Killorglin students to display entrepreneurial skills in Rome

EUROPE’S largest Maker Showcase, Maker Faire Rome, will include an exhibit by two young second-year students from Killorglin Community College this weekend, after their medical device won them a place at the event ahead of thousands of applicants.

Jack Nagle and Eoghan McKenna, both 14, have designed, developed and manufactured the ‘Dreamy Baby Prop’ cot, and more than 100,000 attendees at ‘the greatest show on earth’, the third largest exhibition of its kind in the world, will get to have a look at the lads’ entrepreneurial effort.

The cot allows a parent to easily elevate their baby to the medically recommended angle of 30 degrees, helping them gain relief from reflux, head colds and sinus irritation.

The boys have young siblings and have seen first-hand the challenges that reflux presents for sufferers and parents, and it’s from there that their idea grew.

The ‘Dreamy Baby Prop’ is the fruit of research, investigation and development, as well as mentoring from design and communications teacher Anthony Griffin, and while they say it ‘does not solve the reflux problem, it does help the baby get some rest, making the problem easier to deal with.’

The boys will be accompanied to the eternal city by family members and Killorglin Community College teacher Donal Brosnan, and will spend five nights in the Italian capital.

These are exciting times for the lads, and indeed their design; it’s now at prototype stage two, and they have aspirations of bringing it to market after further development.

Their Deputy Principal Donal O’Reilly expressed great pride in their achievements to date, which he said also reflects very well on their school, and is excited ahead of their latest venture.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Killorglin Community College and the two students. They have worked very hard to achieve this and are ready to make a big impression in Rome,” he said.

“This takes our school to the highest stage in Europe and we are so proud of Jack and Eoghan. This reinforces what we are doing here at Killorglin Community College”

Jack Nagle and Eoghan McKenna have qualified from a field of thousands to exhibit their medical device ‘Dreamy Baby Prop’ at an upcoming exhibition in Rome.