Science Olympiad place for Doireann

COLÁISTE Muire student Doireann Hennessy will represent Ireland, along with five other young Irish science students, at the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in Durban, South Africa this December.
Earlier this month, almost 200 under 16-year-old science students, representing 25 counties, converged on DCU to compete in the Irish Junior Science Olympiad (IrJSO).
They were competing for places on the Irish team of six students to represent Ireland at the International Junior Science Olympiad.
School principals were asked to nominate pupils from their schools, born on or after January 1, 1996, who achieved a minimum of six As in the 2011 Junior Certificate, including an A in maths and science. During the Olympiad, the pupils were tested in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics for almost three hours.
All 200 participants received a certificate, with the top three pupils receiving gold medals, the next three silver and the next three bronze.
Doireann was presented with a gold medal at the event, with the gold and silver medal winners invited to represent Ireland at the 2011 IJSO. The bronze medal winners are on the reserve list.
Joining Doireann will be another team member with a connection to the Banner County. Silver medallist Ellen Le Bas is the eldest daughter of David and Olive Le Bas, Rathgar, Dublin and granddaughter of Alice Le Bas (née Counihan) from Querrin. Ellen attends St Louis High School, Rathmines, Dublin.
Doireann, along with the other gold and silver medal winners, is following a high level science training programme in school and will attend an intensive, residential programme in Dublin City University, organised by Dr Paraic James (DCU), IrJSO principal scientist and pedagogical leader, from this Saturday to the departure date next Wednesday. The team will also be accompanied to Durban by Dr Michael A Cotter, IrJSO director and delegation leader. The delegation will arrive in Durban on December 1 and arrive back in Dublin on December 12.
“We wish Doireann and her Irish IJSO team members the best of luck in Durban, South Africa,” said Dr Cotter.