Shane O'Connor and Liam Carew (both 19) are Sixth Year students in the Abbey School, Co Tipperary

Over 1,100 students attended the first day of the event at the RDS in Dublin's Ballsbridge, where president Michael D. Higgins delivered a welcome address.

The Young Scientist competition gets underway this week. COLETTE SHERIDAN finds out about some of the Cork projects

More than 100 projects from Cork students will be showcased at the BT Young Scientist this month, writes COLETTE SHERIDAN