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22 Oct 2025
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22 Oct 2025
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Dana Carney pictured with Sheila Porter from Scifest after being announced as the overall Junior winner in The Digital Hub in Dublin (Pic: TeenTurn)
CLAREMORRIS teenager Dana Carney has earned top honours at Scifest for developing an app that helps parents navigating extensive Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) waiting lists.
Beating of competition from 160 girls showcasing 89 projects, Dana’s TalkTime app saw her crowned overall Junior Winner at the event at The Digital Hub in Dublin.
Dana worked on her app at Project Squad, TeenTurn’s after school programme which takes place in Mount Saint Michael secondary school in Claremorris every Thursday afternoon.
“TalkTime, is an early intervention app for children aged 3-5 with speech-language difficulties,” explained Dana, who came with the idea after ‘watching a younger relative of mine suffer with speech-language difficulties’.
As a result of ‘extensive waiting lists’ her family notice a huge drop in her ‘self-confidence and ability to socialise’.
“They all felt helpless, and didn’t know how to help their daughter,” said Dana.
“I created TalkTime for children and families like hers, to help parents of children with speech-language difficulties feel less frustrated and helpless, and to help children to make progress while awaiting treatment.”
TeenTurn is an Irish non-profit organisation that provides teen girls the opportunity to gain hands-on STEM experience and the support to acquire qualifications and jobs, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities.
Speaking about the experience of working with TeenTurn Dana said she ‘loved every minute’ of participating in the project.
“If I had to pick a favourite thing about it, I’d probably say all the new and interesting people you meet throughout your project; be it other girls from Mount St Michael, TeenTurn girls from all over Ireland with similar interests to mine, parents or speech-language therapists I interviewed, or mentors that helped me with my project.
“Everyone was always so supportive and willing to share ideas or help with anything. Even with all the hard work, we always had great craic too!” she added.
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