Staff and students in a rural Laois primary school are in a daze this week, having been announced as national champions in a prestigious VEX Robotics competition.

Rosenallis NS were crowned the national winner of the All Ireland VEX IQ competition in MTU Cork on Thursday, February 26.

The small four-classroom primary school beat hundreds of schools across the country to secure their place in the world final, where they will represent Ireland in St Louis, Missouri, USA in several weeks time.

"I don't think this has sank in for any of us yet," Principal Rory Walsh told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"We travelled to Cork on Thursday for the competition, I don't think any Leinster primary school has ever qualified for the world championships," he said.

The school had two teams taking part in the national final, a feat no other Laois school has seen.

One team scored a massive 221 points in the final, one of the highest scores seen in the country. They managed to beat some secondary schools with their fantastic score, and are thrilled to represent Ireland internationally.

Their other team, Rizzbots, managed to earn a fantastic fourth place tied with Paddock NS. The school praised Rizzbots for their grace, poise and true sportsmanship in their fantastic achievement.

"Even saying that we will be travelling to Missouri is amazing, it's so fantastic for the kids. It hasn't sunk in at all. We arrived back home on the bus in a daze, as we were passing through Mountmellick we received a Garda escort," Mr Walsh said.

WATCH: The spectacular homecoming students received in Rosenallis

"There were so many people there waiting for us all with banners, cars had been abandoned everywhere. It's such a fantastic achievement for the students," he said.

"We are a tiny school with 74 students in Laois, and the kids have managed to beat all of the big schools across the country, this is great for them," he said.

The Rosenallis NS students are over the moon with their achievement, under the coaching of teacher Aaron Mackessy.

"Mr Mackessy started the VEX projects in the school two years ago, he has overseen the projects with students. It has been great to see students who would not be involved in traditional GAA clubs or soccer, have the chance to travel on trips for games. The students are centre stage with this initiative, it's lovely," Mr Walsh praised.

Pictured: Aaron Mackessy with students at the national final in Munster Technological University

"The kids are totally overjoyed and overwhelmed, they cant believe it at all. They totally deserve it. We're all surprised, you never think that you'll be the winner. The students always thought it would be great to win and travel to the US, but they didn't think it would actually happen- it's like winning the lotto," he said.

"The students rose to the occasion, they played eight group games and one final game. They had nerves of steel and were fantastic," the principal said.

The school had two groups taking part in the competition, with one team tying for fourth place, and the other earning first place.

"We have eleven students who will represent Ireland in the worlds, something no Laois primary school has ever achieved. Our students beat the big primary schools in Dublin- it's something they will be talking about for quite a while!" Mr Walsh laughed.

Pictured: Schools battling it out to be crowned Irish champions

The school expects to launch a fundraiser to support the travel costs for students headed to Missouri. They are hoping that the wider Laois community will rally around the school to help the children travel to the final.

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Rosenallis NS wished to thank Laois County Council STEM Engagement Officer Seanie Morris and Laois Broadband Officer Antoinette Brennan for their support in this competition.