Seamus McDaid of Football Special fame is the guest speaker at this year’s Donegal ETB Enterprise Day for Schools and Youthreach Centres, it has been confirmed.
Now in its sixth year, the annual event for post-primary school students and Youthreach learners from across the county takes place on Wednesday 16th October in Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
The aim of the event is to introduce the concept of entrepreneurship in a fun way to young people with the support of entrepreneurs and business people from across Donegal.
Last year over 200 young people from seventeen schools and Youthreach centres from across the county participated.
Seamus has only recently returned from the United States where he was the founder of McDaid’s Beverages USA and spent eight years there as the company’s US Business Development Manager.
Having worked before this in Australia, he has now returned to Ireland to run the family business, working as the company’s Business Development Manager from their headquarters in Ramelton.
He has lots of entrepreneurial experience and tips to share with the couple of hundred young people who will participate in the day.
The day involves each team developing a product, from materials provided to them, on which they are judged in a Dragon’s Den-type setup.
This includes pitching their product to panels of business judges. Teams are given a business mentor and an LYIT business studies student to guide them throughout the day. Seamus will speak to them about entrepreneurship success and failure.
The day also includes fun activities, ice breakers and team-building games with staff from Donegal ETB’s Gartan Outdoor Education and Training Centre.
Donegal ETB’s Director of Schools, Dr Martin Gormley commented: “We are delighted that Seamus has agreed to speak at our Enterprise Day this year.
“This is one of Donegal ETB’s keynote events for students and learners across the county to encourage the key skill of entrepreneurship in a creative and fun way.
“We really appreciate Seamus and a host of other entrepreneurs and business people giving up their time on the day to support the young people.”
Last year’s winners of the Enterprise Day was St Catherine’s Vocational School in Killybegs, while other previous winners have included Finn Valley College, Carndonagh Community School and Deele College.
Dr Isobel Cunningham, lecturer in LYIT’s Department of Business and one of the organising group members said, “LYIT is delighted to be involved with Donegal ETB in supporting this exciting event for Donegal’s young people again this year.”
