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Gael Choláiste wins prize at National Student Enterprise Awards Final

Second year students at Gael Choláiste Phort Láirge received the 'Best Display' award in the Junior category at National Student Enterprise Awards Final in Croke Park last week from Batt O'Keffe TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation and well known entrepreneur and TV personality Bill Cullen.  The student's mini company 'Sláinte' designed and produced innovative and environmentally friendly wine glasses from recycled wine bottles which they sold to parents and to the public at the Student Enterprise Christmas market last December.  Their delighted teacher Tarina Ní Laighin Treo said that "tá áthas an domhain orainn gur bhuamar duais i gCraobh na hÉireann. Bhaineamar sár-thaitneamh as a bheith páirteach i "Sláinte". Bhí am iontach againn i mBaile Átha Cliath. Bhí sé ar fheabhas ar fad!"

The other finalists from Waterford City were the Marvellous Magic Movie Mini Company representing Newtown School were commended by the judges including David McKernan, founder of the Java Republic coffee company for their thirty three minute movie version of 'Dracula' which they scripted, produced and filmed themselves.  The students made money from the venture by showing the movie in their school, holding a public screening in Greyfriars gallery and selling DVD's of the movie.

The competition is run by the City and Community Enterprise Boards in conjunction with the Department of Education with the objective of developing enterprise skills among second level students thereby creating a culture where the students may think more readily of setting up a business in the future.  The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O' Keeffe T.D., together with one of Ireland's best-known entrepreneurs, Bill Cullen, were both clearly impressed with the standard of enterprise at this year's National Final.  Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister O' Keeffe commented: "With nearly 15,000 students now involved in the Student Enterprise Programme nationally, it's apparent that the spirit of enterprise has been well fostered in Irish classrooms. Thanks to the support of teachers, parents, principals and the local County and City Enterprise Boards, our student entrepreneurs here at the National Final are great ambassadors for the overall Student Enterprise Programme."

Since last September, 14, 940 secondary school students from 400 schools have been researching, setting-up and managing their own real-life student enterprises. Through the Student Enterprise programme, students learn how to brain-storm business ideas, they also learn how to identify solutions for everyday problems and they are encouraged to use their own talents in their entrepreneurial roles.

A delighted Ciarán Cullen, Acting CEO of Waterford City Enterprise Board exclaimed, "this is the first time that a school representing Waterford City has brought home a prize from the National Final and it pays real tribute to the hard work of Tarina and Siobhan, the teachers whose students represented Waterford City in Croke Park and indeed of all the teachers and mentors that have worked to assist students to participate in the awards programme.  Let's hope this is the first of many successes."