Every year, Ireland produces an extraordinary cohort of young talent that continues to push the boundaries of technology, science, entrepreneurship and social impact. The 2026 30 Under 30 list showcases a remarkable group of individuals — many still in their teens and early twenties — who are already making significant contributions to Ireland’s thriving tech ecosystem and beyond.
This year’s list places a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence — the defining technology of our era. We see innovators working across the full spectrum: fundamental research, responsible AI development, commercial applications, and efforts to improve tech literacy and ethical governance.
Why This List Matters
These young innovators are not just building products — they are shaping the future of Ireland’s economy, addressing global challenges like climate change and healthcare, and fostering a more inclusive tech community. Their stories highlight the strength of Ireland’s early-stage STEM ecosystem, the impact of programmes like Patch, NDRC, Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers, and the growing international appeal of Irish tech talent.
Con Kirby (19) – Co-founder of Icon
At just 19 years old, Con Kirby has already achieved what many entrepreneurs only dream of in a lifetime. Fresh from completing his Leaving Cert, Kirby scored a category win at OpenAI’s inaugural European hackathon, joined the prestigious Patch youth accelerator programme in San Francisco, demoed at Y Combinator, and secured a place on NDRC’s pre-accelerator.
His startup, Icon, aims to help creators safely license their identity for AI clones — a timely solution in an era of rapidly advancing generative AI. Beyond Icon, Kirby is a three-time All-Ireland chess champion and a talented piano player, bringing the same strategic thinking and creativity to his software projects.
Aditya Joshi & Julian Lewandowski (both 19) – Co-organisers of Demos Anon
This dynamic duo has become a hackathon powerhouse. Together with Con Kirby, they were among the youngest participants to reach the top 10 at OpenAI’s European hackathon with Arivo, an AI assistant designed for hands-free productivity while driving.
Their achievements include winning HackEurope (Europe’s largest student hackathon) with Zerostrike — autonomous drones for proactive wildfire prevention — and developing TyreTrack to map microplastic pollution from tyre wear. As passionate builders, they founded Demos Anon, a biweekly Dublin meetup where founders and engineers share informal project demos, fostering a vibrant maker community.
Mony Aramalla (20) – Technology Lead at Irish Student Managed Fund
A mechanical engineering student at UCD and Patch alumnus, Mony Aramalla previously developed a device to help stroke survivors relearn how to walk. Today she serves as Chief Technology Officer for the Irish Student Managed Fund, a student-led investment organisation preparing the next generation of finance and tech professionals.
She also works as science editor at the University Observer, covering AI and Ireland’s emerging tech scene, and mentors young girls through the Teen-Turn programme to encourage hands-on STEM experience.
Jake O’Brien (24) – Co-founder of Setanta Space
From systems engineer at Réaltra to co-founder and lead engineer at Setanta Space, Jake O’Brien is helping build Ireland’s space-tech future. The electronic engineering graduate and current PhD candidate in space AI is developing autonomous systems and electronics for spacecraft.
He also plays a key role in strengthening Ireland’s grassroots space sector as the national point of contact for the Space Generation Advisory Council.
Oluwamayowa Naomi Adeniji (21) – Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University
A MAI engineering student at Trinity College Dublin, Adeniji has already travelled Europe as part of the Unitech International leadership programme, leading techno-economic assessments of carbon capture technologies. She is now heading to Beijing as one of only 150 Schwarzman Scholars selected from over 5,800 applicants worldwide.
Her work focuses on building a sustainable energy future and tackling global challenges through technology and leadership.
Seán Kavanagh (29) – Assistant Professor at University of Cambridge
A multi-award-winning scientist, Seán Kavanagh runs his own research lab at Cambridge University. His work combines quantum simulations and machine learning to develop better materials for solar cells and batteries, directly contributing to the global renewable energy transition.
He has created open-source software modules widely adopted by the scientific community and regularly shares tutorials on YouTube to make advanced research more accessible.
Marjia Siddik (22) – CEO of Safentic
Marjia Siddik’s startup Safentic emerged from her research into keeping high-stakes AI agents compliant and safe in real-world deployments. She recently attended Microsoft’s invite-only MVP Summit in Redmond and has been selected for The Bridge — a prestigious two-month residency incubator in San Francisco run by Entrepreneurs First.
Andrew Moore (21) – CEO of Daisy
Growing up on a dairy farm gave Andrew Moore a deep understanding of agriculture. Now on his second startup, Daisy uses AI-powered forecasting for the food processing industry. His first venture, Evogen, won a One to Watch Award on Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme.
Ava McGurk (18) – Entrepreneur, Researcher & Community Builder
A four-time Northern Ireland Young Scientist champion, Ava McGurk co-founded ReCreo, a digital platform for personalised therapy plans, which progressed rapidly through NDRC’s pre-accelerator. She has since launched Illuminate Labs with Claire Halliday to inspire and support young technologists.
Ruth Dooley (25) – Co-founder of GeoXen
Ruth Dooley is building GeoXen, a no-code platform that helps medical researchers extract insights from complex data. Accepted onto Enterprise Ireland’s high-impact NextWave accelerator, she is currently validating the tool with researchers in the US and Australia.
Emerging Leaders in AI Research
The list also features outstanding PhD researchers pushing the boundaries of AI. Ege Duran (Apple senior data scientist), Khanh-Tung Tran (advancing Irish-language LLMs), Vi Ly (AI for early cancer diagnosis), Alexander Mutua (EV battery safety), Rose Connolly (VR and neurodivergent gaming), and Caoilfhionn Ní Dheoráin (AI for rugby safety) represent the high calibre of Irish AI talent emerging from programmes like CRT-AI and D-Real.
Community Builders and Ecosystem Enablers
Claudia Bailey’s Explain AI programme at Smart Docklands is demystifying AI for public sector workers, while the team behind HackEurope (Oisín Curran, Tim Farrelly, Cian McGlynn and others) has transformed student hackathons into major international events attracting top tech companies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ireland’s 30 Under 30 Innovators
What makes Ireland’s young tech talent special?
Ireland combines world-class education, strong government support through Enterprise Ireland and IDA, and a vibrant startup ecosystem that attracts global talent while nurturing homegrown innovators.
Which sectors are these young innovators focusing on?
AI and machine learning dominate, but we also see strong activity in space tech, agritech, sustainability, healthcare, cybersecurity, VR/AR, and ethical technology.
How can I support or connect with these young innovators?
Attend events like Demos Anon, follow accelerators such as Patch, NDRC and New Frontiers, and engage with programmes like Teen-Turn and Illuminate Labs that support the next generation.
Why These Young Innovators Represent Ireland’s Bright Future
The 2026 30 Under 30 cohort demonstrates the incredible depth and diversity of talent emerging from Ireland. Whether developing AI solutions for healthcare, building safer sports technologies, advancing sustainable energy materials, or creating inclusive cultural experiences through VR, these young people are tackling real-world problems with creativity, technical excellence, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Their success stories — from winning international hackathons to securing places in prestigious global programmes like Schwarzman Scholars and Y Combinator — highlight Ireland’s growing reputation as a hub for innovation. Many are already collaborating internationally while remaining deeply connected to Irish communities and institutions.
As Ireland continues to invest in STEM education, startup support, and responsible technology development, this generation is well-positioned to lead the country into a new era of technological and social progress.
Keep an eye on these names. The future of Irish innovation is already here — and it’s brighter than ever.
This feature celebrates the incredible young talent shaping Ireland’s technological future. All profiles are based on publicly available information as of April 2026.
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