The winning students are:

• Thomas Hayes, Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare, Co. Kerry;
• Aidan Kelly, Drogheda Grammar School, Co. Louth;
• Jack Hutchinson, Gonzaga College, Ranelagh, Dublin 6;

• Srujana Vedicherla, Mount Carmel Secondary School, King’s Inn St, Dublin 1;
• Darren McMahon, St. Macartan’s College, Co. Monaghan.
• Leila Smith, Loreto College, Foxrock, Co. Dublin;

In early October, the principals of all post-primary schools were asked to nominate one student who had achieved a minimum of six As, including Maths and Science, in the 2008 Junior Certificate Examination. Approximately ninety registration forms were returned.

The Irish Junior Science Olympiad (IrJSO) took place in DCU on Saturday, 8 November. The three-hour test began at 12 noon and the closing ceremony commenced at 4pm. Nineteen counties were represented by eighty-five students, with the majority of the finalists achieving between nine and eleven A grades in the Junior Certificate.

All participants were presented with a certificate at the closing ceremony. The top three students received gold medals, the next three received silver medals and the next three bronze. The gold and silver medal winners were invited to represent Ireland at the 2008 IJSO. The bronze medal winners are on the reserve list. These are:

• Luke Corcoran, Abbey CBS, Tipperary;
• Killian O'Dwyer, CBS, Ennistymon, Co. Clare;
• Stephen O'Brien, Colaiste Chriost Ri, Capwell Rd., Cork.

The Irish team will complete online assignments over the next three weeks designed by Dr. Paraic James. They will attend an intensive three-day residential programme in DCU prior to the IrJSO.

The Irish delegation of six students and two mentors will depart Dublin for the 5th International Junior Science Olympiad in Gyeongnam, Korea (http://ijso.or.kr/) on December 6, and will return on December 16.