Rockwell College Win Generation €uro 2022/23 

Generation Euro winners Peter Heaney, Padraig Duggan and Ronan O'Connor from Rockwell College with Deputy Governor Donnery

Ireland’s brightest young economists – students from Rockwell College, Co Tipperary, and St Muredach’s College, Co Mayo - competed in a tightly contested national final in the Generation €uro Students’ Award run by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Students from Rockwell College, Co Tipperary, claimed the top award after overcoming tough competition in the national final.

Now in its tenth year, the school competition, run by the Central Bank of Ireland in association with the European Central Bank (ECB), challenges Transition Year and 5th Year students to design monetary policy.

Economic students Peter Heaney, Padraig Duggan and Ronan O'Connor from Rockwell College, and their teacher Pat Egan, will now represent Ireland at the European Central Bank (ECB) where they will meet ECB President Christine Lagarde and the other winning teams from across Europe.

Deputy Governor Sharon Donnery praised the budding economists for participating in the final, saying: “It is the case that the study of economics can open the door to so many careers. Here in the Central Bank we employ economists in a wide range of roles not just economics – behavioural economics, climate change, changes in financial system, market based finance, monetary policy review amongst others.’’

Deputy Governor Donnery also noted: ‘’The Central Bank is committed to playing its part in encouraging the economists of the future. We run the Generation Euro here in Ireland and we also sponsor an award in the Young Economist of the Year Award. I, and my economist colleagues, regularly speak to students studying economics at second and third level.’’

Speaking about the winning team, Deputy Governor Donnery added: “Rockwell College demonstrated their in-depth knowledge and understanding of complex tasks undertaken by the ECB. At a time when the work of the ECB and ourselves here at the Central Bank are so prominent in Irish life, it’s good to know our future is in safe hands.’’

About Generation €uro

Every year, Central Bank of Ireland runs the Generation €uro Students’ Award, a national competition for Transition Year and 5th Year students, which promotes awareness of monetary policy and macroeconomics.

It is run with the European Central Bank (ECB) and other national central banks in the euro area host the competition in their countries. We are searching for Ireland’s brightest young economists to play the role of the ECB's Governing Council, perform their own analysis of the economy and set what they believe is an appropriate interest rate for the euro area.

Students enter the competition in teams of three to five, with a nominated teacher acting as mentor.

Teams are tested over three different rounds - a quiz, a written analysis and a presentation.

The successful teams from the online quiz move to the second round where they will be asked to analyse economic conditions and determine an appropriate interest rate for the euro area.

Three finalists are then chosen to attend the National Final, where they will present their findings to a panel of senior economists from the Central Bank before a National Winner is announced.

Who do I Contact for More Information?

If you have any questions about the competition or any of the stages, please get in touch with us at: [email protected].

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