Enterprising Meath students display their business acumen

Fifty enterprising students representing 14 different businesses from 10 of the county"s second-level schools took part in the Meath County Enterprise Board-sponsored Meath final of the Student Enterprise Awards at Trim Castle Hotel on Monday 23rd February. The competition is sponsored nationally by the County and City Enterprise Boards and, to take part, students had to set up their own business - either manufacturing or service - had to make it work and make a profit. The winners go forward to represent the Royal County at the national final in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Thursday 14th May. Students had to set up a display, prepare a business report and were adjudicated under headings such as innovation, market research, business performance and personal development. Transport Minister Noel Dempsey presented special Meath County Enterprise Board certificates of participation to all student entrepreneurs on the evening and he also presented trophies and cash prizes, sponsored by the board, to the winners. In the junior category, Louise Dunne, Megan Connolly, Gemma Fox and Chloe Flynn from St Fintina"s Post-Primary School, Longwood, came in first place for their business, Bee Hive Card Creations, producing high-quality, unique, hand-made cards. Second prize was won by Aisling Kelly, Deirdre Kennedy and Grainne Craige from Ashbourne Community School. Their business, Eco Friendly Friends, included phone charms, wind charms, hand-made cards from recycled materials and WOW bags imported from the Philippines. Sorcha Caffrey from St Oliver Post-Primary School, Oldcastle, came third for her business, Lola Handbag, which manufactured handbags from recycled materials. Eric Wilkinson from Dunshaughlin Community College won first prize in the intermediate category for his business, Eric Wilkinson Sales, which dealt with the importation of items from Chinese sale companies and sale via eBay. Second prize went to St Oliver Post-Primary School students Jason Skelly and Sean Farnana for their business, Banging Birdhouses, which manufactured bird houses and bird feeders. In the senior category, Aisling Murphy and Barry Moran from Boyne Community School, Trim, took first prize for their cookery book, Easy Cook, while second prize went to Sean Sheridan, Blane Maloney and David Boyd from St Fintina"s Post-Primary School, Longwood, who sold 100 year mahogany and brass calendars. In third place in the senior category was Caoimhe Peytown, Aisling McKenna, Mary Logan and Caitriona Smith from Eureka Secondary School in Kells for their recipe book, 'A slice of Life". First place winners in each category go forward to represent Meath at the national final in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on Thursday 14th May. Other teams which also took part on the night were from Scoil Mhuire, Trim; St Peter"s College, Dunboyne, and St Patrick"s Classical School, Navan. There were two lucky winners of an MP3 player and a digital camera sponsored by enterprise board.