All About Cork: Students showcase business ideas at Marina Market

Marina Market was a stage for budding entrepreneurs last week as students from across Cork city showcased their business ideas and innovations.

Secondary school students from Cork city schools displayed their innovative products to an eager panel of judges at the Marina Market’s Christmas market.

The event was part of the Student Enterprise Programme in partnership with local enterprise offices.

The students taking part in the Christmas market represented schools from across Cork city, including Glanmire Community College, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Mount Mercy College, Rochestown College, St Aloysius School, Coláiste Daibhéid, St Patrick’s, Bishopstown Community School, and Coláiste an Phiarsaigh.

“Since September, the students have dedicated countless hours to refining their products, establishing their brands, and turning their ideas into tangible, market-ready items,” said Cork City LEO.

“Their passion and hard work were clearly evident in every booth, with each student demonstrating not only entrepreneurial spirit but also a deep commitment to their craft.

“Each brought their unique ideas to life, reflecting the diverse talents of Cork’s future innovators.

“A huge congratulations to the winners The Garden Cycle from Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh today, whose creativity stood out to the judges.

“However, every participant is to be commended for their hard work and ingenuity.

“It’s clear that Cork’s entrepreneurial future is in very good hands.”

The winning business idea came from a team of students from Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, who showcased their The Garden Cycle innovation.

The Garden Cycle features a calendar that acts as a guide for the green-fingered, providing information on what plants are in season each month.

The students explained that the idea for their business came about as a result of their friend gardening with his grandparents but admitting they were unsure when to plant certain plants, which often led to the plants dying.

School spreads season cheer

Nagle Community College has been spreading Christmas cheer across the community in recent weeks.

The school hosted several Christmas in the Community events to give people in the community the opportunity to make Christmas crafts and food alongside students at the school.

In recent weeks, parents, grandparents, and members of the wider community have attended Nagle Community College to take part in the initiative. Alongside transition year students and staff, they have created Christmas cards, prints, and other decorations.

They also learned how to make mince pies in the school’s home economics room.

The secondary school thanked those who attended as well as the TY students and Ms Whyte for facilitating and ensuring an enjoyable afternoon.

Recently, the school also hosted Christmas wellbeing mornings, providing hot chocolate and cookies for students with the help of school meals provider Fresh Today.

Andrea on Minor panel

Ursuline College Blackrock has congratulated its head girl Andrea Toye on being selected for the Cork Minor football panel for 2025.

Andrea, student and head girl at the local secondary school, was named among the panel for the coming year.

In a statement, the school said Andrea deserved the selection, and that the entire school community was proud of her achievement.

“A huge congratulations to our head girl, Andrea Toye, on being selected for the Cork Minor Gaelic football panel for 2025,” said the school.

“This is an outstanding achievement and one that is truly deserved.

“Securing a spot on such a highly competitive team makes this accomplishment even more impressive.

“Well done, Andrea! We are so proud.”

Local pupils named winners in Corkmas art competition

The Lord Mayor of Cork’s chamber recently hosted a large crowd of young Cork artists aged from four to 11 years.

As part of Cork City Council’s Corkmas celebrations, city libraries organised an art competition for schoolchildren to design Christmas images for display in bus shelters across the city. The competition received more than 140 submissions of an extraordinarily high standard, and in what was a very difficult process, 20 winners were chosen from the age groups four to six, seven to eight, and nine to 11.

The Lord Mayor’s chamber was packed earlier this month as Lord Mayor Dan Boyle welcomed the winners and their parents, presenting each artist with a Cadbury’s selection box and a specially produced poster of their artwork.

School of Music TY awards

Three pupils from fourth class in Our Lady of Lourdes in Ballinlough were winners, with Nina O’Callaghan, nine, drawing a slightly reimagined Cork coat of arms, with ‘Statio Bene Fida Carinis’ becoming ‘A safe haven for Santa’. Working on a related theme, Laura Walsh, 10, had Santa piloting the ship to a statio bene fida. Mariana Pineda Pena, 10, drew Santa and his reindeer flying over Shandon and the Firkin Crane.

Three students at Ursuline College Blackrock have been awarded places on prestigious programmes for transition year students at Munster Technological University’s Cork School of Music for 2025.

The secondary school students were congratulated on their achievement last week by the school management who said their interest in career guidance “and their openness to all possibilities on offer in TY is wonderful”.

Addison Horgan has been awarded a place on the Irish traditional music programme, Eabha Rogers has been awarded a place on the drama programme, and Ailbhe Cotter has been awarded a place on the popular music programme.

Ringmahon Rangers victory

Ringmahon Rangers’ senior team secured their first piece of silverware of the season in recent weeks, defeating Douglas Hall 6-1 in the Donie Forde Cup final.

A first-half hat trick from Ethon Varian and further goals from Nathan Broderick, Jamie Linehan, and Cammy Harlson secured the win.

Donation to Rainbow Club

Rainbow Club, a Mahon-based charity, has thanked Thermo Fisher after the pharmaceutical company donated €3,000 to the charity’s sports programme.

The charity provides vital supports and services to more than 1,300 children with autism and their families every week.

“A huge thank you to Thermo Fisher for their generous and kind donation of €3,000 towards the new sports programme at Rainbow Club in the new year,” said the charity.

“It was a lovely evening at the Carrigaline Court Hotel with lovely company and meeting other organisations.”

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