Primary school pupils around Offaly have been rewarded for their entrepreneurial talents by the Offaly County Enterprise Board as part of its "Most Enterprising Student" initiative.
Now in its sixteenth year this awards scheme is designed to introduce the concept of enterprise to primary school children.
Every year Offaly County Enterprise Board (now Local Enterprise Office Offaly) offers primary schools throughout the county the opportunity to nominate their Most Enterprising Student or Students. Some students were nominated as they are running their own mini-business, or have shown entrepreneurial skills such as initiative, determination and drive. It offers schools an opportunity to give recognition to a student who inspires, is enterprising or excels in other ways.
The awards were presented at a ceremony in the Tullamore Court Hotel today (Thursday 27 March). The children who were nominated had the opportunity to display their products at the awards ceremony. The overwhelming reaction from parents and teachers was that of amazement and pride at the level of talent which exists in the county. Some examples of the businesses run by students include free range eggs, hand crafts, science experiments and slate creations.
Each school nominee was presented with a prize pack including a €50 book token and framed certificate.
23 schools entered the competition this year and nominated their Most Enterprising Student or Students. A draw for four prizes of €250 took place and the winners were Kinnitty National School, Scoil Bhride Primary School, Edenderry, Ballyboy National School and St. Joseph’s National School, Arden View, Tullamore.
The following schools and selected pupils were presented with their award by Pat O’Gorman, Chairperson of Offaly County Enterprise Board:
No | School Name | Student |
1 | St. Brendan's Boys NS, Birr | Ceilim Ryan |
2 | Ceann Eitigh N.S. | Saoirse Bergin |
3 | Coolderry Central School | Sarah Ryan, Megan Deegan, Claire Murphy |
4 | Killeen National School | Louise Bergin |
5 | Crinkill National School | Alannah Smyth |
6 | Scoil Muire, Dunkerrin, Birr | Isabel O'Meara |
7 | Daingean N.S. | Paul Galvin |
8 | Scoil Muire Banrion, Edenderry | Adam McCraith |
9 | Scoil Bhride Primary School, Edenderry | Aaron Murphy |
10 | Scoil Naomh Phadraig, Ballybryan | Samuel Denehan |
11 | St Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry | Abbie Kenny |
12 | Scoil Mhuire, Cloneygowan | Luke Carson |
13 | Edenderry No.2 National School, Monasteroris | Ethan Kearon |
14 | Ballyboy NS | Fifth & Sixth Class |
15 | St. Ciaran's National School, Boher, Ballycumber | Kate Kelly |
16 | Scoil Mhuire agus Chormaic | Jane Lowry |
17 | High Street, Belmont | Mark Cahill |
18 | Durrow N.S. | Anna McDermott |
19 | Scoil Phrionsias Naofa | James Stewart |
20 | St. Joseph's National School, Arden View, Tullamore | Michael Flanagan |
21 | Tullamore Educate Together | Milo O'Connor |
22 | Cappagh National School | Brian Todd, Sean Lucas Moll |
23 | St Philomena's National School, Tullamore | Sarah Bracken |
Congratulations to all of Offaly’s Most Enterprising Students. Offaly County Enterprise Board would like to express its sincere thanks to the teachers, parents and principals for their involvement in the scheme.
Photos from the day on our Facebook page.