Students win Tipperary's Journey of An Idea enterprise contest for mobility access app
National Young Innovator award winners Katie Lonergan and Saoirse Shanahan won the top prize in the enterprise contest open to Carrick-on-Suir secondary school students
Carrick-on-Suir’s young entrepreneurs were celebrated at The Journey of an Idea competition awards with two Scoil Mhuire students winning the top prize for the app they are developing to help people with mobility issues to access public spaces.
Scoil Mhuire students Katie Lonergan and Saoirse Shanahan were presented with the €2,000 prize money and certificate at the ceremony on May 29 at Carrick's newly revamped heritage centre now renamed the Tides of Time Visitor Centre.
The Access4All? app they are developing already won the Transition Year students the prestigious National Young Innovator award in February. The app will help improve accessibility for people with disabilities by identifying and highlighting accessibility features in businesses and public spaces.
Katie and Soairse said they plan to invest some of their Journey of an Idea awards money on their app, which is nearly ready to be launched. It will initially focus on Carrick-on-Suir, said the students who were delighted to win The Journey of an Idea contest.
READ ALSO: Useful app for people with disabilities wins top national award for students at Tipperary school
Comeragh College student Kevin Jones was one of the joint second-place award winners for his enterprise Capture Carrick Photos, which showcases the town through heritage tours and photography.
The other joint second-place winner was the Le Chéile project that fostered community engagement through organised walks in Carrick-on-Suir. It was run by Comeragh College students Evan Boland, Keeley Nevin and Mia Lowe Waters. Second-place prize winners received €1,000 each.
Joint third place winners were Comeragh College student Shay Smith for his project Smith & Vaughan Sliotars that creatively linked sport, heritage and recreation by designing sliotars that depict key historical points of interest across Carrick-on-Suir, and Scoil Mhuire student Anna Taylor, who created a Student-Led Digital Guide to give visitors a real local experience through up-to-date recommendations. They each received a prize of €500.
A number of other projects were recognised at the awards ceremony.
Scoil Mhuire students Aoibhe Vahey, Navaeh Drennan, Clodagh Power, Aimee Treacy and Ellen Murphy were awarded discretionary prizes (€150, €150 and €100) for their creative work on Story Times Carrick-on-Suir, comprising sustainable design ideas and a children’s eBook concept rooted in local heritage.
Comeragh College student Calum Boland received a €100 runner-up prize for his enterprise concept combining a car wash service with a heritage walking experience, allowing visitors to explore the town while their vehicles are serviced
This was the second year of The Journey of an Idea contest, which is open to Carrick-on-Suir's three secondary schools. The competition is led by Explore Carrick-on-Suir tourism initiative and supported by Tina Mulhearne of Tipperary Local Enterprise Office.
Last year’s winner, Comeragh College student Danny Nugent went on to win second place in his age category in the National Student Enterprise Awards last month for his hurley repair business.
Sarah Jane Cleary of Explore Carrick-on-Suir said the theme of this year's competition was Quest for Tourism Innovation, which invited students to reimagine how visitors experience Carrick-on-Suir.
“Using the Carrick-on-Suir Quest Map as a foundation, students were challenged to develop ideas that enhance visitor experience combining heritage, creativity, accessibility and enterprise.
“Over the year, participants engaged in webinars, school visits, mentoring newsletters and a business networking breakfast in collaboration with Carrick Business Association. Each element helped them gain insight into entrepreneurship, tourism, community development and self-confidence,” she added.
“Across all submissions, a clear theme emerged: each project sought to enhance the visitor experience in Carrick-on-Suir, demonstrating how young people can play a vital role in shaping the town’s tourism future.
The awards took place in the Tides of Time Visitor Centre the day before it re-opened to the public following its transformation.
Tony Musiol, Chairman of Carrick-on-Suir Economic Development said holding the ceremony in the Tides of Time Visitor Centre before it opened to the public made it even more special.
“This building represents the journey of an idea over many years. To have our students, who are just beginning their own journeys celebrated within that space was significantly meaningful for us.
“The Journey of an Idea programme continues to grow as a platform for young people to build confidence, develop skills and engage with their community, while contributing fresh ideas to the future of Carrick-on-Suir.”
Mr Musiol added that planning is already underway for the third year of The Journey of an Idea programme.