Sacred Heart Angus Advocates Triumph as All-Ireland Champions 2026!

Sacred Heart Secondary School is celebrating a truly remarkable achievement as our Angus Advocates were crowned All-Ireland winners of the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition 2026 at a special ceremony in Croke Park.

The team — Lucy Kirby, Ciara O’Driscoll, Ellen O’Neill, and Niamh O’Sullivan — have spent the past two years showing extraordinary dedication, teamwork, and commitment. Their journey involved research, public presentations, event organisation, fundraising, and representing their school and community across Ireland and beyond.

The students experienced many unforgettable milestones. They attended the National Ploughing Championships, where they shared updates on their project during an on-stage interview and met fellow finalist schools.

Their fundraising and community engagement were equally impressive. The team raised over €5,000 for Cancer Connect, highlighted by their gala evening “A Taste of Certified Irish Angus” at Fernhill House Hotel, attended by over 150 guests. The students hosted the event, welcomed guest speakers, and spoke passionately about their project, making a real difference for this important cause.

As part of their finalist experience, the team went on a trip of a lifetime to Dublin, taking part in a blind beef tasting experience, visiting Hilton Foods, and finishing with a presentation at the European Parliament to Billy Kelleher and Barry Cowen, sharing their research and insights at a European level.

They also visited Dáil Éireann, presenting their findings to members of the Oireachtas and meeting Micheál Martin, Simon Harris, and Martin Heydon.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Ms O’Riordan, whose guidance, encouragement, and unwavering support have been central to the success of the Angus Advocates. Her mentorship has helped the girls develop confidence, leadership, and a real passion for their work, and we are extremely grateful for all she has done to support them throughout this journey.

We also extend our sincere thanks to Certified Irish Angus, Kepac Food Service, and APB Food for this incredible opportunity and for recognising the girls’ hard work, dedication, and achievements throughout the competition.

Winning the All-Ireland title is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and teamwork of Lucy, Ciara, Ellen, and Niamh. They have shown remarkable maturity, creativity, and leadership, and we are confident that each of them has a bright and inspiring future ahead.

We are immensely proud of the Angus Advocates and their outstanding achievements. Their success in Croke Park marks the culmination of two years of commitment, learning, and community spirit — a moment of pride for the entire Sacred Heart school community.