Martha Leone with Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of TUS.
KILRUSH’s Martha Leone will represent Ireland at the World Chinese Language Championships in China in August.
A second year electrical engineering student at TUS, Martha won a major national competition for university students.
Her studies in renewable energy systems see Martha based at TUS’ Moylish campus.
She claimed first prize in the university category at the national finals of the prestigious Chinese language competition, held at the Confucius Institute at University College Dublin (UCD). The competition tests participants across a demanding range of disciplines including Chinese language speaking, writing and cultural performance.
Martha impressed judges during the Ireland final, which featured competitors from universities across the country, and will now go on to represent Ireland at the World Championships in China in August.
According to her mother, Maura, Martha first developed an interest in Mandarin through a neighbour and has loved the language and Chinese culture since the age of four. She later achieved an A grade in Mandarin in her Leaving Certificate.
Her latest success builds on an already remarkable international track record. In 2024, while in her first year at TUS, Martha represented Ireland at the global finals of the same competition in Tianjin, China, where she placed third in the world among 112 competitors from across five continents. That event saw contestants undertake multiple rigorous rounds assessing language proficiency, cultural understanding and performance ability.
TUS President Professor Vincent Cunnane said, “Martha’s achievement is an outstanding example of the global outlook, ambition and commitment demonstrated by our students at TUS. To excel internationally in such a demanding competition while pursuing studies in Electrical Engineering is truly impressive. Martha has already represented Ireland with distinction on the world stage, and we are incredibly proud to see her once again preparing to compete internationally later this year”.
Representing Ireland and TUS at the World Finals is an honour, Martha admitted. “I’m excited to celebrate the language and Chinese culture on an international stage”.
The event in Dublin was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Zhao Xiyuan and UCD Vice President Aoife Ahern, alongside guests, family members and supporters. The competition, officially known as the ‘Chinese Bridge’ Chinese Proficiency Competition, is regarded as one of the world’s leading international Chinese language contests, attracting competitors from universities and schools across the globe each year.
