Cardinal Health employees outside the plant last August as details emerged that it planned to cease operations in Tullamore
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26 Mar 2026
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26 Mar 2026
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TV presenter Deric Ó h'Artagáin (left) pictured with the students who will travel to Dallas
ONE morning last week excitement buzzed through the corridors of the Sacred Heart School, Tullamore, as national television came to town.
The popular morning programme Ireland AM broadcast live from the school’s state-of-the-art STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Lab to showcase something truly remarkable - The Steminists, Sacred Heart’s all-female robotics team who have made history by becoming the first all-girls team to qualify to represent Ireland in the World Championships of the VEX IQ Robotics Competition.
Presenter Deric Ó h'Artagáin brought the story to life for viewers across the country, shining a spotlight on the five inspiring students—Olivia (14), Rachel (13), Emily (13), Alice (12), and Jasmine (13). The girls were thrilled to share their journey, challenges, and triumphs in the world of competitive robotics.
Broadcasting from the school’s fully equipped STEM Lab, Deric interviewed the girls about their preparations and their impressive robot, affectionately named Agatha Trunchbull.
Engineered with precision and passion, Agatha is a powerhouse built for performance, boasting expert coding, strategic engineering, and a strong autonomous mode. The girls discussed their roles—from building and coding to strategy and documentation—and what it means to be pioneering young women in STEM.
The team is set to represent Ireland at the VEX IQ World Championships in Dallas, Texas in May—a massive milestone not only for the school but for young women in science and technology nationwide.
Deric also spoke with the team’s dedicated mentors, Sindy Meleady and Aisling Burke, who will accompany the students to the competition. Their passion for STEM education and belief in the girls’ potential has helped fuel this historic achievement.
The live feature ended on a hopeful note as the school encouraged viewers and the community to support the team on their journey.
The funding target was €30,000 to cover travel and competition expenses and with the help of a GoFundMe page that figure was achieved.
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