The Sunday Column - Imagining victory

The column that refuses to go up on its intended day arrives early for once this week.

I'm over in Paris this weekend to cover the Imagine Cup, essentially the World Student games of Innovation. I'm here with fellows hacks Marie Boran and Karlin Lillington.

The Irish sides competing have put in a good showing. Acid Rain from NUI Maynooth drove all the way here (well they went on a ferry as well) from Dublin in a cooking oil powered car. The Opel Astra used is demonstrating a new technology aimed at making it easier to use biofuels in cars. Despite being the only team to make the judges stand in the rain, the Maynooth boys did enough to progress to the final. They have a legit shot at the world title when the winner is announced on Tuesday.

Sadly there was disappointment for Sligo IT's Park it team. The students from the North West had designed software to aid people when looking for parking. Despite putting in a solid presentation, Sligo failed to make it through to the semi final.

Congratulations to both teams on making it to the final. As a cheesy tribute here's an aptly named ditty by Belouis Some. I opted against a certain John Lennon song as it's just too obvious.