Records smashed at Longford's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event

More than 700 primary school pupils from across County Longford transformed St Mary's Community Campus, in Edgeworthstown into a hub of innovation on Tuesday, March 24 as they presented their cutting-edge STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) projects at the annual Longford Microsoft Dream Space Showcase. 

A series of awards were presented across all three Municipal Districts and this year’s overall Rising Star award was presented to St Mary’s NS, Edgeworthstown for their unique project ‘Coding to Communicate.’ 

The pupils used their newly acquired coding skills to help communicate with non-verbal classmates and children with Autism.

This year’s Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event also welcomed some of the most prestigious and respected names in the industry, including, Ericsson, MTU Cork, EY, KPMG, Storm Technologies and Global Logic. Their presence underscored the high regard and esteem in which this pioneering event is held.

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The Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland, Gergely Bánhegyi was one of the special guests on the day as part of a series of cultural events and collaborative projects linking County Longford with Hungary as part of Ireland’s EU Presidency community engagement programme.

YouTube star Farmer Phil was also in attendance, and he visited a number of agricultural related projects on the day with children from primary schools all over the county delighted to meet the social media influencer.

Longford’s Microsoft Dream Space Showcase is the culmination of months of engagement with primary schools in County Longford, which included the delivery of hands-on STEAM sessions by the Microsoft Dream Space teaching team as part of a 10-week Dream Space programme. The programme provided students with the opportunity to enhance their STEM and AI skills through the development of innovative STEM projects addressing sustainability challenges. 

Over a 10-week period, pupils worked with their teachers, Longford County Council’s STEM Engagement Officer, Siobhan Grealy, and Microsoft’s teaching team to develop the STEAM and coding skills they needed for their projects. These newly acquired skills were then put into action by developing an innovative project addressing various challenges related to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

The pupils celebrated their learnings and presented their projects at the Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event. Now in its fourth year, this initiative provides an opportunity for primary school children to enhance their STEM and AI skills through immersive experiences that help unlock their full potential, while also showing them the possibilities of a future career in the STEM sector. Ultimately, it is hoped that this will lead to all County Longford secondary schools offering computer science as a Leaving Certificate subject. 

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The collaboration with Microsoft, empowering local schools to participate in Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, builds on a series of targeted interventions in the area of STEAM education spearheaded by Longford County Council. Funding received by Longford County Council from the Government of Ireland and European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027 has been invested into local schools with a focus on accelerating interest and engagement in Computer Science and STEAM related subjects as students transition from primary to post-primary level. The ongoing support of primary school teachers throughout County Longford has been vital to the success of the programme while thanks was also extended to secondary school teachers who acted as adjudicators on the day.

PICTURES | Over 700 Longford pupils showcase groundbreaking STEAM projects

Creative Ireland is also funding the building blocks of creativity for this project.

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said, "What we witnessed at this year’s Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event exceeded every expectation. Longford County Council's commitment to pioneering STEAM education has created something extraordinary. We're not just preparing pupils for future careers; we're cultivating the problem-solvers who will reshape our world. The council's leadership in this space has positioned Longford as a beacon for educational innovation across Ireland."

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Garry Murtagh said, "It was truly inspiring to see the energy and creativity of the pupils taking part in this year’s Microsoft Dream Space Showcase. This innovative programme spearheaded by Longford County Council is helping to create the leaders and innovators of our future. When you see ten-year-old children developing coding skills to solve real life problems you know this is something really special. The aim is to see the pupils continue to nurture these skills into second level and beyond and ultimately this programme will act as a pipeline into industry, all right here in the midlands.”

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Amanda Jolliffe, Microsoft's Ireland's Dream Space Lead, celebrated the partnership's impact saying, “The energy and creativity on display at Longford's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase 2026 was truly inspiring. Since launching Dream Space in 2018, we’ve reached over 500,000 students across the country and events like the Longford Microsoft Dream Space Showcase are a testament to our ongoing commitment to working in partnership with local councils, schools, and industry to provide the opportunity for students in communities across the country to develop their STEM and AI skills.

“It has been a privilege to work with Longford County Council on this initiative for a fourth year, and to see the tangible impact that strong public–private collaboration can deliver. The quality and creativity of the student projects on display speak for themselves, underlining the role initiatives like this play in building confidence, curiosity and long‑term ambition among the next generation of STEM leaders.”

