Three high profile electronic engineers took time out from their hectic schedule at Analogue Devices in Limerick to travel to The Abbey Christian Brothers’ Grammar School in Newry last week to present awards, meet staff and pupils and discuss travel arrangements with two lucky pupils and their parents who have won a trip to America in the Summer. Bill Hunt, Design Engineer Manager, Ann O’Sullivan, Process Engineering Manager and Mike O’Connor, Design Evaluation Engineer stayed in the Canal Court Hotel on Thursday night after a four and a half hour journey from Limerick.

They are one of the top Electronics companies in the world. They employ 1500 people at the Limerick site and 8500 worldwide. The Technology Department and Headmaster joined them that night for a meal. This was an opportunity for everyone to relax and discuss educational and industrial issues and concerns both in Northern Ireland and The Republic.

On Friday morning they visited the school where they presented two third year pupils Adam Magill and Matthew McCartney with the Trophy for The Analogue Devices Technology Award that they won at The Esat Science and Technology Competition at the RDS in Dublin in January last. The school was also presented with a Cheque for £2,000-00 as part of this award.

As part of their prize the two boys are travelling to America with their fathers and shall be guests of Analogue Devices. Mike O’Connor shall be travelling with them and his visit gave the boys and their parents a chance to discuss the travel arrangements which includes visiting electronics companies on both the East and West coast of the USA. Before the Engineers travelled back home they visited the Technology Department and looked at the type of work that was being done (including software packages, standard of design folders, and the influence of ICT in designing electronic circuits) spoke to pupils about their work and viewed the plans for the new school.