One in five winners of the All Ireland Scholarships from the Republic are from the new Irish community.

To qualify for the scholarship, which is exclusively for high-flying students attending a non-fee paying secondary school, applicants must be Leaving Certificate candidates and also exempted from examination fees.

Metro Éireann has learned that of 100 students who secured one of the JP McManus-sponsored scholarships in the Republic this year, at least 20 of them have an immigrant background.

In Dublin alone, five of the 10 recipients have an ethnic minority background.

Three of them – Germain Mogilevski, Jevgenijus Cistiakovas and Vanessa Mordi – are now studying at Trinity College Dublin, while Maryia Amelyanchuk and Aghogho Sophie Okpara are enrolled at University College Dublin.

Meanwhile, of the 25 recipients of the 2017 All-Ireland Scholarships in Northern Ireland, at least two have an ethnic background.

“The high performing students scored an impressive tally this year, with 33 out of the 100 Republic of Ireland scholarship winners scoring over 600 points, which includes 11 who achieved a maximum of 625 points in their Leaving Certificate,” according to the board that awards the scholarships.

Winners of the scholarship this year will receive €6,750 per annum in Ireland and £5,500 in Northern Ireland for the duration of the selected undergraduate programme.

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