Bower duo win national Student Enterprise award

Athlone students Emma Fallon and Saoirse O’ Driscoll won the top prize for intellectual property in the senior category in this year’s Student Enterprise National Finals.

The Our Lady's Bower students were honoured for their original and intuitive enterprise ‘Hoodie Buddy’, while representing the Local Enterprise Office Westmeath last Thursday in Mullingar.

The two girls had support from the Local Enterprise Office Westmeath and from their teacher, Vanessa Walsh.

The student enterprise which won the girls their award was called: ‘Hoodie Buddy’, a detachable, fleece-lined, waterproof hood designed to keep you warm and dry on the go.

Locally made and designed to fit everyone, it offers a stylish and practical solution to Ireland's often harsh weather.

The event was hosted by broadcasters Rick O’Shea and Louise Cantillion. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke joined them during the ceremony, announcing the winners across the three main catagories on the day, these categories being, Junior, Intermediate and Senior.

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 over 30,000 students from secondary schools all over the country take part.

Tracey Tallon, Head of Enterprise (A), LEO Westmeath said “Congratulations to Hoody Buddy who won a Senior category prize at the competition – we are very proud of the girls and their achievement. Year on year the Student Enterprise Programme continues to showcase the very best of Irish ingenuity and entrepreneurship amongst our secondary school students.”

The Student Enterprise Programme is open for students of all ages at a secondary level, with three separate categories - Junior (1st year), Intermediate (2nd and 3rd year) and Senior (4th, 5th and 6th year, LVA and LCA and Youth Outreach).