STEM

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, Engineering, Extra-Curricular, Gallery, Media, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, STEM

Davitt College Code and Drive at the VEX IQ Robotics Competition!

/

🤖 STEM & Robotics • ATU Galway Competition Davitt College Code and Drive at the VEX IQ Robotics Competition! 13 January 2026 Five brilliant first-year students from our Robotics & Coding Club proudly represented Davitt College at the VEX IQ Robotics Competition in ATU Galway today! It was an action-packed day filled with competitive coding, precision driving, and intense real-time problem-solving, where our students showcased outstanding teamwork and engineering skills on the big stage. The dedication, focus, and technical adaptability displayed by our junior team throughout the event were highly commended by the regional judges. Building the Future of Technology Activities like VEX IQ bridge classroom theory with hands-on mechanical and computational challenges, encouraging our first-years to tackle complex logic under pressure. The future of STEM at Davitt College is looking very bright indeed! A huge well done to all our first-year competitors. ×

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, DCG, Engineering, Latest News, Maths, School Life, Culture & Achievements, Senior Cycle, STEM

Fifty Senior Graphics Students Awarded University Level 6 Certificates in 21st Century STEM Skills

/

🎓 Academic Excellence • STEM & University Certification Fifty Senior Graphics Students Awarded University Level 6 Certificates in 21st Century STEM Skills 5 November 2024 The entire Davitt College community is incredibly proud of fifty of our Senior students who were officially awarded their Certificate in 21st Century STEM Skills from the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo. Our students successfully completed three intensive “STEM Passport for Inclusion” workshops facilitated by industry experts and academic mentors during their Transition Year cycle. Having submitted their high-level technical assignments, they have now officially qualified with an NFQ Level 6 Certificate in STEM Skills, fully recognised by the National Framework of Qualifications. Pioneering STEM Inclusion & Industry Pathways This national initiative, led by Dr Katriona O’Sullivan at Maynooth University and jointly backed by Microsoft Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland, directly addresses gender inequalities in technical fields. By combining a formal university qualification with structured mentoring from industry role models, the programme provides an elite pathway for students to progress to third-level education and secure high-value STEM qualifications. We wish to extend our sincere thanks to Mr David Nevin (TY Co-ordinator) and our Career Guidance Department for supporting and encouraging our engineering and graphics students on this prestigious academic journey. Comhghairdeas le gach duine! 🎓📐💻✨ ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, Engineering, Extra-Curricular, Gallery, Media, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, STEM

Robotics Workshop Sparks New After-School Engineering Initiatives

/

🤖 STEM Innovation • Robotics & Engineering Robotics Workshop Sparks New After-School Engineering Initiatives 21 October 2024 A sincere thank you to Mr Hassan Dabbagh from ATU MakerSpace and the ATU Innovation Hubs team for facilitating an outstanding Robotics Workshop with a group of our enthusiastic Junior Cycle students this week. The interactive, hands-on session focused on mechatronics, circuit assembly, and basic automation logic, giving students an authentic taste of real-world design engineering. Armed with their new skills, our students and department mentors Mr Moylette and Mr Newcombe are officially ready to kick off the new Davitt College Robotics Club, which will begin running immediately after the midterm break. Thank you again to ATU for opening up new STEM pathways for our junior students! 🤖🔧💡✨ ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, DCG, Engineering, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, STEM

SDS Design Engineers Outline Civil and Structural Engineering Pathways for DCG Students

