A Killarney student will represent Ireland at the Rotary Youth Leadership trip to Strasbourg in February.

Having progressed beyond the Killarney stages of the competition, Abbie O'Sullivan, a Fifth Year student at St Brigid’s Presentation attended for interview in Cork on Wednesday, November 23.

Her success at this national stage of the interview process has meant that Abbie will be one of 24 students chosen from schools all around the country to represent Ireland at this prestigious event next year.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Competition is one of the longest running Rotary youth projects. It rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities.

The finals were hosted this year by Bishopstown Rotary Club in The Lee Hotel, Cork. Abbie was interviewed by a panel of three who represented the private sector, the public sector and education. It was a tough interview but Abbie came out smiling and was happy with her performance.

Abbie, daughter of John O’Sullivan and Aisling Crosbie from Faha, hopes to study politics in University.

The exciting six day team building trip in February begins in Belfast where the students have a visit to The Titanic Centre, a tour of Stormont and they will meet with local politicians and business leaders.

They then travel to Dublin where they are invited to an information seminar and lunch hosted by the staff of the European Parliament offices.

This is followed by a tour of Dáil Eireann and further meetings with politicians. Afterwards the group fly to Strasbourg and prepare for the highlight of the trip which is a full day of debating a variety of motions at Euroscola at the European Parliament in Strasbourg along with about five hundred students from all over Europe.

Killarney Rotary Club have been hosting this at club level for many years and are delighted to say they have had many winners in the regional finals over the years who have gone on this trip and say it is an amazing experience and one they will never forget.

President Rayla Tadjimatova said she is thrilled to see this young lady go forward representing both the club and her school in Strasbourg. She congratulated Mr Jer Lyons, Abbie's teacher and thanked him for preparing her. She wishes Abbie well in her future and hopes all her dreams come true.