The top category awards at this year’s Student Enterprise Awards National Finals (held on April 22nd 2015), organised by the Local Enterprise Offices, have gone to enterprising teens from Offaly, South Dublin and North Cork.
16-year-old Shíofra Ryan from Offaly took the overall Senior Category prize for ‘An Tionchar’, meaning ‘Impact’ in Irish, which has patent-pending designs on a boot for hurling and camogie players. The transition year student from St. Brendan’s Community School in Birr is already in discussions with manufacturers, to produce her invention on a bigger scale.
The Intermediate Category, which is open to second and third year students, was won by Dara Ward from ‘My GAA Journey’ of Coláiste Eanna in South Dublin.
The top prize in the Junior Category, for first year students, went to Mary O’ Leary, Eva Fitzgibbon and Ciara Litchfield from ‘Bring a Fairy Home’ at St. Mary’s Secondary School, Charleville in North Cork.
Co-ordinated by all 31 Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland, the 13th Annual Student Enterprise Awards National Final in Croke Park saw 300 student entrepreneurs showcase 74 different businesses, across Junior, Intermediate and Senior Categories. 17,000 students from 370 schools take part in the programme every year.
Awards for Innovation, Best Display, Intellectual Property Awareness and Social Media were also presented to schools as part of the €10,000 prize fund.
The Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Mr. Damien English T.D., presented the awards on stage in Croke Park, saying: “ It is important that we continue to develop links between the education system and the real economy, so that school leavers are equipped with the skills, expertise and practical knowledge of business operations that will enable them to consider self-employment as a career option.”
Minister English added: “It is extremely satisfying to see entrepreneurship as a career option for students becoming more mainstreamed thanks to the cumulative impact of programmes such as the Student Enterprise Awards, run so successfully by the Local Enterprise Offices. The enthusiasm of the winners – and all participants – should be acknowledged as well as their ingenuity and “can do” attitude which gives great hope for this Country going forward. By supporting the aspiring entrepreneurs of today, the Local Enterprise Offices are fostering the job creators of tomorrow.”
Stephen Walshe, Chair of the Enterprise Education Committee with the Local Enterprise Offices, praised the work of the students and schools, adding: “Every year, the Student Enterprise Awards encourage students from all over the country, to develop new enterprise concepts and products, learning about the business world in a ‘hands on’ way. Now that they’ve started their entrepreneurial journey in the classroom, the Local Enterprise Offices are there to help them with their aspiring businesses in the future too.”
Kieran Comerford, the Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices, delivered the opening address at the ceremony in the Hogan Suite. Last year's Junior Category Winners, 'Sheep Watch' from St. Oliver’s Post Primary School in County Meath, told guests about their recent €10,000 crowd funding investment, as well the new prototype for their sheep monitoring collar.
The Social Media Awards were supported by Essential French and the Intellectual Property Awareness Awards were supported by the Irish Patents Office. The 2015/2016 programme starts in September, with full details available at www.studententerprise.ie or by searching #studententerprise on social media.
WINNERS: STUDENT ENTERPRISE AWARDS NATIONAL FINALS 2015 Organised by the Local Enterprise Offices (www.studententerprise.ie)
- Senior Category First Place & Overall Winner (Senior Category) Winning Business:
An Tionchar
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Offaly
Description: Impact hurling boot with enhanced ankle support, shock absorbent insole and arch support.
School: St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr
Student: Shíofra Ryan
Teacher: John Kennedy
- Second Place (Senior Category):
Second Place: The Rain Harvester
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Louth
Description: An affordable water collection and filtration system for households
School: Coláiste Ris, Dundalk
Student: Ciaran Boyle
Teacher: Breege Marie Dorrian
- Third Place (Senior Category):
Third Place: Once Upon A Rhyme
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Westmeath
Description: A range of t-shirts and jumpers with tailor made designs to bring nursery rhymes into the 21st Century
School: Moate Community College
Student: Niamh Murray
Teacher: Lisa Doyle
- Innovation Award (Senior Category):
Guide a Key
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Limerick
Description: Device to aid guiding a key to keyhole
School: Desmond College, Newcastle Students: Emma Herbert, Eoin Considine, Eamonn Browne, Seamus Hurley, Diarmuid Curtin
Teacher: Donal Enright
- Best Display (Senior Category):
Branching Out
Supported by Local Enterprise Award: Wexford
Description: High quality handmade wooden crafts with a rustic finish
School: St. Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy
Students: Jason Bolger and Adam Shanahan
Teacher: Aidan Gahan
- First Special Merit Award (Senior Category):
AquaPro
Supported by Local Enterprise Award: Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
Description: Liquid and Stain repelling treatment
School: St.Andrew’s College, Blackrock
Students: Yan Li, Rob Tuke
Teacher: Eimear Sloan
- Second Special Merit Award (Senior Category):
GiftGro
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Kildare
Description: Gift wrapped grow-it-yourself plant kits
School: Newbridge College
Students: Elliot Davis, Caitlin Breen, Sean Murphy, Chloe Sutton
Teacher: Julie O’Keefe
- IP Awareness Award, sponsored by Irish Patents Office (Senior Category):
Babe Magnets
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Mayo
Description: Wooden A4 Size picture box frame with metal sheet insert which comes with a magnetic strip for organising make up products.
