Kerry entrepreneurs win in Croker
KERRY once again proved itself the master of Croke Park this week, as three of the country’s representatives scooped awards at the national final of the Local Enterprise Student Awards in GAA headquarters, coming through a national field of 17,000 students from 370 schools.
The three prize-winning entries came from Killorglin Community College; Saint Joseph’s Secondary School Ballybunion; and Presentation School Milltown, and the three Kerry teams presented projects in a diverse range of fields.
Killorglin Community College’s Dylan Mangan secured the “Most Creative Use of Social Media” Award for his company grandparentsmemories.com, which allows grandchildren capture their grandparent’s memories on video and edit their product. His company also secured third place in the national intermediate competition.
In the Senior Category Business, St. Joseph’s Secondary School’s ‘Circulation Foot Stool’ secured a special merit award.
The team consisted of Philip Byrne, Jamie Hannon and Fionnán Toomey, and they designed a footstool which eases blood circulation, and is described as particularly helpful for patients with a physical disability. In another exciting development for the team, the group has secured a place on a business development bootcamp in UCC commencing in late May.
Adele O’ Brien of Presentation School, Milltown was also in Dublin to represent the Kingdom in the Junior Category, and she impressed the masses with her product “A happy bag for life.”
“I am delighted with the success of these Kerry Teams in securing three prestigious national awards,” Kerry County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell said of the students.
“They deserve great credit for all the hard work they’ve put into these projects since last September.
“Their dedicated teachers Sadhbh Fitzgerald from Killorglin Community College; Mary Stenson from St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Ballybunion; and Mark Hanley from Milltown also deserve a huge amount of praise.”