In an incredible show of community spirit, Laois locals have managed to raise over €117,000 to support a local school's trip to the VEX Robotics World Final in America.

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. 

Pictured: Rosenallis NS' two robotics groups at the Laois VEX Robotics competition

On short notice, the parents of eleven students aged between nine and eleven were told they must fund flights and accommodation for the Missouri trip. Rosenallis NS launched a fundraiser to support the costs of bringing the students and one guardian per child.

Local schools, individuals and businesses donated generously towards the fund, including a donation of €15,000 from Stripe billionaire CEO John Collison. Local committees in Rosenallis, from the vintage club to the cemetery committee, have all donated from their kitty towards the fundraiser. 

Within just ten days, Laois locals banded together to raise a whopping €117,000. This show of support and generosity across the county has left the school community deeply moved.

Rosenallis NS principal Rory Walsh spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live on the heartwarming story.

"I don't even know how to put it into words, we're so blown away by the support and generosity of everyone, it feels like the whole area locally and across the county have fought behind the kids in this," he said.

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"The story has really brought people together and has brought the best out of people, it's unreal. It's brilliant to see such support for the kids, I've never experienced anything like this. On Friday we were able to book the flights and accommodation, and to tell the kids that this is real, and we have a plan now," Mr Walsh said.

The wider Laois community have been fundraising as best they can, and the principal was moved by the touching donations from voluntary groups locally.

"A number of neighbouring schools have donated to the fundraiser, from the Parents Associations, Board of Managements and school staff members from their own pockets. They have been fantastic in helping us share our story. So many voluntary groups have been amazing, from sports clubs to the active retirement group," he said.

"We have received donations from the cemetery committee, the Rosenallis Mothers and Others group, the vintage club and the gun club.

"They are all voluntary organisations handing over a good chunk of their money that was supposed to get them through the year, just to see these kids achieve their dreams. It has been such a remarkable level of generosity," Mr Walsh praised.

Abbeyleix House and Farm, owned by Stripe founder and billionaire John Collison, donated a fantastic €15,000 towards the Rosenallis NS student's trip.

The owner of the Abbeyleix stately home has long been a champion of encouraging STEM in young people, with Stripe taking custodianship of the Young Scientist Exhibition last year, a competition he previously won.

The school reached out to Mr Collison in the hopes of earning his support in the fundraiser.

"We knew that he is a very generous man and he champions STEM projects, but obviously he is very busy. We were able to speak with a member of his team who passed the message on, and we received the money into our account without a word, or any want for recognition," he said.

Another anonymous individual also donated €15,000 towards the fund, in a show of great generosity.

The principal explained that while the parents have been left equally shocked and elated at the school's national win, the students have worked towards this achievement from the very beginning. 

"In the early days during the Laois competitions, the kids were saying 'we'll get to America'. We told them of course they will, but to take things on one bit at a time. Now it's actually happening and watching it dawn on them is brilliant- it's such an amazing success story," he said.

"Winning the Irish championships was a huge success in itself. The fact we are able to get them to the final in America is unreal, a lot of work has gone into this and it's so worth it. We are only now stopping to draw a breath, after going hell for leather with our fundraiser."

One of the most heartwarming features of this fundraiser was the younger primary students donating their pocket money to see their fellow classmates through to the American championship.

"The most touching thing for me was the younger children in the school bringing in their pocket money, coming to school with a fiver. That's the only money they have for the week, it means more than €50 from our pockets," Mr Walsh said.

Read More: Underdogs! Rural Laois school to represent Ireland in robotics world final in USA

Mr Walsh wished to thank every person, business or committee that has donated towards the fundraiser, and helped the Rosenallis Robotics Team's dreams come true. 

"This really is a dream come true for the group. The past few weeks has shown all of the young people watching events unfold that when they work hard and dream big, they can achieve whatever they set their minds to!" Mr Walsh finished.

The Rosenallis NS Robotics Team will have their own float at the Rosenallis St Patrick's Day parade at 2pm, with their fellow students marching alongside them in support.