West Cork Entrepreneurs

Transition year students from across West Cork attended event, where speakers included Fintan, and Jake McCarthy and award-winning Cork entrepreneurs.

He may have won his back-to-back Olympic gold medals by rowing faster than everyone else in a straight line but success does not always follow a straight path, Irish rowing legend Fintan McCarthy told hundreds of aspiring teenage entrepreneurs.

Fintan, and his twin brother, Jake, both international rowing champions, shared their stories of resilience and success with the students who attended an 'Igniting Entrepreneurship' event, part of the national Student Enterprise Programme supported by the Local Enterprise Office Cork North and West, in West Cork on Tuesday.

Life is full of twists and turns but with hard work, patience, and persistence, obstacles can be overcome, they said, adding the mental fortitude needed to succeed in sport is similar to what is needed to succeed in business, alongside self-belief, self-motivation and managing disappointments along the way.

“Success isn’t a straight path — it’s full of setbacks, but with focus and determination, you can overcome anything,” Fintan said.

More than 300 transition year students from 11 schools across West Cork attended the event.

More than 300 transition year students from 11 schools across West Cork attended the event, including Sacred Heart,designed to inspire the region’s young minds, at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery.

In a conversation with Kevin Curran, head of enterprise, LEO Cork North and West, the twins said their journey to sporting success on the national and world stage served as a powerful reminder to students that with dedication, no dream is too big and no challenge insurmountable.

Students also heard from past programme winners DJS Engineering, whose innovative farm equipment holder earned them a national award earlier this year, and from Shannen O’Reilly, founder of TrustDish, whose digital allergen management solution helps food businesses in the hospitality sector, and individuals with allergies, by simplifying allergen tracking and communication.

Representatives from the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland also spoke at the event about the importance of safeguarding original ideas, and protecting innovation through patents, copyright, and intellectual property.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll, told those at the county council-supported event their generation would shape the future of the region.

“Events like this give our young people the confidence and tools to pursue their ambitions,” he said.

“The world is their oyster, and with the right mindset, there is no limit to what they can achieve.” 

Rowing legend Fintan McCarthy tells Cork students they 'can overcome anything' to achieve success

Fintan McCarthy and his brother Jake with Eabha O’Driscoll (Sacred Heart Clonakilty) and Tommy O’Brien (MICC Dunmanway).