Primary School Handwriting Competition Winners 2026

We’re delighted to announce the winners of the An Post Handwriting Competition 2026, celebrating the incredible creativity, care and imagination of young writers across Ireland.
This year’s theme, “Making Better Happen in our communities,” inspired thousands of pupils to reflect on kindness, connection and the role they can play in shaping the world around them.

Overall Winner

A huge congratulations to our 2026 overall winner:
Sarah McInerney, Doora NS, County Clare 

Their entry stood out for its originality, thoughtful message and beautifully crafted handwriting,  a powerful reminder of how the written word can inspire and connect.

Category Winners

We’re also proud to celebrate our category winners, whose entries impressed our judges with creativity and care:

Junior Infants & Senior Infants: 
Gold - Niamh Furlong, Scoil Mhuire Naofa, County Cork
Silver - Molly O'Connor, Tarmon NS, County Roscommon

1st & 2nd Class:
Gold - Lilly Brennan, Ratoath Junior N.S., County Meath
Silver Mateuse, St. Oliver's, County Kerry 

3rd & 4th Class: 
Gold - Sarah McInerney, Doora NS, County Clare 
Silver - Fernanda Obodiaki, Portlaoise ETNS, County Laois 

5th & 6th Class:
Gold - Eliza O'Malley, Brackloon Ns, County Mayo 
Silver - Aurora Wong, Scoil Ide, Dublin  

Special Schools Category: 
Gold - Christopher Hall, St. Brigid's Special, County Louth 
Silver - Nano Nagle Special School, County Kerry
Highly Commended - Pedahel Atiroko, St. Brigid's Special, County Louth 

Each winning entry reflects the talent and imagination of young writers across the country.

Celebrating Creativity Across Ireland

This year’s competition saw entries from schools nationwide, highlighting just how important creativity, literacy and self-expression remain for young people today.
Through their letters and illustrations, pupils shared thoughtful ideas about community, kindness and how small actions can make a big difference.

A Thank You to Schools and Teachers

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the pupils, teachers and schools who took part in this year’s competition.
Your enthusiasm, creativity and commitment continue to make the An Post Handwriting Competition a meaningful and inspiring initiative each year.

Why Handwriting Still Matters

In a digital world, the competition reminds us of the importance of slowing down, writing with care, and using words to express ideas and connect with others.
Initiatives like this are part of how An Post continues to support literacy and community engagement across Ireland, bringing our purpose of Making Better Happen to life in classrooms nationwide.