Presentation Castleisland, for the third year in a row, have claimed the top prize at the Kerry Enterprise County Final in the Junior Category. For the second year in a row, they have claimed the top prize in both the Junior and Intermediate Category and also claimed the Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year for consecutive years. The school won the Overall School Award for the second time in three years. The Pres girls are now into the National Final for the fourth time in the past five years. Reaching this stage of the competition places them within the top 1% of student entrepreneurs in the country.
On Tuesday 31st March, the Kerry Local Enterprise Office, announced this year’s awards and Pres Castleisland claimed six of the prizes on offer. Five groups from Pres, across all three categories entered the County Final: Junior – ‘Cast Aways’ & ‘Double Doggie’, Intermediate – ‘Sála Síos’ & ‘Gaelic Touch’, Senior – ‘Glúin & Glan’. The following was awarded to Presentation Castleisland:
• 1st Place in the Junior Category: ‘Cast Aways – waterproof cast covers for arms, feet and legs made from recycled tents and car covers’ – Aine Broderick, Charlie O’Keeffe, Emily Walsh, Ella Fitzgerald & Colene O’Callaghan.

• 1st Place in the Intermediate Category: ‘Sála Síos – 3D printed horse stirrup attachment, that aids with balance as you ride your horse’ – Katelyn Curtin.

• Runner-up in the Intermediate Category: ‘Gaelic Touch – 4 quadrant, colour-coded Gaelic Football boot skin training aid’ – Ciara Cronin, Muireann Walsh, Megan Dennehy, Lauren E. O’Connor, Aine Murphy & Clodagh Coffey.

• Best Business Plan: ‘Glúin & Glan – a padded kneeler that protects your back and makes the chore of washing a breeze’ – Maria Daly, Caoimhe Horgan & Lauren Butler.

• Overall School Prize: Presentation Castleisland.

• Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year 2020: Mr. Pierce Dargan (Business Teacher).
In May, the National Final results will be announced. Unfortunately, the National Final showcase in Croke Park has been cancelled. Pres Castleisland is aiming for its third All-Ireland title in-a-row after previously winning the Junior Category in 2018 and the Intermediate Category in 2019 at the National Finals in Croke. Best of luck to ‘Cast Aways’ in the Junior Category and ‘Sála Síos’ in the Intermediate Category at the National Final in May, as the school has two of the three entries from the entire county, for the second consecutive year.