Pictured: 6th class students at St Colmcille's Senior National School, Knocklyon, who received the Eco Business Award for their research and development of a range of innovative fun products from unwanted materials. LtoR: Dylan Bryne, Allanah O'Reilly, Ciara O'Toole and Conor Dalton. with their teacher Declan Casey

South Dublin County Enterprise Board applauds our youngest Entrepreneurs
More than 30 children representing primary schools throughout South Dublin County were publicly acknowledged for their enterprise skills at a recent presentation held in Tallaght library. “ The future of the country’s economy will clearly be in good hands in the coming years, judging by the energy and enthusiasm for enterprise demonstrated by the students” commented Loman O’Byrne CEO South Dublin County Enterprise Board in his opening address.
The students from 5th and 6th class and their classmates took part in the Bi Gnothach Enterprise Education programme during the year, organised by South Dublin County Enterprise Board. Bi Gnothach is an educational programme that introduces students to the many aspects of setting up and running an enterprise while also learning about the world of work.
As many as 47 primary schools in the county participated in the programme this year and a display depicting samples of their work is currently on view in Tallaght library. Seven schools were selected for a range of enterprise awards at this event.
I.T Award: this went to the students of 5th class in Divine Word National school, Rathfarnham and their teacher Kevin Healy; the students compiled their recent historical walk around places of interest in the Rathfarnham area first as a powerpoint presentation and then later transferred the presentation to CD which can be marketed and sold. They clearly demonstrated how I.T projects easily translate into marketable businesses.
Innovative Idea Award: this went to the 5th & 6th class students of St Rose’s National School , Tallaght and their teacher Ellen Reynor . Having researched spelt bread and recipes, these students set up an enterprise baking, packaging and labelling healthy spelt bread as an alternative to mass produced wheat based breads. They produced both white and brown loaves which were low in gluten, high in fibre & vitamins while being easy on the digestive system. They also succeeded in obtaining sponsorship as seed capital and donated their profits to Out Lady’s Hospital,Crumlin.
Eco Business Awards: ( 2 schools achieved this award)
Eco Business Award went to the 5th class students of Scoil Mhure Lucan and their teachers Susan Kavanagh & Peter Roche. These students are currently doing the Bi Gnothach programme and are making Energy Magnets with environmental awareness messages which can be placed in high visibility areas in the home. This school has been participating in Bi Gnothach since it started in 2005.
Another Eco Business Award went to 6th class students from St Colmcille’s Senior School, Knocklyon and their teacher Declan Casey; They produced a range of innovative fun products some of which were made from unwanted materials such as Bouncy Bands & Melt Downs thus promoting re-use and recycling of plentiful raw materials available at zero / very low cost. They donated their earnings to the local Society of St Vincent de Paul
Sales Award went to the 5th class students of St Kilian’s Senior School, Tallaght and their teachers Declan Wrenn, Claire O'Sullivan and Mary Power. These students made handmade Christmas Cards – Cartai Chilian Nollaig and achieved very high sales and earnings from their efforts. Their efforts were acknowledged in the local press and a sizeable donation made to Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin with the balance used to buy digital equipment for their school.
Enterprising Spirit Award: went to the 5th class students of Archbishop Ryan Senior School, Lucan: and their teacher Denise Lynch. These students made colourful wool headbands, composed and used a jingle to promote the headbands and advertised on the school website. They adapted to county colours as well as premiership in response to customer demand. Their earnings helped purchase a whiteboard for the school
Enterprising School of the Year 2010 Award went to the 6th class students of Our Lady Queen of Apostles Clonburris National School and their teacher Philomena Cleary. The students crafted personalised wrapping paper and gift tags and adapted the product as they went along. The record of their experience and the feedback from students and teacher is very articulated in their excellent Enterprise Diary and on their display poster. Their earnings went to Wells for Zoe – a Malawi based charity which was set up by a retired Clondalkin teacher. According to Philomena “ the skills the children learned while participating in the programme were invaluable – teamwork, innovation and persistence- some of the raw materials were of poor quality and the children had to adapt and innovate with new materials as they progressed. I would certainly recommend the programme heartily”
More about the Programme:
Forty seven schools in the county took part in the Enterprise programme this year representing almost 1700 students. The children used seed capital from the Enterprise Board to purchase supplies and set up a range of enterprises which included DVD’s, Valentines gift bags, Christmas crafts, school fairs, cinema days, gardening projects ,plant sales, talent shows and more. These were traded within the school and in the local community with the profits donated to local schools and chosen charities. The programme, which has been running since 2005, is organised and coordinated annually in the county by Liam Mac Mathuna and Ena Coleman, South Dublin County Enterprise End of Press Release
For more information contact Ena Coleman South Dublin County Enterprise Board 3 Village Square, Tallaght Dublin 24 Tel 01 4057073; ena@sdenterprise.ie