More success for Abbey Technology Pupils in ‘Young Engineers for Britain’ Competition in Belfast
Pictured are a group of students from the Abbey Grammar School, Newry.

Following their success at the ESAT Science and Technology Competition at the RDS, Dublin in January, the Abbey Christian Brothers’ Grammar School Technology Department consolidates its position as one of the top departments in the province when they returned back to Newry on Friday last from the ‘Seagate Young Innovators’ Award ceremony with seven major prizes. Organised by Sentinus, this competition based in the Odyssey Arena, Belfast attracted 550 pupils from 142 schools from all over Ireland. 110 judges gave up their time to get involved in what has grown to be the biggest science and technology event in the United Kingdom.

15 pupils from the Abbey Grammar were involved with 10 projects. They competed in the ‘Young Engineers for Britain’ Section. This is a national competition run by Young Engineers and is open to young people between the ages of 11 and 19 years. It aims to raise awareness of engineering and technology by encouraging pupils to develop innovative and creative project work with an industrial relevance. Judges of the competition commended the Abbey Grammar both for the large numbers of pupils and projects entered and the high standard of work, (as most schools usually enter just one/two projects into the competition).

Sean Murphy, a third year pupil from Newry won one of the top four ‘Grand Awards’. His project ‘safe socket’, a switching device incorporated into an electrical socket to prevent electrocution, won him a trip to the BA Crest Science Fair in London in February 2005. Sean also won the 11-14 years individual category. Ryan Devlin’s project ‘Safe Water Guard’ was 2nd in this category. This device alerts a parent that their toddler is in difficulty when playing in water.

Keith Mooney and Darren Marshall won the 11-14 years group category with ‘interactive teething ring’. Their project is an electronic device to distract a baby from teething pain. However, when the Abbey were called up to the stage yet again for runner up in this category, the audience were wondering if any other school had won anything since the first four awards had gone to the Abbey. Stephen McClelland and Paul Rafferty were 2nd with ‘PAL’ – Personal Aid to Learning, and aid to help children suffering from autism.

A device designed to be used in a shoe shop called ‘Size-O-Matic’ helped Patrick McShane and Michael McNeil win the runner-up award in 15-16 years group category. This complex electronic circuit housed in an elaborate acrylic design determined shoe sizes.

A safety device which allows for the safe use of ladders in any conditions helped Rory O’Rorke and Donal Myles win the runner up award in the 17-19 years group category. Their project ‘Ladder Leveller’ attracted a lot of interest when the displays were opened to the public.

The judges awarded high commendations to the other Abbey entries: Fearghus Heatley’s ‘Detect-a-Line’. This A-Level technology students project could be used to prevent death by electrocution, on a farm or in a construction site, Ryan O’Hare, a 5th year pupil from Willow Grove, Newry designed a temperature sensing device to enable parents to check the temperature of a child’s bath water. Another GCSE pupil Sean McClory from Poyntzpass designed ‘Money for Old Rope’, a dual purpose device for climbers to measure the amount of cable run off a coil of rope. David Boyle and Connor Jackson designed a device to open and close a greenhouse window when there is an excessive rise or fall in the internal temperature.

Mr Dermot McGovern, Headmaster, Abbey Christian Brothers’ Grammar School congratulated all the award winners and pupils that had represented the school. Indicating that all the hours of work both in school and at home outside normal school hours has paid off and that the experiences of discussing your work with judges and meeting pupils from other schools had helped to build confidence and character. He thanked the Technology Teachers Mr Tony Mooney, Head of Technology, Mr Gerard Savage and Mr Mark Rodgers for their dedication and commitment. He paid special thanks to Mr Sean Higgins, Technology Technician for the support he gave pupils and teachers leading up to the competition.

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