Students craft business ideas
Company contest is launched
FOUR fledgling enterprises from Scoil Mhuire in Múscraí Gaeltacht village Béal Atha’n Ghaorthaidh will be among companies from throughout the country vying for a slice of the market as part of this year’s edition of Clár na gComhlachtaí which was launched last week.
Clár na gComhlachta/the Company’s Programme is a scheme involving Junior Achievement Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta to encourage and support secondary level students in Gaeltacht schools to set up their own businesses and with the support of mentors from local companies to launch their products or services on the wider market.
Gaeltacht Minister and Chief Whip Seán Kyne was in Scoil Mhuire to launch the competition and he was joined by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed at the school.
On hand with displays of their wares were the four companies which have emerged from the school’s current Transition Year.
Ellen Ní Bhuachalla, Úna Ní Dhuinnín and Caoimhe Ní Choitir have created a collection of sensory blankets for sale to local nursing homes. “Our research shows that elderly people enjoy these blankets and they help to ease stress,” said Ellen. “So we put our sewing skills to good use and made these blankets.”
Seastáin Seodra is the name adapted by Tamara Ní Chéilleachair and Aoibheann Ní Lachtnáin for their company which is manufacturing stands for displaying pieces of jewellery from recycled items from the school’s former domestic science room.
“We want to use things that have been thrown out and would end up as scrap to give them a new lease of life and, in the process, they give your jewellery a display stand and a way of making sure it isn’t lost,” said Tamara.
Preserving earphones and headphones from an untimely end on the bedroom floor is the aim of Seastáin Cluasáin, a company formed by Jayce Ó Cróinín, Tadhg Breathnach and Aodh Ó Suilleabháin.
They put their woodworking skills to use to make functional and well designed stands on which to hang headphones and earphones when they’re not in use.
The fourth firm is ‘ An Tigín’ and the aim of this company is to make wooden birdhouses to sell to local farmers and shops. In this company are Daire Ó Briain and Conor Ó hÁinle.
All of the firms are being advised by Nora Hayes from local technology company, Bard na nGleann, a firm which writes instruction manuals for operating software for companies throughout the world including Google and other leading tech firms. She advises them on their products, their market research and their marketing and distribution plans.
Schools from the other Gaeltacht areas in Munster will compete in a regional final after Christmas and the winners of this go forward to the national final in Galway.