Castleknock College Wins All-Ireland Final of Team Maths Quiz
Posted on: 04 March 2007
Secondary school students from Castleknock College in Dublin are the winners of this year’s Ireland’s Team Mathematics Competition, an all-Ireland mathematics competition for second-level schools, which was held in Trinity College yesterday, Saturday 3 March 2007.
The winning students, Paul Myler (captain), Ciarán O’Sullivan, Dermot O’Riordan, Ashwin Radhakrishnan and their Mathematics teacher, Colin Townsend celebrated their victory with the TCD Vice Provost, Professor Ruth Byrne and Managing Director of Securities Funds Services, Citigroup, Bernard Hanratty, yesterday in Trinity College. Organised by the Hamilton Mathematics Institute TCD and the Irish Mathematics Teachers Association, with support from the Citigroup Foundation, 11 regional champion teams* competed for the Hamilton Trophy. In total more than 1,000 sixth-year students from over 250 second-level schools nationwide took part in the regional finals.
Commenting on the students’ achievement and the significance of Ireland’s Team Mathematics Competition, Paul Nugent of the Irish Mathematics Teachers Association, said: “The competition gives second-level students a fantastic opportunity to apply their understanding of complex mathematical principles in both a competitive and enjoyable context. The aim of the competition is to promote and popularise the subject among Ireland’s students in order to increase the uptake of higher level mathematics at Leaving Certificate level. At present 17% of the Leaving Certificate student cohort take the subject at higher level which should be at least 24% .”
“Mathematicians are central to Ireland’s vibrant knowledge economy. The excellence and enthusiasm of the young mathematicians who have taken part in this competition bodes well for Ireland’s future ambitions,” continued the Vice Provost of Trinity College, Professor Ruth Byrne. “All of the young men and women who have taken part in the Team Mathematics Competition have the talent to pursue third level opportunities in mathematics, science, engineering, ICT, and related areas. The competition provides great encouragement to them to do so.”
In addition to being presented with the Hamilton Trophy, the winning team has the opportunity of work experience in Trinity College and a visit to Citigroup’s Offices.
Managing Director of Securities Funds Services, Citigroup, Bernard Hanratty, congratulated the 11 finalists on reaching the final: “The 11 regional winners should be very proud of their participation in the national final. Citigroup hopes to provide a commercial context to the Team Maths quiz, helping students understand that mathematics can pave the way to a varied, challenging and rewarding career.”
The winning team and runners up also all received the ‘Seán Ó Tuama Medal’, named in the memory of a past Secretary of the Irish Mathematics Teachers Association.
The Hamilton Mathematics Institute TCD is an institute dedicated to fostering mathematics and related disciplines. Named after William Rowan Hamilton, one of Ireland’s most famous scientists and one of the world’s great mathematicians, the Institute also aims to improve the public understanding of mathematics.
ENDS:
Note to Editors:
*The 11 finalist teams (four members per team) were from the following schools: Presentation Brothers College, Cork, St Eunan’s College, Co Donegal, Castleknock College, Dublin, St Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway, Presentation Secondary School, Kerry, St Gerald’s College, Co Mayo, Our Lady’s Bower, Co Westmeath, CBS High School, Co Tipperary, Newtown School, Waterford, Presentation Secondary School, Wexford and St Munchin’s College, Limerick. The competition which is based on Leaving Certificate Higher Mathematics syllabus is a table quiz with eight rounds.
.