The Microsoft Dream Space Showcase continues to build momentum towards its ultimate goal of ensuring all County Longford secondary schools offer Computer Science as a Leaving Certificate subject, creating a seamless pathway for students to advance their technological capabilities.

Overall Rising Star Award
St Mary’s NS, Edgeworthstown (Coding to Communicate)

Ballymahon Municipal District
Tech All-Stars Award: St Mary’s NS Edgeworthstown

Most Innovative Project: Winners - St Dominic’s NS Kenagh (Cows Crossing). Runners-up - Scoil Bhríde, Glen (The Soil Buddies)

Best Creative Solution: Winners - St John’s NS Edgeworthstown (Fence Force). Runners-up - St Mary’s NS Edgeworthstown (Dairy Dynasty)

Age Friendly Award: Winners - St Dominic’s NS Kenagh (Keep Me Safe). Runners-up - Cloontagh NS (Mindbit)

Best Design Prototype: Winners - St Mary’s NS Edgeworthstown (Coding to Communicate). Runners-up - Lenamore NS, Legan (Game Picker)

Best Presented Project: Winners - St Earnan’s NS Killashee (Cow Saver). Runners-up - Forgney NS (Smart Oil Guardian-Alert System for Sustainable Farming)

Climate Action Team Champion: Winners - St Mary’s NS Edgeworthstown (The Deep Blue Defenders). Runners-up - St Mary’s NS, Newtowncashel (Save The Sean Animals)

Management Team Award: Winners - St Dominic’s NS Kenagh (Talk To Me). Runners-Up - St Mary’s NS Edgeworthstown (Safety Guardians)

Most Original Project: Winners -  St Mary’s NS Edgeworthstown (The Aidan Project). Runners-up - Colehill Mixed NS (The Funky Functions)

Granard Municipal District

Tech All-Stars Award: St Teresa’s NS Killoe

Most Innovative Project: Winners - St Teresa’s NS Killoe (When the clouds appear, your tech is here). Runners-up - Sacred Heart NS Granard (Body Temperature Sensor)

Best Creative Solution: Winners - Scoil Mhuire NS Aughnagarron (Aughnagarron NS). Runners-up - St Bernard’s NS Abbeylara (The Kitty Kitchen)

Age Friendly Award: Winners - Naomh Padraig NS Killeen (Tumble Buddies). Runners-up - St Columba’s NS Mullinalaghta (The Medicine Reminder)

Best Design Prototype: Winners - St Guasacht’s NS Bunlahy (Safe Spreading). Runners-up - St Teresa’s NS Killoe (Respect the fin let the peace begin)

Best Presented Project: Winners - St Patrick’s NS Dromard (Flood Fighters). Runners-up - Naomh Padraig NS Killeen (FieldSense Pro)

Climate Action Team Champion: Winners - St Bernard’s NS Abbeylara (Water Benders). Runners-up - Sacred Heart NS Granard (Food Waste Trackers)

Management Team Award: Winners - St Columba’s NS Mullinalaghta (Animal Trackers). Runners-Up - Killasonna (Agitation Realisation)

Most Original Project: Winners -  St Patrick’s NS Ballinamuck (FLAM Flood Level Alert Micro:bit). Runners-up - Killasonna NS (The Gate Mate)

Longford Municipal District

Tech All-Stars Award: St Joseph’s NS Longford

Most Innovative Project: Winners - St John’s NS Longford (Bus Barrier). Runners-up - St Joseph’s NS Longford (Happy Hands)

Best Creative Solution: Winners - Melview NS (Busy Bees). Runners-up - Stonepark NS (Snack Track)

Age Friendly Award: Winners - St Joseph’s NS Longford (Mind Find Assist). Runners-up - St Emer’s NS (Ghost X)

Best Design Prototype: Winners - Stonepark NS (Swish: Bit). Runners-up - St John’s NS Longford (Hot Shot)

Best Presented Project: Winners - St Joseph’s NS Longford (Reptile Humidity Maintainer). Runners-up - Scoil Mhuire NS Clondra (Bus Stop Guardians)

Climate Action Team Champion: Winners - St Joseph’s NS Longford (Guardians of the Blue). Runners-up - Scoil Mhuire NS Newtownforbes (Project Plants)

Management Team Award: Winners - St Emer’s NS (Kind Choices Online). Runners-Up - Gaelscoil Longfoirt (Gaelscoil Foireann 1)

Most Original Project: Winners - St Joseph’s NS Longford (Sally Seasoning). Runners-up - St Michael’s NS Longford (Silent Signals)

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