Liam McCarthy and John D. O'Callaghan

Who is Liam McCarthy and John D. O'Callaghan?

Liam McCarthy and John D. O'Callaghan are Irish students from Kinsale, County Cork. They were the winners of the 45th Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in 2009 at the ages of thirteen and fourteen respectively. Their win meant that their school, Kinsale Community School, became the first school in the country to be attended by multiple Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition winners after their fellow student Aisling Judge won the same award in 2006. McCarthy and O'Callaghan went on to be named EU Young Scientists of the Year in September 2009.

McCarthy and O'Callaghan are second-year students at Kinsale Community School in County Cork. They come from a background of dairy farming. Their project at the exhibition was titled "'The Development of a Convenient Test Method for Somatic Cell Count and Its Importance in Milk Production". Their intention was to mix detergent with milk to reduce somatic cells. The judges described their invention as "marketable" and "of tremendous commercial help to farmers".

The announcement was made at a ceremony on the night of 9 January 2009 in the exhibition hall. The judges claimed their decision was an easy one. Taoiseach Brian Cowen was on hand to announce the winner. Their prize was a €5,000 cheque and a trophy of Waterford Crystal.