Liam McCarthy and John D. O'Callaghan
Encyclopedia
Liam McCarthy and John D. O'Callaghan (born 1994/1995) 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. McCarthy and O'Callaghan went on to be named EU Young Scientists of the Year
in September 2009.
McCarthy and O'Callaghan are second-year students at Kinsale Community School in County Cork. They come from a background of dairy farming
. Their project at the exhibition was titled "'The Development of a Convenient Test Method for Somatic Cell Count and Its Importance In Milk Production". Their intention was to mix detergent with milk to reduce somatic cell
s. The judges described their invention as "marketable" and "of tremendous commercial help to farmers".
The announcement was made at a ceremony on the night of January 9, 2009 in the exhibition hall. The judges claimed their decision was an easy one. Taoiseach
Brian Cowen
was on hand to announce the winner. Their prize was a €5,000 cheque and a trophy of Waterford Crystal
.
They went on to represent Ireland at the 21st European Union Contest for Young Scientists
in Paris
, France
in September 2009. They received first prize, announced on the night of September 15, 2009, and won €70,000 in prize money. They returned to the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in 2010 to accept applause and cheers from the audience.
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". They said their inspiration was 2006 winner and fellow student at Kinsale Community School, Aisling Judge.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
students from Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. They were the winners of the 45th Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition
Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition
The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition , commonly called "the Young Scientist", is an annual competition that has been held in Dublin, Ireland every January since 1965 for encouraging interest in science in secondary and primary schools, currently sponsored by BT Ireland...
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
Aisling Judge
Aisling Judge is an Irish scientist from Kinsale, County Cork. She was the winner of the 42nd Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in 2006 at the age of fourteen. She was the youngest winner in the history of the competition, until her record was taken two years later by thirteen-year-old Emer...
won the same award in 2006. McCarthy and O'Callaghan went on to be named EU Young Scientists of the Year
European Union Contest for Young Scientists
The European Union Contest for Young Scientists is a science fair, initiated by the European Commission. It is a part of the European Union Framework Programmes on Research, and is managed by the Directorate General for Research in the European Commission....
in September 2009.
McCarthy and O'Callaghan are second-year students at Kinsale Community School in County Cork. They come from a background of dairy farming
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
. Their project at the exhibition was titled "'The Development of a Convenient Test Method for Somatic Cell Count and Its Importance In Milk Production". Their intention was to mix detergent with milk to reduce somatic cell
Somatic cell
A somatic cell is any biological cell forming the body of an organism; that is, in a multicellular organism, any cell other than a gamete, germ cell, gametocyte or undifferentiated stem cell...
s. The judges described their invention as "marketable" and "of tremendous commercial help to farmers".
The announcement was made at a ceremony on the night of January 9, 2009 in the exhibition hall. The judges claimed their decision was an easy one. Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
was on hand to announce the winner. Their prize was a €5,000 cheque and a trophy of Waterford Crystal
Waterford Crystal
Waterford Crystal is a trademark brand of crystal glassware, previously produced in Waterford, Ireland, though the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc in early 2009...
.
They went on to represent Ireland at the 21st European Union Contest for Young Scientists
European Union Contest for Young Scientists
The European Union Contest for Young Scientists is a science fair, initiated by the European Commission. It is a part of the European Union Framework Programmes on Research, and is managed by the Directorate General for Research in the European Commission....
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in September 2009. They received first prize, announced on the night of September 15, 2009, and won €70,000 in prize money. They returned to the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in 2010 to accept applause and cheers from the audience.
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". They said their inspiration was 2006 winner and fellow student at Kinsale Community School, Aisling Judge.