From the Evening Echo of 18/01/2007:

 "A student's award-winning invention has generated huge interest from a host of car manufacturers.

"Blarney student Anthony O'Brien has invented a unique kit which allows ordinary cars to run on ethanol. The Leaving Cert student in Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál took home first prize in the senior technology category of the BT Young Scientist Exhibition for the invention, entitled 'Ethanol use in everyday motoring.'

"The unique kit, which allows an ordinary petrol car to use bio-ethanol without any modifications to the engine, is the first of its kind. It works by plugging a circuit board into the engine of the car which modifies the car so it can run on ethanol. Each kit has to be altered to suit different makes and models of cars but, once each type is available, it can easily be installed by the driver of any new or old petrol car.

"Anthony said, "it's as simple as plugging a plug into a socket, anyone could do it. And if you want to switch back to petrol from ethanol use, it's a case of just flicking a switch on the dashboard." He has already successfully tried out his own invention and estimates it would cost €400 to buy.

Other conversion kits on the European market are more expensive -- retailing at a minimum of €600 -- require changes to the engine pre-installation and have to be fitted by a mechanic. One of the cars on the Irish market which runs on a combination of petrol and bio-ethanol -- the Ford Focus Flexi-Fuel Vehicle -- costs around €20,000.

 The Leaving Cert student from Newcastle outside Blarney, has also been offered a trip to Africa by Irish development agency Self Help to research how his project could be used in the developing world. Self Help is involved in promoting and implementing sustainable rural development programmes in east Africa.

The deputy Principal at the school, Padraig Sheehan, said: "It's a great achievement for the school. We've had great success in the Young Scientist over the years."

Coordinating teacher at the school Sean Foley was named the teacher of excellence at the awards in 2006."