Ireland’s first solar race car to be driven by local student

A team of Dublin City University (DCU) engineering and technology students has made Irish motorsport and clean-technology history by revealing Ireland’s first-ever solar-powered racing car.

Killarney man Rian Gill, holds the position of Team Principal and Lead Engineer at DCU Solar Racing and will take the wheel to drive the car during the international event.
Designed and hand-built over four years of intensive research, prototyping, and aerodynamic testing, the ultra-efficient single-seater vehicle represents a major milestone for Irish higher education and green innovation.
The team will officially unveil the car to the public on Wednesday next , September 9 at 6 pm at The Helix, DCU.
Following its launch, the student team will represent Ireland on the international stage at the iLumen European Solar Challenge (iESC) at Circuit Zolder in Belgium on September 19 to 20.
Competing against top international university engineering teams, the 24-hour endurance challenge tests vehicles on speed, energy management, and battery efficiency.
Over 40 multidisciplinary students spanning mechanical, electrical, software engineering, and business operations contributed to the project. Equipped with custom solar array architecture, lightweight composite materials, and bespoke telemetry systems, the vehicle relies entirely on solar energy and clean battery storage to run.
The custom-engineered vehiclea ,sleek, 6-meter “bullet” model designed for maximum power conversion and minimal drag, recently underwent track validation and high-speed testing at Mondello Park, Co. Kildare.
Speaking ahead of the launch Gill said:
“It’s been incredible to see the work done over the past four years and to see all the effort pay off. Timeless hourshave resulted in this pinnacle of Irish engineering, thanks to the support of our partners, university and the students behind the project.”
Jennifer Bruton, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing added:
“This project showcases the practical, future-focused, boundary-pushing talent emerging from DCU. Beyond competing in international motorsport, these students are proving that sustainable transport solutions are achievable today through dedication, teamwork, multidisciplinary hands-on application, and vision.”
The DCU Solar Racing team test drove their car for the first time at Mondello Park earlier this week.

Felicity’s Summer in Killarney A weekly serial by Killarney Advertiser’s Jess Jukes

Week 12
Auntie Sheila narrowed her eyes as soon as she saw Felicity and Jack nearly trip as they emerged from the crowd. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Felicity made a beeline for her as everything that had happened poured out of her mouth. She told Auntie Sheila everything, from Carrauntoohil to the connection to the ice cream truck, and BikeFest.

“And he was going to use Jack and I to force Trevor to give him his ice cream truck!” she finished with a gasp.

Auntie Sheila turned to the man standing next to her and nodded. “That’s your man,” she said, before she pulled Felicity under her arm and into a hug.

The man, a stranger to Felicity, produced a walkie-talkie out of nowhere and spoke into it. “Team one, suspect last seen out back of Courtney’s wearing a green hooded jumper and a leg cast. Team two, outside the Towers. Over.”

Felicity turned around to see two vans that she hadn’t previously noticed open up. Uniformed Gardaí poured out of them. The dispersed through the crowd easily, all working like a well-oiled machine.

One team split in half, part going around the front of Courtney’s and another half into the alleyway where Anthony had last been. The second team spread through the crowd easily, quickly detaining the man in black.

After what only felt like a few moments, the Gardaí emerged from Courtney’s with Anthony in their custody. It was over almost too quickly to comprehend.

Felicity was speechless. “What … what was that?”

“Did you think I didn’t know what was going on?” Auntie Sheila asked. “Felicity love, they’ve been watching the house for weeks.”

The severe-looking Garda turned to her. “We’ve been trying to find this group of smugglers for a while. The kangaroo jerky is what we were initially investigating them for, but now with the intention to extort charge, we’ve almost certainly got them in the bag.”

“Thanks for this Jerome.” Auntie Sheila said. Jerome, the Garda, grimaced back. “Not at all. Felicity and Jack have helped us close one of our most pressing investigations, however unintentionally. We’ve been trying to bag these guys for months.”

He paused. “Speaking of, we should probably head down to the station and have ye give your statements whist it’s still fresh. You can get back to enjoying your night afterwards but for now every little bit of evidence we can get against these guys counts.”

Felicity huffed as they started towards Jack’s car. “I think I’ve had enough excitement this summer to last me a lifetime.” Auntie Sheila hooked her arm around Felicity’s as they walked and suggested “How about we go home and watch a movie instead?”

Felicity smiled. “That sounds fabulous.”

The Aftermath
On their way to the Garda station Auntie Sheila had explained that she and Jerome had been to the Garda Academy together, and that she had approached him for help after she noticed their house being watched.

Felicity and Jack were horrified when Auntie Sheila told her them how long the house had been surveilled for.

They must have been watching the house for weeks – since Bikefest. It was unsettling to realise that there could’ve been someone sat outside watching the house even when she and Jack rescued Socks from Mr McCarthy’s rose bush in the middle of the night. They had been out there all alone. What could have happened had Antony decided to confront them sooner turned Felicity’s stomach. They were lucky Anthony had held off until today.

Jerome and the Gardaí had already been aware of the dangers match day posed and what with the extra crowds and town being busier, opportunists like Anthony were more likely to try and slip under the radar.
They hadn’t suspected anyone would try a ransom in the middle of town, but Auntie Sheila had joked that at least the squads of Gardaí on stand-by were put to good use.

The rest of the evening, giving statements and having tea pressed into their hands, passed quickly. Felicity joked that she had had too much excitement for the year and that maybe she wasn’t cut out to be a Garda after all.

As Jack, Felicity and Auntie Sheila were saying their goodbyes, Jerome thanked them again. “I read your application,” he said. “Don’t give up on being a Garda just yet. You have great potential.”

Jack teased her about it on the way to the car. “You could use your brilliant impressions in proper detective work,” he said, “instead of just mostly-accidental vigilantism.”

They all laughed and went back to Hedgerow Place. Auntie Sheila served snacks and even more tea, “to calm the nerves” she said. Felicity was beginning to form a picture of how her aunt had operated as a Garda detective for so many years. Even in the most dire of situations it seemed like her calm air wouldn’t budge.

“Will Anthony go to jail?” Jack asked quietly, when they were all sat around the kitchen table. Auntie Sheila looked serious and replied “Jerome will do his utmost to make sure he does.”

Jack nodded slowly and looked back down at his tea.

Auntie Sheila excused herself to call Jack’s parents and tell them that he was alright.

“Do you think the smugglers will go after me and my Da again?”

Felicity thought about it. “I don’t think so,” she said slowly, “we’ve shown them that we’re close to law enforcement. Surely there are easier targets now.” This seemed to satisfy Jack.

Upon Auntie Sheila’s return, she, Felicity and Jack all nestled down into the sofa and stuck on a movie, with subtitles, at Auntie Sheila’s insistence. Soon they were all lost in the tales and woes of the characters onscreen.