Errigal College to represent Ireland at prestigious STEM event in Brussels

For the second time in three years, Errigal College, Letterkenny, has been selected to represent Ireland on the European stage at a major STEM event.

Four fifth year students, Angel, Francine, Grace and Sabrina, will travel to Brussels this October to take part in the Women and Girls in STEM Final.

The students, under the guidance of their teachers Mr. Evan Gorrell and Ms. Marie Crossan, will participate in the EIT Education and Skills Day on October 16, which this year focuses on the vital theme of Cybersecurity.

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The winning concept was first developed as part of a Transition Year project earlier this year. Transition Year in Errigal College gives students the freedom to explore new ideas, build confidence, and engage with exciting opportunities in areas like STEM, enterprise, and the arts.

As part of the challenge, the Errigal College students created Detection Pro, a tool designed to make internet browsing safer. Instead of depending on a fixed list of dangerous websites, it looks out for unusual online behaviour. When something suspicious happens, Detection Pro blocks the connection, shows the user a simple alert, and keeps a record for IT teams to review.

Mr. Evan Gorrell, Business and Computer Science Teacher at Errigal College, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see Angel, Francine, Grace and Sabrina take their place on the European stage. Their idea is both imaginative and practical, and I would especially like to thank my colleague Ms. Marie Crossan for her creativity and support throughout the project.”

Principal Mr. McFadden also highlighted the significance of this opportunity: “We are extremely proud of these four young women who will represent both Errigal College and Ireland at such a prestigious event. Promoting female participation in STEM is at the heart of what we do, and this achievement shows what can be accomplished when students are encouraged and supported to explore their potential in science, technology and innovation.”

Errigal College continues to build a strong reputation for promoting STEM, particularly among young women. The school has developed meaningful partnerships with local organisations and industry, such as OPTUM with whom sponsored their state-of-the-art STEM Lab, while also working closely with ATU Donegal through initiatives such as the STEM Passport for Inclusion. These collaborations, alongside a wide range of STEM subjects offered in the school, ensure students have access to hands-on experiences that connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities.