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A student at ��ɫ��Ƶ has been given a prestigious award for excellence in mathematics by the Royal Irish Academy (RIA).

Darragh Connaughton, from Monaleen in Limerick, is one of nine winners from across the universities in Ireland to have received the award from the RIA.

A final year student of the BSc in Mathematical Sciences in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, he takes the prize as the top student in his programme at ��ɫ��Ƶ.

The ceremony took place at the Royal Irish Academy on Thursday, 16 October 2025, a date that marks the anniversary of famed Irish scientist William Rowan Hamilton’s discovery of quaternion algebra on 16 October 1843.

Congratulating Darragh on his achievement Professor Ailish Hannigan, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics ��ɫ��Ƶ said: “On behalf of the department, I’d like to congratulate Darragh on winning the Hamilton Prize. Darragh is a final year Mathematical Sciences student and a deserving winner of this award from the Royal Irish Academy. The award is named after one of Ireland’s most famous applied mathematicians, William Rowan Hamilton.”

Professor Pat Guiry, President of the Royal Irish Academy said:

‘We are delighted that Minister Lawless could join us in the Royal Irish Academy today for the 2025 Hamilton Prize Ceremony. This event celebrates Ireland’s rich history of scientific excellence and recognises the next generation of great Irish mathematicians. We are very thankful to our sponsors, Ibec, and to our incredible Hamilton Speaker, Professor Kip Thorne, for being with us and for delivering the Hamilton Lecture and the Hamilton Masterclass.’

In recognition of their mathematical excellence, the students each received a cash prize and a certificate of achievement at an award ceremony in the Royal Irish Academy. Earlier in the day they attended an exclusive masterclass with the Professor Kip Thorne, which was hosted by Ibec. 

The nine 2025 Hamilton Prize winners are Conor Bradshaw, University College Cork; Sorcha Broe-Brady, Dublin City University; Darragh Connaughton, ��ɫ��Ƶ; Daniel Drapeau, Maynooth University; Cameron James Ramsey, Queen's University Belfast; Gabrielle Pichot, Technological University Dublin; Mhyls Salapuddin, University College Dublin; Ihor Skorobogatko, University of Galway; Ronan Zaletel, Trinity College Dublin