A STUDENT from Donegal won an award at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals.
Shay Mc Devitt from St Columba’s College Stranorlar won the Best Display award at the ceremony at the Mullingar Park Hotel.
Shay’s business, SMD Detailing, had earlier won the Senior Category at the Donegal County Final, earning him his place on the national stage. The Student Enterprise Programme is supported by Local Enterprise Office Donegal.
Donegal was also represented in the National Finals by Culann Boyle, Joey Mc Gee and Aeron Mort from Rosses Community School, whose business Everclean Sports won the Junior Category at the county final, and Danni Doherty from Loreto Letterkenny, winner of the Intermediate Category at the county final with her business Danni’s Magic Brush.
Speaking after the event, Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Donegal said: “We’re very proud of all three Donegal teams who competed at the National Finals. Shay’s Best Display award is a brilliant recognition of his hard work and the quality of his business.
“Culann, Joey, Aeron and Danni were also excellent ambassadors for Donegal and for the programme. We also want to acknowledge the hard work and support of Shay’s teacher Catherine Cooke, whose dedication to the programme makes all the difference. Congratulations to them all.”
The local students competed against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals.
The Student Enterprise Programme, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices, saw over 30,000 students from almost 500 secondary schools take part nationally in 2025 2026.
Since the programme began in 2003, over 500,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business. For further information, see localenterprise.iedonegal.
