Courses
Sligo Engineering Fair draws more than 2,000 visitors to ATU
The Sligo Engineering Fair drew more than 2,000 visitors to the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo campus on Sunday, as families, school groups and community organisations participated in an extensive programme of engineering‑themed activities aimed at promoting STEM engagement across the North‑West.
Organised by ATU in collaboration with Engineers Ireland North‑West and long‑standing industry partner Abbott, the fair showcased an expanded programme of demonstrations, workshops, and interactive exhibitions designed to appeal to a wide public audience.
Now in its seventh year, the fair has become one of the region’s most established public engagement events, offering children and young people the opportunity to explore engineering and computing concepts through hands‑on workshops, demonstrations and interactive exhibitions. The corridors and concourses of the campus were busy throughout the afternoon, with parents, grandparents and students engaging in a wide range of activities designed to nurture curiosity and spark interest in future study and careers in engineering and computing.
This year’s programme featured an expanded schedule, including the introduction of roaming Star Wars characters, a dedicated virtual‑reality zone and the return of “Alex”, the fair’s popular talking robot. Three Engineering Physics ‑themed performances by RTÉ Junior presenter Jay Ryan attracted large audiences, while families also participated in Brickz4Kids and Robothink robotics workshops, games development sessions, and the Engineering Discovery Zone, which offered entry‑level challenges for aspiring young engineers.
Demonstrations were delivered by ATU’s Faculty of Engineering and Computing, with the toolroom team remaining in operation until after 5pm due to sustained demand for the ever‑popular custom‑made spanners and keyrings. Exhibitions from the Civil Defence, MakerSpace and Engineers Ireland North‑West further contributed to the breadth of the programme.
Primary‑school engineering projects also featured, with pupils presenting inventive and carefully constructed projects that showcased problem‑solving, teamwork and creative thinking.
Speaking ahead of the event, Niall Plunkett, Site Director of Abbott’s Diagnostics business in Sligo, said:
“At Abbott, innovation isn’t just what we do, it’s how we empower our employees to push boundaries, improve lives, and transform the future through meaningful, life‑changing work. Every day, our teams contribute to developing products that help people live better and healthier lives around the world. As we mark 80 years of Abbott in Ireland, we are especially proud to collaborate once again with ATU Sligo and look forward to inspiring students from across the North West through the Sligo Engineering Fair.”
Prof Graham Heaslip, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Design at ATU, highlighted the fair’s growing importance as an educational event for the region.
The Sligo Engineering Fair is an important annual celebration of creativity, innovation and community engagement. Each year we are delighted to welcome thousands of visitors to campus to explore the possibilities of engineering through curiosity, play and hands‑on discovery. Events like this help young people imagine new futures and highlight the role engineers play in shaping a better world. We are proud to partner once again with Abbott and Engineers Ireland to deliver this inspiring event for the North‑West region.
Aidan Haughey
Communications Manager
Atlantic Technologial University
086 086 6913
aidan.haughey@atu.ie
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