MAYNOOTH, IRELAND – April 5, 2025 – The national finals of the Bebras Computing Challenge were held at Maynooth University on Saturday, April 5th, bringing together Ireland’s most talented young computational thinkers from across the country.
The prestigious competition saw over 12,000 students from primary and secondary schools throughout Ireland participate in the initial rounds, with 600 finalists earning their place at the national finals through exceptional performance in the preliminary challenges.
The Bebras Computing Challenge is designed to promote computational thinking and problem-solving skills among students, encouraging the next generation of digital innovators and creative thinkers.
“The standard of computational thinking displayed by these young students continues to rise each year,” said Sean Brady, Deputy President, ICS. “It’s inspiring to see such enthusiasm and talent for problem-solving across all age groups, from primary school pupils to senior secondary students.”
The competition featured five categories spanning primary and secondary education levels, with the following students being recognized for their outstanding achievements:
3rd & 4th Class Primary
- 1st Place: Jamie Drayne – Carrabane National School
- 2nd Place: Tuula Prendergast – Carysfort NS
- 3rd Place: Louis Chong – Pope John Paul II N.S.
5th & 6th Class Primary
- 1st Place: Sebastian Mac Cathmhaoil – Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada
- 2nd Place: Aoibheann Omeara – Harolds Cross NS
- 3rd Place: Naoise Ó Dúgáin – Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada
1st & 2nd Year Secondary
- 1st Place: Daniel McDevitt – Colaiste Phadraig
- 2nd Place: Charlie Taheny – Boyne Community School
- 3rd Place: Evan Barry-Keane – St. Gerard
3rd & 4th Year Secondary
- 1st Place: Emma Cheung – Mount Anville Secondary School
- 2nd Place: Adam Kennedy – Ballinrobe Community School
- 3rd Place: Daragh Delage – Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh
5th & 6th Year Secondary
- 1st Place: Benedek Hernold Csorba – Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk
- 2nd Place: Ciara Martin – Loreto College Foxrock
- 3rd Place: Kumorek Patryk – Boyne Community School
The event was hosted by Maynooth University’s Department of Computer Science, reinforcing the university’s commitment to fostering computational thinking and STEM education at all levels.
“Computational thinking is becoming an essential skill for the future workforce, regardless of career path,” said Thomas Naughton, from Maynooth University. “Events like the Bebras Challenge help students develop these skills in an engaging and accessible way.”
The Bebras Computing Challenge continues to grow in popularity across Ireland, with participation numbers increasing year on year as more schools recognize the importance of computational thinking in education.
For more information about the Bebras Computing Challenge and how schools can participate in future competitions, email info@ics.ie
About Bebras: The Bebras Computing Challenge is an international initiative aimed at promoting informatics (Computer Science) and computational thinking among school students of all ages. Participants are asked to solve short tasks that require logical and computational thinking. The initiative was started in Lithuania in 2004 and has since spread to over 60 countries worldwide.
About Maynooth University: Maynooth University is an internationally recognized institution located in the historic town of Maynooth, 25km west of Dublin, Ireland. It is Ireland’s fastest growing university with over 13,000 students from more than 90 countries.