Ciara goes top of the glass for her baubles

A teenager whose company produces hand-painted glass baubles has won the top award at the 10th Student Enterprise Awards National Finals, which were held in Dublin yesterday.

Ciara Whooley, a transition year student at St David’s Secondary School in Greystones, Co Wicklow, set up Irish Baubles last year and was the overall winner in the senior category.

The glass baubles, which have images of local and national landmarks, are hand-painted on the inside using delicate brushes inserted through a tiny opening at the top. The baubles can also show localised images and logos.

Ciara, who turned 17 yesterday, was one of more than 300 teenage entrepreneurs from secondary schools across Ireland who competed at the national final in Croke Park.

The county and city enterprise boards’ student enterprise programme is the biggest competition of its kind in the country and since last September, 16,647 students from 387 secondary schools have been researching, setting up, and running their own enterprises, with help form teachers and local enterprise boards.

Last year’s winner, Tara Haughton, won the top award for her designer-style sole sticker for high heels. Her company, Rosso Solini, now exports the stickers to 22 countries including Brazil, the US, and Kuwait.

Ciara said her baubles are made for her in Britain by a company that used to produce snuff bottles.

A number of charities and a major hotel group have shown an interest in the baubles, which are available in a number of tourist shops and visitor centres for about €20.

“I have invested €1,500 in the business. I made 500 baubles in 2011 and am aiming for 6,000 this year,” she said. “I have been working on the project since last summer. I did not have an enterprise class in fourth year, which was a major disappointment for me so I had to work on this at home. That is why I am a sole trader.”

Ciara has no fear that her product idea might be stolen. “I will always have the advantage. I know the market. I know my clients. I have already made so many connections.”

The overall prize for the junior category went to a group of first-year students from Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh in Limerick City for their product Odour Abs.

Daniel Enright, 13, Óisin Cross, 12, and Brian O’Riordan, 13, developed an odour-eating ball that can be placed in a gear bag or sports shoes.

“It took us a couple of weeks to develop a product that costs 43c and retails at €3,” said Daniel.

“I got the idea for the product while doing science homework. I saw somewhere on the internet that charcoal absorbs odours.”

All of the lads play sports so the product has been well tested.

“We have sold 230 units and we have made €642 after all our debts are paid.”