Entrepreneurs of the future make their mark

AN east Cork school produced another generation of young entrepreneurs yesterday.

For the second year in a row, a school company from Midleton CBS was chosen from the Munster final of the Junior Achievement RDS Student Innovation Award to go on to the national competition.

Generic Enterprises developed a new card game based on the game of hurling.

The firm was represented at a trade fair in Cork’s City Hall yesterday by David Harpur, Brian Ó Tuama, Eugene Kennefick, Darren Daly, Philip O’Neill and Aidan O’Carroll.

They were considered rank outsiders going into the competition.

But after a day on their trade stand, an impressive business presentation, and interviews with judges, they were deemed the clear winners.

Memories4ever, a company from St Angela’s Secondary School, Ursuline Convent in Waterford, was also chosen to go through to the national finals for their personalised and engraved photo frames business.

But it was a remarkable double for Midleton CBS.

Last year, another school company, Open Forum Productions, won the Junior Achievement Munster final for their production of a compilation album of 15 of Midleton’s hottest bands, entitled Against The Odds.

They went on to win the national final and later represented Ireland at the Junior Achievement European finals in Oslo.

Eight schools - seven from Cork and Ursuline’s from Waterford - took part in yesterday’s Munster final.

The winners will compete in the national Junior Achievement final in Dublin on March 27 and 28.

The judges yesterday were Teresa Kennedy from Honeywell in Waterford, Edel Fitzgerald from Musgraves in Cork and Julia Lucey of KPMG in Cork.