Dundalk's Flaming Pythons shine at National LEGO League Final

The Flaming Pythons from Redeemer Boys' NS in Dundalk have emerged victorious at the FIRST LEGO League Irish Final, securing the prestigious Best Team Pit Area award. 

Held in Dublin on 24 March 2026, the team's creative and meticulously designed pit area stood out among the nation's top young innovators, reflecting months of dedication, teamwork, and artistic flair. This recognition celebrates the team’s exceptional ability to communicate their project vision and technical journey through a vibrant, engaging, and professional physical space, making them a standout highlight of the prestigious national competition.

The electric atmosphere in Dublin saw the Flaming Pythons compete as one of only 24 elite finalist teams, a remarkable feat considering over 350 teams and 2,500 young people took part in 19 regional tournaments across Ireland this year. Sponsored by Amazon, the event showcased the very best of Irish STEM talent, with the Flaming Pythons perfectly embodying the core values and collaborative spirit that define the FIRST LEGO League. 

While celebrating this significant achievement, the event also served as the gateway to the international stage, with the overall National Champions now set to represent Ireland at the European FLL Championships in summer 2026.

Now celebrating its 10th year in Ireland, FIRST® LEGO® League has engaged more than 35,000 young people nationwide since its launch, with this year’s programme alone seeing hundreds of teams participate in hands-on STEM learning. 

Throughout the day, students demonstrated not only technical excellence in robotics and coding but also critical life skills such as collaboration, communication, resilience, and creative problem-solving.

This season’s theme, UNEARTHED℠, challenged teams to explore the past, uncover hidden stories and artefacts, and use these discoveries to inspire innovative ideas for the future.

As the national sponsor of the competition, Amazon continues to support and champion this initiative. Joanne Reynolds, Community Engagement Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Ireland, said:

“It’s incredible to see the level of creativity, teamwork and innovation on display. These young people are developing the very skills that will shape the future of technology and society. Amazon’s continued role as national sponsor reflects our commitment to this programme and to empowering the next generation of thinkers, builders, and problem-solvers.”

The programme is supported for the fifth year by the Research Ireland Discover Programme. Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland, said:

“Events like this show just how engaging and impactful STEM education can be when it’s hands-on and collaborative. It’s inspiring to see so many young people developing confidence and curiosity through programmes like FIRST® LEGO® League.”

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Event sponsorship for the hands-on robotics and problem-solving programme is provided by Meta. Aoife Flynn, Head of Community Development for Meta Data Centres in Europe and Asia, says the company welcomes STEM learning in all forms:

“At Meta, we believe hands-on, collaborative experiences are key to inspiring the next generation of innovators. It’s incredible to see amazing teams of young people, aged 10 to 16, thinking like scientists and engineers, developing creativity, problem-solving skills, and teamwork along the way.”

Ross Maguire, Chief Impact Officer at Creative Hut, which coordinates FIRST® LEGO® League in Ireland, added:

“Today is a celebration of the journey these teams have been on. From their first ideas through to competing on a national stage, they’ve shown creativity, determination, and real teamwork. We’re incredibly proud of every team that took part.”