WEST Cork’s young entrepreneurs took flight at the 2026 Enterprise Finals organised by the council’s Local Enterprise Office.

From drone-powered heritage projects to smart fleet technology, students impressed with their bold, real-world business ideas and solutions.

In all 39 teams from 12 secondary schools across West Cork showcased their talents at the West Cork student enterprise regional finals held at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery.

The event was heralded as highlighting a wide range of innovative, creative and socially responsible business ideas.

Winners of the third place prize for their startup Learning Path, Caoimhe O’Donovan, Grace Buckingham, Katie Collins and Gemma O’Sullivan Mount St Michael Rosscarbery

The programme, supported through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the network of Local Enterprise Offices, continues to empower students to develop their business skills by creating, designing and marketing their own enterprises.

Taking top honours in the Senior Category was Sean Fitzgerald from St Brogan’s College in Bandon with his business Fleet Monitor, a public ship tracker with infrastructure alerts and fleet tracking ability.

The Junior Category was won by Micheál McCarthy from Mount Saint Michael, Rosscarbery with West Cork Skies, drone photography and visual time capsules that capture heritage and generational legacy of farms in West Cork.

Both will now progress to represent West Cork at the national finals in Mullingar in May. The competition demonstrated the exceptional standard of student entrepreneurship in the region, with participants presenting businesses spanning sustainability, education tools, crafts, and digital innovation.

Among the other award winners on the day were: Rewired, Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí  (2nd place; The Learning Path, Mount Saint Michael, Rosscarbery (3rd place); Study Tool, Bandon Grammar School (Innovation Award).

Other successes included Once Walked Upon, Schull Community College (Sustainability Award); Heritage Bakes, Kinsale Community School (Sales & Marketing Award); Reworked Metals, Bandon Grammar School (Best Social Media Award).

Best Display Award went to LDR Candles, Clonakilty Community College; Best Business Plan was awarded to Stick Safe, Coláiste na Toirbhirte, Bandon; Soaprise, Mount Saint Michael, Rosscarbery won Rising Star Award; and the Special Recognition Award went to West Cork Colouring Book, Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty.

At the event Cllr Alan Coleman praised the students’ achievements, noting: ‘The standard of ideas, innovation and determination shown by students across West Cork this year has been truly outstanding.

‘These young entrepreneurs have demonstrated creativity, resilience and a strong awareness of both business and community. They are a credit to their schools, their families and the region, and represent a very bright future for enterprise in West Cork.’

Special thanks and recognition was also given to the three judges for the event, Jane O’Mahony, AIB, Clonakilty, Tim Casey, Cork Grassland Services and Geoff Wycherley, Smuggler’s Cove.

The programme continues to grow each year, giving students invaluable experience in entrepreneurship, teamwork and problem-solving, while encouraging the next generation of business leaders in the region.