The Tipperary Festival of Science returns this November for its tenth year, bringing interactive workshops, science shows and family-friendly activities to venues across the county as part of Science Week 2026, which runs from 8–15 November.
Supported by Research Ireland and organised by Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in collaboration with the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Thurles and Tipperary County Council Library Service, the festival will once again bring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to schools, libraries, and communities throughout Tipperary.
Science Week encourages people of all ages to discover and celebrate science’s role in everyday life. This year's theme, Water: From Molecule to Ocean, invites participants to explore one of our planet's most vital resources, from the science of rivers and oceans to biodiversity, climate change and the importance of protecting our water systems for future generations.
The festival's flagship event, Community Science Day, will take place at MIC Thurles on Saturday, 14 November, from 11am–3pm. This year's event also forms part of the College's Thurles 10 celebrations, marking ten years since St Patrick's College Thurles became part of MIC. Families can look forward to a packed programme of hands-on activities, including the Ultimate Bubble Show with Guinness World Record holder Ray the Bubbleologist, interactive experiments with the Nutty Scientist, LEGO challenges with Brick Legends, and science puzzles and games with MIC's CRAFT Maker Space. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet animals and birds with Animal Magic, explore marine life with Ocean Discovery, and take part in slime-making activities.
Elsewhere, the festival will bring a range of activities to communities across the county. MIC's CRAFT team will host water-themed workshops at libraries in Tipperary Town, Roscrea, and Templemore, where families will build LEGO boats, experiment with water pressure, and explore the microscopic world of water. Other highlights include Water Confidence: The Science Behind Swimming at Thurles Leisure Centre and Life Under Water at Cashel Library, where Dr Mary Kelly-Quinn of UCD's Freshwater Group will explore the fascinating world of freshwater biodiversity.
TUS Thurles will deliver fun, hands-on coding workshops where children will create their own water-themed game. The TUS Thurles campus will also host a seminar on Water Quality: Policy and Action, while a Water to Light project in conjunction with Tipperary Library Service and Thurles Men's Shed will see participants construct a working water wheel capable of generating electricity.
Speaking ahead of the festival, Dr Maeve Liston, Director of Enterprise and Community Engagement (E&CE) at MIC, said:
"Reaching the tenth anniversary of the Tipperary Festival of Science is a significant milestone and a wonderful opportunity to recognise how much it has grown since 2017. Science is part of everything we do, and this year's focus on water reminds us of the significant role it plays in our lives, our environment, and our communities. With free events right across the county, our festival makes science accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds, while encouraging the next generation to explore STEM with curiosity and confidence."
Patricia O’Sullivan, E&CE Manager at MIC, said:
“Celebrating ten years of the Tipperary Festival of Science is a fantastic achievement, and we are delighted to once again work alongside our partners in TUS Thurles and Tipperary County Council Library Service to bring such an exciting programme to communities across the county. This year’s theme of water allows us to explore something we often take for granted, yet which plays such a vital role in our everyday lives. From interactive workshops and science demonstrations to our ever-popular Community Science Day at MIC Thurles, there is something for everyone to enjoy. We hope families, schools and communities across Tipperary will join us in making this anniversary year one to remember.”
For more information on the Tipperary Festival of Science visit www.scienceweek.ie
