Pictured in front are: Freddie Costell (University of Limerick); Caoimhe Dooley (University of Galway); Danny McCoy MRIA (CEO Ibec); Professor Daniel Carey (President Royal Irish Academy); Professor James Maynard (2026 Hamilton Speaker); Lynn Scarff (Executive Director, Royal Irish Academy); Liam Waldron (University College Cork). At the back are: Finn McGlade (Dubin City University); Daniel Hilfeldt (Maynooth University); Artem Tarasenko (Trinity College Dublin); Vladimir Filatov (Technological University Dublin); Tim Callanan (University College Dublin). Photo: Johnny Bambury

UCC’s student’s mathematical excellence celebrated

Published:

Cillian Ferry

The Royal Irish Academy (RIA) celebrated Ireland’s emerging mathematical talent recently with the presentation of the prestigious Hamilton Prize in Mathematics.

The annual Hamilton Day celebration honours the legacy of Irish mathematician William Rowan Hamilton, who made his groundbreaking discovery of quaternions on 16 October 1843. The event brings together leading mathematicians, university representatives and students to recognise excellence in mathematics and explore developments shaping the discipline.

Liam Waldron who is in his final year of the Mathematical Sciences programme at UCC, was among those honoured. The other 2026 Hamilton Prize winners are Tim Callanan, University College Dublin; Freddie Costello, University of Limerick; Caoimhe Dooley, University of Galway; Vladimir Filatov, Technological University Dublin; Daniel Hilfeldt, Maynooth University; Finn McGlade, Dublin City University; John McKay, Queen’s University Belfast; and Artem Tarasenko, Trinity College Dublin.

For this year’s lecture on Friday 16 October, the Hamilton speaker Professor James Maynard delved into ‘The mysteries of prime numbers’. He explored why prime numbers are vital, both in pure mathematics and in the real world, and how current mathematics is able to make progress on some of the key questions which have occupied mathematicians going back to the ancient Greeks. The lecture addressed the theory and application of ongoing mathematical research into prime numbers and touched on ways that recent advances in AI are creating new opportunities and new challenges in the field of mathematics.

Earlier in the day the nine winners of the Hamilton Prize in Mathematics each received their awards in a ceremony officiated by Professor Dan Carey, President of the Royal Irish Academy, and attended by their friends and family and representatives from their universities.

In recognition of their mathematical excellence, the students each received a cash prize and a certificate of achievement. They also attended an exclusive masterclass with Professor James Maynard, which was hosted by Ibec.

During the ceremony, Professor Dan Carey, President of the Royal Irish Academy said: “Each year since 2002 the Royal Irish Academy has commemorated Hamilton’s ‘Eureka moment’ and his contribution to mathematics by celebrating Hamilton Day. We do this because Ireland has a rich history of scientific excellence that should be celebrated and recognised.”

Published: