STUDENTS FROM CAVAN SECURE SPOT AT STUDENT ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME NATIONAL FINALS

9 budding teenage entrepreneurs have been selected to represent Cavan in two categories at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals in Croke Park.  The young entrepreneurs will represent their Local Enterprise Office and their county at the Student Enterprise Programme showpiece on the 2nd May.

Every September, entrepreneurial secondary school students across the country begin their business journey as they are encouraged to brainstorm, create and run their own businesses.  In Cavan pupils from St Bricins College, Virginia College, Bailieborough Community School, St Patricks College, Colaiste Dun na Rí, Royal School Cavan, Breifne College and St Mogues College began their entrepreneurial journey with the help of their teachers and their Local Enterprise Office (LEO).

The students were all competing at the Cavan Final on 7th March 2018, which was held at the the Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan. An estimated 200 students from 9 schools took part in the annual programme locally.

While there were winners on the day from Colaiste Dun na Rí, Royal School Cavan, St Patricks Cavan, St Clares College, St Mogues College and Virginia College the County will be represented in both Junior and Senior by Royal School Cavan.

In the Junior Category, the students representing Cavan at the National Finals are: Megan Griffith Keane, Millie Kinnear, Daphne Keyes and Paul Soden from “Frame It” at Royal School Cavan.

In the Senior Category of the competition, Cavan will be represented on 2nd May by Daniel Stratford, Cassie O Connor, Barry Stratford, Jamie Eccleston and Kelvin McNally from “Wooden It?” at Royal School Cavan. 

Special guests at the Cavan Final included Cathaoirleach Councillor Paddy McDonald, Councillor John Paul Feeley, Chairperson of the Strategic Policy Committee for Economic & Enterprise Development and special guest speaker Dublin footballer Kevin McManamon. 

Co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices in every Local Authority area, the competition is the most successful student enterprise programme of its kind in the country. 

The success of the Student Enterprise Programme is down to the entrepreneurial spirit of the students involved and Andrea Corrigan, Acting Head of Local Enterprise Office Cavan was quick to praise this year’s entrants.  “Every year we are incredibly impressed by the ideas and the business savvy that these students have acquired at such a young age.  They really are a credit to their teachers and school staff who have helped to nurture this talent.  The Student Enterprise Programme is growing appeal every year and we hope to see many of these excellent young students coming through the door of their local LEO in the years to come.  We wish todays winners all the very best as they go on to represent their county at the National Finals in Croke Park in May.”

The local students will be competing with hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland in Croke Park at the 16th Annual Student Enterprise Awards National Finals on May 2nd.  The Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003 and with over 150,000 students getting involved since its inception.

Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.

The Local Enterprise Offices are co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.

For further information contact the Local Enterprise Office Cavan 0494377200 localenterprise@cavancoco.ie.                                                                         

www.studententerprise.ie / #studententerprise / @StudentEntProg