Trinity Dental Science student Emer Walshe was among the 41 gold medal winners at the inaugural Undergraduate Awards of Ireland.

Presenting the medals to the students at an award ceremony in the Royal Irish Academy, President McAleese said: ‘These awards encourage our top undergraduates to believe in the validity of their work and in their entitlement to a public place of respect within scholarly discourse.'

President McAleese also acknowledged the role played by undergraduates in advancing Ireland's ambition to be not just a smart economy but also a just, decent and sophisticated society.

In addition to receiving a gold medal for her submission, Emer's essay, entitled ‘Discuss the aetiology and management of gingival hyperplasia in organ transplant patients', will be published in an annual journal.

The awards, which are open to undergraduates from Irish universities, aim to recognise and reward Ireland's most innovative young minds.  This year over 1,600 submissions were received made up of papers, essays and dissertations produced as part of normal course work during each academic year.