'Nails by Libby', a nail technician business founded by Libby Lynch of Tullamore College, impressed the judges at the national student enterprise awards finals last week.

PHOTOS: Offaly entrants impress at national finals of student enterprise awards

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The national finals of the student enterprise awards, organised by Local Enterprise Offices, took place last week in Mullingar.

And among the creative enterprises to reach the national final stage were three from Offaly.

Blackwood Bait & Tackle, a business which sells fishing accessories and was created by Jack Keenahan and Nikita Greidans from Tullamore College, represented the county excellently in the senior category at the event on Thursday, May 8.

Jack Keenahan and Nikita Greidans of Blackwood Bait & Tackle.

Also from Tullamore College, in the intermediate category, a nail technician business founded by Libby Lynch impressed the judges.

In the junior category, Global Sports, a business which sells GAA sports gloves and is run by Senan Dunne, Joey Butler and Eanna Carroll from Gallen Community School in Ferbane represented themselves in a very professional manner.

The Global Sports business was founded by Senan Dunne, Joey Butler and Eanna Carroll of Gallen Community School, Ferbane.

A special Alumni Achievement Award was presented to Killeigh's Anthony Gorman, from Anthony’s Wooden Crafts Limited, who participated in the Student Enterprise Programme in 2020 and went on to grow and develop his idea into a thriving business.

Anthony took to the stage and, when interviewed by broadcasters Rick O’Shea and Louise Cantillon, he shared some tips and advice with the participating students.

Killeigh's Anthony Gorman being presented with his Alumni Achievement Award by Cllr Liam McDaniel, Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council.

Jack Cannon of Cannon PCs, from Clonkeen College in Dun Laoghaire, won first prize in the senior category for his business which purchases old PCs and sells high-performance gaming PCs built from carefully selected refurbished components.

In the intermediate category Michael O’Keeffe of Suet & Song, from St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny, won for his business which makes high quality, nutrient-rich suet cakes that provide energy, nourishment and sustenance for a variety of birds during the colder months.

In the junior category Antonia O’Looney, Sophie Gilard, Guiliana Keane and Katelyn Murtagh, from Drumshambo Vocational School in Leitrim, won for their business bumblebees, which makes a device that helps farmers and hikers cross electric fences safely.

The ceremony was attended by Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who, in his speech, encouraged the students to continue their entrepreneurial journey to start and grow businesses and create jobs which is vital to the Irish economy.

There were 85 student businesses in contention across three main categories for the finals of what is Ireland’s largest entrepreneurship programme for second level students.

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