ROSCOMMON COUNTY’S BEST YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ANNOUNCED



County Roscommon’s Best young entrepreneurs were announced at the County Final of Ireland’s Best
 Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition held on Friday, 8th December. Run by the Local Enterprise
Offices, IBYE is supported by the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation and Enterprise 
Ireland. Now in its 4th year, this year attracted almost 1,500 applications nationwide.


Louise Ward, Head of Enterprise explained:

The search to find Ireland’s best young entrepreneur started
 back in June and we were delighted with the calibre of entries. After a very successful Enterprise Day,
 Bootcamp and County Final, I’m pleased to confirm that the future of enterprise and job creation in
 County Roscommon is bright.

There was joy for Scott Hunter, aged 32 of NCLS Crane & Lifting Services Limited in Scramogue,
 Strokestown, as they were named winner of the Best Established Business award. They were joined by
 Dara Mulvey, aged 35 of Mulvey Sports in Falty, Oldtown, Athlone, who took the runner up title in this
 category.


The Best Start Up category was a particularly hard-fought contest. Nick Barker aged 33 of NBSTUDIO in
 Tarmonbarry was named winner while Martin O’Gara, aged 22 of O’Gara Woodcraft in Ballinlough was
 named runner-up.

Pic: Nick Barker NBSTUDIO

Many innovative new business concepts emerged in the Best Business Idea category. The winner was
 Peter Kilmartin, aged 21 of Spicy Dog Media in Four-Mile- House while John Cornwall, aged 26 of Tritech
 Products in Ballinlough scooped the runner up title.


Pic: Peter Kilmartin, Spicy Dog Media

Scott Hunter of Scramogue was named the Overall Winner of IBYE for County Roscommon.


Pic: Scott Hunter, NCLS Crane & Lifting Services Limited and Louise Ward, Head of Enterprise

The adjudicators in this year’s competition were Louise Ward, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise
 Office Roscommon; James Donlon, Westbic and John Murphy, Entrepreneur, Castlerea.


IBYE Co-ordinator for County Roscommon, Anne Browne, conclude;

Each of the winners and runners-
up will share in an investment fund of up to €50,000 from the Local Enterprise Office to help grow and
 develop their business. The 3 category winners go forward to the Regional Finals in Galway City on the
17th January. The team in Local Enterprise Office Roscommon will be providing intensive supports 
between now and then to prepare them for the Regional Final and hopefully County Roscommon will
 have a representative at the IBYE National Finals in March.”


Stay up to date with the competition by following on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn and
YouTube. Find out more about supports available to entrepreneurs of all ages by
 visiting www.localenterprise.ie.