KILKENNY STUDENTS SET FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP FINAL

Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny have announced that young entrepreneurs from Presentation Secondary School, St. Kieran’s College and Coláiste Abhainn Rí will represent Kilkenny at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals on Thursday 8^th May at the Mullingar Park Hotel.

The students all took part in the Kilkenny County Final on Wednesday 5^th March, which was held at Lyrath Hotel. 950 students from 12 schools took part in the annual programme locally with 120 students making it to the County Final.

In the Junior Category, the students representing Kilkenny at the National Finals are Natalia Burke and Kaleigh O'Shea from Coláiste Abhainn Rí with their mini company “Circular Chic” which is a sustainable fashion business that gives pre-loved clothing a new life.

Michael O'Keeffe from St. Kieran's College will represent the county at the finals in the Intermediate Category with his mini company “Suet & Song” which markets nutrient-rich suet cakes that provide sustenance for a variety of birds during the colder months.

In the Senior Category of the competition, Kilkenny will be represented on May 8^th by Amy Bergin and Mathilde Beubry from Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny with their mini company business “Bounce Back”. Amy and Mathilde published an Injury Recovery Journal, which was designed as a support tool to assist in tracking progress and maintaining a positive mindset during the injury recovery process.

This year’s Innovation Award went to “Lock It” from Grennan College. Team members Millie Brennan, Hannah Murrihy, Laura Bourke and Ola Opac designed and produced a 3D printed jewellery capsule that clips onto your bag, and acts as a practical storage solution when playing sport or on the move.  

Speaking at the county final, Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Michael McCarthy mentioned “What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business. The skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers”.

Aileen McGrath, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny congratulated the students, saying “We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Kilkenny with 950 students from 12 local schools taking part this year. Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck on Thursday 8^th May, and we will to be there to support them.” 

The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals, taking place at Mullingar Park Hotel on May 8^th.

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

Names of participating schools in Student Enterprise Programme County Final

1. Coláiste Abhainn Rí
2. St. Kieran's College
3. Kilkenny City Vocational School
4. Castlecomer Community School
5. Loreto Secondary School
6. Colaiste Pobail Osraí
7. CBS Kilkenny
8. Duiske College
9. Presentation Secondary School
10. Grennan College
11. Scoil Aireagail
12. Coláiste Cois Siúire 

Names of winning enterprises

Mini-Company Results:

Junior Category: Natalia Burke and Kaleigh O'Shea of “Circular Chic” from Coláiste Abhainn Rí

Intermediate Category: Michael O'Keeffe of “Suet & Song” from St. Kieran's College

Senior Category: Amy Bergin and Mathilde Beubry of “Bounce Back” from Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny 

Awards of Distinction:

Innovation Award: Millie Brennan, Hannah Murrihy, Laura Bourke and Ola Opac of “Lock It” from Grennan College

The Green Award: Jaysen John and Muhammed Ahmer of “My Little Planet” from CBS Kilkenny

Best Commercial Potential Award (Sponsored by MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre): Kian Bergin, Aiden Dunlop of “Kutz and Blendz” from Coláiste Abhainn Rí

Best Endeavour Award: James Prendergast, Ronan Dwan, David Long and Louis Evans of “Canine Comfort” from CBS Kilkenny

Judges Choice Award: Abban Hennessy and Adam Holden of “Snuggbird” from CBS Kilkenny

Special Merit Awards

1. Jack Dooley and Killian Ryan of “Slurry Guard” from St. Kieran's College
2. Megan Hurley and Eva Hennessy of “Carducation” from Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny
3. Sophie Brennan, Lexi O’Reilly and Laura O’Brien of “Hydroflow” from Castlecomer Community School
4. Holly Barry, Hannah Hill, Leah Gillespie and Erin Treacy of “Cute as a Button” from Loreto Secondary School
5. Annie Butler of “The Hair Hospital” from Duiske College
6. Dessie O'Connor and John Sommers of “John & Dessie’s Woodcrafts” from Scoil Aireagail
7. Alejandra Blanco Fernandez, Yago Gonzalez Exposito and Roger Giral Pairada of “Eat the World” from Kilkenny City Vocational School

About the Student Enterprise Programme (studententerprise.ie)

The Student Enterprise Programme is co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices and involves approximately 28,000 second level students every year. It runs from September to May and the 2024/2025 National Final takes place on 8^th May.           

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 over 28,000 students from just under 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2024/2025. The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Finals.                      

Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 400,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business. The Student Enterprise Programme also has a range of online resources at www.StudentEnterprise.ie, featuring regular blogs and housing a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.                               

Website: www.studententerprise.ie / #studententerprise / Twitter: @StudentEntProg / Facebook: /studententerpriseprogramme / Instagram: /studententerpriseprogramme