Tadhg’s handcrafted wooden pens take top spot at nationwide competition
A student from Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer has beaten off competition from all over the country to become Foróige’s Youth Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 and will go on to represent Ireland at the European Youth Entrepreneur Awards in Switzerland next year.
Tadhg O’Brien, age 17, won the title with his business called Scriptorium Pens. Coming from a generational background of craftsmen, Tadhg makes handcrafted wooden pens from native Irish trees such as Beech, Ash, Irish Yew, and ancient Irish Bog Oak.
Every pen is individually turned, shaped, polished, and finished to the highest quality. Tadhg participated in the NFTE Youth Entrepreneurship programme in his school, Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer, Co. Louth. The pen offers a first-class writing experience along with being eco-friendly and sustainable, with refillable ink cartridges.
Tadhg won the title after competing against over 5,000 young entrepreneurs throughout Ireland through a series of local, county, regional and then the national final where the top nine young entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to an expert judging panel.
Judges this year included Clive Bellows and Des O’Donohoe representing basis.point, Paul Fagan from ActionCOACH, Declan Power from the Department of Education and Skills, Claire Byrne from Mastercard and Alex Cooney from Cybersafe Kids.
Tadhg will now go on to represent Ireland at the European Youth Entrepreneur Awards in Switzerland in 2022. Speaking about his win Tadhg said “I just can’t believe it. I’m delighted and so grateful to be given the opportunity to represent my county and Ireland at the European awards in Switzerland, plenty of more pens to be made before then though!”
The CEO of Foróige, Séan Campbell, said: “We’re so proud of the young entrepreneurs who have participated in the NFTE Youth Entrepreneurship Programme this year. So much of what we do in this programme is about encouraging young people to be brave, take a leap of faith and back themselves and their abilities.
“It’s remarkable for a teenager to start a business at any time, but to do it in the midst of a global pandemic is something quite extraordinary. Even in our most uncertain times these young entrepreneurs are thriving, turning adversity into opportunity and turning their street smarts into business smarts.
Foróige is a youth development organisation that enables young people to discover and reach their full potential in education, work and life.
