South Mayo students take their place on the world stage

Edel Walsh and Orlaith Colleran, along with teachers and mentors, have been named recipients of a Mayo People of the Year Award 2026. 

Two second year students from Mount St. Michael Secondary School in Claremorris have represented Ireland and Europe at the Technovation World Summit in Bangalore, India.

Edel Walsh and Orlaith Colleran earned their place by finishing ahead of every other team in Europe, rising to the top from thousands of entries worldwide. Technovation is a global technology education programme that challenges young people to solve real-world problems using AI, mobile app development and entrepreneurship. Over many months, teams research, design, code, test and pitch their ideas.

Edel and Orlaith's entry was Diassist, a mobile application designed to help teenagers manage their diabetes.

The app gives young people practical, everyday support in living with the condition.

Building it took technical skill, careful market research and plenty of resilience.

In Bangalore, they pitched Diassist directly to an expert panel of international judges, and they will also visit technology companies to learn from professionals working in the industry.

They have been mentored throughout by their teacher, Ms. Stephanie Hogan, who is travelling with them.

Their journey also owes much to Teen-Turn, an Irish charity that gives secondary school students hands-on STEM experience through after-school clubs, work placements and mentoring from women working in science and technology.

The school is particularly grateful to Iseult Mangan of Teen-Turn, whose encouragement and support have helped make this achievement possible.

Their journey has been followed closely by Minister Alan Dillon, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.

Minister Dillon is himself a science graduate and has been a tremendous advocate for the students, engaging directly at government level to help them take their place at the World Finals. He visited the school to wish them well before they departed.

"Edel and Orlaith have achieved something extraordinary," said Minister Dillon. "They are a credit to their families, their school and to Mayo."

Paul Lawless TD also visited the school to wish the students well, and the school community appreciated his good wishes.

Closer to home, Junior Cycle students rallied behind their schoolmates by running a quiz in their honour.

For Deputy Principal Ann Marie Concagh, the students' success reflects the kind of school Mount St. Michael Secondary School sets out to be.

"Curiosity needs the right conditions to grow," she said.

"Our classrooms are calm and settled, and with Disconnect to Connect, phones stay in each student's pouch for the whole day, so students can give their full attention to their learning and to one another.

"Care always comes first. When young people feel known and valued, they have the confidence to try something ambitious, and Edel and Orlaith are a wonderful example of that."

That confidence is visible throughout the school.

Students meet every week at the Teen-Turn STEM club, and in recent years they have reached the finals of both SciFest and the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.

This drive to compete and excel carries over to other disciplines too, over half of all students play on a school team, and the senior footballers won the 2025 All-Ireland Senior B LGFA title.

Principal Aisling McAlpine sees this year's State Examination results as the fruit of the same approach. 66% of Leaving Certificate students achieved over 450 points, compared with 34.4% nationally. 44% achieved over 500 points, more than double the national figure of 20.3%, and 7% achieved over 600 points, compared with 3.1% nationally.

Leaving Certificate Applied students achieved equally outstanding results, with every LCA student sitting an exam was awarded a distinction.

"Results don't happen in isolation," said Ms. Mc Alpine.

"They come from good relationships, a settled atmosphere and teachers who know their students well. I want to pay tribute to our staff, whose dedication, generosity and care for every student make all of this possible.

"They give so much, both inside and outside the classroom, and these results are a reflection of their commitment as much as our students' hard work.

"As Ann Marie said, care is at the heart of everything that happens in Mount St. Michael. Behind each result is a student who was supported, encouraged and believed in, and we are very proud of every one of them."

* Edel Walsh and Orlaith Colleran, along with teachers and Mentors, have been named recipients of a Mayo People of the Year Award 2026.