Limerick school beats the rest in robotics competition

COLÁISTE Chiaráin transition students have impressed at the Limerick Regional Vex Robotics competition. 

Students won two awards at the competition on Wednesday, March 27. 

The team have been building and refining their robot since January and were rewarded for their efforts when they received both a Tournament Champion and Judges Choice award.

This is the second competition the team has entered after getting to the semi-finals in the Cork tournament earlier this year.

The team consisted of students Ally Davis, Hannah Lucey, Rubab Kabir, Hassaan Shah, Liam Murphy, Caragh Ruddle, Erin Moore and Magda Nae, along with teachers Mr Conor Power and Mr Padraig McGarry.

The event was held in Dell in Raheen and their robot came up against 12 others from teams across the south west of Ireland.

Coláiste Chiaráin qualified in 4th place and went on to knockout stages, where they beat Buttevant in an intense final.

The school partnered with another Limerick school, St Clements College, in the final. 

Teacher Mr Conor Power said: “This a great victory for the team and an example of STEM in action. The students must design, build and code their robots to complete unique challenges each year.”

“Our new campus, due for completion later this year, will feature a start of the art STEM lab - a first for the region. This lab will support our activities in STEM in addition to Computer Science, which is part of our Leaving Certificate curriculum,” he added.

Vex is a worldwide competition and Coláiste Chiaráin are now busy making preparations for the all Ireland final in Cork on April 30.