Student entrepreneurs win at Christmas trade fair

CONGRATULATIONS to Charleville CBS Secondary School students Darragh Waters and Shane Scully, whose mini-company product, Quick Reel, won the award for the Best Innovation in the senior category in the Mallow Local Enterprise Office sponsored North Cork Schools Enterprise Programme Christmas Trade Fair, which was held at Mallow GAA Complex last week.

Both students come from farming backgrounds and are aware of the dangers associated with the use of quad bikes on the farm. It was this interest that instigated the need to make the use of quad bikes safer and more efficient, especially when used for fencing.

The pair researched existing models in Europe and in New Zealand, and then they designed and made their own attachment for the quad, which they exhibited at the trade fair. Each step of the process was carried out by the boys themselves, as they explained to the judges at the enterprise event that every attachment is made individually to suit their customer’s requirements.

The device is bolted to the front rack of the quad, and, being both compact and lightweight, is easily removable. The Quick Reel is designed to hold 32 pig tailed posts and two Gallagher reels. Presently the Quick Reel may only be used with the Gallagher geared reel but they are working on further developing it to widen its appeal.

Students from St. Mary’s Secondary School Charleville took the award for the best interview, also in the senior category, at the event for their Zipit mini-company.

Students from secondary schools from across North Cork participated in the hugely successful enterprise trade fair, which is organised by the Mallow based Local Enterprise Office.