Young Fingal Entrepreneurs Set to Shine at National Finals
18th March 2025
Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Fingal has announced that Wild Cards from Mount Sackville Secondary School (Castleknock) will represent the county at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Final on Thursday, 8th May at the Mullingar Park Hotel.
Following an exciting Fingal County Final on 13th March at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, these students stood out among over 1,300 participants from 21 schools, showcasing exceptional creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. A total of 15 schools competed in the county final, with the best young entrepreneurs now advancing to the prestigious national stage.
The Student Enterprise Programme, delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide, is Ireland’s largest student entrepreneurship initiative, empowering over 26,000 students each year to create, develop, and market their own businesses.
Junior Category Winners, Loreto Balbriggan
Teacher: Fiona Synnott/ Maura Lynch
Project Team Name: Rachel & Isla
with The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Ms AnnMarie Farrelly
The Mayor of Fingal: Cllr Brian McDonagh and The Head of Enterprise in Fingal: Oisín Geoghegan at the Student Enterprise Awards, Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown, Dublin. Picture credit: Damien Eagers / Coalesce
In the Junior Category, the students representing Fingal at the National Final are Rachel Dore and Isla Tanner, and Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, with their project, Rachel’s and Isla’s Self Care, an enterprise focussing on self-care baskets .
Intermediate Category Winners, School: Hansfield ET
Teacher: Aisling Sammon/Shauna Farrell
Project Team Name: EcoChew
with The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Ms AnnMarie Farrelly
The Mayor of Fingal: Cllr Brian McDonagh and The Head of Enterprise in Fingal: Oisín Geoghegan at the Student Enterprise Awards, Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown, Dublin. Picture credit: Damien Eagers / Coalesce
In the Intermediate Category, Maida-Fatima Riaz, Angelin Bijoye and Abi Solai from Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School, Dublin 15, will showcase their enterprise, Ecochew, which focuses on an innovative solution for chewing gum disposal, ensuring a cleaner environment.
In the Senior Category, Emily O’Donnell, Aaliyah Heeze and Sarah Forbes from Mount Sackville Secondary School, Castleknock, secured their place with Wild Cards, an innovative business centred on handmade, ecofriendly cards.
The winning teams will now compete against student businesses from across Ireland, presenting their ventures to a panel of judges and vying for national recognition.
Speaking at the county final, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Brian McDonagh, praised the students’ creativity and ambition, saying, “The energy and enthusiasm in this room today is incredible. You are the future innovators, business leaders, and problem solvers. Whether or not you choose to start your own business in the future, the lessons you’ve learned—about product development, sales, marketing, finance, resilience, teamwork, and mindset—will serve you well in any career path you take. These experiences build confidence, problem-solving skills, and a drive for success, all of which will be assets as you move forward in life.”
In her address to the audience, AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, commended the initiative: “The creativity and innovation on display here today are truly inspiring.
Every student who took part has demonstrated passion, hard work, and a willingness to push boundaries. The businesses and ideas showcased reflect not only great ingenuity but also a real sense of enterprise.
I want to commend all participants for their efforts and especially thank the teachers who have played such a vital role in mentoring and encouraging these young entrepreneurs. Your support is instrumental in driving a culture of enterprise in Fingal.”
Oisín Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise in Fingal, highlighted the real-world experience gained through the programme:
“This initiative equips students with essential business skills—problem-solving, marketing, finance, and teamwork. They’re not just learning entrepreneurship; they’re gaining confidence in their ability to create and lead.’’
Sharon Rossignuolo, Fingal Student Enterprise Coordinator, acknowledged the hard work behind the success: “Since September, students have dedicated themselves to developing their businesses, running market days, and refining their strategies. The competition was tough, but our winning teams have truly excelled, and we’re excited to see them represent Fingal at the National Final.”
The Fingal County Final was hosted by TV personality Síomha Ní Ruairc, with entertainment by renowned DJ Marty Guilfoyle, adding to the lively atmosphere.
This year’s competition in Fingal, which engaged 1,300 students, is proudly supported by Blanchardstown Centre, One4All, and SimTech Aviation, whose contributions to the prize fund continue to encourage young entrepreneurs to strive for entrepreneurial success.
Fingal’s finalists now set their sights on the National Final in May, where they will compete to be named Ireland’s next top young entrepreneurs.
Lead Image – Overall Winner Senior Category School: Mount Sackville – Emily O’Donnell, Aaliyah Heeze and Sarah Forbes. Project Team Name: Wild Cards. Pictured with the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Ms AnnMarie Farrelly; the Mayor of Fingal: Cllr Brian McDonagh and the Head of Enterprise in Fingal: Oisín Geoghegan at the Student Enterprise Awards, Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown, Dublin. Picture credit: Damien Eagers / Coalesce.
