Alan Leahy, from Carlow, representing Dundalk Institute of Technology won first prize in the 2005 Intel Excellence in Electronics competition worth €1,000. Alan went to secondary school in Knockbeg College, Carlow and is currently a second year student studying electronic engineering at Dundalk Institute of Technology.

Vincent Heffernan, from Templemore Co Tipperary, representing Waterford Institute of Technology won the 'age eligible' Intel Excellence award with a prize of €1,000, along with the Department of Education and Science Silver medal. Vincent went to secondary school in Our Lady's, Templemore and is currently in his first year in electronic engineering in Waterford. Vincent is no stranger to winning awards having previously won an Intel special award at the Esat BT Young Scientist and Technology competition 2004.

Competitors under 21 years of age qualify for the Department of Education and Science Silver medal along with the Intel Excellence prize and may represent Ireland in the World Skills Championships held every two years.

Other prizes went to contestants from Dublin and Waterford. Stephen McGuinness from Ballinteer, attending Institute of Technology Tallaght, took 2nd prize worth €750. Shane Doyle, from Tramore, attending Waterford Institute of Technology took 3rd prize worth €500. Eleven finalists who won at their respective regional finals represented their Institutes of Technology at the national competition, which was held in Intel Ireland on 22nd and 23rd March.

Joe McDonnell, Ireland Fab Operations factory manager Intel Ireland presented the awards and complimented the competitors on the high standards achieved, "These awards are designed to reward excellence and encourage the study of electronics in third level Institutes of Technology. Intel is delighted to be involved in the competition for the last ten years. We believe this competition highlights our commitment to our partnerships with the Technology education sector and the Department of Education and Science. It is only through such partnership that we can hope to insure that our education system remains world class and relevant. It is my hope that we continue to use such partnerships to address some of the other problems in education like the under representation of women in engineering and the decline in the numbers of people interested in studying electronic engineering."

In addition Joe also presented the regional winners with their certificates of excellence. In doing so he commended the Institute examiners and judges whose commitment and encouragement for their student resulted in such a successful competition.

An unusual feature of this year's competition was the participation of Sean Mullery as an examiner from IT Sligo. Sean was the winner of the competition in 1998 and is currently a lecturer in IT Sligo. The other examiners were Derek Fox, Intel; Ray Coyle, Athlone Institute of Technology; Gerry Stockil, Institute of Technology, Tallaght; Sean Coffey, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology; Kevin Mellon, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown; Denis McFadden, Letterkenny Institute of Technology; Stephen Norton, Waterford Institute of Technology; and Dan O Brien, Dundalk Institute of Technology.