Both Cork and Kerry emerge victorious in Munster final!
Two emerging enterprises founded by local students in the Cork and Kerry Gaeltacht areas have been crowned joint winners of the Údarás na Gaeltachta – Clár Comhlachta Munster Regional Final.
After an intense day of competition, kindly hosted in Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, ‘Nuair a bhí mé Óg’ from Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, An Daingean, Co. Kerry and ‘Scrubs agus Scíth’ from Scoil Mhuire, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh, Co. Cork were chosen to progress and represent their region in the National Final of the Údarás na Gaeltachta – Clár na gComhlachtaí.
Clár na gComhlachta is a hands-on business learning experience developed and delivered in partnership with Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) and is taught by business volunteers through the Irish language to students in Gaeltacht regions. 500 Transition Year students from Gaeltacht regions in Cork, Galway, Donegal, Kerry Mayo, Meath & Waterford have participated this year and challenged themselves to create, operate and manage their very own business! The programme provided students with numerous opportunities for the development and reinforcement of important business, academic and leadership skills, which will be invaluable to them in the future.
The judging panel comprising Máire Ní Shé, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Muireann Nic Giolla Ruaidh, Scoil Chócaireacht an Daingin (Dingle Cookery School) was thoroughly impressed with the entrepreneurial flair and particularly the level of preparation invested by the students, their teachers and business mentors to ensure they presented their enterprises in the best possible light.
It was obvious that the teams had taken full advantage of the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial talent. The Regional Final is a real test of nerve as each team must participate in an interview with the judging panel and also make a public presentation in front of their fellow student entrepreneurs, the judges and other invited guests. Each of the young entrepreneurs rose to the challenge of having their business acumen tested by the panel of judges and represented their schools and families with great distinction.
Údarás na Gaeltachta Regional Manager, Dónal Ó Liatháin commented: “It was fantastic to witness such enterprising young people at the Údarás na Gaeltachta – Clár Comhlachta Regional Final. Their knowledge and enthusiasm for their business ideas indicates that enterprise in the Gaeltacht areas is in safe hands. Údarás na Gaeltachta are proud to help promote student entrepreneurship and I’m sure we will be seeing more of these young entrepreneurs in the future.
We are delighted that Scoil San Nioclás from An Rinn in Waterford were involved for the first time this year and I would like to congratulate them and all students involved in today’s munster regional final. It’s not often Cork and Kerry can both win a Munster final on the same day so we heartily congratulate Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne from An Daingean and Scoil Mhuire, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh and wish them both the best of luck at the National Final.”
The two winning teams will join other regional final winners to participate in the Údarás na Gaeltachta – Clár Comhlachta National Final which will be held in the Connemara Coast Hotel on March 15th 2017.
Winners:
‘Nuair a bhí mé Óg’ from Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, An Daingean, Co. Kerry
When I Was Young is a compilation of stories from senior citizens living on the Dingle Peninsula. These stories describe Dingle in times gone past. Topics include, the war, schooldays, past-times and many more. Our aim with this project was to listen to the people and document their memories.
‘Scrubs agus Scíth’ from Scoil Mhuire, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh, Co. Cork
Scrubs & Scíth is an enterprise producing handmade sugar scrubs and bath salts. All are made locally in the Gaeltacht using 100% natural ingredients. The scrubs are made using sugar and coconut oil and act as an exfoliate. The bath salts are comprised of a mix of Epsom salts and oils and are proven to relieve muscle pain and promote relaxation.