Young Irish entrepreneurs celebrated at National Student Enterprise Awards.
Jack Cannon, a senior student at Clonkeen College in Dun Laoghaire, has been named Student Enterprise of the Year in the senior category at the 23rd National Student Enterprise Programme Finals held in Mullingar this week.
Cannon, who built his first PC at age 11 with his brother’s help, founded Cannon PC and has achieved sales of almost €40,000.
His business upcycles high-speed gaming PCs from computers being disposed of in office clearouts, saving an estimated 1,000kg of e-waste annually.
The Intermediate category was won by Suet & Song, a business created by Michael O’Keeffe from St. Kieran’s College in Kilkenny. O’Keeffe produces high-quality, nutrient-rich suet cakes to help birds during colder months.
In the Junior category, Bumblebees from Drumshanbo Vocational School in Leitrim took the top prize with their WASP (Wire Anti Shock Protector) device. Created by Antonia O’Looney, Sophie Gilard, Guiliana Keane, and Katelyn Murtagh, the product allows hikers and farmers to safely cross electric fencing without receiving shocks.
The inaugural Student Enterprise Programme Alumni Award was presented to Fenu Health, founded by sisters Kate and Annie Madden in 2016. Their company produces supplements for equine health and counts five royal families among its customers.
Lessons for life
“It’s been another hugely successful year for the Student Enterprise Programme,” said Gareth Evans, chair of the Local Enterprise Office’s Enterprise Education Committee.
“We’ve had some excellent winners here today and going on previous successes they will go on to do great things. Today is just the start for these winners and finalists. The skills and lessons they have learned through the process will stand by them for life.”
The event was hosted by broadcasters Rick O’Shea and Louise Cantillon, with Peter Burke, TD, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment announcing the winners.
This year’s competition saw 85 businesses shortlisted across three categories, with over 30,000 students participating nationwide. The Student Enterprise Programme, which began in 2003, has now had more than 450,000 participants in its 23-year history.
The Student Enterprise of the Year for 2024 was “High Lift” from St. Patrick’s Classical School in Navan, Co. Meath. The idea, created by Sean Finnegan and his business Finnegan Fabrication, manufactures portable cranes that can be fitted to the interior of commercial vans to help those in construction and similar industries to lift heavy materials in and out.
The Student Enterprise Programme is funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country. Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 450,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business.
It is one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run to foster entrepreneurship across the country.
STUDENT ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME WINNERS
2025
- Junior – Bumblebees, Drumshanbo Vocational College, Leitrim
- Intermediate – Suet & Song, St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny
- Senior – Cannon PC, Clonkeen College, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
2024
- Junior – Carry Caman, Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland, Kerry
- Intermediate – Esker Timber Creations, Presentation College Athenry, Galway
- Senior – High Lift, St. Patrick’s Classical School, Navan, Meath
2023
- Junior – Grasper – Drumshanbo Vocational School
- Intermediate – Clip Clop Designs – Moyne Community School
- Senior – McCompactors – Roscommon Community College
2022
- Junior – Sew Stylish – Brigid’s College, Callan
- Intermediate – Earrings by Aoibheann- Loreto College, Dalkey
- Senior – Barrelda – St. Patrick’s Classical School, Navan
2021
- Junior – Go Green Now – Salerno Secondary School, Galway
- Intermediate – T-Snappi – Summerhill College, Sligo
- Senior – Coppercase – St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan
2020
- Junior – Sofatop – Ballybay Community School, Monaghan
- Intermediate – Aim It Board – Loreto College, Dublin City
- Senior – Handy Hose – CBS Thurles, Tipperary
2019
- Junior – Specrest – Educate Together, Portmarnock
- Intermediate – Crios Mhadra – Presentation Secondary, Castleisland, Kerry
- Senior – Smooth Remove – Boherbue Comprehensive, North Cork
2018
- Junior – Complete Caman – Presentation Secondary School, CastleIsland, Kerry
- Intermediate – Lift Arm Assist – CBS Kilkenny
- Senior – Abbey Bread – Cistercian College, Roscrea, Offaly
2017
- Junior – Daisy’s Pawesome Bowties – Our Lady’s Secondary School, Drogheda
- Intermediate – Scott Engine Tables – Colaiste Chill Mhantain, Rathnew, Wicklow
- Senior – ROC Protection – Clonkeen College, Blackrock, Dublin
Main image at top: Jack Cannon, a senior student at Clonkeen College in Dun Laoghaire, has been named Student Enterprise of the Year
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