Computer Programming Success
Wednesday 23 August 2007

IOI bronze medal winner Stephen Dolan with Charlie Daly and Ciarán Ó Conaire

The success of Irish students at the 2007 International Science Olympiads continued this summer when Stephen Dolan, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal won a bronze medal the 19th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) which was held on August 15-22 in Zagreb, Croatia . The Irish IOI 2007 team also included Barry John Hurley, Gaelcholaiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Co Cork ; Robin Joshua Tobin, St. Aidan's CBS, Whitehall , Dublin 9 and Amy Kate O Mahony, St. Aloysius' School, Sharman Crawford Street , Cork City. This team was selected from the medal winners at the IBM/DCU Computer Programming Olympiad held in DCU in January. The team followed an online training programme designed and implemented by Charlie Daly and Ciarán Ó Conaire and a programming course in UCC. They also attended an intensive residential course in the School of Computing prior to their departure to Zagreb. Since 1993 Irish students have been awarded 1 gold, 4 silver and 10 bronze IOI medals.

Stephen, who incidentally also achieved 600 points in the Leaving Certificate examination will now receive a €750 IBM University scholarship for his success at the IOI. Charlie Daly and Ciarán Ó Conaire were the Irish team leaders. Ciarán, a former Olympian, IOI medal winner and the deputy team leader for a number of years has completed his research and will be awarded a PhD at the next DCU conferring ceremony.

As well as the IOI, medals were also awarded to Irish students at the 2007 International science Olympiads in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Contact: michael.cotter@dcu.ie