Bright Mayo students compete in Foróige entrepreneur finals

Bright and innovative Mayo students competed in the Foróige Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Programme, Finals in Dublin today.

The closely-fought national final was held today at a ceremony at Richmond Barracks.

The competition saw the top eight young entrepreneurs in the ‘Best Business’ category have the opportunity to pitch their business to an expert panel of judges from some of Ireland's leading companies as they battled it out to be crowned Foróige NFTE ‘Youth Entrepreneur of the Year 2024’.

Felicia Bieber, Ciara Wash,  John Conway, all aged 16, from Our Lady's Secondary School, Belmullet showcased their locally based Rockenga frame production company business.

The trio gathered rocks and sea shells from local beaches on the Wild Atlantic Way and used them to create design ideas wrapped in a beautiful white wooden base frame.

There was further success for Mayo when Sustainable Sparks by Dylan Cummins, Charlotte Sherwin, Joshua Lally, Zack Stone, all aged 16, from Scoil Mhuire Agus Padraig, Swinford reached the 'Innovation Category' final.

Sustainable Sparks is a business making fire pits from recycled washing machine drums.

The product is made from 100% recycled materials.

The students said it will look great in your garden, but it is light enough to bring to the beach or campsite, and it's small enough to fit in the boot of your car.

Each young person participating in the final completed the Foróige NFTE Programme, which involves approximately 40 hours of learning and includes the facilitation of a number of interactive sessions that enable young people to come up with a business idea, develop their product/service, design a business plan and trade in the real world.

Speaking at the event Odhrán O’Mahony, Chairperson of Foróige, said; “We know from research, and from countless testimonials from teachers, parents, youth workers and most importantly from young people themselves, that the skills, confidence and experience they gain from being involved in NFTE is often life changing.

"It lights a spark that changes the way young people think about themselves and their own capability that is quite remarkable.

"It's a spark that, once lit, burns continuously through their lifetime so that they can do more, be more and achieve more."

Meanwhile, Stick It by Annamai Condon and Clodagh Desmond, both aged 16, from Loreto Secondary School, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary were announced as the overall winner of the Foróige NFTE ‘Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2024’.

Their project won the title after competing against over 7,000 young entrepreneurs from all over Ireland through a series of local, county, regional and semi-finals, with a total of 186 local competitions taking place, leading to 30 regional finals.