Local Enterprise Office Offaly has announced that winning teenager entrepreneurs from Birr Community School will represent Offaly at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals on the 14th May.
The students all took part in the Offaly Final on 9th March, which was held live online for the first time ever in the history of the competition. Almost 500 students from 10 schools took part in the annual programme locally.
The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, sees on average 25,000 students from over 500 secondary schools across the country take part each year. The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Finals.
Offaly will be represented on May 14th by Hology Photography from Birr Community School which is owned by Damien Delaney and Alex Byrne. They run a photography business selling pictures framed, unframed and on canvas of the local area and more. They also plan to become a service provider taking pictures in the local area and expanding to even more products when Covid-19 restrictions are eased.
As well as sharing the prize fund of over €1,500, the winner received a specially commissioned trophy designed by local craftsperson, Ross Hathaway of Metal Meyham, and every student receives a certificate to mark their participation in the competition.
A special teachers’ prize draw was held and gift vouchers went to John Lowndes of Tullamore College and Patsy Griffin of St. Mary’s Secondary School in Edenderry.
Offaly has a very successful track record in the Student Enterprise competition. Recent awards won at the National Final include Overall Winner in 2018 with Manus Heenan’s “Abbey Bread” from Cistercian College.
Speaking at the final, Mr John Carroll Cathaoirleach Offaly County Council, commended the students for their efforts, trying to set up a business in these very challenging circumstances. Each student is a winner just to reach the final. He thanked their teachers and parents for their support. “It’s a great opportunity for you (the students) to develop your business skills. Hopefully many of you will go on to set up your own businesses in the future and avail of the services of the Local Enterprise Office, which is now an integral part of the County Council.” he commented.
The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland in the Annual Student Enterprise Programme National Finals in May.
The awards ceremony can be watched back on https://youtu.be/GWhxw56S6jw
Offaly Student Enterprise Programme County Final 2021
Senior Category - Winners Listing
Placing | School | Teacher | Business Name | Description | Students |
Winner | St Brendan's Community School, Birr | John McIntyre | Hology Photography | Pictures framed, unframed and on canvas of the local area and more. | Damien Delaney, Alex Byrne |
Runner Up | Tullamore College | John Lowndes | Untangled Books | A series of books aimed primarily at preschool children, teaching important lessons about hygiene, manners and confidence. | Una Hughes, Nera Grgurev, Tracy Hannon, Grace Tierney, Lucy Cullen Nolan |
3rd | St Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry | Fiona Dunbar | Designs To Dye For | Customisable, tie dye apparel that is affordable and environmentally friendly. | Leah Daly, Katie Byrne, Ross Anthony, Maria Macari |
“Ones to Watch” Award | Cistercian College, Roscrea | Catherine Smyth | Power Cakes | A healthy alternative to the well known rice cake | Charlie Naughton, Fabien Fleetwood |
Sustainability Award | St Brendan's Community School, Birr | John McIntyre | Creativity le Cairde | A TY Mini-Company dedicated to spreading inspiration and creativity by selling recyclable notebooks with handstitched covers | Mary MacCartáin, Jack Kirwan |
Best Report Award | Tullamore College | John Lowndes | The Next Chapter | Business created to help children make the transition from 6th class to first year and to provide teachers with a helpful resource. | Caitlin Dunne, Róisín Farrell, Kate Tracey, Nancy Flynn |
Best Product Award | Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara | Katie Murray | Home Tweet Home | Handmade Colourful Wooden Birdhouses. Each with unique and different colours | Gavin Bennett |
Innovation Award | Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara | Anna Marie Guinan | Sew Perfect | Makes and sells re-usable face masks | Conor McEvoy |
Merit | St Brendan's Community School, Birr | John McIntyre | Medal Minders | Wooden medal display plaques | Meg Delaney, Laura O'Donoghue, Caoimhe Carroll, Chloe Tooher |
Merit | Tullamore College | John Lowndes & Michelle Griffin | FABB Wooden Crafts | Unique & Multipurpose Footwear holders for shoes with or without a stool attached | Eamon Bolger, Fionán Redmond, Aaron Gorman, Ben Gilmartin |
Merit | Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara | Anna Marie Guinan | Crafty Giftzz | Personalised Keyrings | Zelda Utangec, Holly McCloskey |
Merit | St Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry | Gordon McDonnell | Jingle Bell Pops | Unique chocolate lollipops, suitable for any occasion | Elyse Halligan |
Merit | St Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry | Patsy Griffin | Thread It | Hand embroidered socks | Shauna Comerford, Ruby Foran, Olivia Craig, Jessica Cannon Mooney |
Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.
