City of Dublin ETB Presents TEDx Clonturk Community College: The Brilliance of the Young Mind

Students from Transition Year at Clonturk Community College are proud to announce their upcoming TEDx event, The Brilliance of the Young Mind, taking place on May 13th at St. Patrick’s Campus, Dublin City University (DCU).

This inspiring TEDxClonturk CC Youth event, supported by City of Dublin ETB (Clonturk Community College’s patron), offers a dynamic platform for young voices to shine. Attendees will experience eight compelling talks by secondary school students from various year groups, exploring thought-provoking ideas.

Meet the Speakers and Their Talks

• Second Year Student Sophia Mulvaney – "New Minds, New Opinions"
  The importance of young voices in shaping decision-making.
• Transition Year Student Iseult Doggett Finne – "Understanding Dyslexia"
  Raising awareness and empathy through personal insight.
• Sixth Year Student Aoife Lyons Marin – "Is Your Mind Your Own?"
  A look into the psychology behind decision-making.
• Third Year Student Michael Hurley – "Your Software Sucks"
  The benefits of using free, open-source software.
• Transition Year Student Evie O’Connell – "You Can Prevent Developing Dementia Right Now" A proactive approach to brain health.
• Fifth year Student Cara Sexton – "Getting to the Root of the STEM Imbalance"
  Understanding the barriers for girls in STEM.
• Transition Year Student Carmen Torres – "iPad Kids"
  Investigating the effects of screen time and digital content on young minds.
• Sixth Year Student Nicholas Matache – "Ignoring Normality and Using Youthful Determination"
  The value of imagination and challenging societal norms.

A Remarkable Student-Led Initiative

What makes this event truly stand out is that it is headed up by a Transition Year student. David O’Hara, serving as both Head Organiser and Director of the event, brought extraordinary vision and determination to the role.

"This event began as a small idea - just a dream that I carried for years. Transition Year gave me the opportunity to bring it to life. I’m proud that my school trusted me with this responsibility and that TED deemed me worthy of a license. Most of all, I’m proud that my passion never burned out. Watching this grow from a concept to a real, potentially life-changing event is an experience I’ll never forget."

Support from City of Dublin ETB

Wesleigh O’Hagan Director of Schools, City of Dublin ETB, added:

“It is inspiring to witness the leadership, creativity, and conviction of these young organisers and speakers. TEDxClonturk CC Youth is all about giving young people the space to speak up, share their ideas, and inspire others. It shows that students aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow - they have something important to say today, and we’re proud to help amplify those voices.”

This TEDxClonturk Community College event is a celebration of young people’s brilliance, creativity, and courage, and stands as a powerful example of what happens when students are empowered to dream, speak, and lead.

This independent TEDx event is operated under license from TED. Get in touch: tedxyouth@clonturkcc.cdetb.ie