Science for Development Award Winners - St Patrick’s Day Áras an Uachtaráin trip
20/3/17
President Michael D Higgins with Jack O'Connor and Diarmuid Curtin in Áras an Uachtaráin on St Patrick's day. Photo Credit: Maxwells / Áras an Uachtaráin
Jack O'Connor and Diarmuid Curtin 6th year students in Desmond College Newcastlewest Co Limerick write about their very special St Patrick's Day.
We had the privilege of spending our St. Patrick's Day in Áras an Uachtaráin. President Higgins and Sabina Higgins held a reception in the Áras to celebrate the contributions of individuals and organisations in the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
We were invited to attend due to our success with our Young Scientist project. Our project is a device called the "Ergonomic Planter" which we have designed and developed to help improve planting in developing countries.
It was both an honour and a pleasure to receive an invitation to this event, and we thoroughly enjoyed the day. Upon arrival to the Áras, we were greeted by An tUachtaráin, who warmly welcomed us to his residence, and commended us on our work to date. We were then led into a reception, where we socialised with some of the greatest minds in science nationally. We had the honour of speaking with the founder of the BT Young Scientist, Dr.Tony Scott, RTE's technology reporter Will Goodbody, and previous winners of the Young Scientist, to name but a few.
The President then addressed the audience, where he spoke about the importance of STEM subjects. We were then treated to music from a number of Irish groups, followed by a presentation on the effect of bird migratory patterns on music known as "Music has Wings". Finally, in keeping with the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, the evening concluded with a selection of Irish traditional music.
From the offset, our day in the Áras was an unforgettable experience. To associate with the leaders of STEM in Ireland, was a blessing, and one that we are both extremely appreciative of.
To read more please visit our Science for Development page.