Paul Prior is a Leaving Certificate Student at Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon, Co. Longford who took his first piano lesson in 2011. He achieved distinctions in his first two piano examinations, Royal Irish Academy of Music Grade 8 and Senior Certificate. Paul performed in public for the first time this year coming second in The Louis Doherty Cup at Feis Shligigh. Paul also achieved silver medals in The Murray Cup and The John Delaney Cup and a Bronze in The Henry Loretto Cup, all senior piano competitions. Paul hopes to pursue his piano studies after finishing secondary school in 2015.