Creativity, Enterprise and Big Wins at the Fingal Student Enterprise Awards

Fingal students recognised for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial talent at this year’s County Final

Local Enterprise Office Fingal has announced that this year’s Junior, Intermediate and Senior Category Winners will represent the county at the National Student Enterprise Finals in Mullingar this May. The announcement follows a vibrant and competitive County Final held on 19th March at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, where over 1,300 students from 21 schools showcased exceptional entrepreneurial talent through innovative products, strong branding and confident pitches, reflecting months of teamwork, creativity and resilience.

In the Junior Category, the students representing Fingal at the National Final are Sam Patton and Andrew Low from Sutton Park School, with their project Powerblocker.

In the Intermediate Category, Juliane Amelia O’Neill from Loreto Balbriggan, will showcase her enterprise, Tiny Terrariums, which focuses on Horticulture.

In the Senior Category, Daniel Strautnice, Jack Atkinson, and Jedd Umeh from Coolmine Community School secured their place with Micro Forge 3D, an innovative business centred on 3D Printing.

The winning teams will now compete against student businesses from across Ireland, presenting their ventures to a panel of judges and vying for national recognition.

A range of special awards were also presented, recognising excellence across key enterprise areas. These included the Best Display Award, Sustainability Award, Social Media Award and Innovation Award, each honouring students who excelled in creativity, communication, design and forward‑thinking business development.

The Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year Award was presented to Teacher Liz Byrne, Hartstown Community School, acknowledging outstanding commitment to enterprise education. The Enterprising School Spirit Award was awarded to Luttrellstown Community College, recognising the strong culture of creativity, teamwork and ambition fostered within the school community.

Speaking at the event, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, praised the contribution and professionalism of all participating students: “The creativity and drive on display here today are outstanding. You have taken ideas from concept to reality, worked collaboratively, overcome challenges and stood confidently behind your businesses. The skills you have developed will serve you well long into the future.”

In her address, AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, highlighted the impact of the initiative and the potential it unlocks: “What impresses me most is the sense of ownership these students have shown. They have pushed themselves, taken responsibility for their projects and demonstrated real initiative. The ambition we are seeing here today is exactly what will help Fingal remain a strong place to live, work, visit and do business. We are extremely proud of every student who took part, and grateful to the teachers and families who supported them along the way.”

Hosted by Meghann Scully, with entertainment by DJ Marty Guilfoyle, the awards ceremony offered a lively celebration of emerging business talent. Earlier in the day, students underwent a rigorous adjudication process, presenting their enterprises and being assessed across sales, marketing, finance, innovation and sustainability.

Oisín Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise in Fingal, congratulated all participants: “The level of enterprise we have seen today is exceptional. To those progressing to the National Finals, we wish you every success in Mullingar. I would encourage every student here to see this as just the beginning. The Local Enterprise Office Fingal is ready to support your future ideas through mentoring, training and funding supports whenever you are prepared to take the next step.”

Sharon Rossignuolo, Fingal Student Enterprise Coordinator, who co‑delivers the programme with Mary Dunne of Iregan Advisors, reflected on the students’ progress: “Since September, we have seen students grow in confidence and capability. They have tested, refined and presented their businesses with maturity and professionalism. The quality across the board made the judges’ task incredibly difficult and speaks to the creativity and ambition of young people across Fingal.”

The programme is proudly supported by Blanchardstown Centre, One4All, Keoghs Crisps and SimTech Aviation, whose contributions to the prize fund have helped deliver a memorable celebration of achievement.

The Student Enterprise Programme, delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide, is Ireland’s largest student entrepreneurship initiative, empowering over 26,000 students each year to create, develop and market their own businesses. In Fingal, it continues to nurture the next generation of innovators, equipping young people with practical business skills, confidence and ambition for the future.

Further information on the Student Enterprise Programme is available at www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.