Tech & Innovation

Shortlist for eircom Junior Spider Awards 2015 announced

By Business & Finance
26 March 2015
Launch of Junior Spiders 2015
John Anslow, sponsorship manager; eircom with student and teacher Ciara Brennan from St Peter’s Primary School, Bray, Co. Wicklow, who were the 2014 Mega Grand Prix winners.

The shortlist for the 2015 eircom Junior Spider Awards, the award ceremony which celebrates the achievements of our future tech leaders, was announced this morning.

The awards programme, now in its sixth year, was established to highlight how primary and post primary students embrace the internet and highlights the innovative ways the internet and technology is used both in school and in their daily lives.

The awards are divided into three main categories: The Mega Spiders (aimed at youths aged 4-12 years); the Giga Spiders aimed at youths aged 13-15 years; and the Tera Spiders which are aimed at youths aged 16-19 years. For the first time a new – and very popular category – has been added aimed at Transition Year projects, as well as an additional cross-category award which is focused on the coding of websites.

Commenting on the awards Lisa Comerford, director of Brand and Communications at eircom and chairperson of the eircom Junior Spider Awards judging panel said: “Despite the fact that we have expanded the scope of the awards this year to include new categories, choosing our finalists was as tough as ever. We are delighted with the standard of entries from schools all across the country – and it’s a real insight into the increased digital focus that is happening in classrooms nationwide.

“The judges and I would like to thank every school who entered, and to congratulate all those shortlisted. I would also like to thank each of the judges for giving so much of their time throughout the judging process. l look forward to seeing everyone for a fun filled day at the awards ceremony.”

This year’s shortlist is as follows:

Mega Spider Awards (4 – 12 years)

Best Individual Project

  • Hans’ Story: Killeen NS, Laois
  • Katie Taylor: Gaelscoil Uileog De Burca, Mayo
  • reCharge My eCar: CoderDojo DCU, Dublin
  • Thomas Edison: Killeen NS, Laois
  • World War 2: Oisín Byrne, Killeen NS, Laois

Best Group Project

  • ‘Pi in the Sky’ Can we design and make a Homemade goal line technology system using Raspberry Pi?: Peter’s Primary, Bray, Wicklow
  • Farm Safety 4 Kids: Cloghans Hill NS, Mayo
  • Inver National School Blog: Inver National School, Mayo
  • Aiden’s Website: St Aiden’s National School, Sligo
  • Technology Threaders: St Brigid’s National School, Dublin

Creative Web Coding

  • Coding at the Core of Digital Democracy – EUDojo 2014: Blackrock Castle CoderDojo, Cork
  • Cool Kids Studio: CoderDojo, Dublin
  • HTML in Inver: Inver National School , Mayo
  • QUICKDOJO: Dingle CoderDojo, Kerry

Giga Spider Awards (13 – 15 years)

Best Individual Project

  • Arm Power Hosting: Colaiste An Phiarsaigh, Cork
  • Burrin Celtic FC: Presentation College Carlow, Carlow
  • CoderDojo Mallow: Davis College, Cork
  • David Lalor Design: Presentation College Carlow, Carlow
  • Learning Through Blogging: Grace Lavelle, Crana College, Donegal
  • Megan’s Ty Blog: Crana College, Donegal

Best Group Project

  • Green Kilmihil: St Michael’s Community College, Clare
  • TDR Gaming: Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Kilkenny
  • Tedd.ie: Colaiste Chiarain, Limerick
  • The Ukulele People: St Joseph’s Secondary School, Mayo

Creative Web Coding

  • Ads4You: Offaly
  • CoderDojo Mallow: Davis College, Cork

Best Concept

  • Ads4You: Offaly
  • CoderDojo Mallow: Davis College, Cork
  • Gossip Girl: Colaiste Muire, Cork
  • News-just-in.com: Colaiste Muire Cobh, Cork
  • TheOral.ie: St Michael’s Community College, Clare

Best Web Design

  • Burrin Celtic FC: Presentation College Carlow, Carlow
  • Cian Ó Briain Keaveney : Blag Gaelcholaiste Reachrann, Dublin
  • CoderDojo Mallow: Davis College, Cork
  • David Lalor Design: Presentation College Carlow, Carlow
  • Sail E Films: Kinsale Community School, Cork

Suíomh is Fearr

  • Déan Damhsa: Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Kilkenny
  • GaeilgeLeCheile: St Michaels Community College, Clare
  • Gig Guide As Gaeilge: Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Kilkenny
  • moGhaeilge: Rice College, Clare

Tera Spider Awards (16 – 19 years)

Best Individual Project

  • 1250 Games: Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Limerick
  • Historic Kilkenny: Kilkenny CBS, Kilkenny
  • Little Miss Nee: Christ King Secondary School, Cork
  • Ryan Shirley Wesley College, Dublin
  • Trade Compare: St Munchin’s College, Limerick

Best Group Project

  • Empower Girls: St Wolstan’s Community School, Kildare
  • MC on Air: Midleton College, Cork
  • Pres Rugby TV: Presentation College Bray, Wicklow
  • Surge Racing – Formula 1 in Schools: Gaelcholáiste Cháitinn, Tipperary
  • The Turnover Project: Royal and Prior, Donegal
  • Tracktion | F1 in Schools: Hex CNC, Roscommon
  • TY Journalism Website: Donabate Community College, Dublin

Creative Web Coding

  • Scraping The Sky: CoderDojo Athlone, Westmeath
  • Tracktion | F1 in Schools: Hex CNC, Roscommon

Best Transition Year Project

  • AOK TeenFitness: Coláiste Muire Cobh, Cork
  • Pres Rugby TV: Presentation College Bray, Wicklow
  • Smarticles: Loreto Secondary School Balbriggan, Dublin
  • Surge Racing – Formula 1 in Schools: Gaelcholáiste Cháitinn, Tipperary
  • The Turnover Project: Royal and Prior, Donegal

Best Digital Game

  • Crith: Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney, Monaghan
  • Global Thermonuclear War 2: St Munchin’s College, Limerick
  • Popper: Midleton College, Cork
  • Recineration: Patrician High School, Monaghan

Best Mobilised App

  • Interactive Arts – iBooks In Education: Blackrock College, Dublin
  • SpotGet: Patrician High School, Monaghan
  • Trade Compare: St Munchin’s College, Limerick

Best Web Design

  • Debaroid: CBS Kilkenny, Kilkenny
  • Gaeilge Gaga: St Michaels Community College, Clare
  • Ryan Shirley, Wesley College, Dublin
  • Surge Racing – Formula 1 in Schools: Gaelcholáiste Cháitinn, Tipperary
  • Tracktion | F1 in Schools: Hex CNC, Roscommon

Best Concept

  • Debaroid: CBS Kilkenny, Kilkenny
  • Empower Girls Mini NGO: St Wolstan’s Community School, Kildare
  • MC on Air: Midleton College, Cork
  • Positivity Pack: Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Limerick

Suíomh is Fearr

  • Blag don idirbhliain: Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Dublin
  • Gaeilge Gaga: St Michaels Community College, Clare
  • Mo Bhlaigín Seó: Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Dublin
  • Na Geanmaireachtaí in Achadh Úr: Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Kilkenny