Leitrim youngster picks up award at ReelLIFE science awards for underwater film
Brogan O’Donnell from the Trident Swimming Club in Carrick-on-Shannon took second place at the ReelLIFE SCIENCE Awards in Galway for his underwater film exploring the science of swimming
From AI to allergies, and dopamine to the deep sea, short science videos made by young Irish filmmakers have been celebrated at the 13th Annual ReelLIFE SCIENCE Awards in Galway.
The event, which took place on Sunday, November 9th, was part of Science Week 2025 and the Galway Science and Technology Festival at the University of Galway.
Brogan O’Donnell from the Trident Swim Club in Carrick-on-Shannon took second place in the youth organisation category for his underwater video exploring “The Science of Swimming.”
The category was won by 12 young people from Athlone who took part in My Life Online workshops facilitated by Midlands Science and Foróige, and supported by the Rethink Ireland TikTok Digital Future Fund. They won the €1,000 youth group first prize for their video “Why Is the Sky Blue?”
More than 200 short science films were entered into the competition, created by 1,800 young science enthusiasts from 86 schools and youth groups across the island of Ireland.
Carrigallen National School also featured among the winners in the special awards category.
Winning videos were selected by a panel of guest judges, including science communicators Mark Langtry – The Science Guy, Amy Hassett from University College Dublin, and the 2025 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition winners — Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise Murphy from Presentation Secondary School, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
Meanwhile, the winners of the primary school category were twenty-three sixth-class students from Gaelscoil Riabhach in Loughrea, along with their teacher Brian Ó Meacháin, who won the €1,000 first prize for their animated video “An Fharraige Dhomhain” exploring The Deep Sea.
Launched in 2013, the ReelLIFE SCIENCE programme challenges young people in schools and youth groups across Ireland to engage with science and technology while developing their communication and digital skills by producing short educational videos for the public.
“Every year, we’re amazed by the imagination, creativity, and curiosity shown by young people across Ireland. Through ReelLIFE SCIENCE, they bring science to life in ways that are funny, thought-provoking, and inspiring — making it accessible to everyone,” said Dr. Enda O’Connell, who originally helped launch the programme.