LIMERICK students coded themselves to the top of a national competition for Scratch Coding at the University of Limerick.
14 students from Limerick were among those who won prizes at the National Scratch Coding Finals, organised by Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software and the Irish Computer Society.
Cian Portley and Daniel Carmody from Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom were winners in the fourth to sixth year category, while Amelia Bray, Aisling Ryan, and Cullen Guinan from Milford National School were second to fourth class category winners.
Judges’ awards were presented to Ryan O’Connor of Banogue National School, Sesandu Wasala, Eve Ryan, Eoinín Shinners, Cillian Flynn from Milford National School, and Dara Keane, Ray Dillon, Ciarán Conlon and Callan Hennessy, from Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, Roxboro.
The annual competition, now in its 14th year, sees Ireland’s best young coders present their projects to the judging panel to be in with a chance of taking home the top prize.
Lero’s Education and Public Engagement Manager, Dr Clare McInerney, said that “software is everywhere, it is all around us and it has never been so important that children and young people learn not just how to use it but also how it works”.
“At Lero, we support software skills at every stage of education. It is part of our mission to foster and grow coding skills and computational thinking among younger children, teens, and those far older.”
Irish Computer Society Secretary General Lucy Hayes said that the competition is a chance for young coders to showcase their skills.
“Technology can be a game-changer if you know how to use it, and Scratch proves just that – it’s all about having some fun while learning some very worthwhile skills,” Ms Hayes said.
“It’s a near certainty that some of the people here in UL today will be the IT leaders of tomorrow, but even if they take different routes, I’m sure their engagement in the competition will set them up as savvy digital citizens.”