Kinsale Community School’s tradition of innovation continues at Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition

Kinsale Community School has seven student projects participating in the Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2026, currently taking place at the RDS in Dublin from 8–10 January 2026. Students from the school are in attendance this week, presenting their research alongside peers from across the country. 

Now sponsored by Stripe, the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is Ireland’s flagship second-level science and technology showcase. The 2026 event features more than 1,000 students presenting 550 projects across five categories: Technology; Biological and Ecological Sciences; Social and Behavioural Sciences; Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences; and Health and Wellbeing. The exhibition was officially opened by President Catherine Connolly together with Stripe co-founder Patrick Collison. 

Kinsale Community School has a long and distinguished record at the Young Scientist exhibition since first participating more than two decades ago. Over the years, KCS students have achieved a number of major national distinctions, including multiple overall category wins, Best School awards, and a wide range of category titles and national special awards. The school has recorded overall competition wins in multiple years, along with consistent success across Technology, Biological & Ecological Sciences, Health & Wellbeing and Social & Behavioural Sciences. In total, KCS students have accumulated well over 100 awards at national level, reflecting sustained excellence and deep engagement with research-based learning. 

That strong tradition has continued in recent years. Over the past five years, students from KCS have consistently qualified large numbers of projects and secured podium finishes and national special prizes, including awards such as the EPA Award, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Special Award, and the Geological Survey Ireland Prize. 

The relevance of Stripe’s sponsorship is particularly notable, as the company’s founders are themselves former Young Scientist participants and winners, highlighting the exhibition’s long-term role in fostering scientific curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship. 
 
KCS Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition Projects 2026 

Afric Deasy 
Sherlock: An improved, universal AI model for the automatic evaluation of bias in news media 
(Technology – Senior Individual) 

Grace Holland and Ella Holly
School Phone Pouches: Do They Really Limit Students' Screen Time? A Statistical Analysis 
(Social & Behavioural – Junior Group) 

Cathal Murray 
Ear Vs Sight: Learning Irish Traditional Music 
(Social & Behavioural – Junior Individual) 

Elise O’Sullivan, Cushla O’Reilly and Caoimhe Ní Charragáin
Numbers don’t discriminate 
(Social & Behavioural – Junior Group) 

Miah O’Callaghan & Peter O’Leary 
Soleus – the forgotten knee muscle? Is its neglect contributing to an increase in incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury in Ireland? 
(Biological & Ecological – Intermediate Group) 

Rebecca Whelan 
Emergency and Assistive Technology for Deaf and Hard of Hearing 
(Health & Wellbeing – Junior Individual) 

Annabel Long , Emily Bertoletti and Nora Lynch 
Assessing knowledge of modifiable risk factors for dementia: A Statistical Analysis 
(Health & Wellbeing – Intermediate Group) 

The Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition continues until 10th January, with judging and awards taking place throughout the three-day event. The students involvement in Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2026 is a source of great pride and an example of the school’s ongoing commitment to excellence in STEM education. The entire Kinsale Community School community extends its very best wishes to all participating students as they present their projects and represent the school at national level.

Minister Hildegarde Naughton with Grace Holland and Ella Holly