BREAKING: More All-Ireland success for John Kiely's team — this time in Young Scientist competition

LIMERICK senior hurling manager John Kiely is toasting another All-Ireland success this Friday night after two of his students were named the winners of the 59th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

Shane O'Connor and Liam Carew, sixth year students of the Abbey School in Tipperary Town - where John is the principal - were announced the overall winners of the nationwide competition in the RDS in Dublin this Friday night.

The students, both aged 19, won with their project 'Assessing the impact of second-level education on key aspects of adolescents’ life and development'. The coveted prize was presented to the winners by Minister for Education Norma Foley TD, and Managing Director of BT Ireland, Shay Walsh. 

John Kiely isn't the only Limerick, or indeed GAA link, to the prestigious win - the winning students' teacher is none other than former Limerick ladies football captain, Niamh McCarthy. 

Niamh, who plays club football with Dromcollogher- Broadford, is a science, biology and chemistry teacher at the school. And to add another link to Limerick GAA - Limerick senior hurler Gearoid Hegarty is her boyfriend.

The 2023 BT Young Scientist & Technology winners received the BTYSTE perpetual trophy and the top prize of €7,500. The winners will also represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists, which takes place in Brussels, Belgium in September 2023. They’ll also get to attend the 64th Annual London International Youth Science Forum this summer. 

Speaking at the awards ceremony this evening, Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD said “I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Shane and Liam on winning this truly prestigious trophy and award, in what has been another inspiring year of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. With the BTYSTE back in person for the first time since before the pandemic, I have had the pleasure to witness first-hand the level of innovation and creativity demonstrated by this year’s entrants, across a range of important and relevant topics. To every participant – you have been an excellent representative of yourself, your family and your school, and you should be incredibly proud of your achievements.

"The calibre of each entry is a testament to the tenacity and talent of the students behind them, and it is this constant high standard that makes BT Young Scientist one of the longest running, and most successful STEM events in Europe. From my time in the classroom, I am aware of the enormous work and support required to participate in competitions like this, and I wish to acknowledge your teachers and school communities who have also generously given their time and expertise to support you on your journey. A special thank you also to the parents and families of students for their constant encouragement and outstanding support.”

Ayush Tambde, aged 18 and in sixth year in Stratford College in Dublin won the prize for Best Individual, with his project, Analysis of single-cell proteomic data to understand the mechanisms of oncogenic transformation and how to control them. 

Adrian Drogomir, aged 19 and in sixth year in Adamstown Community College in Dublin won the prize for Runner-up Individual, with his project, AL-energy. 

Olivia O’Shea, Erica O’Brien Murray and Abigail O’Brien Murray, aged 17 and in fifth year in Loreto College, Balbriggan won the prize for Runners-up Group, with their project, Can we save the common ash? 

Students from Limerick have taken home 17 prizes from the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2023. See more in the Limerick Leader paper out next Wednesday.