Transition-year student scoops entrepreneur award

A TRANSITION-YEAR student with an inventor’s flair has scooped a top prize for her business idea.

Marie Ní Mhairtín, of Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, Dingle, Co Kerry, won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 for her tractor sprayer.

Her ‘safe scrub sprayer’ is activated inside a tractor, making for safer and healthier spraying. The device operates from the front of the tractor, allowing the farmer adjust the height for more efficient spraying and cost savings.

Marie received the first prize in the fourth Young Entrepreneur Awards at the Malton Hotel, Killarney, last night. She and her teacher will enjoy a prize of a trip to the US, visiting some of the world’s leading technology companies and entrepreneurs.

Teachers Trish Heneghan and Orna Dunlevy share the honour with Marie and it is the second time in three years the award has gone to the school.

Cisco Systems marketing executive Monique Meche and Murphy’s Ice Cream co-founder Seán Murphy, of Dingle, mentored Marie and her classmates.

The Young Entrepreneur Programme is for 15-23 year-old-students in second and third-level colleges in Kerry, Cork and Limerick. It requires them to develop a business plan from a perceived opening in the market.

The third-level prize of €5,000 was won by a Wild Trex, a business promoting educational and fun walks which illustrate the flora and fauna of Co Kerry to tourists and locals.

It was the brainchild of Maurice O’Connor, David Norris and Louise Overy who are taking a wildlife biology and start your own business course at the Institute of Technology, Tralee. The group plan to launch their business this summer.

The Junior Entrepreneur Programme prize went to fifth class pupils at St Clare’s Girls National School, Kenmare, for their production of a cookery book, including recipes from local restaurants.

The Young Entrepreneur Programme is an initiative of Shannon Development, IT Tralee and Tweak.com, a company founded by award-winning Kerry entrepreneur Jerry Kennelly.

This aim is to encourage young people to consider entrepreneurship as a career and 2,500 students have completed the programme over the past four years.

Around 600 second and third-level students participated in the programme this year. The winning projects were chosen from a total of 500 business plans submitted.