/

📐 STEM & Careers • DCG Industry Pathways SDS Design Engineers Outline Civil and Structural Engineering Pathways for DCG Students 28 February 2024 We wish to extend our sincere thanks to Mr Brian Hope of SDS Design Engineers, who delivered a highly informative technical presentation to our Leaving Certificate Design & Communication Graphics (DCG) students this week. Mr Hope demonstrated how the exact geometric principles studied in class—specifically descriptive line coordinates, plane intersections, and geologic map contours—are applied directly to map out major national infrastructure projects. He also briefed our classes on the exciting structural engineering apprenticeship pathways available through ATU Sligo, showing how spatial reasoning on the drawing board translates straight into a professional career. A fantastic, eye-opening session that brought Leaving Certificate theory straight into real-world industry practice. Sincere thanks again to Brian and SDS Design Engineers! 📐🏗️✏️💡 ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, DCG, Engineering, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, STEM

Precision Workshop Fabrication: Junior Cycle Phone Stands & Festive Projects

/

⚙️ STEM & Technology • Junior Cycle Engineering Precision Workshop Fabrication: Junior Cycle Phone Stands & Festive Projects 30 January 2024 Our second-year engineering classes have been working with fantastic focus in the metalwork labs, turning raw technical drawings into beautifully finished physical products. As part of the Junior Cycle Engineering specification, students have been developing essential metal-processing, drilling, and surface-finishing skills. Their practical portfolios include custom-fabricated steel and acrylic phone stands, alongside precision-engineered brass and aluminium Christmas decorations. These projects display fantastic manual dexterity, an excellent grasp of mechanical dimensioning, and a patient, resilient approach to workshop craft. Well done to all our junior engineers! ⚙️📐🛠️✨ ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, DCG, Engineering, School News, STEM

Women in Engineering Teams Undertake Technical Briefings at AbbVie Research Facility

/

⚙️ STEM & Industry Pathways • Women in Engineering Women in Engineering Teams Undertake Technical Briefings at AbbVie Research Facility 4 October 2023 • AbbVie R&D Facility, Westport Our Engineering Department was delighted to accept an exclusive invitation to visit the AbbVie Pharmaceutical Research & Development facility in Westport. Organised by the visionary Women Leaders in Action (WLA) team at AbbVie, the initiative targeted twenty female students currently studying Engineering at either Junior or Senior Cycle who have demonstrated a high aptitude for advanced technical careers. Our engineering groups spent an incredibly insightful day tracking automated pharmaceutical processing lines, examining chemical engineering systems, and engaging in technical briefings with senior facility engineers. A sincere thank you to the entire team at AbbVie for facilitating such a motivating and thorough exposure to industrial engineering pathways! ⚙️🔬💡👩‍🔬👏 ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, DCG, Engineering, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, STEM

Past Pupil Paul Mitchell Launches Mitchell McDermott STEM Scholarship for Senior DCG Classes

/

🏗️ STEM & Careers • Industry Scholarship Past Pupil Paul Mitchell Launches Mitchell McDermott STEM Scholarship for Senior DCG Classes 12 September 2023 We were delighted to welcome back past student Paul Mitchell of Mitchell McDermott Construction Consultants to speak to our Senior Engineering, Construction, and DCG classes. Paul delivered a fantastic presentation detailing his professional journey and outlined the modern, technology-driven career paths available in infrastructure project management, structural cost-analysis, and engineering consultancy. During the session, he officially opened applications for the prestigious Mitchell McDermott Construction Industry Scholarship—an exclusive financial and mentoring initiative now in its second run uniquely for Davitt College students. Thank you to Paul for your continued commitment to backing the next generation of technological leaders at our school! 🎓👏 ×

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, Extra-Curricular, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, STEM, Transition Year

