Meeting the Dragons….Ronan and Conor Mc Garvey of Donegal Pens pictured in the den with the five dragons from the RTE Dragon’s Den series. From left, Peter Casey, Ramona Nicholas, Gavin Duffy, Barry O Sullivan and Sean O Sullivan.
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
THE two young entrepreneurs behind the West Donegal business Donegal Pens secured themselves a major financial boost on tonight’s ‘Junior’ edition of RTÉ One’s Dragons’ Den.
Loughanure brothers Rónán (16) and Conor (13) McGarvey proved they are a force to reckon with when they made a big impression on the not easily impressed Dragons.
The brothers emerged with €4,000 from the den, the biggest amount secured of all twenty finalists featured over the two shows.
They received a €2,000 bursary from South Donegal businesswoman, Ramona Nicholas, while Derry Dragon Peter Casey also placed a major order with them.
As well as providing them with the bursary Ms Nicholas has also taken Donegal Pens’ products into her outlets of Cara home stores and pharmacies.
Ms Nicholas described the boys as ‘a complete and utter inspiration’. “Not only have you done your county proud, but you have done Ireland proud and well done to you both,” she said.
Peter Casey, who placed a €2,000 order with the boys, complimented their new Sierra stylus pen and said that he’d certainly pay the €34.95 selling price for it.
Letterkenny’s Niall McCloskey, a transition year student at St Columba’s Stranorlar, also appeared before the Dragons with his invention, The Easy Grower.
The 17-year-old was highly complimented on his product, a raised bed designed for the elderly and disabled to make growing vegetables, for example, a much easier task for them.
Although Niall did not secure a bursary, he did receive promises of support from some of the dragons, while Ms Nicholas pledged to purchase an Easy Grower.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
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