

A group of our students from Transition Year attended the Co Galway Student Enterprise Awards in the Salthill Hotel in Galway with their teacher Mrs Clogher. The students have been working on setting up and running their own enterprises since last September.
Tag Designs was set up by Andrew Naughton, Ethan Glennon and Eamonn Trayers. They sourced training jerseys and designed a jersey that many of the students from the school were interested in purchasing. They were very successful in obtaining sponsorship from local business Ross Engineering Services which helped them immensely. Tag Designs were winners at the Co Galway Student Enterprise Awards as the team with the best Business Report.
AJA Publishings was set up by Aimee Carty, Juliana Daly and Amy Kilcommons. The girls created a fabulous poetry book. All the poems were written by the students themselves. The poems were beautifully displayed with the girls’ creative style coming to the fore. The students donated some of their profits to charity. AJA Publishings were the Social Award winners at the Co Galway Student Enterprise Awards.
DesMin – best for pets was a business set up and run by Conor Tierney. Conor’s business sourced products which people would like to give their pets as a gift for Christmas. Due to Conor’s efforts many of the local pets received their very own Christmas Stocking. The Student Enterprise Awards recognised the work Conor had put into his business and gave him an Award for this.
Rivena was set up by Avena Traynor, Rachel Coleman and Eva Neilan. The girls produced fabulous baubles and scented candle gift packs which were very popular as gifts for the Christmas. They sold most of their produce locally and at Christmas Craft Fairs. Many of us will by using their baubles for years to come on our Christmas trees.
Long Tay was set up by Niamh Bury, Sean Hynes and Mark Dowd. The junior students at Coláiste Mhuire, Ballygar are very grateful for this enterprise. The students worked during their breaks most days to provide a service of tea, coffee and hot chocolate with a few biscuits for the students in the school. This group have also run a very successful canteen for events in the Mattie McDonagh Centre for the Badminton Club.
Gillian Slattery of LEO spoke at the Student Enterprise Awards and praised the students for taking part. She said they had taken their ideas and built them into real life businesses where they carried out their market research, completed a business plan/report and sold their products to their target market. She admired their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Judges included Niamh Costello from Galway Technology Centre, Mary Rogers from GMIT and Bazil Fintan who were all impressed by the standard of the students work. Prizes were presented by the City Mayor Liam McNeill. Well done to all the students from all over Co Galway who participated in the event