AILO
AILO at CUS: Cracking Codes, Exploring Language
An Extracurricular Challenge in Logic, Linguistics, and Lateral Thinking
The All-Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) is one of the most intellectually engaging extracurricular activities at Catholic University School, designed for students who enjoy puzzles, patterns, and the fascinating structure of language.
AILO challenges students to solve complex, logic-based problems in unfamiliar or minority languages, requiring no prior linguistic knowledge. Instead, participants must rely on logic, deduction, and pattern recognition to decipher meanings and structures. It is a competition that blends language, mathematics, and computer science into one thrilling problem-solving experience.
Over 1,000 students from more than 100 schools across 30 counties participate in AILO each year. Four CUS students, Kevin, Conor, Cathal, and Daniel, qualified for the National Final, with Kevin earning a Silver Standard Certificate and Cathal a Bronze. It was a proud moment for both the students and the school.
Interest in AILO at CUS has continued to grow. Out of 28 participants from 1st to 5th Year in the preliminary round, six students qualified for the National Final, including Adrian Alapatt (TY), Conor O’Dowd (3rd Year), and Aditya Anilkumar (5th Year), placing them in the top 100 nationwide out of over 800 students from 80 schools.
In addition to the competition itself, CUS also hosted an AILO Workshop, welcoming students from Muckross Park College. The session was led by Juan Varquez of Trinity College Dublin, who introduced students to AILO-style puzzles and shared invaluable strategies for success.
The AILO programme is expertly supported at CUS by Ms. De Búrca, who runs the AILO club and annual workshops. These sessions give students the chance to train together, explore puzzles in a fun and relaxed environment, and prepare for national-level competition.
As Adrian Alapatt (TY) puts it: “I really enjoy AILO, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes problem solving. The puzzles are challenging but also fun, and the club is a great place to learn, think differently, and work with others.”
Whether you are interested in languages, logic, computer science, or maths, AILO at CUS offers a fresh, creative challenge, one that will sharpen your mind and stretch the way you think about language and learning.
