Mayo teenagers win national award

COMMUNITY NOTES: CLAREMORRIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (SEPTEMBER 24 EDITION)

HerdSync, founded by three Mayo teenagers, Katie Jennings (15) and Mary Lillibeth Curry-Glynn (16) from Knock and Aoibheann Mangan (18) from Hollymount, was one of only nine companies to have been awarded a Certificate of Achievement in Innovation from Enterprise Ireland, for their participation in the Innovation Arena Finals, at the National Ploughing Championships.

The idea for the business came to Katie while she was helping her father with cattle on the farm.

When they were trying to record the animal tag numbers, the notebook fell and got wet and dirty. Katie decided there had to be a better way to record the details and she pitched the idea of developing an app for a Teen Turn after-school project, at Mount St Michael Secondary School, in April 2023.

Katie then pitched her idea for a farm management tool at the Technovation Regional Pitch event.

The idea won first place in the junior category. Katie was invited to join Teen-Turns Incubator programme where she was joined by chief technology officer, Aoibheann and digital marketing officer Mary Lillibeth. They set out to develop their app (also called HerdSync). With mentor support from academic and industry experts, the girls progressed through the incubator programme and onto the Teen-Turn accelerator programme.

HerdSync is designed to digitise farm records, simplifying farm management in order to amplify profits. Users will be able to utilise the app to record animal and land data from their farms as well as to track day to day tasks and chores.

The app is currently at the MVP stage and is gone out for user testing with an aim to release version 1.0 in early 2025 with ambitious plans for future versions already under construction.

They see no difficulty combining the operation of their company alongside their studies. Each has a separate, clearly defined role in the business, and the software industry can easily accommodate remote working.

The ladies were presented with their award at the Ploughing Championships in Co Laois, last week, by Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.