Lovely hurling for young scientist

A NORTHSIDE hurling fanatic is hoping that his
promotion of a different cut of ash could be the future of the sport.

Maccullin Skelly, a student at Fingal Community
College, Swords, brought his logical and well-researched project to the main
stage in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition held in the RDS last
week.

The second year student proposes that cutting the ash
in a different way to the traditional method of quarter sawn would make for a
more flexible hurl.

The 13-year-old, who plays with the St Maur’s club in
Rush, came up with the idea when he was trying to make his own hurley some
months ago.

“I looked into the differences between hurleys made
from ash when it’s cut a different way,

? he explained.

“It was only after I saw just how flexible and bendy a
hurley is when it is cut through tangential sawing that I thought it would be a
good basis for my project.

“I carried out a lot of research. My woodwork teacher
helped to show me how the wood is cut and my science teacher helped me with the
weighing of the hurleys.

?

Maccullin said he was really happy with his project
even though so many of the others seemed so complicated.

“That’s the good thing about the project; it’s
something simple that people can relate to,

? he added.

Meanwhile, Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) Special
School students in Clontarf were among those who took part in the Primary Young
Scientists Exhibition.

Over the last few months a group of 15 children worked
very hard under the direction of teachers Patricia Muldoon and Mary Downes on a
project that looked at the science behind the wheelchair.

“This has been an incredible journey for these
children aged 9-12 and they were very excited at the prospect of exhibiting
some of the experiments they carried out in their research,

? said Ms
Muldoon.

“These children are no strangers to science having won
a primary science and maths award last year.

“It was, however, their first time to enter the
Primary Young Scientist Exhibition.

?