Students from Kinsale Community School have achieved outstanding success at the VEX VRC World Championships in St. Louis, held from April 21st–24th. The event featured over 860 of the world’s top robotics teams, making this a highly competitive global showcase of engineering talent.

Kinsale Community School was represented by four teams, who collectively earned three prestigious awards: one Energy Award and two Judges Awards.

The Energy Award recognises teams that bring exceptional enthusiasm and positivity to the competition. Kinsale students stood out for maintaining a consistently high level of energy throughout the event, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere.

The Judges Award honours teams that distinguish themselves through effort, teamwork, communication, and professionalism. Kinsale’s teams were recognised for their perseverance, strong collaboration, and student-led approach during both interviews and competitive matches.

Speaking after the event, Assistant Principal Eddie Farren said:
“It’s an amazing achievement to win these awards. Over the previous eight years, we had won three awards in total—two Community Awards and one Energy Award—so to double that in such a short space of time is surreal. The students have demonstrated outstanding commitment, teamwork, and resilience throughout the season and at the event itself. VEX Robotics has become a central pillar of our school, providing opportunities for students to collaborate with like-minded peers through our Junior Cycle Short Course, lunchtime robotics club, Transition Year module, and senior cycle teams that meet after school.”

Teacher Niamh Hay added:
“It has been incredibly rewarding to see VEX Robotics grow from its introduction in the school to where it is today, both within Kinsale Community School and across the country. I am very proud of all the students involved, particularly the Transition Year students, many of whom only began robotics this year. They have shown great commitment, teamwork, and a willingness to learn. Their progress in such a short time has been exceptional.”

In addition to their competitive success, Kinsale Community School was also recognised for its wider contribution to robotics. As an official VEX Robotics Event Partner, the school hosts competitions and actively supports the development of robotics at both local and national levels. In recognition of this work, the school received a $2,000 grant from Eaton to support future events.

This achievement highlights the continued growth of robotics within the school and reflects the dedication and hard work of both students and staff involved in the programme.