Mayo Student Wins Top Prize for Innovative Wheelchair Design

Ballycastle, Co. Mayo native Isabella Doyle has been awarded first place in the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Student Entrepreneur Awards 2026 for her groundbreaking wheelchair concept, “Bríach.” The design focuses on preventative and therapeutic benefits, aiming to mitigate long-term health complications associated with prolonged static sitting.

Bríach: Inspired by Therapeutic Horse-Riding

Currently a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts in Product Design student at ATU Galway City’s Wellpark Road campus, Doyle developed “Bríach” after volunteering with a therapeutic horse-riding charity. She observed the positive impact of equine therapy on wheelchair users, specifically improvements in core strength, balance, posture, and muscle engagement. Mayo News and CT Prod both reported on Doyle’s inspiration.

“While working there, I saw the significant physical benefits that horse-riding therapy can provide for wheelchair users,” Doyle explained. “However, I also noticed that many people were unable to access this therapy due to the physical requirements needed to mount and ride a horse, and limitations such as cost, travel and weather conditions. This led me to explore the idea of designing a new, imagined wheelchair that could bring the physical benefits of therapeutic horse riding directly into the wheelchair itself.”

Future Development and Impact

Doyle intends to continue developing “Bríach” through further research, iterative prototyping, and refinement towards a medical-grade wheelchair standard. She also plans to gather feedback from occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social carers, and wheelchair users to ensure the design meets real-world needs and delivers tangible physical benefits. Europe Says highlighted Doyle’s commitment to user-centered design.

Lecturer Kenneth Nevin supervised Doyle on the project. Eve-Anne McCarron, Head of Engagement & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in ATU, emphasized the importance of the awards, stating they “shine a light on the brilliance of our students” and provide a platform for innovation. Western People also covered the awards ceremony.

McCarron encouraged students to apply for the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards as a next step in developing their business ideas, noting that this is “only the start for these future innovators and founders.”