Limerick Students Shine at Stripe Young Scientist Exhibition

Students from Limerick have showcased their innovative projects at the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, securing a total of seven awards. Participants from both Coláiste Chiaráin, located in Croom, and Desmond College in Newcastle West demonstrated remarkable talent, following the legacy of Stripe founders Patrick and John Collison. Patrick Collison won the overall title in 2005, while his brother John received a category award.

Eileen O’Mara, Chief Revenue Officer at Stripe, expressed her admiration for the young innovators. She stated, “It is inspiring to see the incredible depth of talent displayed by all the winners.”

Outstanding Projects Recognized

Among the noteworthy projects, Miles Bueno and Sarah Hurley from Coláiste Chiaráin received the AerCap Sustainable Skies Award for their project titled “Predicting Outages up to 10 Days in Advance.” In addition to this accolade, they also secured the 2nd Senior Group (Technology) award. Another schoolmate, Tomas O’Sullivan, won the 1st Junior Individual (Technology) award for his project, “Chirp – A Low-Cost Approach to Bat Monitoring Using AI Audio Analysis.”

Desmond College also contributed several successful projects. Sophie Keane earned The Housing Agency Award (Health & Wellbeing) for her project “Effective Medical Solution for Bed Bugs (Cimex Lectularius),” along with the 2nd Senior Individual (Health & Wellbeing) award. Daniel Doherty was recognized with the 2nd Junior Individual (Health & Wellbeing) award for “Grip Geenie: Bringing Comfort and Confidence to Users, One Twist at a Time.” Nell McMahon rounded out the accolades with his project “AsthmaSense: A System for Recording and Predicting Asthma Attacks,” winning the 3rd Intermediate Individual (Health & Wellbeing) award.

Overall Winner and Innovative Trophy Design

The highlight of the exhibition was Aoibheann Daly, a fourth-year student from Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk in Kerry, who was crowned the overall winner for her groundbreaking project aimed at improving brain cancer treatment. She received the Stripe YSTE trophy from Hildegarde Naughton, the Minister for Education, alongside Patrick Collison.

Daly’s achievements include a grand prize of €7,500 and the opportunity to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Germany in September 2026.

Although no Limerick student claimed the overall trophy in 2024, the trophy itself was crafted with local innovation in mind. Designed by Stripe’s design team and produced by Limerick-based Croom Medical, the trophy was 3D-printed from titanium grade 23. This advanced manufacturing technique, using medical-grade materials, showcases the intersection of engineering innovation and scientific discovery that lies at the core of the exhibition.

The achievements of these young scientists not only highlight their individual talents but also represent the potential for future advancements in technology and health solutions. Their success is a testament to the vibrant educational environment in Limerick and the ongoing legacy of innovation initiated by the Collison brothers.