Offaly's youngest entrepreneurs recognised at awards event
Primary school students from Offaly have been honoured for their business endeavours by the county's local enterprise office as part of its 'Most Enterprising Student' initiative.
The local enterprise office in Offaly County Council runs an annual programme which offers primary schools throughout the county the opportunity to nominate their most enterprising student (or group of students).
It offers schools a chance to give recognition to students who has set up and run their own business. Many of the schools which entered the competition held an 'Enterprise Day' where the students designed, made and sold their products. The school then chose their winner from all the students who participated.
The awards were presented at a ceremony in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Wednesday, April 29, by Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, John Leahy. Cllr Leahy praised the students and their teachers and parents for all the hard work that went in preparing for the awards day. He encouraged the students to think about entering the Student Enterprise Programme when they get to second level.
Orla Martin, head of enterprise in the Offaly local enterprise office told the students how delighted she was to meet the Faithful County's next generation of entrepreneurs. She was very impressed with their products, displays and business skills.
She reminded them that, through the most enterprising student initiative, they would have learnt so much, including confidence, creativity, teamwork and communication skills.
The children who were nominated had the opportunity to display their products at the awards ceremony and also to sell them on the day. A lot of business was done, with many stands completely selling out.
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Tubber prize-giving: Back Row (L to R): Cllr Declan Harvey, Cllr John Leahy, Deputy Carol Nolan, Cllr Fergus McDonnell, Orla Martin, Head of Enterprise. Front Row: Lucy Hanamy, Abbey Bracken, Mae McManus, Anna Keane, Moya Tooher, Saoirse Mae Fletcher, Eva Gaffey, Anna McCarthy, Annalie Kelly and Elsie Kelly from Tubber National School.Image 2 of 10
Rhode prize-giving: Back Row (L to R): Cllr Declan Harvey, Cllr John Leahy, Deputy Carol Nolan, Cllr Fergus McDonnell, Orla Martin, Head of Enterprise. Front Row (L to R): Shayla Foy, Aoibheann Dalton, Conor Murphy, Tadhg Murphy, Keenan Owens, Ruairí Claffey, Thomas Quinn from Rhode National School.Image 3 of 10
Ballyboy prize-giving: Back row (L to R) Michelle Egan, teacher, Ballyboy National School, Cllr Declan Harvey, Cllr John Leahy, Conor, Clavin, Deputy Carol Nolan, Councillor Fergus McDonnell, Orla Martin Head of Enterprise, with students from Ballyboy NS.Image 4 of 10
‘Dan’s Woods & Goods’: Dan Feighery from Broughall National School displays his entry at the awards.Image 5 of 10
Rashina group: Back Row (L to R) Ella Heavin, Jessica Brazil, Emma Egan, Mollie Keogh, Kaydan Corcoran Conroy (seated), from Rashina National School.Image 6 of 10
Cappagh prize-giving: (L to R) Cllr Declan Harvey, Cllr John Leahy, Buthayna Merghani, Ellie Davis, Cappagh National School, Deputy Carol Nolan, Cllr Fergus McDonnell, and Orla Martin, Head of Enterprise.Image 7 of 10
Kinnitty group: Lucy McLoughlin, Sievilja Kurtiieva, Emer O’Brien, Roisín Ryan and Lexi Flaherty from Kinnitty National School.Image 8 of 10
Bloom & Hair: Luke Brophy, Darragh Brummell, Alicia Spain, Olivia Spillane from Rath National School with their entry at the awards event in Tullamore.Image 9 of 10
‘Smoothie Sisters’: Gianna Murphy, Juno Sheehan, Elisa Quinn and Isobel Kinnarney from Durrow National School display their smoothie business.Image 10 of 10
Eoin Kenny from Roscomroe National School at the Offaly ‘Most Enterprising Student’ awards in Tullamore.Some examples of the businesses run by students include free range eggs, home baking and handmade gifts. Each school nominee was presented with a prize pack including a €50 book token and certificate.
Local Enterprise Office Offaly expressed its sincere thanks to the teachers, parents and principals for their involvement in the scheme.
Among the schools represented on the day were Ballinagar National School, under the guidance of teacher Karla Ryan, whose students included Davin Finlay, Kevin Hensey, Emily Betson, Ella Corcoran, Charlie Farrell, Kaitlyn Moore and Jack Dunne.
From Ballyboy National School, teacher Michelle Egan's enterprising students were: Shane Milne, Anna Horan, Shauna Rose Loonam, Leanne Spollen, Matthew Dooley, Conor Clavin, Holly Guinan, Sasha Guinan, Jess Mahon and Bláthnaid Collins.
The Broughall National School, Kilcormac, pupils, led by teacher Clodagh Bracken, were Dan Feighery, Senan Cleary, Ciara Flaherty, Conor Connolly, Amelia Palmer and Luke Oliver.
At Cappagh National School, teacher Colin O’Meara worked with students Buthayna Merghani and Ellie Davis, while Coolderry Central School, under teacher Patrick McCarthy, was represented by Saoirse Carroll.
Pupils from Dromakeenan National School, guided by teacher Ronan O’Connor, included Emily Murphy, Avril O’Meara, Anna Tierney, Aoibhinn Mulrooney and Saoirse Gowing.
From Scoil Naomh Colmcille, Durrow, teacher Helen Kinahan's puipls at the event were Amelie Brennan, Nessa Minnock Hennessy, Gianna Murphy, Elisa Quinn, Juno Sheehan and Isobel Kinnarney.
A large group represented Kinnitty National School, under teacher Conor Dooley, including Muireann Dooley, Clodagh Hayes, Sievilja Kurtiieva, Lucy McLoughlin, Lexi Flaherty, Sean Cahalan, Daniel Mc Redmond, Emer O’Brien, Jamie Cannon, Conor Brophy, Myles Byrne, Oscar O’Hehir, Roisín Ryan, Lachlann Foy, Cillian Hynes, Callum Evans, David Evans and Nathan Jennings.
Scoil Naomh Eoin, Rath, led by teacher Catriona Howell, featured students Mia Ryan, Níadh Dooley, Alicia Spain, Olivia Spillane, Aoife Franks, Luke Brophy, Darragh Brummell, Timmy Nugent, Saoirse Egan and Roisín Gleeson.
At Scoil Mhuire Naofa, Rhode, teacher Freya Lennon's pupils were Conor Murphy, Thomas Quinn, Keenan Owens, Ruairí Claffey, Tadhg Murphy, Shayla Foy and Aoibheann Dalton.
Roscomroe National School, under teacher Niamh Mooney, was represented by Eoin Kenny, while Scoil Bhríde, Edenderry, was represented by Conor Fay, whose teacher was Mark Abbott.
From Rashina National School, teacher Leo Guinan was joined by Ella Heavin, Jessica Brazil, Emma Egan, Mollie Keogh and Kaydan Corcoran Conroy.
Finally, the pupils from St Manchan’s National School, Tubber, guided by teacher Avril Geoghegan, included Lucy Hanamy, Abbey Bracken, Mae McManus, Anna Keane, Moya Tooher, Saoirse Mae Fletcher, Eva Gaffey, Anna McCarthy, Annalie Kelly and Elsie Kelly.