KildareNet News

NAAS, 20 March 2002: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. The producers of a children’s activity book, Doodle Days, are the winners of the County Kildare Finals of the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme, which were judged last night in St Mary’s College, Naas. The winning company was operated by Aisling Byrne and Jennifer Gordon (above) of St Mary’s College and goes on to represent Kildare in the National Finals in May.

Runners-up were Flintstone Enterprises from CBS Naas, operated by (above) Craig Berkeley, Mark O'Sullivan, Emmet Bolton and Dermot Mullan along with Brochan Cocoman, not pictured. They produce handcrafted slate clocks.

Another CBS company, Calendria, came third with their calendars and postcards of Naas town. It was set up by Daniel Moore, John Sheridan, Stephen Gaynor and Conor O'Malley.

In the Intermediate Section, Glass Act operated by Carrie Mulligan, Dearbhaile Donagh and Eithne Archbold of St Mary’s College goes straight to the National Finals, as does Christmas Logs in the Junior Section operated from Amy Sullivan (below) of St Mary’s College.

The judges were Brian Flanagan of Yes-Tech Ltd and Siobhán O’Sullivan of BSTAI. The National Finals take place in the National Basketball Arena on 14/15 May.

More than 2,000 businesses are set up for the competition, which is sponsored by Golden Vale. They involve some 7,000 second level students from over 250 schools. The competition began 11 years ago in Loreto Abbey, Dalkey and to date almost 60,000 students have taken part. It is run by the Young Entrepreneurs Association, an independent and voluntary group of professionals, teachers and parents.

Fourteen businesses exhibited at the county finals last night, from St Mary’s College, CBS Naas, and Clongowes Wood College.

Marie Kenny and Emer McCabe of The Muggins Company.


Above: Claire Kenny and Catherine Coughlan of Cushty; and (right) Sharon Byrne of Black Magic.

Kevin Burrowes, Brian Canavan, Oisin Hanahan, Harry Cullen and Gary Hanlon of Poetry in Motion.

Stephen Kelly, Colm Keane, Colum Connolly, William Burke, and Eoghan McCarthy of Knick Knack Enterprises.

Bag Ladies promoters Jane Cronin, Laurie O'Hanlon, Deirdre Carbury and Emma Finnegan.

John Shortt, YES; Brian Flanagan, judge; Siobhán O'Sullivan, judge; Vincent Ryan, national Vice President, YES; Mary Claire Keogh, teacher; and Lisa Keogh, teacher.