Maths Week - it adds up!
Maths Week, Ireland’s all-island festival of maths, will return from October 11 to 19, marking its 20th anniversary with its most ambitious programme yet.
By the end of Maths Week this year, the total participation over 20 years will top five million. Maths Week is supported by the Department of Education, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and Ireland State Savings. It is co-ordinated by Calmast, the STEM Engagement Centre at South East Technological University.
Over two decades, Maths Week has grown into the world’s leading maths festival, engaging hundreds of thousands of people every year. In 2024, 500,249 students from 2,702 schools took part, while over 20,000 members of the public enjoyed activities like Maths in the City and Puzzles in the Park. Teacher surveys show that 85% of students felt more positive about maths after participating. The festival is delivered through an all-island partnership of universities, colleges, libraries, museums, and groups. New for 2025, Maths Week is partnering with Ireland State Savings to encourage young people to learn about money and financial awareness in the classroom.
The 20th anniversary programme will celebrate two decades of success while focusing on current and future skills needs. Maths has never been more important to Ireland’s prosperity. It underpins the country’s fastest growing industries from artificial intelligence and renewable energy to pharmaceuticals, medtech, financial services and data analytics. Employers consistently report rising demand for maths-based skills, while research shows that STEM graduates enjoy stronger career opportunities and higher lifetime earnings. At the same time, Maths Week reminds us that maths is for everyone, of all ages and abilities, and is something we all use more than we realise.
Maths Week 2025 will feature hundreds of events across Ireland and online, including workshops, school activities, public lectures, trails and broadcasts. Inclusion remains central to the programme, with tailored events for Irish speaking audiences, dedicated Maths Week TV online broadcasts, and a focus on Traveller and migrant learners, the Deaf community, disadvantaged schools and those in prison education.
Minister for Education, Helen McEntee, said: “Marking the 20th anniversary of Maths Week is about more than celebrating a milestone. It is about recognising the impact this initiative has had in classrooms and communities across the island, breaking down barriers and giving young people the confidence to see maths as something that belongs to them. Over two decades, Maths Week has shown that when children and students engage with maths in a creative and accessible way, their outlook changes. They begin to see maths not as a subject to be feared, but as a way of thinking that helps them solve problems and open doors to opportunity.
“As we look to the future, it is clear that maths will remain central to Ireland’s success. From renewable energy and data analytics to biotechnology and artificial intelligence, the fastest growing sectors of our economy all rely on strong maths skills. Maths Week plays a crucial role in inspiring the next generation to pursue those skills, ensuring that Ireland remains both competitive internationally and confident at home in its use of maths. I am proud that my Department continues to support Maths Week, and I want every young person in Ireland to know that maths is not a barrier but a passport to opportunity.”
Eoin Gill, Director of Maths Week Ireland, said: “Maths Week was created to replace any sense of ‘fear’ with curiosity and enjoyment. Over the past 20 years we have seen that when maths is made visible, playful and relevant, people thrive. Last year more than half a million people took part across every county on the island of Ireland, a clear sign of the appetite to connect with maths in new and positive ways.
“As we look ahead, maths will be central to Ireland’s progress and prosperity. It is the engine that drives discovery, fuels creativity and shapes the solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. The task for the next 20 years is to ensure that every child in every community can see themselves as capable of doing maths. The legacy of Maths Week will be a generation of problem solvers and innovators who see maths as part of who they are and as a key to building Ireland’s future.”