Davitt College Chosen for International GLOBE Science Programme

/

🌍 International Science • GLOBE Programme Davitt College Chosen for International GLOBE Science Programme 1 September 2019 • Science Department Davitt College was incredibly proud to be one of only 13 schools in the country chosen to run the prestigious International GLOBE Programme during the 2018/2019 academic year. 🌍 A Global Scientific Initiative The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Programme is an international science and education initiative. It provides students and the public worldwide with the unique opportunity to participate directly in data collection and the scientific process, contributing meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment. Originally announced on Earth Day in 1994, GLOBE brings together students, teachers, scientists, and community members to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations. The ultimate goal is to better understand, sustain, and improve the Earth’s environment at local, regional, and global scales. 🔬 Real-World Data Collection As part of this fantastic initiative, Transition Year students at Davitt College took on the responsibility of recording specific weather conditions—including air pressure, rainfall, cloud cover, and temperature—over a three-month period, subsequently uploading their accurate results to the international GLOBE database. This highly sought-after opportunity allowed our students to deeply understand local weather conditions and their wider impact on climate change, all while directly informing scientists around the world of the exact weather patterns right here in Castlebar! 🌍🌡️📊🔬✨ ×

Academic & Curriculum, Core News & Information, Learning, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, Senior Cycle, STEM

IT Sligo Delivers Hands-On Chemistry Workshop at Davitt College

/

🔬 STEM Education • Advanced Chemistry Workshop IT Sligo Delivers Hands-On Chemistry Workshop at Davitt College 21 January 2019 • Science Department Dr. Fiona McArdle, Senior Lecturer, and Ms. Mary Connolly, Technical Officer, from the School of Science at IT Sligo recently visited Davitt College to deliver the highly engaging ‘Spectroscopy in a Suitcase’ (SIAS) workshop. 🔬 Advanced Analytical Science The aim of this workshop is to give students a practical introduction to advanced analytical chemistry equipment, namely FTIR and UV/Vis spectrometry. Spectroscopy in a Suitcase gives secondary school students the rare chance to learn about spectroscopy through hands-on experience. As well as covering the core principles of spectroscopic techniques, the activities use real-life contexts to demonstrate exactly how these methods are applied in the professional world. 💼 Industry-Standard Equipment This type of advanced equipment is widely used in local chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and environmental laboratories. Valued at approximately €30,000, these machines are typically beyond the reach of secondary schools. Thankfully, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) generously funded the equipment, with IT Sligo acting as one of six host Third Level colleges contracted to deliver this fantastic service to schools in the North West of Ireland. 🕵️‍♂️ Real-World Forensics The workshop was expertly tailored for both Fifth and Sixth Year students currently taking Leaving Certificate Chemistry, as spectroscopy is a key topic on the syllabus. It was also delivered to Transition Year students who are currently considering their Senior Cycle subject options. Using exciting forensic science scenarios, the workshop placed a strong emphasis on encouraging pupils to consider studying chemistry at Third Level, successfully highlighting the fantastic local and national career opportunities available with STEM qualifications. 🧪📊🎓✨ ×

Academic & Curriculum, Awards, Core News & Information, Engineering, Extra-Curricular, School Life, School Life, Culture & Achievements, School News, STEM, Transition Year

Davitt College Selected for EA Robot Games Competition 2018

/

🤖 STEM & Robotics • EA Robot Games Davitt College Selected for EA Robot Games Competition 2018 16 May 2018 • Transition Year Technology Davitt College first introduced Sumo Robots to the Transition Year Programme back in 2013, and the initiative has grown from strength to strength ever since! 🤖 Building the Future Sumo Robots is an exciting Engineering and Technology module designed to introduce students to the rapidly emerging fields of robotics and electronics. The students learn an incredible amount during the hands-on process of building their projects—from studying the history of robotics right through to the intricate 3D printing of their very own custom-designed robots. 🏆 The EA Robot Games Following months of preparation, Davitt College was incredibly proud to have seven teams selected to enter the highly competitive EA Robot Games, which were held in Galway on Wednesday, 9th May 2018. “The competition at the end of all this hard work is a great reward for them. They have so much fun on the day of the finals that it feels more like a celebration of their effort than a competition. It’s also satisfying as their teacher to see students having so much fun learning. This competition really shows the students the real-life applications of STEM subjects and how they might enjoy studying them in their future.” — Mr. Padraic McTaibheis, Engineering Teacher ×

Scroll to Top