This Tipperary student's mini company raised €1500 for the neonatal ward in Limerick

Entrepreneurship is alive and well in St Mary's Secondary School Newport.

Business students formed six mini-company businesses that offer products ranging from locality calendars, handmade soaps, bespoke homemade candles, eco-friendly jewellery, Wooden Memories and What if... an innovative calendar/app aimed at parents of young children.

One Student, Billy Moylan, had a very unique idea to help bring his community together by organising a community Christmas market in his village of Murroe.

Billy raised €1500 for charity, the neonatal ward in Limerick, which earned him a place at the county final to participate in the Community Involvement Award.

The winners of the school enterprise competition were What if… and Wooden Memories. What if… produced calendars with helpful emergency information for different What if... scenarios that could happen to infants and young children, such as what to do if your child has a head injury.

After making it to the county final, they decided to start developing an app. Wooden memories.

A company that really appeals to the emotion by making personalised eco-friendly wooden necklaces. The students had a great day out at the county final in Thurles, with both companies presenting brilliantly to the judges.

One of the groups, What if…, won the highly commended award.

We are very proud of all our students and would like to thank Business Studies and Mini-company teacher Mr Goggin for really pushing and encouraging the groups to work hard.

We’d also like to thank the Local Enterprise Office for hosting such a great event.

Contributed to School Days in the Tipperary Star.