Donegal lad Jack won Ireland's first Junior Mastermind
Ireland’s first Junior Mastermind has revealed he wants to works for Apple computers – if he doesn’t play for Arsenal football club!
Young Jack Meenan beat off stiff competition to win the first ever brainbox show on TV3 tonight.
But the gifted Co Donegal lad, 11, says certainly doesn’t sit in his room all day reading books and playing computer games.
“I love football and I love playing outside with my friends. Arsenal are my favorite football team and I would love to play for them and Donegal one day,” he said.
Jack wiped out the competition in the show’s final last night after hundreds of kids applied to sit in the famous black chair.
Jack with presenter Nora Owen and his winner's trophy
Jack’s mum Edel, a shopkeeper in Liscooley, Castlefin, said herself and architect husband Derek are so proud of Jack.
“He’s a great lad but he’s certainly no bookworm. He only really reads at night with his younger brother Michael, 7.
“During the daytime, it’s hard to get him in off the street and if he’s not out there he’s on his X-Box,” she laughed.
Jack is in sixth class in St Mary’s National School in Liscooley and all his friends are delighted he became Junior Mastermind last night.
“They have been very good to him including his teacher Mr Breen and principal Mr Roarty,” said mum Edel.
Edel said Jack is already showing signs that he may become the next Steve Jobs at Apple computers.
“If anything breaks down in the house, we just call Jack. He’s also very technical.
“If anything happens to the computers, then we just give it to him and he fixes it,” laughed Edel.
And she said she would encourage other parents just to allow their parents to do what they want.
“We never shoved books on Jack or Michael. I think children should be allowed to find themselves.
“They’ll all be good at different things,” she said.
From the hundreds that applied only 5 finalists aged 10 or 11 have made it to the Grand Final and chose specialist subjects.
Jack’s specialist subject was Tin Tin the Great Adventurer.
He plays for Robert Emmets and also loves soccer, basketball and American Football.
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