Success on the world stage for Mayo students with innovative project
Orlaith Colleran and Edel Walsh from Mount St Michael's Secondary School, Claremorris
Two Hollymount students have returned from India after finishing fifth in the world at the 2026 Technovation Global Finals.
Orlaith Colleran and Edel Walsh, both aged 14 and students at Mount Saint Michael Secondary School, represented Ireland and Europe in the junior category of the international technology competition, held in Bengaluru. Their achievement came in a competition which attracted 3,600 entries involving 13,000 students.
The girls qualified for the finals with their innovative DiAssist app, developed with the support of Teen Turn, an initiative which encourages teenage girls to pursue opportunities in technology.
DiAssist uses artificial intelligence to help teenagers manage diabetes by analysing photographs of meals and providing nutritional information to assist with blood glucose management.
The app also allows users to record their glucose levels and emotional wellbeing, helping them identify possible connections between their mental health and diabetes management.
Teen Turn Regional Manager Iseult Mangan praised the girls' achievement, describing their appearance on the world stage as particularly significant for students from rural Ireland.
The programme has been running at Mount Saint Michael since 2019, and Orlaith and Edel's success provides further encouragement for other young students interested in technology and innovation.
