Five teenage girls from Tullamore in County Offaly have won big at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas.
The group from Sacred Heart Secondary School are the first all-female robotics team to win the prestigious judges award at the World Championships.
Students Emily Thunder, Jasmine Matsushita, Rachel Ebenezer, Alice Duffy, and Olivia Hoey – all between the ages of 12 and 14 - represented Ireland on the global stage.
The team’s STEM coordinator Sindy Meleady told The Anton Savage Show that the competition was intense.
“There was over 300 teams there, and some of the teams you’d have – like the Chinese team – it was like a military operation," she said.
“You had a lot of teams from America, Vietnam; all over the world – a fabulous opportunity to meet people from different countries and different cultures.
“Great opportunity for the girls but oh my god was it busy and tense.”
Participants are assessed on their ability to design a robot capable of playing a game set by the organisers.
Student Alice Duffy worked as a builder and game analyst on the team.
“Basically, me and my friend Rachel, we work together to look at the game, say, ‘This wasn’t right, let’s do this again so we can get these extra few points’,” she said.
“We talk to the teams that we’re playing with in the matches, we strategise.”
Ms Meleady said there will be an official homecoming in school for the girls on Monday.
Main image: From left to right: Alice Duffy, Jasmine Matsushita, Olivia Hoey, Emily Thunder, Rachel Ebeneezer. Image: Supplied
