900 entries show creativity alive and well in County Carlow
Over 900 County Carlow Students across primary and post primary schools entered this years Student Concept Competition hosted by Carlow County Council – Local Enterprise Office in association with the Talbot Hotel / VISUAL & Carlow Regional Youth Services. The creativity and innovation of the 30 finalists was celebrated at an event attended by 200 people held in VISUAL recently. Now in its 8th Year the Student Concept Competition aims to encourage young people to consider creativity and enterprise as a future career by creating products of the future.
Special guest at the event was Sean Swan of Swans Electrical. Speaking at the event Sean shared his journey of self employment from a young age and encouraged young people to appreciate your customers.
The competition is divided into 3 categories, junior which is aimed at primary level, senior which is aimed at second level and youth services which is aimed at participants in the programmes run by Carlow Regional Youth Services.
Speaking at the event, Kieran Comerford – Head of Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office said “the Student Concept Competition represents an important activity in the Councils role in the development of an enterprise culture in County Carlow”. Comerford continued to say that “the creativity displayed by over 900 individuals was of an extremely high standard and showed the significant creativity and talent of young people in Carlow”.
Over 30 finalists were awarded on the night with a variety of prizes and the winner in each category also received a creativity workshop which will be delivered in VISUAL in partnership with NCAD.
The winner of the Junior Category was Abbie Curry from Ballon National School with her Dentie Stick. The Stick was submitted as a possible home appliance for the future and allowed users to take images of their teeth while brushing.
The winner in the Senior Category was Luke Fleming from Presentation College Askea with his product the Easy Pump where the fuel nozzel has a built in fuel gauge indicator which allows the user to view fuel comsumption/price etc. The winner in the Youth Services Category was Hayley Cahill from Askea Afterschools with her Surf Board you can’t fall off which used jet technology to ensure user stability on their surf board.
List of Winners
Primary Level
Prize | School | Product | Name of Pupil |
1st | Ballon N.S. | Dentie Stick | Abbie Curry |
2nd | St Fiacc’s, Graiguecullen | Kitchen Herb Garden & Composter | Jack Archbold |
3rd | St Michael's N.S. Newtown, Borris | Operation Elevation | Hannah Murphy |
Finalists |
i) | Ballon N.S. | Smiler Dialler | Chloe Deacon |
ii | Carlow N.S, Green Road | Parmeter Hboot Model 1 | Jim Parmeter |
iii | Ballyconnell N.S. | The Watch Lock | Mikie Nolan |
iv | Ballon N.S. | Solar Powered Text Controller Washing Line | Callum Fisher |
v | Ballyconnell N.S. | Flame Saver App | Laura Lawlor |
vi | Scoil Treasa Naofa,Tynock | Goosie Lucy | Peig Corrigan |
vii | Carlow N.S. Green Road | Funnel Glasses | Jade Pawley |
Special Award from VISUAL | Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal | Eco Car | Alicia Premkumar |
Secondary Level
1st | Presentation College Askea | Easy Pump | Luke Fleming |
2nd | St Mary's Knockbeg College | Chimney Cleaner | Conor Crowley |
Joint 3rd | St Mary's Knockbeg College | The Pressure Kettle | Oisin Thomas Morrin |
Joint 3rd | Presentation College Askea | Sterilising Semi-Circle | Ciara O'Doherty |
Finalists |
i | St Mary's Knockbeg College | Magnetic Powered Lift | Daniel McCabe |
ii | Presentation College Askea | Shop Online | Sinead Hayden |
iii | Presentation College Askea | Mug | Marta Pela |
iv | St Mary's Knockbeg College | Tyre with sealant fluid | Padraig Slye |
v | St Mary's Knockbeg College | Next generation hawk eye | Adam Duggan |
vi | St Mary's Knockbeg College | Electricity Gaining Tiles | Shane O'Neill |
vii | St Mary's Knockbeg College | Ionic Exchange Kettle | Shane Donohue |
viii | Borris Vocational School | Gas Gauge | Mary Deegan |
viiii | Presentation De La Salle, Bagenalstown | Helium Bag | Aoife Donnelly |
Youth Services
1st | Askea Afterschools | Surf Board You Can't Fall off | Hayley Cahill |
2nd | Graiguecullen Afterschools | The Solar Phone | Amy Gaughan-Holmes |
3rd | Graiguecullen Afterschools | Storage Hot Water Bottle | Jack Ryan |
Finalists | | | |
i | Graiguecullen Afterschools | Loom Machine | Becky McGrath |
ii | Graiguecullen Afterschools | Buzz Buzz | Mia Nolan |
iii | Askea Afterschools | Watering Flower Timer | Stephanie McCarthy |
iv | John Sweeney Afterschools | Smart Skaters | Liam Darcy |
v | Graiguecullen Afterschools | Super Glasses | Tiffany Akinduro |
Image attached
Image 1: Finalists of Student Concept Competition with elected representatives including Cllr Fergal Browne – Chairperson of Carlow County Council
Ends
For further information
Kieran Comerford - Head of Enterprise
Local Enterprise Office - Carlow County Council
Carlow County Council
Enterprise House
O'Brien Road
Carlow