People First Credit Union Celebrates Leaving Cert Results Day with Launch of Expanded €8,000 Scholarship Fund

People First Credit Union joined students at Portlaoise College today to celebrate Leaving Certificate Results Day, marking the occasion with a morning of celebrations and the launch of its expanded €8,000 Student Scholarship Awards for 2026.

To make the morning extra special, People First Credit Union brought a crepe van to the school, providing free crepes for students and staff, while Midlands 103 broadcast live from Portlaoise College as students received their results and celebrated one of the biggest milestones of their school years.

The celebrations also marked the announcement that People First Credit Union has added a further €1,000 to its annual scholarship programme, increasing the total available from €7,000 to €8,000 for 2026.

Speaking at Portlaoise College, Carol Murphy, Marketing Manager at People First Credit Union, said:

Leaving Cert Results Day is a huge milestone for students and their families, and we wanted to be here to celebrate it with them. There is so much pressure in the lead-up to today, so bringing along the crepe van and creating a bit of fun around the morning was our way of saying well done to everyone who has reached this point.
"Whatever the results say today, there are so many different opportunities ahead. Your results are just the beginning.

Supporting Students with €8,000 in Scholarships

People First Credit Union's Scholarship Awards are designed to provide practical financial support to students as they take their next step into third-level education.

With the cost of accommodation, registration, travel, laptops, books and everyday living expenses placing increasing pressure on students and their families, the credit union will provide eight €1,000 scholarships in 2026.

Seven €1,000 scholarships will be awarded to Leaving Certificate students, with one scholarship available for each of the seven secondary schools within the People First Credit Union common bond:

• St Mary's CBS, Portlaoise
• Portlaoise College, Portlaoise
• Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise
• Dunamase College, Portlaoise
• Heywood Community School, Ballinakill
• Athy College, Athy
• Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy

New €1,000 Open Members' Scholarship

For 2026, People First Credit Union has introduced an additional €1,000 Open Members' Scholarship, widening the opportunity for members who may not previously have been eligible under the school-based awards.

The new scholarship is open to eligible People First Credit Union members who attend a secondary school outside the credit union's common bond, as well as members who did not complete their Leaving Certificate this year but are entering third-level education for the first time in Autumn 2026.

Applicants must meet the relevant membership and residency requirements and be commencing an eligible third-level or similar Level 5 course in Autumn 2026.

Helping Families with the Cost of College

People First Credit Union is also reminding students and parents that student loans are available to help with the costs associated with starting college.

Carol Murphy said the credit union is seeing increasing numbers of families looking for financial support as the cost of sending a student to college continues to put pressure on household finances.

This year more than ever, we're seeing families having to look at how they're going to manage the cost of college. Even where parents have tried to plan and save, the reality is that household budgets are under pressure and there may still be a shortfall.
"That's where we're here to help. Whether it's an accommodation payment that needs to be made, a car to get to and from college, a laptop or other college expenses, come in and have a chat with us about what you need. We can sit down with you, look at your circumstances and talk through the options available.

"For any parent or student who is looking at the next few weeks and wondering how they're going to manage all of the costs, don't panic. Pop into your local People First Credit Union and talk to us — we're here to help.

Applications Now Open

People First Credit Union is encouraging eligible students and members to apply for the 2026 Scholarship Awards. Applications close on 1 December 2026, simply visit www.peoplefirstcu.ie/services/scholarship-award to apply.

Full eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, application details and information on previous scholarship winners are available on the People First Credit Union website.

Photography by Alf Harvey.