Limerick girls inspired by female role models to consider careers in STEM at annual festival
Students from Coláiste Nano Nagle travelled to the RDS on Thursday for the 12th annual festival, where they met female role models, industry leaders and athletes working across a wide range of STEM-related fields.International Rose of Tralee and apprentice electrical engineer Katelyn Cummins said early exposure plays a critical role in helping girls see a future for themselves in sectors such as engineering and technology.The Dancing with the Stars contestant said many girls rule out engineering long before reaching third level.She stated this was not due to a lack of ability or ambition, but because they do not see a clear pathway into the sector.“If I hadn’t met women working in engineering, I wouldn’t have believed there was a place for me,” she said.“Too many girls never get the chance to see what modern engineering really looks like. [It’s] creative, hands-on, technology-driven and full of opportunity. I Wish shows girls what’s possible before they make choices that can quietly close doors.”The I Wish Festival connects teenage girls with female role models, industry leaders and real-world STEM careers.This year’s festival places a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence, engineering, construction and future-ready STEM careers.According to the 2025 I Wish Report, 50pc of girls cite a lack of access to female role models as a barrier to pursuing STEM careers, while 58pc say they lack confidence in choosing a career in the sector.Among the speakers on the day was aeronautical engineer and I Wish alumna Mary O’Donnell, who said early exposure was vital in shaping her own career path.“I Wish was a turning point for me,” she said. “Before attending in 2017, I hadn’t seriously considered engineering. Seeing women who were already working in these roles helped me understand what was possible.”Other speakers included Irish Olympians Gráinne Walsh, Richael Timothy and Louise Shanahan, alongside senior figures from companies including Dell Technologies and Logitech.TV presenter Katja Mia was the MC for the event.I Wish co-founder Gillian Keating said: “Ireland’s future depends on widening the STEM talent pipeline to ensure we can remain competitive and continue to attract the most innovative companies.”“While female enrolment in engineering, manufacturing and construction has increased by 10% over the past decade, progress is slow and uneven,” she added.Since 2015, I Wish has engaged with almost 66,000 students and partnered with more than 140 industry leaders, aiming to ensure girls from Limerick and across Ireland can see a future for themselves in STEM careers.
