Kildalkey native seeks investment for project to combat bullying

Galway-based inventor Johnny Hesnan, who is originally from Kildalkey, is seeking investors for his latest product, which is aimed at combating bullying, primarily in the classroom. Hesnan is in the process of developing 'BullyToones' a multimedia anti-bullying programme and the project, which is still at the prototype stage, has already attracted financial support from Enterprise Ireland. He is hoping that the rest of the finance needed for the production process will come from another investor and he is optimistic a suitable backer will be found. Hesnan has already invented and patented a series of e-learning education software products for schools using interactive animation, which have been endorsed internationally. This includes the establishment of MusiCan, which provides a complete music curriculum to schools worldwide using interactive animation. In addition, some of his products have featured on RTE (including The Late Late Show) and TG4. Hesnan has also represented Ireland at international design exhibitions and has won a number of business and innovation awards, including 'Young Scientiest of the Year,' Sunday Tribune/Synetics Award for Innovation in Irish industry, a Dublin Institute of Technology Enterprise Award and he has also been shortlisted for an 02 Digital Media Award. After graduating from NUIG with a BA, the Kildalkey native embarked on a career at the forefront of new product development with Digital in Galway, where he currently lives. He has worked as an engineeer, inventor and designer of various technological products since going out on his own in 1991, and so far, he has patented up to 10 educational-based products, with BullyToons the latest, making him one of the forerunners in the use of multimedia applications for schools using interactive animation. "Through BullyToons, we aim to provide a complete anti-bullying programme for schools worldwide," he explained. "Through the BullyToons interactive cartoon-making facility and support system, students will be able to hear their own voices in an anti-bullying role/play animation," he said. "This year, 18 million children were bullied in the US. Three million students are absent every month because they feel unsafe at school through bullying. Irish, UK, Canadian and Australian statistics are equally alarming," Hesnan added. "Current school policies are not working and the problem is getting worse. Existing anti-bullying offerings do not engage in any meaningful way with their target audience. Many children are afraid to go to school and, if they do, are unable to learn and eventually drop out." The BullyToons Programme combines drama, interactivity and animation for students, with a complete set of resources for the teacher, including lesson plans, audio tracks, scripts, activity sheets, posters and suggestions for the special needs learner.