Tralee School Among Kerry Winners In Junior Entrepreneur Awards

THREE Kerry schools have been recognised in the Junior Entrepreneur Awards announced today. They are among just 12 category award winners nationally.

Scoil Mhic Easmainn, Tralee received the Finance Wizards Award for Yarn and Bead – hand-crocheted Octopus toys and bracelets.

St. Michael’s National School, Sneem received the Go Green Award for Horsepower Eco-firestarter – an eco-friendly fire starter made from horse manure.

Murhur National School, Moyvane won the Digital Maestros Award for Murhur Mysteries – a box full of fidgets and fun, including fidgets designed and 3-D printed by the class.

Continued below…

Crocheted octopuses, colourful bracelets and plenty of entrepreneurial spirit earned 5th class pupils at Scoil Mhic Easmainn in Tralee the Finance Wizards Award for their Junior Entrepreneur Programme business, Yarn and Bead.

Before getting down to business, the class raised €700 in seed funding by making and selling St Brigid’s crosses.

They then taught themselves to crochet and created a range of handmade mini soft toys and beaded bracelets that proved a huge hit with their young customers. Their efforts paid off, with the business making an impressive €3,500 profit after costs.

Reflecting on the experience, pupil Grace said: “We’re very grateful to be part of JEP. We had such a good run, but we’re going to keep working, making memories and having fun until we’re done!” Their teacher, Donal Súilleabháin, has run the programme for several years and is a strong supporter of giving children the chance to learn through real-life experience.

Sustainability was at the heart of  St. Michael’s NS, Sneem Junior Entrepreneur Programme project, Horsepower Eco-firestarter, which won the Go Green Award for an eco-friendly fire starter made from horse manure.

The pupils mixed horse manure with sawdust to help it burn more effectively and conducted several tests before arriving at the right formula. The pupils say the fire starter not only lights easily and burns steadily, but is also good value and has a pleasant earthy scent.

From the early stages, the class also focused on marketing, documenting their work, creating funny social media videos and designing colourful posters for the local area.

With support from their teacher, Tracy Long, they turned the idea into a real business. They sourced horse manure from a local jarvey and sawdust from a student’s family. They sold the fire starters for €2 each and made a profit of €354.

The 5th and 6th class pupils at Murhur National School in Moyvane have won the Digital Maestros Award for their JEP business, Murhur Mysteries.

The class created surprise boxes filled with 3D-printed fidgets they designed themselves in Tinkercad (a free computer-aided design tool) and produced in the classroom using a 3D printer.

“The printer was generously donated by local businessman Dennis Mulvihill of Mulvihill Motors after the school’s previous success in 3D printing competitions” said Alma Finucan, class teacher who actively supported the pupils. Their business made a profit of €800, which helped pay for the school tour bus and class treats.

Almost 10,000 children completed JEP in the 2025-26 academic year. Over 130,000 pupils have participated in JEP since its foundation.

Marie Lynch said, “JEP has become a rite of passage for children in primary schools. ”They pool their skills and talents to turn an idea into reality and experience real-world success. They forge deeper bonds with each other, and, for many, it is the highlight of their primary school years”.