More than 400 children set to demonstrate STEAM projects at Longford's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase

County Longford primary schools will take part in a major technology event aimed at inspiring the next generation of STEAM leaders

Press Release: Thursday, 15 May 2025 

More than 400 students from primary schools in County Longford are set to demonstrate their innovative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) skills at Longford’s Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, which takes place in St. Mary’s Community Campus, Edgeworthstown on Friday, 23 May. Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD will be one of the special guests on the day and present awards to winning students.
Longford’s Microsoft Dream Space Showcase is the culmination of months of engagement with primary schools in County Longford, which included the delivery of hands-on STEAM sessions by the Microsoft Dream Space teaching team as part of a 10-week Dream Space programme. The programme provided students with the opportunity to enhance their STEM and AI skills through the development of innovative STEM projects addressing sustainability challenges.

Over the past 10 weeks, students have been working with their teachers, Longford County Council’s STEM Engagement Officer, Siobhan Grealy, and Microsoft’s teaching team to develop the STEAM and coding skills they need for their projects. These newly acquired skills are then put into action by developing an innovative project addressing various challenges related to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The students will celebrate their learnings and present their projects at the Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event in Edgeworthstown on Friday, 23 May. Now in its third year, this initiative started as a way to foster a love of STEAM subjects in primary school children. Ultimately, it is hoped that this will lead to all County Longford secondary schools offering computer science as a Leaving Certificate subject.

The event will feature a wide range of activities for young people on the day, with support from Longford County Council services such as Sports Partnership, Climate Action, Arts Office, Road Safety, Fire Services and more. There will also be exhibits from industry partners, including Microsoft with a Minecraft room, Ericsson, and VEX Robotics. Local organisations Comhairle na nÓg and Music Generation Longford will also take part in the event.

This collaboration with Microsoft, empowering local schools to participate in Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, builds on a series of targeted interventions in the area of STEAM education spearheaded by Longford County Council. Funding received by Longford County Council from Government of Ireland and European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027 has been invested into local schools with a focus on accelerating interest and engagement in Computer Science and STEAM related subjects as students transition from primary to post-primary level.

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said: “Now in its third year Longford’s Microsoft Dream Space Showcase is truly established as a pioneering showcase event which is continuing to foster and develop STEAM skills among primary school children in the county. The council is proud to drive this project forward and work with such excellent technology companies.”

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Casey said: “Great credit is due to Microsoft along with all the teachers, exhibitors, volunteers, council employees and the elected members for supporting this initiative. I look forward to seeing all the exciting projects from students all over the county at Longford’s Microsoft Dream Space Showcase on 23 May.”

Amanda Jolliffe, Microsoft’s Dream Space Lead, said, “At Microsoft, we’re committed to empowering every student on the island of Ireland with the opportunity to enhance their STEM and AI skills through immersive experiences that help unlock their full potential. Dream Space is designed to help young people build essential skills in creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking, while also showing them the possibilities of a future career in the STEM sector.

“Since launching the initiative in 2018, we’ve reached over 360,000 students and events like Longford’s Microsoft Dream Space Showcase are a testament to our ongoing commitment to working in partnership with local councils, schools, and industry to provide the opportunity for students in communities across the country to develop their STEM skills. It’s been fantastic to work with Longford County Council and others in the county on this initiative, there’s a real power in what can be achieved through strong public–private partnership. I’m looking forward to seeing the many innovative projects developed by the students for the Showcase and the continuing impact of events such as this in inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders.”

For further information, follow Longford County Council on social media.