All-Ireland entrepreneur titles for Pres girls

ON WEDNESDAY of last week five first year girls from Presentation Castleisland headed for Croke Park for the National Student Enterprise Awards Final.

The were accompanied by their teacher and mentor, Pierce Dargan and their hopes and dreams for the long day ahead.

It was an early start leaving Kerry at 4.45am via bus for the capital. Arrival time was 10am and setup commenced. Judging began at 11am and finished at 12.

The girls were treated to lunch in the restaurant as the judges deliberated on their results. Entertainment in the form of live music was provided from 1pm to 2pm.

Speeches began at 2.30 pm with Minister Pat Breen and invited guests saying a few words each.

The girls waited patiently in anticipation of the results which commenced at 3.30pm.

The competition’s junior category was up first and, in front of a packed house, the Complete Camán was called out on two occasions as overall winner of the category and an Awareness of Intellectual Property Award also as a category topper.

The day finished with numerous photo shoots and interviews before the long trek back to the Kingdom, which didn’t feel as long on the way home as All-Ireland Champs.

Reaching and winning the national final meant the girls were in the top one percent of student entrepreneurs in the country.

It was a fantastic privilege to reach the final let alone come out on top.

Since then the girls have been inundated with admiration and praise at the school as the enormity of their achievements begin to sink in.

Photo by John Reidy Celebrating their great Croke Park achievements back at school on Friday morning were teacher Pierce Dargan with, from left, Tara Enright, Joanna Moynihan, Fiona Brosnan, Chantelle Broderick and Katie Cotter.