Leitrim’s STEMtacular returns for third year, already one of Ireland’s largest primary science fairs

The third annual STEMtacular Science Fair took place at the Sports Complex in Ballinamore across Wednesday and Thursday, with around 1000 primary school students from across the Northwest descending on Leitrim to participate.

STEMtacular was founded last year to promote STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics - among students in the West of Ireland. It has quickly become one of the largest events of its kind in the country.

Students from 50 schools across 11 counties, including Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Longford, Donegal, Monaghan, Galway, West-Meath, and Fermanagh, presented their projects to judges from sponsor companies and scientific organisations from around the country.

“I’m delighted,” says Louise Gallagher, a science teacher from Leitrim and the event's founder, “The kids, everybody went to the High Spirits home, and that's the main thing, a really positive experience with STEM”

Gallagher began the festival in 2024 and thanked the teachers who help every year, adding that she never thought the fair, which is one of the biggest in the country, would grow so quickly.

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“I thought it would be a Leitrim event, that we do it for the Leitrim schools, and then that first year we had like four counties come, and now it's hard to believe that we have 11 counties, over 200 projects, and across two days.”

“I suppose I never thought even that we would get the names that we have supporting us, like sponsors like Analog Devices, who are like multinational, renowned for their excellence and their support of things like the young scientists. To have them supporting us in our region is amazing,” said Gallagher.

The event was attended by sponsors from more than a dozen companies, including MET Éireann, University of Limerick, IRFU, and Abbvie, who hosted activities for the children all day in the discovery zone.

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“The earlier you engage with the younger generation, it gives them the opportunity to see, explore and understand what's available to them, but it's really important for us, companies like us, that kids are getting access to STEM at an early age,” said Aine McCarthy, spokesperson for Analog Devices, the event’s main sponsor.

McCarthy highlighted the North West’s under-representation in STEM and their support for growing access for the region's children, and also to ensure companies like their own have talented professionals coming through for years to come.

“Big hubs like Cork, Dublin, Limerick, the primary schools, see all of these big companies and small to medium companies as well in their space, and they get the opportunity to engage and maybe get in and get involved with the companies. But up here, there's not as many. So by having the Discovery Zone, by having this type of, I would call it probably a STEM fair, it allows kids to really see and be part of something that's bigger.”

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The event was attended by companies and local representatives, including Councillors Enda McGloin and James Gilmartin, who described the North West as an untapped region for STEM talent.

“I'm a science teacher myself, as well as being a county councillor and other things, but the opportunity for kids here, especially young kids, to get involved in these activities,” said Cllr Gilmartin.

“When I was a kid, and I guess I liked science in school, there was none of these opportunities, and I'm just thinking around, half jealous, and half kind of like saying, so well done to the organisers, to Louise, and to all the sponsorship that comes in from private companies, because this would not run without that.”

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