SIXTH class students at Gaelscoil an Ráithín are preparing for the trip of a lifetime to the United States where they will compete in the VEX Robotics World Championships.
The talented class have been working hard since last September designing their robot, as well as delivering programming and coding.
Since then, the students have competed in the VEX Robotics Competition in Dell Computers in Limerick, as well as facing off against other schools across the country at the Munster Technological University in Cork.
The group are the first primary school in Limerick to qualify for the competition in St Louis, Missouri, since getting involved in the competition in recent years.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, school principal Michele Ní Fhátharta said qualifying for the competition is the best thing to happen for the school.
“We are a great school, and we were established in 2003. It’s been a very rewarding and challenging journey for us to date. We started off with one classroom and 20 children in the grounds of Garryowen Rugby Club. Since 2003, we have secured a state-of-the-art building in Mungret. We are very fortunate with the facilities in the community.
“This victory has made it very clear to us that we are a respected and welcome part of the community.”
The lucky students will fly out this Sunday (April 26) and will have a busy week ahead of them.
“They will be travelling almost 24 hours to get there,” Ms Ní Fhátharta said. “Then on Monday, they will register for the competition, they will have to make sure that the robot is intact after its long flight. Then they will be practicing their skills, their driving and their coding.”
Students will compete in the three-day competition and chat to the judges about their robot and what it can do.
Despite the hectic schedule in advance of the competition, the competing students have “taken it all in their stride”, Ms Ní Fhátharta said.
“We have undertaken a huge fundraising event so that we can cover all expenses from flights, accommodation, meals, transport of the robots, purchasing the necessary technological equipment we need”.
The school has set up a GoFundMe page and extended their thanks to all who have donated so far, helping them raise close to €30,000. People can continue to donate what they can on the page.