Niall Kelly and Morgan Bennett from Killina Presentation Secondary School, with their Crú Capaill initiative, were the overall winners at the final of the Tullamore Credit Union 'Face The Phoenix' competition. Pictured L-R: Peter Hensey Tullamore Credit Union, Tracey Nolan, teacher, Killina Presentation Secondary School, Niall Kelly and Morgan Bennett, Crú Capaill , Caroline Collins Murphy, Deputy CEO Tullamore Credit Union, Paul Shaw, CEO, Tullamore Credit Union.

Rahan teens win 'Face The Phoenix' contest with horseshoe ornaments idea

Adrian Cusack

Published: Tue 2 May 2023, 2:04 PM

Last updated: Wed 3 May 2023, 2:07 PM

Two enterprising students from Killina Presentation Secondary School in Rahan recently came out on top in a 'Dragon's Den'-type competition in Tullamore.

The Face The Phoenix competition is Tullamore Credit Union's version of Dragon's Den, and the live final was held at the Esker Arts Centre on April 19.

Students from three local secondary schools submitted entries to the competition and the overall winners were Niall Kelly and Morgan Bennett, from the Killina school, with their company Crú Capaill.

Crú Capaill makes a range of ornaments, including Christmas trees, wine racks, coat holders and fruit bowls, and the boys are currently developing ideas to expand their product range.

Their unique ornaments are sustainable, as they are made out of used horseshoes donated by farriers.

Every year, Tullamore Credit Union invites students from the Transition Year classes of local secondary schools to go head-to-head and showcase their mini company ideas in Face The Phoenix.

This year's competition saw entries from Tullamore College, Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan, and Killina Presentation Secondary School.

Killina Secondary School presented the Ann & Dan and Crú Capaill projects, while Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan entered the Pierces Pyrography, Christmas Trees, Edu ball and Brosna Agri Crafts initiatives.

Tullamore College students represented their school with the projects: Mick Kelly's Slurry Tank, Ace Bags, and Charms to Cherish.

The finalists in the 'Face The Phoenix' competition held at Esker Arts Centre on April 19.

Each group appeared onstage, made their presentation, and answered questions from the judges.

The judges on the day were Paul Shaw, CEO of Tullamore Credit Union, Caroline Collins Murphy, Deputy CEO, Tullamore Credit Union, and Peter Hensey, Board Director, Tullamore Credit Union.

One of the judges commented that it was very difficult to pick a winner, as all of the students maintained high standards and all of the products were of excellent quality.

Tullamore Credit Union extended its congratulations to all of the students who took part and also to their teachers who assisted with the competition this year.

It added that it was looking forward to another contest in 2024.