Student Enterprise Awards celebrating Louth’s teen entrepreneurs

The Fairways Hotel in Dundalk was buzzing with energy and excitement last Thursday as over 1,170 students from 19 schools across county Louth participated in this year’s Student Enterprise Programme, hosted by Local Enterprise Office Louth. 

The students learned how to create a business idea, then start and grow their own business. The highpoint of the programme is of course the county final where students get to present their businesses and future potential to a panel of expert judges. 

The Senior category was won by Just Tap, with team members Callum Moore, Eoin Carpenter and Sam Sweeney. Students of St. Mary’s College, Dundalk, they are supported by their teachers Aoife Tyrrell,  Jack McEneaney and Ryan McVicar. 

Acting Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Louth, Riona McCoy explains “The team in Just Tap have created a product with great potential for future development and demonstrates a brilliant understanding of both technology and consumer behaviour.” 

Hailing from Drogheda Grammar School, Like Your Locker won the Intermediate category. Students Nora Gilligan and Alex Borza produced handcrafted locker shelves and accessories. Supported by their teacher Alma Carney, their products help to organise and improve the functionality of any school locker. 

Strawsome, the creation of Jack Ivers and James Lavery, supported by their teacher Sharon Browne from Dundalk Grammar School, took first place in the Junior category. They impressed the judges with their homegrown, cut to length, bamboo straws that are sold in a sustainable pack, including a straw cleaner. 

Dearbhla McArdle of St. Vincent’s Secondary School in Dundalk was named winner of the My Entrepreneurial Journey Award. Supported by her teacher Eimear McCreesh, Dearbhla chronicled what life would be like as a successful entrepreneur in the future and judges were deeply impressed by her submission.  

Winners of the Senior, Intermediate and Junior categories will, along with the winner of the My Entrepreneurial Journey, will now represent Louth in the Student Enterprise Awards national final at Croke Park on May 5th.

Other Award Winners 

Enterprise Educators Award

Special congratulations also to teacher Eimear McCreesh of St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk who received the Enterprise Educators Award. Winning this award is testament to her work and dedication in promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship in the school environment. 

Runners-Up:

Runners up were announced in the Senior, Intermediate and and Junior categories:

• Runner-up in the Senior category was won by Barn With It. A clever, creative and sustainable enterprise created by Laura McKevitt of Dundalk Grammar School, with support from her teacher Sharon Browne.
• Tegan Semple of Tegan’s Trinkets from Drogheda Grammar School scooped the runner up prize in the intermediate category.
• Winner of the runner-up prize in the Junior category was Oisin’s Turkeys. Founded by Oisin Hand of Scoil Ui Mhuiri Post Primary School, Dunleer, Oisin was supported by his teacher Martina Farrell.

Category Winners

There were also seven category award winners, recognising the expertise and skills demonstrated by the young entrepreneurs:

1. The Innovation Award winner was Your Scores, with team members Aarron Carroll, Brendan Cristofides, Deoin Scaria and teacher Roisin Curtis from St. Mary’s Diocesan School Drogheda.
2. The Social Media & Marketing Award was won by QuikScent with team members Adam Sharkey, James Shields, Albert Johnston, Tiernan Hynes, Cillian McCann and their teacher Micheal Carron from Bush Post Primary School.
3. The Social Enterprise Award went to Secondary Success with team members Anna Hickey, Laura Hennessy, Shane Gorman, Laidhan Geraghty and Mischa Rooney with teacher Alan Magee from Ardee Community School.
4. The Best Display Award was won by Crafts by Alex. Alex Hope, supported by teacher Alma Carney represented Drogheda Grammar School.
5. Caitlin Carroll and Ellie Litchfield won the Well-Being Award with their enterprise, Mind Over Journal. Supported by their teacher Dearbhla McGrane, they are pupils at St. Louis Secondary School, Dundalk.
6. Wonderful Designs @ St. Brigid’s, scooped the Sustainability Award. Their entrepreneurial team are Mollie Conway, Patrick Marron, Benny Casey, Gabe Morrissey and Amy Hoey with their teachers Olive Byrne and Eimear Marron from St. Brigid’s, Dundalk.
7. Simply Shore Designs won the Best Creative Business Award. Team members Tara White and Megan Halpenny were supported by their teacher Michael Carron from Bush Post Primary School.