Reporting by Sam McEvoy and Jorden Jobby Varghese
Last Friday morning Friday 3rd October, Coláiste Choilm welcomed 6th class pupils from 18 primary schools for the exciting STEMulate Your Mind Bridge Building Competition. With 52 teams participating, the atmosphere was electric as students arrived, eager to showcase their creativity and engineering skills.
The challenge was simple but demanding: build a bridge using only the materials provided—five sheets of A4 and A3 paper, a roll of masking tape, scissors, and string. Teams had just one hour to complete their structures, aiming to win in one of two categories: Longest Bridge or Best Structural Design.
A professional structural engineer served as the judge, carefully evaluating each creation. The gym buzzed with energy and collaboration, as students worked together, demonstrating not only technical skill but also teamwork and innovation.
Beyond the bridge-building contest, students enjoyed a range of STEM-themed activities, including an aerial drone challenge, VEX robotics, and immersive experiences with VR headsets. These interactive stations added to the excitement and highlighted the broad possibilities within STEM fields.
Spotlight on the Teams
We spoke with several enthusiastic participants, including Billy, Tadhg, and Christian from Ballinamere School, who focused on aesthetics in their design. Meanwhile, Matthew, Noah, Liadh, and Amy from Mucklagh School impressed with their strategic ramp system.
On our way to meet more students, we had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. John Clendennen, TD for Offaly, who expressed strong support for STEM education and global competitions. “The future generation can achieve their dreams if we all do our best,” he said—words that resonated with everyone present.
And the Winners Are...
After an intense hour of building, the judges announced the winners:
- Longest Bridge: Mucklagh School
- Runner-Up: Educate Together
- Best Design: Croghan School
- Runner-Up: Mucklagh School
We caught up with the Best Design winners—Kayla, Elsie, Amelia, and Ava—who were thrilled with their victory.
Q: Did you have high expectations for today?
A: “Yes, we tried many designs and practiced an hour every day.”
Q: Did you expect to win?
A: “No, we didn’t fully know what materials we were going to get.”
Q: Did you have a strategy coming in?
A: “Yes, each person had their own job.”
Notably, six out of the eight winners were female, a promising sign of increasing female representation in STEM—an area historically dominated by men. Events like this help inspire and empower young girls to pursue STEM careers.
Looking Ahead
After all teams received participation prizes, Mr. Molloy, the main event organiser, praised the students’ enthusiasm and the high standard of work. He also announced next year’s challenge: building the tallest free-standing tower—a task sure to spark even more creativity and excitement.
The event was a resounding success, filled with learning, laughter, and inspiration. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year for another round of STEMulate Your Mind!