Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, addressed Leaving Certificate Computer Science students in Galway and Cork at the weekend as they took part in a climate-focused hackathon powered by the PorterShed. The event brought together students from across the west and south of Ireland to work with real environmental data as part of their Leaving Certificate State Examination projects.
Opening the hackathon, Minister Naughton spoke about the importance of digital skills, innovation, and practical learning environments:
“It’s great to see Leaving Certificate Computer Science students coming together from different schools to apply their learning in a practical setting. This hackathon is a strong example of how coursework can develop creativity, critical thinking, teamwork and analytical skills, all of which are essential for future careers in STEM.
As Minister for Education and Youth, I would welcome seeing this type of initiative rolled out more widely, so that students across the country can benefit from learning environments that go beyond exam preparation and focus on real-world problem solving.”
Now in its fourth year, the Computer Science Hackathon is designed and delivered by the PorterShed team in collaboration with Ross Conboy, Computer Science Teacher at St Joseph’s “The Bish” Secondary School, Galway. The programme is directly aligned with the Leaving Certificate Computer Science curriculum, ensuring students can meaningfully apply their learning to their State Examination project work. Throughout the day, students participated in hands-on workshops, mentoring sessions, and team-based challenges, culminating in a final pitch to a panel of judges.
“This hackathon consistently shows how engaged and capable students are when given the opportunity to work with real data and real problems,” said Mr. Conboy “Events like this bring the Leaving Certificate Computer Science curriculum to life and give students confidence in their own abilities.”
The event is funded by the Western Development Commission and Local Enterprise Offices in Galway and Cork.
Allan Mulrooney, CEO of the Western Development Commission, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative:
“Projects like this hackathon are exactly what we need more of across the West of Ireland. They encourage creativity, experimentation and considered risk-taking, which are essential foundations of a strong and resilient startup ecosystem.
As artificial intelligence reshapes how we work and build businesses, it is vital that young people are equipped not just to use new technologies but to lead with them. Connecting students with real data, real challenges and industry mentors helps build confidence, capability and long-term ambition. This is the kind of forward-looking, collaborative approach that will support innovation and sustainable economic development across the region in the years ahead.”
Congratulations to the winning team, TreeRoute, made up of students from Presentation College Headford, St Joseph’s “The Bish”, Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, St Brigid’s College, and Rice College Westport, who took first place at this year’s hackathon.
