Students from Carlow, Mayo and Wexford win big at the launch of Global Money Week in Croke Park
March 12, 2026
150 students from 20 schools across 13 counties joined an array of educators and finance professionals at the launch of Global Money Week in Croke Park yesterday to share their innovative financial literacy projects, which were sponsored by the CCPC’s Our Money, Our Future programme.
Over 10,000 students from 82 schools across the country participated in the Our Money, Our Future programme in the 2025/26 school year.
Launched in 2024, the programme invites post-primary schools and Youthreach Centres to apply for sponsorship up to €1,000 to support students in developing their own financial literacy initiatives and resources, based on topics and themes relevant to them.
Winning schools
Taking home the top prize for Most Innovative Financial Literacy Initiative was West Wicklow Youthreach, Co Wicklow, for their project ‘Stand on your own 2 feet’. St Mary’s Secondary School, Co Mayo, won Best Peer-to-Peer Initiative for ‘Protect Your Money, Secure Your Future’ while Coláiste Bríde Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, took home Best Whole-School and Community Engagement for their project ‘Scam Stoppers’. St Laserian’s School, Co Carlow, walked away with Best Money Skills Education Initiative for their ‘Christmas Craft Fair’. Taking home Best Sustainable Financial Literacy Project was Woodbrook College, Co Wicklow, for their ‘Savvy Suppers Recipe Book’. Boyne Community School in Meath won Best Financial Literacy Resource for its project ‘T€€N$ and $€N$€’. And finally, the students in Hartstown Community School in Dublin took home the prize of Best Applied Financial Learning Initiative for their ‘Financial Futures project’.
Ireland’s first Global Money Week Ambassador
The CCPC, as the national coordinator for Global Money Week, brought together students, educators and representatives from the world of finance to recognise and celebrate the valuable work being done to build financial skills in young people.
Brian McHugh, Chair of the CCPC took to the stage to announce Denis Carrigan from St Laserian’s School Carlow as Ireland’s first Global Money Week Ambassador. This new initiative recognises and supports teachers who demonstrate exceptional leadership in delivering meaningful, inclusive and engaging financial education to young people.
Denis has participated in the Our Money, Our Future initiative for the past two years, delivering the programme in two different school settings and demonstrating a strong commitment to making financial education accessible and meaningful for all learners. In this new role, he will help guide and support other schools by sharing his experience and contributing to the CCPC’s wider efforts to expand financial education.
Denis Carrigan, teacher at St Laserian’s School Carlow and Ireland’s first Global Money Week Ambassador said:
“In a world where scams are increasing, credit is easier to access through buy-now-pay-later schemes, and the cost of living continues to rise, financial literacy – or simply being good with money – is an essential life skill for young people. Ireland’s National Financial Literacy Strategy highlights the importance of building these skills early, and schools play a crucial role by integrating financial education across subjects such as Home Economics, Business, Mathematics and SPHE. Initiatives like the CCPC’s Our Money, Our Future programme support this by providing funding and opportunities for teachers to bring financial literacy to life through practical, student-led projects.”
Karl Cronin, North Connacht and Ulster MABS Manager also presented research from a recent survey of young people, which found that one in seven (16%) post-primary students don’t feel comfortable asking for help with money-related questions or concerns and one in three (34%) now learn about money through social media, with TikTok most popular.
Brian McHugh, Chair of the CCPC, said:
“Young people today are demonstrating strong financial curiosity – this is evident in the high-calibre projects that students are creating through the Our Money, Our Future sponsorship programme. However, important gaps remain. It’s up to policymakers and educators to try and close these gaps, which is why events like the Global Money Week launch – that bring together so many groups from the world of finance – are so important.”
The launch event at Croke Park was attended by representatives from the world of finance also involved in Global Money Week, including An Post, Association of Teachers of Home Economics, Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, Brokers Ireland, BSTAI, Central Bank, Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, Department of Finance, Department of Education and Youth, Euronext, Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, Institute of Banking, Insurance Ireland, Insurance Institute of Ireland, Irish Funds, Irish League of Credit Unions, Junior Achievement Ireland, Life Insurance Association, Maths Week, Money Advice & Budgeting Service, Oide, Revenue.
For more information, read about the Our Money, Our Future programme. Applications for 2026/2027 sponsorship will open in May.
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