350 children and teachers have taken part in a live video link up with an astronaut on board the International Space Station.
European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet spoke to and answered questions from the gathering at the Limerick Institute of Technology, as well as groups in Romanian and Portugal for 20 minutes.
Four teachers representing schools in Tipperary, Limerick and Kildare were allowed to ask the 37-year-old Frenchman a question.
Mary Gorey, a teacher from St Joseph's College in Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary asked the space traveler how long it takes for research and experiment carried out in space to be used in technology and medicine on Earth?
While Alan Hobbins from Scoil Phádraig in Clane, Co Kildare posed the question of how does time in space help us to develop cures for sick people on the ground?
Gearoid O'Donoghue from Scoil Íde in Limerick asked what new technology related to navigation used on the International Space Station and in space is benefiting us on Earth?
The final Irish question came from Mary McElhinney from St Brigid's in Limerick, who queried whether research done on changes to the eyesight of astronauts in space have other applications.
The event was organised by the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO), as part of its education and outreach activities.
Such live video links with astronauts in space are rare events here in Ireland.
