Mountrath business TYs unite to win awards

Mountrath CS won on the double at Laois Education Centre's 'Co-operation is Cool' event last week.

The competition invites TY mini-companies to work together to increase profit.

Winning the Best Business Idea were Mountrath companies Uisce and PMF, Sinead O'Rourke, Rhiain Brennan, Katelyn Fitzpatrick, Sara Cuddy, Cathal Moore, James Phelan and Colm Farrell.

“Uisce sold waterproof phone pouches and PMF sold universal phone holders. We combined as we were in the same market. We had deals between both our groups in previous craft fairs so we decided to come together for the competition,” said Katelyn.

Highly commended were co-operating food companies Mood Food and Sugar Rush, by Mary-Kate Moore, Aoife Langford, Molly Donnerry, Ciara Flannery, Amy Poole.

They formed 'Strike a Balance'. They found that as Sugar Rush sell sugary treats and Mood Food sell healthy alternative snacks that they could strike a balance as everyone knows that you need a little sugar in your diet,” said Katelyn.

Four co-op groups from Mountrath were at the competition.

In total, 212 pupils from 3 Primary and 6 Post-Primary schools exhibited 18 projects.