A Ferrybank-based student business has taken home the top honour at this year’s Waterford Student Enterprise Awards.
Teenage Dirtbag, created by Abbey Community College student Lilly Magee, was named Best Senior Student Enterprise, securing a place at the National Student Enterprise Finals in May.
Joining the senior winner is Sweeteners, a first-year enterprise from Mercy Convent Secondary School, which claimed the Best Junior Student Enterprise award.
Founded by Sara Malaj, Sweeteners produces and sells a range of desserts, including brownies and cookies, to both students and local Waterford businesses.
The county final took place on Wednesday, March 11th at the SETU Arena, where Deputy Mayor Cllr. John Pratt presented awards to the winning teams.
The event, coordinated by the Local Enterprise Office Waterford, forms part of Ireland’s largest student enterprise programme, involving nearly 30,000 students from 380 secondary schools nationwide.
Lilly Magee’s winning business, Teenage Dirtbag, offers a natural, eco-friendly gear bag deodoriser made using activated charcoal.
Magee said she aimed to “combine handcrafted quality, all-natural activated charcoal technology, and playful, relatable branding that speaks directly to the sports community, while being budget-friendly and environmentally conscious.”
This year’s competition in Waterford began in September, with more than 1,000 students from 14 schools developing and running their own enterprises.
From an initial 350 businesses, 35 were shortlisted for the county final, with 80 students representing 10 schools on the day.
Both Teenage Dirtbag and Sweeteners will now represent Waterford at the National Finals on May 7th, where county winners from across Ireland will showcase their enterprises and take part in a series of interviews with judging panels assessing innovation, market research, financial planning, and business reporting.
Gareth Evans, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office Waterford, praised the dedication of teachers and schools involved:
“The Student Enterprise Awards give local teenagers a taste of what it’s like to run their own business and to be their own boss. By fostering an enterprising culture in the classroom, we’re helping nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
Further information on the National Finals and resources for the 2026/2027 programme can be found at studententerprise.ie
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