KERRY’S YOUNG BIZ WHIZZES SHINE AT BUSINESS AWARDS

INNOVATION and inspiration were to the fore at IT Tralee last Friday as young Kerry entrepreneurs took part in the annual Kerry County Council Student Enterprise Awards.

In all, 24 mini-businesses set up and run by over 120 second-level school students were vying for top spot in the competition.

Prizes were awarded at Junior, Intermediate and Senior levels.

The winner of the Senior Category was ‘Lumpfish’ – a recycling business producing high-value lamps and other domestic furniture, set up by Tadhg O’Connor from Meán Scoil Nua an Leith Triúgh, Castlegregory.

The winner of the Intermediate Category was “Crois Mhadra”, a car safety-harness for pets, developed by Kelly Ann Nix and Katelyn Curtin from Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland.

The Junior-level winner was “Eary Fix” – a custom-made earpiece for tradespeople, developed by Ciara Cahill, Katie Walsh and Emma Keane, also from Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland. Other prizes were awarded for Best Stand, Most Innovative Product, Most Enterprising Project, Best Business Plan, Environmental Awareness and Duaiseanna Gaeilge.

Pierce Dorgan of Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland, won the coveted award for Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year.

Presentation Secondary School, Tralee won the most Enterprising School Award for its work in fostering entrepreneurship within the school, and thus received the Cantillon Perpetual Cup.

The winners in all categories go forward to represent Kerry in the national finals, which will be held in Croke Park on May 3.

Tomás Hayes, Head of the Kerry County Council Local Enterprise Office, which runs the competition, said he was very pleased to see the level of innovation, resourcefulness, planning and development among the entrants.

“This is a real-life exercise. It involves idea generation and actual trading. Profits are generated and finance is secured. It is a taste of business and all the issues involved, from finding the right idea, funding the business, collecting the money and building the team. I must commend the teachers for their efforts, and the mentors for their support. The judges had a very difficult task,” said Mr Hayes.

Aine Murphy , Blaithnead Casey, Aoife O’Leary, Lauren O’Connor and Sarah Mason from Castleisland Presentation.

All photos by Domnick Walsh Robert Carroll from Castleisland Community College pictured at the County Final of the Kerry County Council Annual Student Enterprise Awards.

All photos Domnick Walsh Clara Cantin Fernandez , Ronan Francis and Eirean McElligott O’Brien from St Joseph’s Ballybunion.

Orla Ni Dhufaigh , Aisling Ní Chonchúir, Sarah Ní Ghuithín and Aimee Rose McAuiliffe from Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne.

Grace Guiney, Simone Keating, Anna Mulvihill and Croi McAuliffe from Presentation Secondary School, Listowel.

Liam McSherry and Danny Finnegan from Rathmore at the County Final of the Kerry County Council Student Enterprise Awards.

Pierce Dargan from Presentation Castleisland, who was named Educator of the Year.