Ireland’s success at International Mathematics Olympiad

Every year Ireland sends a group of pre-university students to represent us at the International Mathematical Olympiad. The students travel with the support of the Department of Education and Skills.  

This year, Team Ireland, won two bronze medals at the IMO which was hosted in Rio de Janeiro. This is the first time an Irish team has won two medals since it began competing at the IMO in 1988 making this the best ever performance for an Irish team.

The annual two-day event is open to secondary school students and is the biggest and oldest Scientific Olympiad in the world. Students from more than 100 countries took part this year. Contestants were challenged to solve three mathematical problems in four and a half hours each day. A maximum of seven points was available for each problem. None of the 615 entrants achieved the highest possible score of 42. Three participants from Iran, Japan and Vietnam shared first place with a total score of 35.

Cillian Doherty (Colaiste Eoin, Dublin) and Anna Mustata (Bishopstown Community School, Cork) were Ireland’s two bronze medallists. Ireland’s four other team members received Honourable Mentions for completing at least one of the six problems. They were Antonia Huang (Mount Anville Secondary School, Dublin); Mark Heavey (Blackrock College, Dublin); Mark Fortune (CBS Thurles Secondary School, Tipperary) and Darragh Glynn (St Paul’s College, Raheny, Dublin).

The Academy wishes to congratulate all of the students that took part in team Ireland and their leader Dr Mark Flanagan, University College Dublin.