Lucy Griffin, a student at the Presentation Secondary School in Listowel, has been named as this year’s Kerry Young Historian of the Year. Lucy received the prestigious award for her research project on Latchford’s Mill at Islandganniv in Listowel. The announcement was made last week at Kerry County Museum during the annual awards ceremony which is hosted by the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, Kerry County Museum, Kerry County Council, the Tralee Education Support Centre and the Kerry branch of the History Teachers’ Association.
The Kerry Young Historian Award is an annual competition open to all Kerry secondary schools and young people from Kerry between the ages of 12 and 19 who are keen to explore their local history, archaeology and heritage.
As well as being the overall winner of the competition this year, Lucy Griffin was the winner from the Junior Category of entrants, the first such win in the history of the competition, which is a major achievement. Second place in the Junior Category went to Cathal Slattery (Causeway Comprehensive School) and Hannah Reidy of Meán Scoil Nua an Leith Triúigh, Castlegregory took the third spot.
First place in the Senior Category was awarded to Joshua Nestor of Tarbert Comprehensive School for his research entitled ‘Fort Shannon.’ In second place was Caoimhe Laighléis (Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne) and third was Shane O’Connell (Castleisland Community College).
“The purpose of the award is to encourage participants to research local history topics in a personal, interesting, and critical way with a special focus on some of Kerry’s lesser known or untold stories,” said the President of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Association, Tony Bergin.
Highly commended in the Senior Category were Caoilainn Culloo (Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School Tralee) and Cayden Lawlor(Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School, Tralee). Highly commended in the Junior Category were: Brooke Foster (Presentation Secondary School Tralee), Liam Shine (Tarbert Comprehensive School) and Olivia Carroll (Presentation Secondary School Listowel).
This year, the Young Historian of the Year competition formed part of the Architecture Kerry Festival 2025. The competitions runs from September to March each year and the 2026 competition is now open. Teachers and young people who would like to express their interest should contact education@kerryhistory.ie for more information.
Lucy is pictured on the left while on the right are some of the other winners.
Photos: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
