Congratulations: Longford students showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and innovation

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County Longford students will showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and innovation as three category winners will represent the county at the Student Enterprise Programme National Final this May. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO.

The County Longford Student Enterprise Awards County Finals took place on Thursday, 13 March 13. Winners from Ardscoil Phádraig in Granard and Moyne Community School will now represent County Longford at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Final on Thursday, May 8.

In the Junior Category, Ella Brennan and Lucy McHale from Ardscoil Phádraig in Granard will represent Longford at the National Final with their business ‘El Horseshoes’.

In the Intermediate Category, Áine Maher and Niamh Maher from Moyne Community School will represent Longford with their business ‘Dapper Dogz’.

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In the Senior Category, Mia Kiernan, Emma Brennan, Aoife Cadam, Emma Gantley, Kelly Davis and Kate McKeon from Moyne Community School will represent Longford with their business ‘It’s a Dose’. 

The County Finals took place in the Longford Arms Hotel, with the National Final set to take place in the Mullingar Park Hotel in May. Around 427 students from seven schools across County Longford took part in the Student Enterprise Programme and County Finals this year. 

The awards at the County Final were presented by Longford County Council Head of Enterprise, Michael Nevin, with special guest at the event, Micheál Carrigy TD for Longford-Westmeath.

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Ardscoil Phádraig students Ella Brennan and Lucy McHale will represent their school in the Junior Category. They created a unique horseshoe boot remover from old horseshoes which were left lying around the family farm. As well as recycling old materials, the ‘El Horseshoes’ product also helps to make life easier for farmers in the removal of boots or wellingtons.

Áine Maher and Niamh Maher from Moyne Community School will represent their school in the Intermediate Category. Their business, ‘Dapper Dogz’ features unique dog bandanas which are attached to a reflective collar. The bandanas are stuffed with natural Irish lamb's wool which keeps the dog warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The business features a range of different designs including bandanas for Christmas, Valentines Day, St Patrick’s day and Easter and they come in a variety of sizes.

In the Senior Category, Mia Kiernan, Emma Brennan, Aoife Cadam, Emma Gantley, Kelly Davis and Kate McKeon from Moyne Community School will represent Longford with their business, ‘It’s a Dose’.  

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This business aims to improve farm safety by reducing the likelihood of accidents during animal dosing activities. The product is carefully designed for durability and ease of use and consists of two adjustable straps with durable clips and shoulder pads that can securely hold any size dosing bottle. This innovative product allows the farmer to have a free hand whilst dosing livestock.

The Student Enterprise Programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of progressing from the County Finals onto the National Finals. It is funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by 

31 Local Enterprise Offices, which are part of local authorities throughout the country. Over 28,000 students from just under 500 secondary schools across the country took part in the 2024-2025 programme.

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Speaking at the County Final, Longford County Council Head of Enterprise Michael Nevin, congratulated the students, “Longford has a very successful Student Enterprise Programme, with hundreds of students taking part every year. Through the programme, students can learn how to tap into their entrepreneurial spirit, including how to develop their business ideas through business planning, market research, sales and teamwork. 

“It gets them to broaden their horizons and become more entrepreneurial, which can help them as they move towards choosing future careers. All three category winners will go onto the National Finals in May and will be excellent ambassadors for the county and the Student Enterprise Programme. We wish them the very best of luck.”