Nine students from Coláiste Oiriall travelled to the RDS in Dublin at the beginning of term to represent the school in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Competition in the RDS. This is quite an achievement as over 70% of the initial projects entries were rejected.

Three groups and three projects from Coláiste Oiriall who were successful in reaching the BT Young Scientist of the Year in the RDS, accompanied by their teachers, Múinteoir Roisin and Múinteoir Jane. One of the projects got second place in the Social and Behavioural Sciences Junior Section while a second project got the Marie Keating Foundation Award for best project dealing with cancer research.

The students will remain in Dublin for the duration of the event until Saturday. The school has organised accommodation for them in Ballsbridge. The students are accompanied by their teachers, Múinteoir Roisin and Múinteoir Jane.

D’éirigh le trí ghrúpa ón scoil áit a fháil i gcomórtas BT Eolaí Óg na Bliana san RDS. Is éacht suntasach í seo agus rinne na daltaí sáriarracht chun na tionscnaimh dushlánacha a chur le chéile. Guíonn muid gach rath orthu sa chomórtas. Tá muid ag súil leis go rachaidh a gcuid cairde agus a gcuid daoine muinteartha suas go Baile Átha Cliath ar an Satharn le cuairt a thabhairt ar an seastáin agus tacaíocht a thabhairt do na daltaí.

The three projects that are participating in the competition are:

• Am frithghníomhúcháin a fheabhsú tríd spórt agus cluichí ríomhaireachta (Improving reaction times with sport and computer games) – Jamie Ní Súlaigh, Aindriú de Buitléir agus Dónal Mac Canna. They hope to show that reaction times can be improved by playing computer games or doing sport.
• Feasacht ailse ubhagáin i measc daoine óga i Muineachán (Ovarian cancer awareness amongst young people in Monaghan) – Méabh Ní Rúnaí, Aisling Nic an Fhailigh, Amy Ní Chuinneagáin. This project aims to highlight the lack of knowledge of ovarian cancer among young people in Monaghan and hopes to raise awareness.
• Ipod ar Rothar: An gcuireann sé tú i mbaol? (Ipod on bicycles: Are you in danger?) -Ciarán Mac Cionna, Ruairí Ó Muineach, Kayleigh Trappe. They aim to show that listening to mp3 players while cycling can reduce reaction times and awareness and this is a major safety concern.