Jack O’Mara and Daniel Ruddy, from County Tipperary took home the top prize in the senior category at the Student Enterprise Programme national finals, run by the Local Enterprise Offices in May this year. 

The Student Enterprise Programme, an initiative run by the Network of Local Enterprise Offices of Ireland, is Ireland’s largest and most successful student enterprise programme with over 26,000 second level students taking part each year. Students from 1st year to 6th year get to set up and run their own business and find out what it’s really like to be an entrepreneur by taking part in this 8 month long enterprise education learning programme.

John O Shanahan, Lean BPI, spent a day with all the teams earlier in the year providing mentoring and support and is delighted to see the winning entry. “Such a brilliant programme for students to get involved in; an opportunity for students to get a feel for running a business, creating future entrepreneurs all over Ireland. Great to see a win from the boys with the Handy Hose“

The Handy Hose Magnetic Holder connects the farmer’s host to the side of the pit, eliminating the need to continually bend down, whilst also saving time and making milking easier.

The invention attaches to a hose to enable it to “connect easily to any metal surface” within a milking parlour. The magnetic holder allows dairy farmers to “keep their wash down hose close to hand and prevents trip hazards”.

This invention of the two Co. Tipperary secondary school students was developed on the farm of former Kilkenny hurler, Lester Ryan and  has now received a listing with Glanbia. They are “by far Glanbia’s youngest vendors”!

Well done to all this years’ participants and wishing Jack and Daniel continued success!