If the boot fits: Teen scores with her design
Shiofa Ryan, 16, from St Brendan’s Community College in Birr, Co Offaly, invented a new type of hurling boot that won the top award. The transition student designed and manufactured the boots called An Tionchar, the Irish word for impact, that currently retail at €119.99 a pair.
Shiofa, a keen camogie player, is already in discussions with manufacturers to produce her invention on a bigger scale.
A visit to a physiotherapist inspired Shiofa to create Ireland’s first dedicated boot for hurling. Hurlers currently wear boots designed specifically for soccer but hurling and soccer are two very different sports.
Shiofa analysed and compared the movements between Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard and Kilkenny senior hurler, Richie Hogan. She found that Richie jumped and changed direction three times more than Steven who made twice as many straight line runs.
According to the GAA, 11% of all injuries in hurling are ankle related which is why Shiofa’s boot has an in-built ankle support. It also has a shock absorbent insole and an arch support.
The top prize in the junior category for first-year students went to students from St Mary’s Secondary School in Charleville, Co Cork, for their ‘Bring a Fairy Home’ product. The students designed and made tooth-fairy homes for children. The tooth is collected by a fairy who leaves a dental hygiene message behind.
The intermediate category, open to second and third-year students, was won by students from Coláiste Eanna in Dublin for ‘My GAA Journey’, a book that allows young GAA players track their progress and achievement throughout their sporting career.
The awards, now in their 13th year, are co-ordinated by all 31 Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland. At the national final in Croke Park 300 student entrepreneurs showcased 74 different businesses. Around 17,000 students from 370 schools take part in the programme every year.
Awards for innovation, best display, intellectual property awareness and social media were also presented as part of the €10,000 prize fund.
Sean O’Sullivan, head of enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office in South Cork, said Shiofa well deserved the top prize for her boot.
“She has done everything from product concept right through to commercialisation. She now has to look at her costs and reduce them so her profit margin goes up. It is a premium product and there is a significant market there for her to tap,” he said.
He said Shiofa had a company in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, who were making the boots and they were already selling well.
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