Local Schools for National Entrepreneurship Final

Local Enterprise Office South Cork has announced that teenage entrepreneurs from Carrigaline Community School (Carrigaline) and Coláiste Muire Réalt na Mara (Crosshaven) will represent

LEO South Cork at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Final on Thursday 7th May.

The students all took part in the County Final on Thursday 26th March, which was held at Munster Technological University. An estimated 185 students from 15 secondary schools took part in the annual programme locally.

The enterprise education 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 over 30,000 students from just under 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2025/2026.

The programme, which is the largest student start-up programme in the country, supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Final.

Transition Year students Jake Molloy (Carrigaline), Natasha Thottakara (Carrigaline), Alex O’Driscoll (Carrigaline) and Amelia Gumienny (Carrigaline) from Carrigaline Community School, winners of the Overall Senior Award for their enterprise “Hall of Grades Trading Cards” at the Local Enterprise Office South Cork Student Enterprise Awards 2026, held at Munster Technological University (MTU), Cork, on 26 March 2026. The awards recognised outstanding student innovation and entrepreneurial achievement. Photo: Joleen Cronin.

In the Junior Category, the students representing South Cork at the National Finals are: Clodagh Concannon, Aisling O’Donoghue with their business Sea-Sea Sauna Salts from Coláiste Muire Réalt na Mara.

In the Intermediate Category, Maria Pietruczuk with her business Petal and Pearl from Coláiste Muire Réalt na Mara, Crosshaven, will be representing the county at the Finals.

In the Senior Category of the competition, South Cork will be represented on 7th May by Jake Molloy, Alex O’ Driscoll, Natasha Thottakana, Amelia Gumienny with their business Hall of Grades Trading Cards from Carrigaline Community School.

Special guests at the County Final, Louise McCall, Founder of Digital Marketing Solutions, and Ruth Hendrick, Founder of Target Alert Group, inspired students by sharing their entrepreneurial

journeys and hard-earned insights.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan-Foley said, “The Student Enterprise Programme continues to demonstrate the creativity, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit of young people across our county. Cork County Council is proud to support initiatives that empower students to develop real-world business skills, build confidence and learn the value of innovation and enterprise from an early age. The success of today’s County Final is a testament to the dedication of the students, teachers and Local Enterprise Office team, and we wish the finalists every success as they progress to the national stage.

Names of winning enterprises 

·       Senior Overall Winner – Hall of Grades Trading Cards, Carrigaline Community School

·       Intermediate Overall Winner – Petal and Pearl, Coláiste Muire - Réalt na Mara, Crosshaven

·       Junior Overall Winner – Sea-Sea Sauna Salts, Coláiste Muire - Réalt na Mara, Crosshaven

·       Best Innovation Award - Cúigeanna Casta - Coláiste Muire - Réalt na Mara - Crosshaven

·       Start-Up Stories – Intermediate - Bride & Zoom - Coláiste Muire - Réalt na Mara – Crosshaven

·       Start-Up Stories – Junior - Short, Bark and Sides - Coláiste Muire - Réalt na Mara

·       Best Enterprise School - Coláiste Muire - Réalt na Mara