Kilkenny’s talented young entrepreneurs mean business

The best of Kilkenny’s young entrepreneurial talent is ready to take on the challengers from all over Ireland – and their efforts have already been rewarded.

Four Kilkenny projects from three different schools will represent the county at the National Student Enterprise Programme Final taking place this Friday, May 14.

To mark their achievement of being selected to represent the county, the leader of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Andrew McGuinness, presented the finalists with specially commissioned Jerpoint Glass piece.

Kilkenny is represented in the Senior Category by Tara McGuire of Presentation Secondary School with her mini-company ‘Slates by Tara,’ each a decorative hand painted artwork on 100-year-old recycled Blue Bangor slates.

In the Junior Category, Noah Cahill, Ian McDonald and Thomas Deegan from Coláiste Éamann Rís, Callan, have been chosen with their innovative business ‘Parcel Trust’, which manufactures high-quality secure outdoor storage boxes designed particularly with online deliveries in mind.

In the ‘Most Creative Business Idea’ competition, Rachel Brennan of Loreto Secondary School is the finalist with her Covid-19 related business idea ‘Counting after COVID’.

Mark Srouji, also from Coláiste Éamann Rís, will also represent Kilkenny in the ‘My Entrepreneurial Journey’ category. Mark interviewed Anne Neary of Ryeland House Cookery School as his case study, while also setting-up a business called ‘Mark’s Productions; making themed table centrepieces.

Cllr McGuiness said: “Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we want to wish them the very best of luck at the Nationals Final.

“The Student Enterprise Programme is aimed at fostering a more enterprising culture for start-ups, and to encourage more young people to start a business.

“By participating in the programme, students develop practical business experience and learn what it is really like to identify a business idea and set up a business.”