The Carlow Student Enterprise Awards (SEA) are gearing up for their highly anticipated finals, showcasing the next generation of innovative young entrepreneurs. Set to be held on the 4th of March 2025 the event will bring together talented students from across the region who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, business acumen, and entrepreneurial spirit.
The finals will be hosted at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel where the top student businesses will compete for a range of Awards. The students have spent months perfecting their business plans, pitching their ideas, and refining their products, with many working alongside Student Co-ordinator Rosie Dunne, their teachers and parents to bring their visions to life.
The finalists have bene selected from pool of 967 students across 10 schools all of whom demonstrated a strong passion for entrepreneurship
“Carlow’s Student Enterprise Awards provide an incredible platform for young people to explore their entrepreneurial potential,” said Cathaoirleach Fergal Browne . “We are incredibly proud to see how the students have embraced this opportunity to innovate, learn, and grow their businesses. The finals will undoubtedly showcase some incredible talent, and we are excited to support these future entrepreneurs on their journey.”
In an exciting new development for 2025, the winner of the Innovation Champion Award will be selected to participate in Patch, a prestigious business accelerator programme for young entrepreneurs. Patch, located in Dublin’s vibrant digital docklands, offers an incredible opportunity for students to take their business ideas to the next level. The selected student will receive guidance from world-class entrepreneurs, gaining access to invaluable mentorship, resources, and support within a thriving startup environment. This initiative aims to help student projects extend beyond the Student Enterprise Programme and reach their full potential in the business world.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Green Award as part of the Student Enterprise Awards, recognizing the vital role students and young entrepreneurs play in fostering sustainability and eco-conscious innovation,” said Sarah Byrne, Business advisor, Local Enterprise Office. “As future leaders in business, we believe that integrating sustainable practices is essential for long-term success and the well-being of our planet. This award not only celebrates the efforts of these outstanding students but also reinforces the importance of a green mindset in entrepreneurship, encouraging others to think green and act responsibly in their ventures.”
Special guests, including Coilin O’ Reilly, CE of Carlow County Council and Cathaoirleach Fergal Browne, who will present the awards and highlight the importance of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the community. Additionally, weatherman Alan O'Reilly will provide an inspirational talk to the students, sharing his journey and motivating them to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams with confidence and resilience.
The awards will feature a panel of judges who will evaluate the finalists based on their business ideas, feasibility, market potential, and overall presentation.
Carlow has a successful track record in the student enterprise competition, with two overall wins, including HUDEBA from Borris Vocational School & Rapid from Presentation College Askea. Previous National Carlow Winners also include "School of Sound" from Tullow Community School and Monarch Gymwear (Jamie Noctor, Paul Barrett, Oisin Nolan, and Andi Dascalescu), who received the Social Media Awards for their effective use of social platforms.
Clodagh Brophy’s Enterprise (St. Leo’s College) won the Most Effective Social Media Campaign Award in the senior category, and AJ Dooley of ENT-GAME from Presentation De La Salle, Bagenalstown, represented Carlow in the Intermediate Category.
Last Years success at National Level included Best Business Website Award in the Senior Student Enterprise Category. The winning students were Adam Cleary, Michael Ryan, Markuss Ragelis, Adam Laaraichi-Byrne, Thomas Fitzgerald, who worked under the guidance of their teacher, Brian Larkin. Their student enterprise was called: Flippin’ Cathy which involved gaining rights to sell a device that sticks to your phone to almost any surface multiple times.
In addition, a student from Presentation De La Salle College Bagenalstown won the My Entrepreneurial Journey award in the Junior Level Student Enterprise Category. The Winning student was Isabelle Kearney wo worked under the guidance of her teacher, Ms. Caroline McHale. Isabelle’s student enterprise was the development of a business concept called “Healthy Horses” which markets a revolutionary range of wormers called “Worm Away”.
The Carlow Student Enterprise Awards are an integral part of the Student Enterprise Programme, which encourages students from secondary schools to explore business creation and enterprise. The initiative empowers young people to think critically, solve problems, and develop leadership skills—vital tools for their future careers.
For more information about the Carlow Student Enterprise Awards or to attend the finals, please visit www.studententerprise.ie or Tel 059 9129783
About the Carlow Student Enterprise Awards
The Carlow Student Enterprise Awards are an annual event that showcases the entrepreneurial talent of students across the County. Hosted by the Local Enterprise Office Carlow, the awards aim to foster creativity, innovation, and business development in young people by providing them with the resources and support needed to turn their ideas into successful ventures.
For further information, please contact Local Enterprise Office Carlow
Enterprise House,
O’ Brien Road,
Carlow
Tel 059 9129783
About the Student Enterprise Programme (studententerprise.ie)
The Student Enterprise Programme is co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices and involves approximately 28,000 students from just under 500 secondary schools every year. Now in its 23rd year, it runs from September to May and the 2023/2024 National Final takes place on the 8th of May 2025.
Website: www.studententerprise.ie / #studententerprise / Twitter: @StudentEntProg / Facebook: /studententerpriseprogramme / Instagram: /studententerpriseprogramme