News archive NUIG Law Student Wins Bold Ideas Competition

A student of the School of Law NUI Galway, Andrew Barr, was last week announced as the outright winner of the Bold Ideas Competition organised by the leading Irish law firm A&L Goodbody.  Andrew is a second year student on the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) programme.  Bold Ideas is a student innovation award competition that recognises the most innovative ideas from either undergraduate or postgraduate students from all disciplines.  

Andrew’s winning ‘bold idea’ was in the area of environmental social responsibility and envisages businesses supporting the work of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.  Andrew identified that the funding for National Parks has undergone a significant reduction in recent years and that businesses can use their skills to support the work of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The idea is based on the development of a symbiotic relationship between private Irish business and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The idea is for Irish businesses not only to recycle and have less carbon footprint but also to contribute to the conservation of our natural environment.  

Andrew Barr will take up a four-week summer internship with A&L Goodbody Dublin, with the opportunity to complete one week of his internship in one of their international offices (London, New York or San Francisco) and a €3,000 cash prize.  In addition of A&L Goodbody’s will make a cash donation on behalf of Andrew to a charity of his choice.

Reflecting on his win, Andrew stated: “I cannot describe how grateful I am to those who helped me along the way with my research. In particular, I would like to thank my lecturer, Dr. Brian Tobin, of the School of Law. I am passionate about the preservation of our National Parks and am thrilled that my idea was selected. I got to see two National Parks and meet the people that run them and now I have a great internship for the summer so obviously I'm delighted”.

This is the second time that an NUI Galway law student has won this prestigious prize. Mahmoud Abukhadir, now a graduate of the Bachelor of Corporate Law programme, was the overall winner in 2012.  

Welcoming the latest success by Andrew Barr, Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law, NUI Galway, stated: “The success of our students reflects the creative and critical ways they think.  The fact that Andrew’s idea was selected above other excellent ideas proposed by undergraduate and postgraduate students from other disciplines from Irish and UK Universities speaks volumes about the significance of his achievement and augurs well for his future as a successful NUIG law graduate”.