A Selection of prize winner from St.Muredachs College Ballina, Gortner Abbey Secondary School Crossmolina and St.Marys Convent Ballina.

North Mayo’s newest entrepreneurs were celebrating, as the winners of the North Mayo Regional Student Enterprise Awards were announced at the showcase event in the Kennedy Glasgow House on Thursday 17th of January. Overall, 30 projects were forwarded to Moy Valley Resources I.R.D from participating schools including St. Muredachs College, St Mary’s Convent, Lacken Cross and Gortnor Abbey with the final 9 making it to the final which took place in the Kennedy Glasgow House. The North Mayo final was the result of a lot of hard work by the students, teachers and organisers which saw a number of workshops taking place with industry experts on finance, marketing and business planning.

The Senior Secondary Schools category was won by “Minus” from St. Muredach’s College Ballina, with “Belleek Shields” from St Murdechs College and “Clever Close” by St Marys Convent Ballina taking the runner up prizes. Carry on Training from Gortnor Abbey were also awarded the prize for the best presented business plan. The winners were selected by an external judging panel consisting of Eamon Toland (themathstutor.ie), Paul Regan (Proprietor of Dillons Bar and Restaurant, Ballina) and Ann Finn (Resource Worker from Mayo North East Leader)

John Magee of the Mayo County Enterprise Board who spoke at the event paid tribute to the students and teachers for the high standard of projects that were delivered this year.

Kevin Corrigan CEO of Moy Valley Resources who announced the winners said that Moy Valley Resources IRD was delighted to be involved in the North Mayo competition where the level of work and innovation from the students participating in the competition was of such a high standard. He also paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of Peter Hopkins, Tara Timlin, Brian Cronin and Annette Maughan from Moy Valley Resources IRD who have mentored the students over the last 3 months.

Eamon Toland from themathstutor.ie who spoke on behalf of the judging panel stated that he was amazed by the standard and range of viable business ideas offered to the panel. The winners of the North Mayo Regional final will proceed to the Mayo Student Enterprise Awards Final which is to be held in the Knockranny Hotel on the 6^th of March.

(Back row right to left) Brian Cronin (MVR), Tara Timlin (MVR) TY students from Lacken Cross secondary School along with their teacher Stephen Lacken (Front Row right to left) John Magee (Mayo County Enterprise Board), Peter Hopkins (MVR), Paul Regan (Dillon’s Bar and restaurant), Anne Finn (Mayo North East Leader), Eamonn Toland (TheMathsTutor.ie), Kevin Corrigan (CEO Moy Valley Resource IRD)