Kildare student named Stem Innovator of the Year at TU Dublin TrailblazHER Awards

A Transition Year student from Co. Kildare has been named STEM Innovator of the Year at the 2026 TrailblazHER Awards, held at TU Dublin Concert Hall.

The awards, organised by TU Dublin, celebrate outstanding TY students across Ireland who are already making a meaningful impact in their schools and communities.

Hosted by Aisling Bonner of RTÉ 2FM, the event recognises students who demonstrate creativity, innovation, resilience and a commitment to making a difference.

Freya McGaley from Naas Community College, Co. Kildare, was recognised for combining academic excellence with practical innovation in STEM. Through the Girls in Analytics programme with Accenture, Freya gained hands-on experience in data science and developed strong problem-solving skills.

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For the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, Freya created an app to assist visually impaired users with navigation, inspired by her mother’s experience. The app’s “Record and Replay” function enables users to safely retrace familiar routes, addressing real-world accessibility challenges and promoting independence.

Freya’s work highlights the power of STEM to foster inclusion, independence, and meaningful social impact, demonstrating how young innovators can make a difference in their communities.

The TrailblazHER Awards celebrate Ireland’s future leaders, innovators and changemakers, recognising young people who are already making a difference in their communities.

The 2026 TY TrailblazHER Awards ceremony at TU Dublin’s Grangegorman campus brought together students, teachers and families to celebrate a generation already creating positive change.

“These awards recognise not just achievement, but potential. The TY TrailblazHER™ Awards are about empowering young women to see themselves as the leaders, innovators and changemakers of tomorrow”, said Patricia Harrington, teacher from Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Dublin.

“These awards showcase the actions of our teenagers and how their actions today, impact their tomorrow. I wanted to showcase the incredible talent within our Transition Year, while allowing them to be role models also for younger years.”