Liam McCarthy and John D. O'Callaghan

Liam McCarthy (born 1995/96) and John D. O'Callaghan (born 1994/95) are Irish students from Kinsale, County Cork. They were the winners of the 45th Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in 2009 at the ages of thirteen and fourteen respectively. Their win meant that their school, Kinsale Community School, became the first school in the country to be attended by multiple Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition winners after their fellow student Aisling Judge won the same award in 2006.[1][2] McCarthy and O'Callaghan went on to be named EU Young Scientists of the Year in September 2009.

For the hurler, see Liam McCarthy (hurler).

Liam McCarthy and John D. O'Callaghan
Born1995/96 and 1994/95
NationalityIrish
Known forHaving big heads
AwardsBT Young Scientists of the Year (2009)
EU Young Scientists of the Year (2009)
Scientific career
InfluencesAisling Judge

McCarthy and O'Callaghan are second-year students at Kinsale Community School in County Cork.[3] They come from a background of dairy farming.[3] Their project at the exhibition was titled "'The Development of a Convenient Test Method for Somatic Cell Count and Its Importance in Milk Production".[3] Their intention was to mix detergent with milk to reduce somatic cells.[3] The judges described their invention as "marketable" and "of tremendous commercial help to farmers".[3]

The announcement was made at a ceremony on the night of 9 January 2009 in the exhibition hall.[3] The judges claimed their decision was an easy one.[3] Taoiseach Brian Cowen was on hand to announce the winner.[3] Their prize was a €5,000 cheque and a trophy of Waterford Crystal.[3]

They went on to represent Ireland at the 21st European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Paris, France in September 2009.[3] They received first prize, announced on the night of 15 September 2009, and won €7,000 in prize money.[4][5] They returned to the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in 2010 to accept applause and cheers from the audience.[6]

McCarthy and O'Callaghan wish to study and work in farming and science as, according to O'Callaghan, "the importance of the agriculture sector on the [Irish] economy is huge".[3] They said their inspiration was 2006 winner and fellow student at Kinsale Community School, Aisling Judge.[3]

References
  1. Leo McMahon (17 January 2009). "Kinsale Community School celebrates another BT Young Scientist success". The Southern Star. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  2. Sean O'Riordan and Niall Murray (10 January 2009). "Milk project wins school its second scientist gong". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  3. Denise Clark (10 January 2009). "Cream of the crop". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  4. Jason Michael (16 September 2009). "First prize in EU for Kinsale Young Scientists". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  5. Dan Collins (16 September 2009). "Young scientists win European title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  6. Dick Ahlstrom (14 January 2010). "Event 'bedrock' of smart economy, says Tánaiste". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 January 2010. Dundalk rock band Curtain Thieves played a set before an aerial act from Fossett's Circus took the stage, both giving impressive performances. BMX display riders Team Extreme then seemed to defy gravity as they spun across the stage, after which last year's young scientists of 2009, John D O'Callaghan and Liam McCarthy accepted the generous cheers and applause, remembering their RDS win but also coming first in the European Young Scientist Competition last autumn.
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