As most children found joy in their toy trucks, Fionn Kimber O’Shea remembers being captivated by a simple abacus during his early years in Belmont, California. This initial curiosity marked the start of his love for numbers and mathematics, a passion that led him towards the world of stock markets and investment trading, as he was particularly attracted by the logical elements of this subject.
Today, at the age of 19, this student from Christian Brothers College Cork has made a name for himself in the realm of mathematics, securing a triumphant third consecutive title win at the Irish Maths Olympiad, setting a brand-new record.
“Mathematics has always played an immensely significant role in my life, ever since my early formative years. Instead of engaging with play trucks, my interest was piqued by calculations and addition, specifically those of counting beads,” expressed O’Shea.
Born in the state of California, the lineage of O’Shea can be traced back to County Kerry from his father’s side and County Waterford from his mother’s. At the age of 13, O’Shea shifted base to Cork.
Over the past three years, his prowess in mathematics has been declared indisputable with over 20 accolades won in mathematical contests domestically and internationally. During this period, he has competed in competitions spread across 14 nations including South Africa, Japan, the United States, Hungary, and Finland.
Describing his experience, O’Shea said, “Though it is exhausting, it brings much joy. Most of the time, the purpose is to tackle maths, but more than that, it’s about bond-building with my mates. To me, the social aspect is the most integral part of these competitions. It’s simply fantastic fun.”
His cherished memory of participating in the International Mathematical Olympiad in Chiba, Japan, last summer wasn’t the bronze medal he secured, making him the first from Ireland to do so since 2019, but the exhilarating moments he spent with his friends in hot springs.
O’Shea drew a parallel between participating in the olympiad and “going on a tour with your football team”, as he organizes weekly conference calls with friends he made during his journey, scattered around the globe.
Though he’s yet to decide which university he’ll be attending post his Leaving Cert examinations, he plans to major in maths and aspires to establish a career in the field of trading.
Like ordinary teenagers, he admits finding it challenging to limit screen time on his phone as he prepares for his upcoming exams. The brilliant mathematician, Fionn O’Shea, claims this to be an all-too-common struggle amongst his generation.
The individual is expressing his gratitude towards his educational institution, Christian Brothers College, where he states that the spirit of hard work is genuinely embraced. He couldn’t help but applaud the remarkable support he has received throughout his journey in mathematical competitions from his school community.
David Lordon, the head of the school, expressed immense pride in their gifted mathematics student. He confidently predicts a promising future for this young individual.
O’Shea gave due credit to Anca Mustata, his mathematics guide from University College Cork for her mentorship over the past three years, contributing significantly to his progress under a unique mathematics programme.
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