A magnetic hose holder aimed specifically at parlour hoses for dairy farmers, has taken top prize at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals, run by the Local Enterprise Offices.
The Handy Hose by student entrepreneurs Jack O'Mara and Daniel Ruddy from CBS Thurles fits to the hose to enable it to attach easily to the any metal surface within the milking parlour.
It was developed on the farm of Kilkenny All-Ireland winner, Lester Ryan. The product has also received the backing of Farmer of the Year 2019, David Russell, who has several in his parlours.
The enterprise, J&D Engineering, make the attachment themselves and had sold over 200, before the Covid-19 pandemic, but continue to sell online.
The other categories saw wins for Dublin City and Monaghan.
In the intermediate category, the Aim-It Board, from students in Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green, was named the overall winner.
The board is based on a basketball hoop and backboard but is designed to highlight where a certain throw will land helping students with physical activity but also understanding angles and the physics of throwing a ball.
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The winner in the Junior category was the Sofatop, created by students from Ballybay Community College. The Sofatop is s stylish flexible tray that can safely hold a cup of tea within reach on a couch.
For the first time since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, the National Finals took place online. Having originally been scheduled to take place in Croke Park on May 1, the Local Enterprise Office run awards, were announced virtually today, May 27, via live stream on the Student Enterprise Programmes Facebook and YouTube channels.
In the Senior Category this year's runners up were "What About Me" from Dunmore Community School in Galway in third place and "The Last Straw" from Tullow Community School in Carlow.
In the Intermediate Category, third place went to "Bookworms" from St Clare’s Comprehensive School in Manorhamilton, Leitrim and second place was "Sala Sios" from Castleisland Presentation School, Kerry.
In the Junior Category the runners up are "Castaways" from Castleisland Presentation School in Kerry who finished in third place and second place went to "Bee Wrappi" from Summerhill College in Sligo.
There was a record number of 85 student enterprises competing in Ireland’s largest entrepreneurship programme for second level students. The initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw close to 26,000 students from almost 500 secondary schools across the country take part.
