On Thursday 6th March 144 students from 7 second level schools in North Tipperary competed in the Student Enterprise Awards County competition which carries a prize fund of €2,500 plus impressive glass trophies. Exhibits and entries were indeed diverse this year and ranged from Apps to crafts, bakery, board games, educational, jewellery, light up pet collars, publications, clothing and much more.
The winning entries in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Categories will now advance to the National Final taking place next month in Croke Park. At County level the competition is run by the Tipperary North County Enterprise Board and this year’s awards were presented by the Minister for State at the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport, Mr. Alan Kelly, TD.
Speaking at the awards ceremony the Minister noted that 16,000 students from 380 schools compete in this competition nationally. The Minister said that “education and enterprise are central to development and key drivers of economic growth in the County”. He went on to say that “our whole ethos as a County has to change and we need to look global with the on-line and social media side of business becoming really significant”. The Minister commented that students involved in the competition had learned how to exploit needs and opportunities and hoped that students involved would consider self employment and enterprise as a viable career choice.
In his concluding remarks the Minister thanked the teachers involved and acknowledged their hard work. The fact that the standard has risen exponentially and students have flourished over the years may be attributed to their dedication and efforts. The competition was judged by Seamus Holohan, Partner, Quinlan Holohan & Co., Agnes Relihan, Limerick County Enterprise Board and John Kennedy, LIT, Thurles using a standard national criteria and marking system which takes into account the business report, product sample, trade stand and student interview. In addition to the 1st prize, Runner up and 3rd place in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior categories, the Adjudicators awarded two merit awards for “Innovation” and “Idea and Project”.
Seamus Holohan addressed the audience on behalf of the adjudicators and gave a sincere ‘focal molta’ to the teachers involved and gave credit to participating students for their phenomenal efforts and standard of entry. This year’s winners were announced by Matt Shortt, Director with North Tipperary County Council and Chairman of the Tipperary North County Enterprise Board. Other speakers at the Awards included Rita Guinan, CEO, TNCEB who referred to the dissolution of the Tipperary North County Enterprise Board on 11th April next and the transfer of functions to the new Local Enterprise Office in the Local Authority. Ms. Guinan indicated that 2015 will see significant change to the competition culminating in the doubling of the Awards reflecting the new Tipperary. Eleanor Forrest, Assistant CEO with the Board acted as MC for the event and co-ordinated the competition locally.
Winners at the County Final included:
SENIOR CATEGORY:Winner: ‘Hockey Hands’ by Niamh Kearney, Roisin O`Sullivan, Lucy Hayes, Blathian Linnane and Hannah Ryan from the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles who were awarded a cheque for €500, glass trophy and certificate and will advance to the National Finals. Runner Up: ‘Ice App Inc’ by Sandra Bentley, Margaret Quinlan, Maria Maher, Alice Gleeson, Jordan Lewis from Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore who were awarded a cheque for €300, glass trophy and certificate. Third Place: ‘Green Shoes’ by Ellen Fitzpatrick, Mollie Kavanagh, Megan Lahart and Caitlin Kieran from the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles who were awarded a cheque for €100, glass trophy and certificate.
INTERMEDIATE CATEGORY:Winner: ‘A & J Scrolls’ by Patrick Hackett, Jennien O`Gorman and Aaron Wort from Colaiste Mhuire Co-Ed, Thurles who were awarded a cheque for €300, glass trophy and certificate and will represent the County at the National Finals in Croke Park. Runner Up: ‘The Baker`s Cousin’ by David Norris and Nicolas O`Halloran from Colaiste Mhuire Co-Ed, Thurles who were awarded a cheque for €200, glass trophy and certificate.
JUNIOR CATEGORY:Winner: ‘Clovicaoirse‘ by Chloe Kenneally, Victoria Mulqueen, and Saoirse Collins from Nenagh College, Nenagh who were awarded a cheque for €300, glass trophy and certificate and will advance to the National Finals. Runner Up: ‘Poppys’ by Sarah Taylor from Nenagh College, Nenagh who were awarded a cheque for €200, glass trophy and certificate. Third Place: ‘Flickering Flame’ by Dylan Foley, Thomas O’Brien, Ben Hynes, Tarek Dannoun and Lauren Woods from Newport College, Newport who were awarded a cheque for €100, glass trophy and certificate.
SPECIAL MERIT AWARDS This year the Adjudicators awarded 2 prizes to projects that excelled including:- Innovation Award: ‘Tune It Up’ by Lily Dalton, Anna Slattery, Katie Moloney and Sarah Brereton from the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles who were awarded a cheque for €60, glass trophy and certificate. Special Merit Award:, ‘Budget Busters’ by Chriss Ryan, Lorna Ryan, Katie Cahill, Hazel Houben and Orlaith Clancy from the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles who were awarded a cheque for €60 and certificate. The Chairman, Board and Executive of the Tipperary North County Enterprise Board wish our County winners every success in the National competition. County and City Enterprise Boards are funded by the Irish Government and by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund. ‘Hockey Hands’
winners of the Senior Category at the North Tipperary Student Enterprise Awards County Final from the Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles: Niamh Kearney, Blathnin Linnane, Minister Alan Kelly, Hannah Ryan, Lucy Hayes and Roisin O’Sullivan, back Cllr Virginia O` Dowd, Director TNCEB, Cllr Michael O`Meara, Director TNCEB Anne Marie Bourke, Teacher.