Three of the county’s best young entrepreneurs have won a total investment of €50,000 through the Local Enterprise Office Carlow, as part of the €2 million Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition (#IBYE).

Aimed at young and aspiring entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 30, Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices.

At a ceremony in The Lord Bagenal Hotel on Tuesday September 29th, awards were made for Carlow’s best start-up, best new idea, and best existing business, as well as an overall award for the best young entrepreneur in the county.

Kieran Comerford with IBYE winners Diarmuid Byrne & Sam Watson - Equiratings, Rachel Doyle - RaRa Photography & Cory Stephen - College Craic

The local winners and investments won were as follows:  

• Best New Idea (winning a €10,000 investment): Cory Stephen, College Craic
• Best Start-Up (winning a €20,000 investment): Diarmuid Byrne, Equiratings
• Best Established Business (winning a €20,000 investment): Rachel Doyle, RaRa Photography 

Diarmuid Byrne from Equiratings, was also named as Carlow’s “Best Young Entrepreneur”.

All local winners will now represent Carlow at the regional finals in Kilkenny. A total of 24 finalists will then compete at the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur National Finals in December.

Marking the occasion, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said:

“Central to our plans for jobs and growth is supporting more businesses to start-up. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups, so if we are to create the jobs we need we must support more entrepreneurs to start new businesses. Part of this plan is also fostering a stronger culture of entrepreneurship and promoting start-up business as a career option for young people. That is what is behind this new competition to find the best young entrepreneur also ultimately Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur. We have excellent start-ups and entrepreneurs in Ireland – we just don’t have enough of them. It is great to see so many excellent entrepreneurs and business-people getting involved in this competition, and I am delighted to congratulate the local winners. I wish all three winners every success in the later stages of the competition – and wish all participants every success as they grow their businesses and contribute to the job-creation we need”. 

Special guests at the #IBYE County Awards included Deputy Pat Deering, Anne Phelan TD, Dan Mcinerney Chief Executive, Cathaoirleach Charlie Murphy and Declan Doyle Head of Development at Institute of Technology Carlow. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Kieran Comerford, Head of Enterprise from the Local Enterprise Office Carlow paid tribute to all the young entrepreneurs in the region, saying: “As the first stop shop for entrepreneurs and small businesses, it is heartening to see a growing and vibrant community of young entrepreneurs locally. Through Business Bootcamps, mentoring and general business advice, the Local Enterprise Office plays a vital role in supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, on a year-round basis. We will also be working closely with this year’s IBYE winners, to help maximise the return on the €50,000 investment that they have been awarded.”

This year’s judging panel were also thanked during the ceremony for their role in the competition and members included Kieran Comerford Local Enterprise Office, Derek Shannon President of Carlow Chamber, Ailish Delaney Institute of Technology Carlow and Jerry O’ Driscoll Industry Expert & Member of Approvals & Evaluation Committee.

Back in 2014, Carlow was represented in last year’s #IBYE competition by Roisín Hynes and her business Gradpush, a digital recruitment video website for young professionals who want to find companies they connect with based on their career goals, interests and friends recommendations, conveniently all on one platform. 

Details around Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition are available through www.ibye.ie and information on supports for all small businesses can be accessed through www.localenterprise.ie.