Brian shows the bronze medal to Mr Leo Golden (Principal) and Mr Coldrick (Deputy Principal), St. Muredach's College.
The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is an annual competition for the world’s most talented chemistry students at secondary school level. Nations around the world send a team of four students who are tested on their chemistry knowledge and skills in a five-hour laboratory practical exam and a five-hour written theoretical examination that are held on separate days with the practical examination usually being before the theoretical examination.
Brian spent three days in DCU over the Easter holidays as he was in the top 15 students in the country involved in the selection process for the Irish team to represent Ireland in Paris this year. Congrats also to Brian's Chemistry teacher, Ms Boyce. The mentors with the four members of the Irish team this year came from DCU, Athlone IT and GMIT.
St Muredach's has a very proud tradition in Chemistry Olympiads over many years:
1997 Representing Ireland in Montreal (Noel O' Boyle) and won the first ever Silver Medal for Ireland in the international event.
2000 Irish Gold Medal Winner Chemistry Olympiad (Fergus O' Boyle) and represented Ireland in Copenhagen.
2002 Irish Bronze Medal Winner Chemistry Olympiad (Colm Reddington).
2006 Irish Gold Medal Winner Chemistry Olympiad (Grellan Tuohy) and represented Ireland in Moscow.
2009 Irish Gold medal winner Chemistry Olympiad (Ronan Judge).
2012 Irish Bronze Medal Winner Chemistry Olympiad (Ian Jennings).
2014 Irish Gold Medal Winner Chemistry Olympiad (Colm Naylor).
2016 Irish Silver Medal Winner Chemistry Olympiad (Stephen Durkan).
2017 Bronze Medal Winner Irish European Science Olympiad and represented Ireland at the international event in Copenhagen (Brian Durkan) winning silver for Ireland.
2017 Irish Bronze medal winner Chemistry Olympiad and qualified subsequently to represent Ireland in Thailand (Aaron Hannon).
2018 Irish Bronze Medal Winner Chemistry Olympiad (John Martyn).
2019 Irish Gold Medal Winner Chemistry Olympiad and represented Ireland at the International Olympiad in Paris, winning Bronze (Brian Durkan).