Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 3, 2026

Maths Week Ireland

Maths Week Ireland (MWI) is an annual all-island mathematics outreach initiative which takes place throughout Ireland each October. It was founded in 2006 by Waterford Institute of Technology staff members Eoin Gill and Sheila Donegan, and is a project of that institution's STEM outreach Centre for the Advancement of Learning of Maths, Science and Technology (CALMAST). Gill and Donegan continue to direct and run MWI.

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Maths Week Ireland
AbbreviationMWI
Founded2006
FoundersSheila Donegan and Eoin Gill
Focuspromote awareness, appreciation and understanding of maths through a huge variety of events
Region served
both parts of Ireland
Key people
Sheila Donegan
Director of CALMAST
Eoin Gill
Coordinator of MWI
Cordula Weiss
Programme Manager CALMAST
Rosario Burke
Educational Resources Manager
Diane Murphey
Educational Resources Manager
Ben Dolan
Digital Engagement Manager
Websitemathsweek.ie

Maths Week Ireland (MWI) is an annual all-island (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) mathematics outreach initiative which takes place throughout Ireland each October. It was founded in 2006 by Waterford Institute of Technology (now SETU) staff members Eoin Gill and Sheila Donegan (based on an idea by Gill), and is a project of that institution's STEM outreach Centre for the Advancement of Learning of Maths, Science and Technology (CALMAST). Gill (an engineer) and Donegan (a chemist) continue to direct and run MWI.1

In 2019 MWI engaged over 400,000 people on an island with a population of under 7 million and is arguably the world's largest mathematics festival.23

Purpose

MWI is a partnership of over 50 organizations dedicated to promoting and celebrating mathematics across the island of Ireland, including universities, institutes of technology, colleges, museums, libraries, visitor centres, and other professional bodies.4 Maths Week Ireland is currently supported by the Irish Government’s Department of Education and Taighde Eireann, Research Ireland (formerly SFI), and the Northern Ireland government’s Department for the Economy and technology company AMD.5

MWI targets school and universities, as well as hosting weekend "street fairs" in cities such as Dublin, Belfast and Cork.46 Events are run by the participants with materials delivered online by Maths Week Ireland. Most schools run their own special activities. Maths Week is a nine-day event (a Saturday to the Sunday of the following weekend, inclusive) which always includes the 16th of October, the day in 1843 when William R. Hamilton discovered quaternions.2 The idea has been so successful that it has now been replicated in England and Scotland.7

MWI hosts the Maths Ireland website which is home to the monthly blogs8 of the Annals of Irish Mathematics & Mathematicians (AIMM), authored by Colm Mulcahy.9

Starting in 2016, MWI has also produced the annual Irish Maths Calendars which are also archived at the Maths Ireland site.10

Presenters

Mathematicians and mathematics popularizers who have been MWI presenters include:

Maths Week Ireland Award

In 2016 MWI inaugurated the annual Maths Week Ireland Award to honor outstanding work in raising public awareness of mathematics. The award is presented during Maths Week Ireland.18 Awardees so far are:

References

References

  1. Maths Week co-founder Dr Sheila Donegan named STEM businesswoman of the year techcentral.ie, 30 September 2019
  2. Maths Week Ireland 2018 – The world’s largest maths festival launches and is set to engage 300,000 people Science Foundation Ireland
  3. Home Page 2020 Maths Week Ireland
  4. Home Page 2017 Maths Week Ireland
  5. Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin receives 2020 Maths Week Ireland award The Irish Times, 14 October 2020
  6. Maths Week Ireland 2018–The world’s largest maths festival Science Foundation Ireland 2018
  7. Maths Week 2020 launches with bumper programme of activity to help people ‘Rethink Maths’ Science Foundation Ireland
  8. monthly blogs at Mathematics Ireland
  9. Atlas of Irish Mathematicians at Mathematics Ireland
  10. Irish Maths (wall) Calendars at Mathematics Ireland
  11. Maths Week Ireland 2012 The Aperiodical, 27 October 2012
  12. Why Being a Lefty is All Right When it Comes to Sport The Irish Times, 16 October 2012
  13. Maths Week Pianist on a Numerical Mission The Irish Times, 14 October 2015
  14. Maths Week Events Take Place Throughout Ireland Today The Irish Times, 14 October 2013
  15. The Sum of All Parts The Irish Times, 04 September 2009
  16. Clowns Puzzles and Teasers for Maths Week The Irish Times, 13 October 2014
  17. Maths Often at Root of Creative Endeavours Says Professor The Irish Times, 12 October 2010
  18. Maths Week Ireland Award Maths Week Ireland
  19. "Sutton teacher honoured with 2025 Maths Week Ireland Award". Dublin Gazette. 2025-10-20. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  20. Prof Colm Mulcahy wins 2024 Maths Week Ireland Award for exceptional contribution while bringing fun to maths The Irish Times, Oct 21 2024
  21. TU Dublin lecturer wins Mathsweek award, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Technological University Dublin, 19 Oct, 2023
  22. "Statistics Lecturer Rafael De Andrade Moral receives Maths Week Ireland Award for Raising Public Awareness of Maths". MATHS WEEK IRELAND. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  23. Dara Ó Briain receives Maths Week Ireland award The Irish Times, 20 October 2021
  24. Ulster University Mathematician Receives Award For Raising Public Awareness Of Maths The Irish Times, 28 October 2019
  25. Irish mathematicians receive Maths Week Ireland Award The Irish Times, 18 October 2018
  26. Peter Lynch honored for raising awareness of maths The Irish Times, 18 October 2017
  27. Irish mathematician Des MacHale honoured with Maths Week award by Colm Gorey, Silicon Republic, 16 October 2016.
External links