Transition year students from Coláiste Pobail, Acla and Coláiste Bhreandáin Naofa, Béal an Mhuirthead, are to represent the Mayo Gaeltacht area having scooped the Údarás na Gaeltachta Clár na gComhlachtaí Regional Final this week.
The two emerging enterprises ‘Cluiche Bord an Atlantaigh’ founded by students from Coláiste Pobail Acla and ‘Cró Buataisí P&M’ founded by students from Coláiste Bhreandáin Naofa, Béal an Mhuirthead, recently took joint honours at the Mayo Regional Final of the competition and will now go to the National Final of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Clár na gComhlachtaí in Galway on April 2 and 3.
The Údarás na Gaeltachta Clár na gComhlachtaí programme is a hands-on business learning experience developed and delivered by Údarás in partnership with Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI ) and is taught by business volunteers through the Irish language to students in Gaeltacht regions.
Transition year students from the Mayo Gaeltacht challenged themselves to create, operate and manage their very own business. The programme provided students with numerous opportunities for the development and reinforcement of important business, academic and leadership skills, which will be invaluable to them in the future.
The unenviable task of selecting the winning projects was left to the judges Pamela Ni Thaidhg, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Claire Nic Oireachtaigh, Coláiste Uisce, who were thoroughly impressed with the innovative products and services on display and the entrepreneurial skills evident in all the teams.
Awards were also presented for Innovation and for Sales and Marketing with the ‘Croch d’Eochair’ team from Gaelcholáiste Chomáin scooping the Innovation Award and the ‘Namez in Framez’ team from Coláiste Pobail Acla winning the Sales and Marketing award.
Pádraig Ó'Conghaile, Regional Manager Údarás na Gaeltachta, commented: “It is great to see the Clár na gComhlachtaí Programme going from strength to strength in the Mayo Gaeltacht. The programme plays an important role in Údarás na Gaeltachta’s aim to inspire future Gaeltacht entrepreneurs and business leaders. Congratulations to all the students involved and best of luck to the two winning teams at the National Final."
On behalf of Junior Achievement Ireland, Ray Fogarty commented: "The Údarás na Gaeltachta Clár na gComhlachtaí encourages students to maximize their potential and provides them with both business skills and life skills for their future. Thank you to the participating students, their teachers and business mentors for their dedication in showcasing the students’ entrepreneurial talent and also to Údarás na Gaeltachta for ensuring these students had this exciting real-to-life opportunity."
The two winning teams will join other regional final winners from Galway, Donegal and Kerry to participate in the Údarás na Gaeltachta – Clár na gComhlachtaí National Final.
