Offaly school's young innovators showcase their skills during Creative Technology Week

Killina Presentation Secondary School in Rahan were awarded Robotics Project of the Year during Kinia's Creative Technology Week. Their project highlights how technology can be a tool not only for learning but also for building inclusive and supportive communities.

The event, which took place earlier this month, was part of Kinia's annual showcase of young digital innovators, celebrating their ground breaking projects in Creative Technology, Smart Energy, Green Tech, Mobile Filmmaking, Podcasting and Robotics.

The award was presented during Creative Technology Week celebrations, which saw over 600 young innovators from across Ireland display their projects as part of 2 days of events in the Explorium, Sandyford. Young people attending, engaged in hands-on workshops such as Machine Learning and AI, and competitions, such as the new Kinia Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP), where young minds competed in racing hydrogen-powered vehicles. This year Kinia is launching a Hydrogen skills programme which gives young people the opportunity to gain hands-on learning about the potential of hydrogen-powered technology, and Kinia are pioneering hydrogen energy education in Ireland.

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Killina Presentation Secondary School’s Robotics project empowers students with additional needs through VEX robotics. Speaking about the project, the students said “We noticed there wasn’t a lot of support with robotics for people with additional needs, so we decided to go around to the special education schools in Offaly to help them with their robots, and then organise a special competition for them, to try and get everybody included.”

Kinia, an education-focused non-profit and social enterprise, is dedicated to reducing educational inequality by building digital skills and access to technology career pathways for young people across Ireland. Throughout 2024, Kinia supported 2,725 educators through training, support sessions and events and helped to lift barriers to learning for 21,600 young people across 436 organisations.

Creative Technology Week celebrates Kinia’s mission to deliver learning opportunities that unlock skills, talent and creativity — empowering young people to confidently create and shape a more equal and sustainable future.

Teachers, youth and community workers attended the flagship events alongside young people aged 12–18, and the Award Ceremony saw schools and youth groups scoop awards for their incredible creativity in engineering, digital and technology projects, such as Killina Presentation Secondary School from Co. Offaly who were awarded Robotics Project of the Year.

It’s not only about the award winners, all young people that submit projects as part of Creative Technology Week, are recognised through Kinia Credentials for the activation of new skills learned such as Collaboration, Problem solving, Critical thinking and Creativity. It gives young people the opportunity to build their personal portfolio of skills and competencies, whilst creating a CV for their future.

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Speaking about the event, Marianne Checkley, CEO of Kinia, said: “We believe in the potential of every young person. As technology continues to develop rapidly, some young people and communities risk being left behind. Creative Technology Week highlights the work Kinia is doing to break down barriers and ensure that every young person has the chance to explore, create and shape their future.”

“We’re always blown away by the ingenuity and creativity in the standard of projects and this year is no different. This year there is a real focus on how technology and renewable energy can support communities to reimagine their futures, from mini-solar powered farms to green villages and “How the Kinia Tech Helped Our School Save Water” are just a few to highlight.”

For more information about Kinia, their impact and how you can get involved, visit www.kinia.ie.