Students from Pobalscoil Na Rossann in Dungloe have won the Bronze Award at the 2025 Young Social Innovators (YSI) Awards for their impactful project, Tick Tack Go, which raises awareness about the dangers of tick bites and Lyme disease.
The student group created and distributed Tick Removal Kits, containing tweezers, tick removers, plasters, antiseptic wipes, and clear instruction cards to help people safely remove ticks.
The winning students were James Doyle, Meabh Cannon, Niamh O’Donnell and Megan Melly (pictured above).
The kits were shared with students, the wider community, and through local businesses.
To further their reach, the group spoke on Highland Radio, launched a social media campaign, delivered presentations in schools, and created educational materials to promote prevention and early detection.
Their mission is to reduce the number of Lyme disease cases in Ireland through practical tools and public awareness.
Teacher Eilise O’Hart receiving her award.
“The bronze award went to Rosses Community School in Dungloe, Co Donegal, for its ‘Tick Tack Go’ project, which aims to raise awareness of Lyme Disease and saw students create tick removal kits to protect people living in high-risk places.”
YSI praised the group’s innovative and comprehensive approach.
“This team tackled the lack of awareness surrounding Lyme disease and the dangers of tick bites by combining education with practical prevention tools… Looking ahead, they plan to expand kit distribution, work with councils to install educational signage, and continue building national awareness to help reduce Lyme disease cases across Ireland.”
The students have expressed deep gratitude to those who supported them.
“We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved with Tick Tack Go. Winning the Bronze Award is an incredible honour. We’re excited to keep going and spread our message even further,” they said.
The group would like to sincerely thank Pobalscoil Na Rossann, their teacher Eilise O’Hart, Emerald Airlines, Donegal Airport, and everyone who helped make their success possible.
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