The excitement was electric this weekend as teams from schools all around the country came to the Radisson Hotel in Galway for the National finals of the FIRST LEGO League.  The competiton has been running in Ireland for the past three years and the winners have gone on to win prizes in international finals in Japan and Copenhagen in 208 and 2009 respectively.  The competition involves a wide range of disciplines including building and programming robots made from LEGO to carry out very specific functions in head to head competition, a team research project based on the theme of transport, a presentation on the work carried out and a teamwork element relating to the methodologies used in meeting the challenges posed. 

            The competition went on for the best part of the day with the guidance and encouragement of compere Paul "The Voice" Sleem and under the watchful eyes of the judging panel. drawn from volunteers from world leading companies Medtronic and SAP.  Competition was keen and a great atmosphere pervaded right up to the announcement of the results.  The prize for the best project was won by St. Paul's College from Oughterard in County Galway. The Robotics Challenge went to St. Oliver's Community College from Drogheda.  The prize for the best built robot went to St. Gerald's College, Castlebar, who had been overall winners of the competition in 2008 and 2009. The Teamwork prize was won by Scoil Uí Mhuirí, Dunleer, County Louth.  A special Judges Discretionary Prize went to Scoil Cholmchille from An Tulach, the first Primary School to compete in the Irish National Finals.

            In the end local heroes Coláiste na Coiribe were the victorious team, taking the overall prize, which includes the honour of representing Ireland at the FIRST LEGO League World Festival which was held in Atlanta, Georgia  from April 14th - 17th 2010.  They went on to  compete with up to 83 other teams from all over the world for the title of World Champions.