School: St.Mary’s Convent, Ballina
Students: Lauren Cawley, Katie Clarke, Eileen Barry, Ciara Bourke, Kate Devaney
Teacher: Christina Togher
- Intermediate Category: First Place & Overall Winner Winning Business:
My GAA Journey
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: South Dublin
Description: A book that allows young GAA players to track their progress and achievements throughout their sporting career
School: Coláiste Eanna.
Student: Dara Ward
Teacher: Paul Conway
- Second Place (Intermediate Category):
Book Snaps
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Fingal
Description: Book and organisational copy tool
School: Skerries Community School Student: Ryan Corneille
Teacher: Seamus McGowan
- Third Place (Intermediate Category):
Little Treats
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: West Cork
Description: Artisan sweet treats and online baking tips
School: St.Brogan’s College, Bandon
Students: Lucy Hayes, Julia Chromick
Teacher: Rachel Shaughnessy
- Innovation Award (Intermediate Category):
Farm Sense
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Kerry
Description: Farm Safety App
School: Killorglin Community College Students: Pádhraic McMahon, Hugh Hurley
Teacher: Mr.Quinlivan
- Best Display (Intermediate Category):
Look 2 Cook
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Leitrim
Description: A cookery book with instructions through pictures rather than text, to suit people with reading difficulties
School: St.Clare’s Comprehensive School
Student: Clara Hewston
Teacher: Claire Gallagher
- IP Awareness Award, sponsored by Irish Patents Office (Intermediate Category):
Sila Lights
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Mayo
Description: Heavy duty light board for farm trailers, to allow trailers to be more visible to drivers and traffic.
School: Ballyhaunis Community School
Student: Jack Cloney
Teacher: Bernie Osgood
- Junior Category: First Place & Overall Winner Winning Business:
Bring a Fairy Home
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: North Cork
Description: Design and manufacture of tooth-fairy homes for children, with dental hygiene message
School: St. Mary’s Secondary School, Charleville
Students: Mary O’Leary, Eva Fitzgibbon, Ciara Litchfield
Teacher: Ann Doherty/ Ger O’Donovan
- Second Place(Junior Category):
Woodpeckers
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Cavan
Description: Handcrafted high quality wood products
School: Royal School Cavan
Students: Sophie Reilly, Daniel Stratford, Rachel Alexander, Barry Stratford
Teacher: Dale Robertson
- Third Place (Junior Category):
Waterchecker
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Kerry
Description: Mobile App for checking water
School: Intermediate School, Killorglin
Students: Darragh Dennehy, Patrick Crehan, Killian Broderick, Shane O’Sullivan Rouse
Teacher: Orla Courtney
- Innovation Award (Junior Category):
Recycled Delights
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: South Dublin
Description: A range of decorative items made from recyclable materials
School: Coláiste De hIde
Student: Aaron Murphy Taylor
Teacher: Marcus O’ Leanachain
Best Display (Junior Category):
Sparkles
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Wexford
Description: Selection of handmade crafted decorations for all occasions
School: Ramsgrange Community School, New Ross
Student: Lisa Tobin
Teacher: Louise Walshe
- IP Awareness Award, sponsored by Irish Patents Office (Junior Category):
Chibi Chic
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Kilkenny
Description: Handmade bags with original Chibi (i.e. Japanese cartoon) designs
School: Coláiste Pobail Osrai
Student: Mya Ni Ruiseil
Teacher: Laura Ni Bheoláin
Social Media Awards (sponsored by Essential French):
- Best Use of Facebook/ Twitter:
Lids for Kids
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Meath
Description: Making colourful hats for children who lost their hair due to chemotherapy
School: St. Peter’s College, Dunboyne
Students: Aoife Byrne and Sean Norman
- Most Effective Social Media Campaign:
School of Sound
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Carlow
Description: School of Sound is a professional event management service
School: Tullow Community School
Students: Roisin Cullen, Lauren Shannen, Betty Szczeponek, Amy Redmond
Teacher: Brian Larkin
- Most Creative Use of Social Media:
Instant Cuimhne
Supported by Local Enterprise Office: Kerry
Description: Printing phots as Polaroids School: Presentation Secondary School, Tralee
Students: Lauren Kelly and Maria Daly
For more details, please visit www.studententerprise.ie
