Business whizz kids in Ballinree

Bishop Harty National School, Ballinree, has been bestowed with the Genius Product Award at this year’s National Junior Entreprenuer Awards.

The Fifth and Sixth Class students scooped the award for their junior entrepreneur business, Multi-Sports Stand.

Inspired by their love of sport, they designed and made a wooden stand for sports equipment, including hurleys, rackets and helmets.

The pupils enlisted the help of a local carpenter to teach them woodworking skills.

They set up a stall at the Barack Obama Plaza to sell their product.

Niamh Spain, who was on the marketing team, said: “My proudest moment was meeting Padraig Harrington at the Plaza. He was very nice, and he bought one of our stands.”

made a profit

The children made almost €1,000 profit from their business.

The Bishop Harty students were some of the total of 10,000 Irish primary school children who launched 300 classroom businesses this year as part of their participation in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme.

The pupils combined their innate creativity with the skills they developed on the programme.

They worked together as a class to create original products and launch businesses ranging from board games and toys to high-end craft and educational products.

Marie Lynch, the co-founder of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme, said: “JEP has become a rite of passage for children in primary schools before they move on to secondary school. The class develops a lasting bond by working together and combining their talents to experience real-world success. For many, it is the highlight of their primary school years.”