WATCH: Success for Cavan student at Young Scientist competition

Lewis highlighted the potential risks to heritage buildings and modern infrastructure exposed to polluted river environments

A Cavan student has achieved outstanding success at this year’s Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (YSTE) at the RDS in Dublin.

Lewis Mohan from Redhills, a student at Breifne College in Cavan Town, was awarded an outstanding third place in the combined category of Chemistry, Physics and Maths.

His project, aptly titled pHaulty Foundations, examined the effects of freshwater acidification on common building materials including limestone, sandstone and concrete.

Through his research, Lewis highlighted the potential long-term risks to heritage buildings and modern infrastructure exposed to polluted river environments, drawing attention to an issue of growing environmental and structural concern.

Lewis enjoyed a busy second day at the exhibition, welcoming a steady stream of visitors to his stand.

He was particularly delighted to receive visits from Breifne College Deputy Principals, Fr Murphy and Ms Downey, who travelled to Dublin to support him and celebrate his achievement.

The school community has expressed immense pride in Lewis’s success.

Staff at Breifne College congratulated him on his exceptional performance and extended special thanks to his mentor, Ms McManus, for her guidance and dedication throughout the project’s development.

Lewis was among a strong cohort of young scientists from Cavan and Monaghan who represented their schools and communities with distinction at the national exhibition.

In total, 11 projects from the region qualified for YSTE, including nine from County Cavan and two from County Monaghan.

The importance of the annual exhibition was underlined by the presence of the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, at its launch.

Addressing students and attendees, she praised the exceptional quality and diversity of projects on display, describing the exhibition as a vital platform for young people to showcase their creativity and knowledge.

She noted that events such as YSTE give her “tremendous hope for the future”, adding that this hope comes directly from the next generation of innovators and thinkers.