2015 Press Releases

UCC school presentation sweet like Raspberry Pi

26 Jun 2015
Charlotte Lane O Brien (senior infants) and Lily O Donoghue (junior infants) opening their new Raspberry Pi computers presented by UCC to the pupils at St. Michael's National School in Blackrock, Cork. Image: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

UCC President Dr Michael Murphy and Professor Barry O'Sullivan, Head of UCC's Department of Computer Science and Director of the Insight Centre for Data Analytics, presented Raspberry Pi computers to the pupils of St. Michael's National School in Blackrock, Cork.

"It is a pleasure for the Department of Computer Science at UCC to present these Raspberry Pi computers to the pupils of St. Michael's National School.  In a sense it brings the legacy of George Boole's work full circle. St. Michael's Church, which is immediately next door, was his local church, and where he was laid to rest after his untimely passing,” Professor O'Sullivan said.

“These computers give the pupils of the school the opportunity to have a massive impact on the world through the power of computer programming. I hope they help the children to think big thoughts."

UCC is this year celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Boole, its first Maths professor and the forefather of the information age.

“At UCC, we are hugely proud of George Boole and our programme of George Boole 200 events aims to highlight the long-established tradition of research in academic disciplines associated with him. As forefather of the information age, Boole’s most enduring legacy will be that whenever we turn on a computer, mobile phone or use the internet, we will think of George Boole,” said Dr Michael Murphy, President of UCC.

Annemarie O’Donovan, Acting Principal, St Michael’s National School, said the staff and pupils at St Michael’s were all “very excited by our special connection with George Boole, we pass his grave every Friday on the way to assembly in St Michael's church and have done lots of projects celebrating this link.”

“We are extremely grateful to UCC for giving us the computers and allowing us to be part of this important celebration. We will be honouring the history by coding long into the future!” she added.

University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

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