The Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) was proud to sponsor three outstanding second level students from the region to participate in an educational visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg as part of the Graduate.ie civic education programme.
This initiative provides young people with a unique opportunity to learn about European democracy, policymaking, and the role of the European Parliament in shaping the future of the EU. The trip included interactive sessions, cultural experiences, and discussions with policymakers, giving students a deeper understanding of how decisions made in Strasbourg impact communities across Ireland.
Second Level Students that won Graduate.ie programme visiting Strasbourg
The three winners of Graduate.ie programme sponsored by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly that travelled to Strasbourg on the second week in December 2025 :
At the NWRA December Meeting in Sligo, Milo Kilgallon from Summerhill College in Sligo spoke to the members about his recent experience on the educational trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Pictured L-R: Cllr Michael Clarke, Cllr Donal Gilroy (Cathaoirleach of Sligo CoCo), Milo Kilgallon, Cllr Micheal Frain (Cathaoirleach of NWRA) and Martin Heneghan (Graduate.ie Programme Coordinator)
Milo Kilgallon Speaking at December 2025 Assembly Meeting in Sligo
During the March 2025 Assembly meeting which took place at Cavan County Council, Cathaoirleach Cllr Jaralth Munnelly and A/Director Denis Kelly congratulated Emma Geraghty on winning the educational trip to Strasbourg.
Emma Geraghty from Loreto College Cavan pictured with Cathaoirleach Cllr Jarlath Munnelly and A/Director Denis Kelly.
Speaking about the recent trip ot the European Parliament in Strasburg, Eilis Taheny from St Nathy’s College Ballaghaderreen said:
“Our trip to Strasbourg was an unforgettable experience filled with learning, sightseeing, and new friendships. We began our journey very early on the first day, meeting at the airport at 4 a.m. After checking in and greeting everyone, we immediately started chatting and getting to know each other. Once we passed through security, we grabbed some breakfast and spent a little time exploring the duty-free shops before taking the shuttle bus to our gate.
Our flight took us from Dublin to Frankfurt, and from there we continued our journey with a four-hour bus trip to Colmar. Colmar was a beautiful town, especially with its Christmas markets. We enjoyed browsing the stalls and even went on the ferris wheel, which gave us a lovely view of the festive decorations. Later, we headed back to our hotel, which was very nice and comfortable. That evening, we spent time talking and bonding as a group.
On the second day, we visited the European Parliament. This was a major highlight of the trip. We took part in interactive activities, debates, and even video calls that allowed us to speak with people who work there. Breakfast and lunch were provided on-site. To enter the Parliament building, we had to wear lanyards with our names on them as a form of ID and pass through security checks. Inside, we met people of many different nationalities and it’s an experience that felt truly unique, as it’s unlikely we will ever all share the same room again.
After our time at the Parliament, we travelled into Strasbourg city. The city was beautiful, and we enjoyed getting food and exploring the streets. We used the tram to travel in and out, which was convenient and allowed us to see more of the city.
On our final day, we packed up and left the hotel, then travelled to Heidelberg for a tour of the famous castle. The castle was stunning, and the tour was both interesting and enjoyable. Afterwards, we took a cable car down into the city, as the castle sits high above it. Once back at the bus, we continued our journey to the airport to begin our trip home.
Overall, the trip was an amazing experience. We learned a lot, visited incredible places, and formed a great group of friends. Thank you” very much for bringing us and we truly appreciated the opportunity.
This initiative provides young people with a unique opportunity to learn about European democracy, policymaking, and the role of the European Parliament in shaping the future of the EU. The trip included interactive sessions, cultural experiences, and discussions with policymakers, giving students a deeper understanding of how decisions made in Strasbourg impact communities across Ireland.
Second Level Students that won Graduate.ie programme visiting Strasbourg
The three winners of Graduate.ie programme sponsored by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly that travelled to Strasbourg on the second week in December 2025 :
At the NWRA December Meeting in Sligo, Milo Kilgallon from Summerhill College in Sligo spoke to the members about his recent experience on the educational trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Pictured L-R: Cllr Michael Clarke, Cllr Donal Gilroy (Cathaoirleach of Sligo CoCo), Milo Kilgallon, Cllr Micheal Frain (Cathaoirleach of NWRA) and Martin Heneghan (Graduate.ie Programme Coordinator)
Milo Kilgallon Speaking at December 2025 Assembly Meeting in Sligo
During the March 2025 Assembly meeting which took place at Cavan County Council, Cathaoirleach Cllr Jaralth Munnelly and A/Director Denis Kelly congratulated Emma Geraghty on winning the educational trip to Strasbourg.
Emma Geraghty from Loreto College Cavan pictured with Cathaoirleach Cllr Jarlath Munnelly and A/Director Denis Kelly.
Speaking about the recent trip ot the European Parliament in Strasburg, Eilis Taheny from St Nathy’s College Ballaghaderreen said:
“Our trip to Strasbourg was an unforgettable experience filled with learning, sightseeing, and new friendships. We began our journey very early on the first day, meeting at the airport at 4 a.m. After checking in and greeting everyone, we immediately started chatting and getting to know each other. Once we passed through security, we grabbed some breakfast and spent a little time exploring the duty-free shops before taking the shuttle bus to our gate.
Our flight took us from Dublin to Frankfurt, and from there we continued our journey with a four-hour bus trip to Colmar. Colmar was a beautiful town, especially with its Christmas markets. We enjoyed browsing the stalls and even went on the ferris wheel, which gave us a lovely view of the festive decorations. Later, we headed back to our hotel, which was very nice and comfortable. That evening, we spent time talking and bonding as a group.
On the second day, we visited the European Parliament. This was a major highlight of the trip. We took part in interactive activities, debates, and even video calls that allowed us to speak with people who work there. Breakfast and lunch were provided on-site. To enter the Parliament building, we had to wear lanyards with our names on them as a form of ID and pass through security checks. Inside, we met people of many different nationalities and it’s an experience that felt truly unique, as it’s unlikely we will ever all share the same room again.
After our time at the Parliament, we travelled into Strasbourg city. The city was beautiful, and we enjoyed getting food and exploring the streets. We used the tram to travel in and out, which was convenient and allowed us to see more of the city.
On our final day, we packed up and left the hotel, then travelled to Heidelberg for a tour of the famous castle. The castle was stunning, and the tour was both interesting and enjoyable. Afterwards, we took a cable car down into the city, as the castle sits high above it. Once back at the bus, we continued our journey to the airport to begin our trip home.
Overall, the trip was an amazing experience. We learned a lot, visited incredible places, and formed a great group of friends. Thank you” very much for bringing us and we truly appreciated the opportunity.