Tag: athlone

Science Week celebrates 30th anniversary

Marking its 30th anniversary, Science Week, will take place across Ireland from 9-16 November, with 14 festivals and a huge variety of events set to take place nationwide. Coordinated by Research Ireland, Science Week is an annual week-long celebration of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).

With this year’s theme of ‘Then. Today. Tomorrow.’, Research Ireland is encouraging people to explore how science and research have shaped and improved the lives we live today, while also looking at the questions and challenges of tomorrow, and how insights from the past can influence our future decisions.

A wide range of festivals and events will take place across Ireland as part of Science Week, from an Immersive Sustainable Escape Room to an Otter Spotters Roadshow, there is something for everybody.  There will be two showcase events in Cork and Dublin that are not to be missed:

 

  • Cork: Renowned spectacle theatre company Macnas will make its Cork premiere at Marina Market for Science Week 2025. On Sunday, 9 November, Macnas will bring its vibrant troupe of drummers, stilt walkers, sculptures, and puppets to Cork city to tell a powerful story about biodiversity loss and the gradual disappearance of the corncrake across Ireland. Known for its distinctive and recognisable call, the corncrake’s decline serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to protect habitats and biodiversity. An installation inspired by the performance will remain at Marina Market, alongside the Science Week-funded SpaceFest, until Thursday, 13 November.
  • Dublin: Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon Lands in Merrion Square to celebrate 30 years of Science Week. Internationally acclaimed artist Luke Jerram will bring his breathtaking installation, Museum of the Moon, to Merrion Square, Dublin, from 13–15 November. The seven-metre illuminated sphere, featuring detailed imagery of the lunar surface from NASA, offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to experience the Moon up close. Suspended in one of Dublin’s most iconic city parks, the artwork invites reflection on our relationship with the night sky, the planet, and beyond.

Some other events taking place not to be missed include:

  • Then, Today and Tomorrow – Exploring a Changing Ocean Around Us – Galway – November 15th, 10am – 5pm

Join the aquarium team and friends to explore the past, present and future of the ocean and waters of Ireland. Explore our marine heritage and past, meet our animals and discover the habitats they live in, and consider the ocean and waterways of the future. Visitors will be to join hourly feeding tours and meet our team at activity stations around the aquarium.

  • The Science of Storytelling – Dublin – November 9th, 4 30pm – 5 30pm

Storytelling is as old as time, but what about the science behind it? Join neuroscientist Shane O’Mara, author of Talking Heads: The New Science of How Conversation Shapes Our Worlds, master traditional storyteller Niall de Búrca and science writer Claire O’Connell as we delve into communication, connection, and why storytelling remains such a powerful form of human expression.

  • Let’s Talk Science Festival – Dublin – November 8th, 10am – 4pm

The Let’s Talk Science Festival is back at the Rediscovery Centre – and this year we’re celebrating 10 years of science, curiosity and fun! Join us on Saturday 8th November for our special anniversary festival with the theme “10 Years of Let’s Talk Science”. It’s an all-day, family-friendly event packed with exciting STEM activities for all ages.

  • Teddy Bears Hospital – Athlone

This event is part of the Midlands Science Festival and will be hosted by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Paediatrics Society through a special pop up teddy bears hospital in Athlone. This event introduces children to healthcare in a fun and friendly way, helping to ease any worries they may have surrounding the hospital environment. Through a number of stations such as the emergency station, phlebotomy, or pharmacy, every teddy bear brought along will receive a wide range of care and a fun experience through the Teddy Bear Hospital.

Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland said: “For 30 years, Science Week has been sparking curiosity and bringing people together through science. Our anniversary theme of ‘Then. Today. Tomorrow.’ is a chance to both celebrate the endeavours of yesteryear that have brought us to where we are today, and to consider what may lie ahead for individuals, families, communities, Ireland, and the entire planet. We’re delighted to see such a wide range of events taking place across the country again this year. The success and appeal of Science Week is due primarily to the creativity and tireless work of local organisers and volunteers. I want to sincerely thank them for making Science Week such a vibrant, nationwide celebration.”

 Speaking about the Museum of the Moon installation, Luke Jerram said: “The Museum of the Moon has travelled the world, but there’s something truly special about bringing it to Dublin to mark such a milestone for Science Week. It’s about inspiring wonder — and seeing our shared world from a new perspective.”

For more information on how to get involved, please visit https://www.scienceweek.ie/. You can also follow developments using the hashtags #scienceweek and #ThenTodayTomorrow.

EnerMech invests €9.2 million in first Irish facility to support growth in new markets and announces the creation of 170 new jobs in Athlone

EnerMech has today officially opened its first facility in Ireland, creating approximately 170 jobs opportunities over the next three years. The base cements the integrated solutions specialist’s commitment to the area and its growth drive across new sectors and geographies.

Bringing its five decades of engineering and manufacturing experience to bear, EnerMech has already delivered several campaigns from the site, including providing its services to a large semiconductor project for a world-leading North American company.

Located in IDA Ireland’s Business and Technology Park in Athlone, the company has been delivering its range of specialist services from the base for the past year. This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment, Leo Varadkar said: “I’m really pleased to welcome EnerMech to Ireland and in particular Athlone, which is a fantastic choice of location for this substantial investment. These 170 new jobs will be a real boost, and really underline Ireland’s growth as an international advanced manufacturing hub. EnerMech has a remarkable 50 years of experience with a global presence in 23 countries. We will continue to work hard to create the right environment to attract such world-class companies to all parts of the country. I wish the team all the very best and trust they will be very happy in their new community.”

Minister of Trade Promotion, Digital & Company Regulation Dara Calleary TD said: I’m delighted that EnerMech have chosen Ireland for this expansion which will create 170 jobs over the next three years. EnerMech’s new facility in Athlone is well positioned to serve the thriving engineering, biopharma and MedTech clusters in the region and beyond. These roles, across a range of specialist engineering disciplines, will provide a fantastic opportunity for the highly skilled and talented workforce our country has to offer. I wish the team every continued success in this new chapter.”

Building on the long-term sustainability of its business in the region, the company now employs over 110 employees locally, including five local apprentices on the Pipefitting Apprentice Scheme, delivering a broad spectrum of capabilities across specialist engineering disciplines to support project construction and deli very. These numbers are expected to rise to a further 60 full-time job opportunities including a further 10 apprentice openings in the near future.

In addition to growth in core markets, the move further supports the company’s global diversification drive as it eyes expansion in infrastructure, renewables, power, energy, and hi-tech industrial sectors, a key growth area for EnerMech across the globe. The Ireland base is another step forward for the company in this goal, as the facility is home to the company’s first ISO-certified cleanroom. This additional capability supports high purity welding and pipework manufacture, a key element in the semi-conductor, pharmaceutical and food industries.

Christian Brown, Chief Executive Officer at EnerMech, said: “The launch celebrations mark the end of a successful first year for EnerMech in Ireland. Our new facility opens a number of doors for us as we look to deliver more projects from this base as well as build on our existing work across a diverse mix of end markets.

“This healthy mix of business progression demonstrates our multi-discipline capabilities are being more widely recognised and valued in new ways across the board.

“Coming together with IDA Ireland the Irish government, and clients to officially launch the site is a proud moment for the company and staff.”

CEO of IDA Ireland, Martin Shanahan said: “The establishment by EnerMech, a global integrated solutions specialist, in Athlone is terrific news for the Midlands region and beyond.  This investment is strongly aligned to IDA Ireland’s strategic pillars of Impact and Regional Development.  I wish EnerMech every success with this investment.”