Kilkenny’s brightest young business brains shine at national finals
Enterprising Kilkenny students have scooped three awards at this year’s National Student Enterprise Programme.
Mark Srouji, from Coláiste Éamann Rís in Callan, won for the second year running, taking first prize in the ‘My Entrepreneurial Journey’ competition at Intermediate level.
Mark set up a business called ‘Mark’s Productions’, making themed table centerpieces. He interviewed Anne Neary of Ryeland House Cookery School as his case study.
Rachel Brennan of Loreto Secondary School was awarded a ‘Special Merit Award’ for her Covid-19 related business idea ‘Counting after Covid’, in the ‘Most Creative Business Idea’ competition, which was open to senior students.
Rachel’s idea centred around the development of customised framed money box containing imagery to motivate people to save for trips and adventures post Covid.
Meanwhile, in the Junior Category Noah Cahill, Ian McDonald and Thomas Deegan, also from Callan’s Coláiste Éamann Rís, won the ‘Best Adaptability Award’ in the Covid era. The three schoolmates created the Parcel Trust, a high-quality secure outdoor storage box designed with online deliveries in mind.
Speaking at the virtual awards ceremony, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said: “The ability to create an idea, turn it into a business and to run that business is a skill that will be invaluable later in life.
“Ireland has a proud history of entrepreneurship and no doubt those here today will all go on to achieve great things. Government will back you every step of the way,” Mr Varadkar added.
