UCC School of Mathematical Sciences Welcomes Ireland’s Youngest Mathematicians

11 Sep 2026

During the period 17-21 August 2026, the UCC School of Mathematical Sciences hosted the Irish Maths Squad Camp - a week full of learning, problem-solving and social activities for more than 50 school students, top performers in the Irish Mathematical Olympiad and Junior Maths Enrichment programmes across the country.

The week concluded with the IMT Mathematics Awards Ceremony on Friday 21 August in Aula Maxima, celebrating the outstanding results of Ireland’s youngest mathematicians.

Professor John O’Halloran, the president of UCC, welcomed the 140 guests: student laureates and their families, representatives of the Irish Mathematical Trust; Alison Ahern from Stripe, Eoin Breen and Mairéad O'Mahony from the Society of Actuaries in Ireland, Ger Crowley from the Susquehanna International Group representing some of the generous sponsors of the Maths Olympiad and Maths Enrichment activities via the IMT.

The Head of the School of Mathematical Sciences Dr. Martin Kilian; the Chair of the Irish Mathematical Trust Dr. Neil Dobbs; and the MC Prof. Stephen Buckley, Head of Mathematics and Statistics at Maynooth University – connected with the audience through stories of personal experience. Here with Dr. Anca Mustata and the legendary Dr. Donal Hurley, of UCC Maths Enrichment.

The event ended another exceptional year for Ireland, with a record 15 medals in international competitions. Highlights include:

A silver medal for Ben Maguire and bronzes for Angyang Li and Jack McAuliffe at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), with Owen Barron, Vitalii Halushko, Tianci Yan receiving Honourary Mention. Here with leaders Stephen Buckley, Tianyiwa Xie and Mark Flanagan.

A silver medal for Owen Barron and three bronze medals for Vitalii Halushko, Tianci Yan and Jack McAuliffe at the International Mathematics Summer Camp organised by the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications (BIMSA) and the Yau Mathematical Sciences Center; and chaired by Fields Medallist Professor Shing-Tung Yau.

A bronze medal for Roisin Spratt at the European Girls Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO). Here with team members Charlotte Walmsley, Aifric Barron and Siobhan McGale, and leaders Myrto Manolaki and Maria Kiiko.

The Cork hosts were happy to welcome back the Olympians who have trained here in previous editions of the August camp.

The ceremony featured personal testimonies of the students who represented Ireland at the European Girls Maths Olympiad, the European Maths Olympiad, the Junior Balkan Maths Olympiad and the International Maths Olympiad.

Certificates were awarded to the students on the Irish Maths Olympiad Roll of Honour, as well as winners of the various Maths competitions held before and during the camp.

Dr. Cónall Kelly from the Irish Mathematial Society presented the Fergus Gaines Cup to Owen Barron with for coming first in the Irish Mathematics Olympiad. He also noted Owen’s first peer-reviewed article was published in the latest edition of the Bulletin of the IMS (with co-author Odhran Keenan). 

Congratulations to all involved!