Leitrim success as Newtowngore NS wins national award
Pupils from third to sixth class at the school received the Top Teams Award for their business project, Whipper Whopper, a cushioned livestock-herding stick designed for use by farmers.
Newtowngore National School has become the first school in Co Leitrim to win a top prize at the All-Ireland Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP) Awards.
Pupils from third to sixth class at the school received the Top Teams Award for their business project, Whipper Whopper, a cushioned livestock-herding stick designed for use by farmers.
The award was announced on Monday, June 15.
According to the school, the idea emerged during participation in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme, which encourages primary school pupils to develop and run their own businesses.
"With many pupils coming from farming families, it was no surprise that an agricultural product topped their list of business ideas", said Zena Anderson, their class teacher and school principal.
Before developing the product, the pupils carried out market research with 27 local farmers. The survey examined the types of farms operated, whether farmers already owned a herding stick, what price they would be willing to pay and where they would expect to purchase one.
Following the research, the class explored different timber options before choosing locally sourced hazel. The pupils cut the sticks themselves and added protective cushioning.
The finished product was sold for €3 at a craft fair in Newtowngore Hall, while the class also travelled to Carrigallen Mart to market the item.
The venture generated a profit of €234, which was shared equally among the school's 13 participating pupils, aged between nine and 13.
Reflecting on the project, one pupil said: "JEP was so much fun! I want to do it next year."
The Junior Entrepreneur Programme has received support from Enterprise Ireland since 2020 through its Primary Schools Entrepreneurship Initiative.
"Thanks to the continued support of Enterprise Ireland, we're able to help children across the country experience entrepreneurship in a practical and enjoyable way" said Marie Lynch, co-founder and Managing Director of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme.
Almost 10,000 children took part in the programme during the 2025-26 academic year, according to organisers. More than 130,000 pupils have participated since the programme was established.
Marie Lynch said, "JEP has become a rite of passage for children in primary schools. They pool their skills and talents to turn an idea into reality and experience real-world success".
Organisers say businesses created through the programme have generated combined sales of more than €3.2 million, with participating classes deciding how profits are used, including charitable donations in many cases.