The 2024 edition of Dragons’ Den at Blackrock College kicked off in September, marking the start of the first term for Transition Year (TY) students. This earlier launch was a welcome change from previous years, providing exposure to the highest number of projects since the programme’s inception.

This year’s panel of Dragons, chaired by Jim Leyden (Class of 1976), was bolstered by several new members, along with first-time sponsorship from Marcus O’Connor (Class of 1993) of MFO – The Property Professionals, who generously funded the full €2,000 bursary. This support ensured the initiative came at no cost to the Union.

The Dragons’ panel included experienced professionals such as:

Tony Connolly

Aidan Corless

Ian Mac Donald

Alain Barr

Ray McMahon

Rory Geoghegan

Conor Hoey

Robert Henderson

Adding further expertise, the panel also welcomed parents Ms Gwen Layden and Ms Emma Maye, each contributing valuable and unique perspectives.

The competition culminated in an exciting Final attended by all 200 TY students, along with Union President Karl O’Neill, who was present throughout the session and prize-giving. The winner received a trophy and a cheque, while runners-up were awarded medals and cheques. Certificates and medals were presented to all finalists as a recognition of their efforts.

The journey to the Final was no small feat. Starting with 32 projects, the Dragons committed significant time and effort to mentoring, evaluating, and ultimately narrowing down the entries to 14 semi-finalists and then six for the Final.

The projects showcased remarkable creativity and ranged from innovative products made on 3D printers to new apps, with ideas spanning entirely original concepts and enhancements to existing technologies.

In a closely contested Final, Paddy Shanahan emerged victorious with his project, Aquaponics. His inventive take on market gardening impressed the Dragons and sparked the possibility of wider adoption across the College campus.

Other notable entries included a school uniform exchange initiative, a 3D-printed picture frame concept, and a charitable approach to the bottle and can return scheme.

Dragons’ Den 2024 highlighted the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of Blackrock College students, reinforcing the importance of nurturing innovation and providing a platform for future leaders to shine.