Google representative launches Town of Tomorrow competition

Google representative launches Town of Tomorrow competition


Michael Duffy

THE fourth Town of Tomorrow competition was launched in Rice College, Westport last week by Nicole Drobeck of Google.
The competition gives second level students the chances to redesign different parts of Westport town using Google’s Sketch-Up software and Ms Drobeck took the opportunity last week to show students from Westport and Belmullet the very latest technology available at Google.
“It’s was a great honour to have another representative of Google visit Mayo to help with this unique competition. Nicole was the third member of the Google team to visit Westport to take an active part in what is a totally unique urban design competition. It’s important to remember that no other town or county in Ireland, or indeed anywhere in Europe, has a similar competition supported by Google,” said Ann Moore, Town Clerk with Westport Town Council.
At the monthly meeting of Westport Town Council last week, Cathaoirleach Tereasa McGuire said it was a real coup to have such a large company like Google having a direct link-up with Westport.
“Nicole got on really well with the students and they were ever so keen to learn how to use the software involved. I’m sure there will be plenty of entries for the competition and it can only be good for this council to be involved with such a worthy project.”
The competition, which was first launched in 2007 by Daniela Brica, the European 3D Captain from Google, involves the re-design of the centre of ‘Virtual’ Westport using the popular architectural software, Google SketchUp.
Cllr Keith Martin said the money spent by the council organising the competition was money well spent and this type of innovative thinking and educating of the town’s youth could well have long term benefits.
Cllr Myles Staunton said he hoped it might be possible for the newly set up Multi Agency Group to meet with Nicole in the future and see how Westport’s business community can benefit from the relationship.
The winners of this year’s Town of Tomorrow Competition will receive their prizes at a special awards ceremony in the Westport Cineplex at a date to be announced.
The Mayo News is among the sponsors of the competition.