Gaelscoil Phortlaoise wins on the double at Laois Kildare credit union school quiz

The People First Credit Union was delighted to host its annual School Quiz on Monday, February 9 at the Midlands Park Hotel, welcoming an impressive 28 teams from primary schools for an evening of fun, teamwork and friendly competition.

The Credit Union says its annual School Quiz is a much-anticipated event in the local calendar as it brings together young students to test their knowledge across a wide range of topics while building confidence and camaraderie.

Each team was made up of four members and competed in one of two categories:
- Competition A Under 11 (for entrants aged 10 or younger on 31st December 2025), featuring 10 rounds of questions.
- Competition B Under 13 (for entrants aged 12 or younger on 31st December 2025), featuring 12 rounds, including two additional rounds.

The Credit Union said the atmosphere on the night was “electric”, with parents, teachers and supporters cheering on the students as they tackled challenging questions spanning general knowledge, sport, history, geography and more.

The winning team in the Under 11 category was Gaelscoil Phortlaoise, represented by: Tadhg O' Cuinn, Sebastian de Plása, Anraí Mac Uait, Olibhéar Ó Fathaigh. MORE BELOW THEIR PHOTO.

The winners of the Under 13 category who now progress to the next stage of the competition were also from Gaelscoil Phortlaoise, represented by: Oran Ó Cuinn, Olibhéar Ó Treasigh, Ruairí Ó Scolaidhe, Riain Ó Cianáin. MORE BELOW THEIR PHOTO.

All teams received a special certificate to mark their achievement, recognising the dedication and preparation that went into the competition.

The next stage of the quiz take place at Chapter level during the first weekend in March (date and venue to be confirmed). From there, teams can progress to the national finals.

The national winners will receive €1,250 per school, while the runners-up in each category will receive €750 per school, contributing to a total prize fund of €4,000. National winners and runners-up will also be presented with a silver salver, along with significant individual prizes for each team member and a substantial cheque for their schools.

Seán Dunne, People First Credit Union CEO, spoke after the event.

READ NEXT: All the pictures from the big quiz

“Our School Quiz is one of the highlights of the year for us. Its wonderful to see so many young students taking part, challenging themselves and representing their schools with such enthusiasm. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Pictured were the People First Credit Union team on the night. Pic: Michael Scully

“The energy in the room was fantastic. We are incredibly proud to support initiatives like this that encourage learning, teamwork and community spirit,” he said.

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People First Credit Union would like to thank all participating schools, teachers, parents and volunteers who helped make the event such a success and wish the winning teams the very best as they progress to the next stage