30 students showcase technology projects at Longford Post Primary Tech Championships 2024

Ballymahon Vocational School's Robin Kearns and Emily Bolger crowned Champions at the event 

Press Release: Monday, 16 December 2024 

The Longford Post Primary Tech Championships 2024 were held in Longford County Council on Wednesday, 11 December. 

The competition set a challenge for fifth-year computer science students to apply their study of the subject in the classroom to relevant real-life uses. Over 30 students from three schools, Meán Scoil Mhuire Longford, Ballymahon Vocational School and Templemichael College Longford, showcased 16 technology projects at the awards. 

Among them, Ballymahon Vocational School students Robin Kearns and Emily Bolger were crowned Longford Post Primary Tech Champions. Their project used Micro:bit technology to create a toy to assist communication with non-verbal children and children with additional needs. Their project was commended by the judges who noted that they "greatly surpassed their expectations and showcased a high level of programming expertise and presentation skills."

These awards are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027. They are organised and hosted by Longford County Council. Ericsson Ireland, Microsoft Ireland and Irish Public Bodies (IPB) also sponsored the awards and were in attendance. The overall €1,500 prize fund was sponsored by IPB and is shared among the winner and runner-ups. 

Newtownforbes' Aislinn Gannon, recent recipient of the Health Technology Women in STEM award, was also in attendance. Aislinn delivered an address to inspire the students and to encourage them to pursue interests in technology and STEM, including further study at third level. 

Other award presented at the event and their winners included:

• Microsoft Ireland Longford Award: Gaspard Frette-Chambaud, Jonathan Tolle and Glenn Amoah (Templemichael College Longford)
• Innovation Award: Conrad Alcalde Bruquetas and Gabrielle Corvara (Ballymahon Vocational School)
• Ericsson Ireland Longford Award: Mia Costello and Ellen Mc Ginnity (Meán Scoil Mhuire Longford)
• Longford Primary Teacher Award: Seyi Odukoya and Ava Kenny (Meán Scoil Mhuire Longford)
• Best Presented Project Award: Kuba Radkowski and Abdulakeem Busari (Templemichael College Longford)
• Longford Climate Action Team Award: Mark McDonald and Tiarnán Connolly (Ballymahon Vocational School)
• Longford Senior Management Team Award: Cameron Wiltshire and Daisy Blaine (Ballymahon Vocational School)

Speaking at the awards Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Casey thanked all the students for their efforts and congratulated them on their projects. "Our local students are leading the way and doing exceptionally well in their STEM studies. All have bright futures ahead of them and I look forward to hearing about their future achievements. I thank all involved, including all of the teachers who helped their students every day, their excellent projects are a credit to themselves, their teachers and their schools."

Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon said, "This is the second year of this Championships, and the Council is proud to be involved in something which greatly benefits our secondary school students, giving them hands-on experience in creating technology projects with real-life applications."

Longford County Council extend special thanks to Ballymahon Vocational School Principal Mick O'Rourke and Computer Science teachers Owen Catterall and Noel Neary; Meán Scoil Mhuire Principal Siobhán Cullen and Computer Science teacher Paddy McLoughlin; and Templemichael College Longford Principal Sorcha Nic Dhonnacha and Computer Science teacher Justin Quinn.

Thanks is also extended to the team of judges: Microsoft Ireland's Amanda Joliffe; Ericsson Ireland's Paul Hourican, Elizabeth Clinton, Anna Macken and Peter Leacy; Eilish Comerford from Scoil Bhríde Glen; Beatrice Shanley from St Joseph's National School Longford; Shane Sheridan from Aughnagarron National School; Rebecca Rushe from Ardscoil Phádraig Granard; Padhraic Masterson from Cnoc Mhuire Granard; all Council employees who were also involved. 

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