My name is Cathal Sweeney. I am 16 years old, a Transition Year student at Mungret Community College, and I play GAA for my club, Mungret St. Pauls.

I decided to develop a GAA wall ball called the glo ball, which glows in the dark. I came up with this idea because there have been countless winter evenings when I wanted to go outside and puck a ball for 10 or 15 minutes, but I couldn’t — it was pitch dark, and the lights outside were very limited. For nearly half the year, it gets dark from 6 o’clock, which makes training difficult.

The Glo Ball solves this problem. It is simple to use and suitable for everyone, from children aged six to adults. The ball is phosphorescent, meaning it absorbs light and gradually emits it over time, creating a glowing effect. To enhance this, I paired it with a UV light, which is eight times stronger than a standard torch and gives the Glo Ball a long-lasting glow.

I want to sincerely thank my Business teachers, Ms. Clancy and Ms. Fox, who have supported me throughout this journey.