Initiated in 1990 as Ireland's contribution to the New Zealand Sesqui-Centenary Year celebrations, the competition has become an annual event.
The purpose of the competition is to further strengthen the links between Ireland and New Zealand by creating a greater awareness of Ireland's history and culture throughout New Zealand schools. The competition is open to all permanent New Zealand residents aged 16 and 17, attending school fulltime in the year of entry of the competition.

The essay must not exceed 1200 words, be non-fiction and relate to Irish history, culture, music, dance, language, heritage. The winner travels to Ireland to attend various Summer School courses. All course fees, accommodation and return airfares New Zealand/Dublin are paid for.

Waterford crystal is presented to the runners-up and Certificates of Merit awarded to all outstanding entries, which do not win a major prize.

As the competition is financed by Rodney Walshe, the Honorary Consul General of Ireland, he presents the top three prizes personally to the recipients at their individual school assemblies.

The competition attracts entries from throughout New Zealand and presents the Judges with an extraordinarily difficult task in determining the prizewinners.

Noelle McCarthy • Gordon McLauchlan • Rodney H.C. Walshe ONZM

First Prize 2011
Zoe Higgins, St Margaret's College, Christchurch
"Rhyme nor Region: The History of the Limerick"

The previous first prize winners have been:
2010
Enakshi Chakravorty, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Wellington
"Blarney Talk"
2009
Liam Winter, Rosmini College, Auckland
"Michael Collins: The Myth and the Man - Irish History Through Film"
2008
Maria English, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Wellington,
"Finding My Feet"
2007
Edward Bailey, St Bernard's College, Lower Hutt, "The Man on the Wall"
2006
Aysser Aljanabi, St Mary's College, Wellington, "Song of Days Gone By"
2005
Jenny Vickers, St Mary's Diocesan School, Stratford, “The Genius of Arthur Guinness”
2004
Franchesca Walker, Feilding High School, Feilding, “Long long way to Tipperary”
2003
Seamus Foley, Timaru Boys’ High School, Timaru, “It Rained”
2002
Jennifer Campion, Sacred Heart Girls College, Hamilton, "A Land to Remember"
2001
Deborah Riley, Epsom Girls Grammar School, Auckland, "Irish Landfall"
2000
Jane Standage, St. Mary's College, Wellington, "The Bird Cage"
1999
Kania Worlsey, St. Jospeh's Maori Girls' College, Napier, "From Tir Conaill to Te Karaka"
1998
Anna Collins, Hagley Community College, Christchurch, "Coming Home"
1997
Amber Todd, Otago Girls' High School, "From Evolution to Revolution"
1996
Jessica Hill, Rudolf Steiner School Hastings, "The Fairy Folk of Ireland"
1995
Thomas Murphy, Kings College, Auckland, "Recapturing the Ancient Imagination"
1994
Helena McKeever, Sacred Heart College, Napier, "A Cup of White Tea"
1993
Rachel Gillett, Otago Girls' High School, Dunedin, "Seamus Heaney: a truly Irish poet"
1990
Felicity Rawson, Waitaki Girls' High School, Oamaru "The contribution made by Ireland to the world of literature"

This scholarship was awarded annually to the top dancer in the 17 years and over category competing in the National Feis. The winner, selected by the international judges officiating at the Feis, received a credit of $2500 towards the cost of a return airfare to Ireland to compete in the annual world championships. This sponsorship by Rodney H.C Walshe ONZM, Honorary Consul General of Ireland in New Zealand was discontinued indefinitely in January 2012.

Previous winners are:

2011 Emma Ahmed - Kay-Hallissey School, Auckland
2010 Ashleigh John - Doyle Academy, Auckland
2009 Chris Hodgson - Doule Academy, Auckland
2008 Chris Hodgson - Doyle Academy, Auckland
2007 Lucy Rogers - Kildunne School, Wellington
2006 Ellin Hay - O'Neill School, Christchurch
2005 Francis Sach - Scoil Rince Cronin, Auckland
2004 Francis Sach - Scoil Rince Cronin, Auckland
2003 Oliver Sach - Kay-Hallissey School, Auckland
2002 Aislinn Ryan - Kildunne School, Wellington
2001 Oliver Sach - Cummings School, Auckland
2000 Mary Colgan - Cummings School, Auckland
1999 Katherine Kelly - Kay-Hallissey School, Auckland
1998 Michael Thornley - Kay-Hallissey School, Auckland
1997 Paula Doyle - Kay-Hallissey School, Auckland
1996 Michael Thornley - Kay-Hallissey School, Auckland
1995 Antonia Faughey - Doran-Gregory School, Auckland
1994 Bernadette Connolly - Connolly School, Auckland
1993 Brenda Ryan - Kildunne School, Wellington
1992 Brenda Ryan - Kildunne School, Wellington

This scholarship, in association with the New Zealand Federation of Irish Societies Annual Feis, was initiated by Rodney Walshe in 2004.

It is awarded to the entrant in the 15-17 age group at the Feis, who is judged to have performed the best Set Dance of their choice. The dancing school of the winner will receive a payment of $500 from Rodney Walshe towards the cost of the winner's tuition fees for the forthcoming year. The winner is to complete the full year at the same dancing school.

Previous Winners:

2011 No Feis was held this year
2010 Taylor Hann, O'Neill School of Dance, Christchurch
2009 Shannon Dilger, O'Neill School of Dance, Christchurch
2008 Shannon Dilger, O'Neill School of Dance, Christchurch
2007 Lucy English, Kay-Hallissey School, Nelson
2006 Olivia Robin, O'Neill School of Dance, Christchurch
2005 Richard Lloyd, Kay-Hallissey School, Auckland
2004 Richard Lloyd of Kay-Hallissey School, Auckland and Ellin Hay O'Neill School of Irish Dancing, Christchurch

Further details on the above scholarships are available from:
Consulate General of Ireland
PO Box 279
Auckland 1140
Ph: 09 977 2252
Fax: 09 977 2256
Email: consul@ireland.co.nz