North Galway school celebrates three awards – including top prize

The innovative fifth year students in Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew took home an unprecedented three awards – including the top prize – in this year’s Galway Student Enterprise Competition final.

The overall winners, who are now through to the All-Ireland final, were James Donoghue and Paul Mannion for their business Know Your Phone.

Inspired by James’ granny, it is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide for people to use a smartphone, aimed at anyone struggling with the technology.

The Innovation Award went to the business ‘Kicklock’ set up by Amy Leonard, Nathan Dolan, Charlie Boyle and Patrick Collins. The product they designed and developed prevents cows in a crush from kicking by restricting the cow’s back legs from kicking forward. This protects both farmers and a calf that is trying to suck the cow.

The second overall runner-up prize was awarded to Cormac Delaney who set up ‘The Irish Parcel Company’. Cormac’s business involves gift boxes containing a wide variety of Irish products from a carefully chosen collection of well-known and locally-based producers located along the Wild Atlantic Way.

The awards were announced virtually last Thursday. The competition is run by the Galway local enterprise office to promote innovation and enterprise amongst second level students while also developing the skills needed in the development and running of a business.

Business teacher Sarah Stephens was fulsome in praise of the students who took part.

“This unprecedented success for Holy Rosary College resulted in three different awards returning to the school. They have worked so hard in their various business ventures. It’s great to see such creative thinking and innovation in such a wide diversity of business ventures.”

James Donoghue and Paul Mannion set upon the idea of creating a guide for smartphones after his granny Kathleen Donoghue struggled to send text messages, make video calls, take part in Zoom calls and engage with Whatsapp groups on the mobile she received at Christmas.

The book also gives advice about how to avoid getting scammed.

It will now go through to the national finals on May 17.