Entrepreneurship award for Mayo student
Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, presents first place to Isabella Doyle at the ATU Student Entrepreneur Awards 2026. Also pictured are Grace Latham, Eve-Anne McCarron , Brendan Jennings and Kenneth Nevin. Picture: Michael McLaughlin
A third-level student from Ballycastle has won first place in the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Student Entrepreneur Awards 2026 for her concept 'Bríach', a preventative, therapeutic wheelchair designed to reduce long-term health complications caused by prolonged static sitting.
Isabella Doyle is in fourth year studying a Bachelor of Arts in Product Design in ATU Galway City’s Wellpark Road campus. She was supervised on the project by lecturer Kenneth Nevin.
Describing 'Bríach', Isabella said she was inspired by her experience volunteering with a therapeutic horse-riding charity.
“While working there, I saw the significant physical benefits that horse-riding therapy can provide for wheelchair users, particularly in improving core strength, balance, posture, and overall muscle engagement. However, I also noticed that many people were unable to access this therapy due to the physical requirements needed to mount and ride a horse, and limitations such as cost, travel and weather conditions. This led me to explore the idea of designing a new, imagined wheelchair that could bring the physical benefits of therapeutic horse riding directly into the wheelchair itself.
"After college, I hope to continue developing this concept through further research, iterative prototypes and refining the mechanism towards a medical-grade wheelchair standard. I would also like to continue gathering feedback from occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social carers, and wheelchair users to ensure the design responds to real needs and provides meaningful physical benefits."
Eve-Anne McCarron, Head of Engagement and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in ATU, said the awards are "a highlight of the year" for the college.
"It shines a light on the brilliance of our students, who put forward their projects and ideas for the competition. It creates an opportunity to share the innovativeness of the students and the work being done in their programmes while helping them to see the supports available to them in Ireland if they wish to progress this into a business. The quality of ideas coming through is outstanding and encouraging for the future competitiveness of our region. We encourage all students to progress and apply for the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards as their next step to progress their business idea. This is only the start for these future innovators and founders."
