A Laois school is appealing to the kindness of Laois locals to assist them in the costs of flying their students to a competition's world final.

Rosenallis NS students made history as the first Leinster school to be crowned All Ireland champions in the VEX national robotics competition on February 26.

The school's robotics team will represent Ireland with pride at the VEX Robotics World Championships in St Louis, Missouri this April. 

This fantastic achievement has left the school community in delighted disbelief. While Rosenallis locals are all on cloud nine, the proud parents of these students must now fund expensive flights to Missouri on short notice.

Pictured: Rosenallis NS students at the VEX Robotics Laois heats competition on January 30

The school has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to assist in these costs, with a target of €100,000. At the time this article has been written, the school has amassed €4,890 through the generosity of local individuals and businesses.

Principal Rory Walsh has asked Laois' school community to back their talented students by holding fundraising initiatives.

"This is beyond our wildest expectations and the kids are incredibly excited," principal Rory Walsh told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"As you all know, paying for this will be no mean feat and we have kicked off fundraising efforts to make sure that the Robotics team members dream becomes a reality," he said.

"As the only Laois primary school to ever qualify for the worlds and hopefully the first of many, we are asking all schools in the county to please get behind us.

"If you can do a simple fundraiser in your school towards our first ever Laois primary representatives at the Worlds, such as a jersey day or a colours day on Friday, and share our GoFundMe page and social media posts with your school communities, we would be so grateful!" Mr Walsh said.

Read full story here: Underdogs! Rural Laois school to represent Ireland in robotics world final in USA

"I hope that our team will inspire some maths and science minded kids in your schools and that we will all have another Laois school to rally behind in the near future.

"I hope that Laois people will rally behind this great underdog story. Laois have won the All Ireland and we are going to take a shot at the World Championship- why wouldn’t we, Laois Abú!" Mr Walsh finished.

Congratulations to the Rosenallis NS students on this astounding achievement! If you wish to support the students and help them represent Ireland with pride, you can find their fundraising link here.

Read Next: Details on expansion of fuel allowance for Laois families announced