Community School in the prestigious BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, which her alma mater says further demonstrated her intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. Alongside fellow students Seana Dunne and David Fitzpatrick, Miriam received high commendation at the exhibition in Dublin. The group later presented their project at Iveagh House as part of the Science for Development Showcase
In September, she returned to Mountrath Community School alongside fellow 625-point achievers, Vladislav Rusu and Owen Booth, to take part in a special presentation for the current Sixth Year students. The former students shared their experiences and offered encouragement and advice to those preparing for their own Leaving Certificate examinations in 2027
“The school community is immensely proud of her accomplishments. She is a credit to her parents, Serena and Robert, whose support has undoubtedly played an important role in her journey. Her success serves as an inspiration to current students, demonstrating what can be achieved through hard work, dedication and a genuine passion for learning.
Mountrath Community School extends its warmest congratulations to her and wishes her every success as she begins the next chapter of her academic journey at Trinity College Dublin. Her Naughton Scholarship is a tremendous achievement, and the entire school community looks forward to following her future successes with great pride,” said Mountrath CS in a statement.
As for the student herself, she is grateful for the award and the help received.
“I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have been awarded the Naughton Scholarship for 2026. The generosity of the Naughton family will allow me to work to my highest standard and reach my full potential in university. I am so grateful for all my teachers, family and friends who have supported me throughout my second-level education,” she said.
The scholarship is value at €24,000 total for a 4-year degree (€6,000 per year) or €18,000 total for a 3-year degree (€6,000 per year). At least 36–37 scholarships are awarded annually guaranteeing at least one winner per county in the Republic of Ireland, with multiple awarded in larger areas like Dublin.
The secondary school of each winning student receives a €1,000 prize toward its science laboratories.