Banagher, Tullamore and Ferbane Schools Heading to Student Enterprise Programme National Finals

Local Enterprise Office Offaly have announced that winning teenager entrepreneurs from Banagher College, Tullamore College and Gallen Community School will represent Offaly at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals in Croke Park on the 1st May.

SEPWinnerSenior2020 SEPWinnerIntermediate2020 SEPWinnersJunior2020 MyEntrepreneurialJourneyIntermediate2020 MyEntrepreneurialJourneyJunior2020

The students all took part in the Offaly Final on 5th March, which was held at the Tullamore Court Hotel. An estimated 450 students from 10 schools took part in the annual programme locally.

The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw 25,000 students from over 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2018 / 2019.  The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Finals in Croke Park.

This year’s Programme included a new pilot competition across the Junior and Intermediate categories.  The “My Entrepreneurial Journey” pilot required students to map out the life of an entrepreneur and what is required. 

In the Senior Category of the competition, Offaly will be represented on May 1st by Cathal Flannery from Clononey Crafts, Banagher College. Cathal produces a range of crafted wooden items including lamps, pens and bowls.

In the Intermediate Category, Santa’s Reindeers from Tullamore College will represent the county. The business is run by 3rd year student Anthony Gorman who makes handcrafted wooden reindeers.

In the Junior Category, the students representing Offaly at the National Finals in Croke Park are: Oisin Kennedy, Ryan Keenaghan, Iris Samonte and Rachel Doorley from Cluny Sustainable Crafts in Gallen Community School. They produce flower arrangements using upcycled jars.

In the new “My Entrepreneurial Journey” competition, Daniel Scally from Tullamore College won the Junior category while the Intermediate category, Sophie Moore of Oaklands Community College came out on top. 

As well as sharing the prize fund of almost €3,000, the winner of the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories in the Student Enterprise and Mini-Business competition received a specially commissioned trophy designed by Ross Hathaway of Metal Meyham, and every student received a certificate to mark their participation in the competition. 

This year, the students themselves had an opportunity to vote for their favourite project. The “Student Award” ended up as a tie and therefore went to “The Dosing Rail” from Banagher College owned by Jessica Kenny, and The Infinity Candle from Killina Presentation Secondary School both received €50 each.

A special teachers’ prize draw was held and gift vouchers went to Michelle Griffin of Tullamore College and Katie Murray of Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa, Clara.

Offaly has a very successful track record in the Student Enterprise competition. Recent awards won at the National Final include Overall Winner in 2018 with Manus Heenan’s “Abbey Bread” from Cistercian College. Offaly also won the Junior Runner Up prize in 2018 with Joanne Cushen’s “Gnó-Jó!” from Colaiste Naomh Cormac.

Speaking at the final, Mr Peter Ormond, Cathaoirleach Offaly County Council, commended the students for their efforts. He also thanked their teachers and parents for their support. “It’s a great opportunity for you (the students) to develop your business skills.  Hopefully many of you will go on to set up your own businesses in the future and avail of the services of the Local Enterprise Office, which is now an integral part of the County Council.” he commented.

The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland in Croke Park at the Annual Student Enterprise Programme National Finals on May 1st

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

Photos from the event can be viewed on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/LEOOffaly

Offaly Student Enterprise Programme County Final 2020 - Winners Listing

 

STUDENT ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME

 

Senior Category

Placing

School

Teacher

Business Name

Description

Students

Winner

Banagher College

Gillian Dewane

Clononey Crafts

Crafted Wooden Items including lamps, pens & bowls

Cathal Flannery

Runner Up

 

 

 

Tullamore College

Michelle Griffin

RAR Designs

Books that raise awareness about topical issues

Rebecca Gannon

Aimee Gleeson

Rebecca O’Connor

3rd

 

Colaiste Choilm

Colm Cassidy

Ballinagar Birdhouses

Wooden Birdhouses

Diarmuid Finneran

Sean Ratigan

“Ones to Watch” Award

 

St Brendan’s Community School

John McIntyre

Price Cost Buy

Buying and selling online

Sam Morris

Daragh Morris

Social Entrepreneurship Award

Killina Presentation Secondary School

Tracey Nolan

Killina Fights Against Cancer

Wristbands

Mark Leonard

Jack Brickland

Joshua Keating

Health & Wellbeing Award

 

 

Tullamore College

           

Michelle Griffin

Páisti ar Dtús

Children’s Book Company

Aideen Molloy

Ella Kennedy

Aibhe Galvin

Best Display Award

 

Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara

Katie Murray

Jem Scrunchies

Handmade Hair Scrunchies

Jemma McGuinness

Students Prize & Merit Award

Banagher College

Gillian Dewane

The Dosing Rail

A device to assist farmers when dosing cattle

Jessica Kenny

Students Prize & Merit Award

Killina Presentation Secondary School

Tracey Nolan

The Infinity Candle

Everlasting candle

Tom Doyle

John Spollen

Sean Darcy

Charlie Mitchell

Dara Rosney

Merit

Tullamore College

Michelle Griffin

Coco, Crepes and Cakes

Baking company with unique cupcakes

Ava Dempsey

Shakira Darby

Dubhán Goulding

Merit

Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara

Anne Maria Guinan

EZ Pack

Strap on ice/heat pack cover

Hannah Cronin

Shauna Fitzgerald

Niamh Phelan

Merit

Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara

Anne Maria Guinan

Pro Solutions

Glow in the Dark Light Switch Covers

Cian Fleming

Alex Fleming

Jamie Phelan

Merit

Gallen Community School

Marilyn McDonagh

Eco Crafts

Christmas ornaments from recycled material

Aimee McKenna

Emma Cahill

Merit

Gallen Community School

Marilyn McDonagh

Rent a Tent

Festival Tent Rental Company

Molly Flynn

Eoin Lally

Merit

Killina Presentation Secondary School

Tracey Nolan

Kkakes

Homemade Muffins

Adrian Costello

Adam Tyrrell

Peter Reynolds

Merit

St Brendan’s Community School

John McIntyre

Laoch

Science based grip

Edel Daly

 

Intermediate Category

Placing

School

Teacher

Business Name

Description

Students

Winner

Tullamore College

Michelle Griffin

Santa’s Raindeers

Handcrafted wooden reindeers

Anthony Gorman

 

Junior Category

 

Placing

School

Teacher

Business Name

Description

Students

Winner

Gallen Community School

Eleanor McDermott

Cluny Sustainable Crafts

Flower Arrangements using upcycled jars

Oisin Kennedy

Ryan Keenaghan

Iris Samonte

Rachel Doorley

 

 

MY ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY

 

Junior Category

Placing

School

Teacher

Business Name

Description

Students

Winner

Tullamore College

John Lowndes

Embrace our World

A book about Charlie

(Concept)

Daniel Scally

Runner Up

Tullamore College

John Lowndes

Mirch Karee

Restaurant

(Concept)

Isobel McAuliffe

3rd

Oaklands Community College

Trisha Hynds

Edge of the Story

Book Publishing

(Concept)

Lauren Kavanagh

Merit

Oaklands Community College

Trisha Hynds

Luna

Clothes Co

(Concept)

Melissa Mathews

Merit

Tullamore College

John Lowndes

Paul’s Patisserie

Coffee Shop & Bakery

(Concept)

Paul Conway

 

Intermediate Category

Placing

School

Teacher

Business Name

Description

Students

Winner

Oaklands Community College

Trisha Hynds

Peckture Perfect

T-Shirt Printing (Concept)

Sophie Moore

Runner Up

Oaklands Community College

Trisha Hynds

Celtic Jewels

Jewellery

(Concept)

Corey Eady