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We are a Transition Year Mini Company called In nity. The company consists of the
following members: Colin Smith, Jack Bell, Rachel Hall, Emily Arnold, Lisa Turner, Logan
Arnold, Leah Graham, Whitney Nwabuwe, Sinéad Mannion and Aurora Joel. We make a
wide range of hand crafted bracelets using wool and also buy bracelets that consumers
want but we are unable to make ourselves. We take orders from our customers and
make the bracelets they want to their satisfaction. The bracelets can be personalized The agony and the ecstasy of
or made using the beads the customer wants. We also make a D.I.Y Bracelet Kit the
customers who would enjoy making their own products. The D.I.Y kit includes all the materials necessary to make a bracelet the Dublin City Marathon
and instructions on how to make it.
We sold our bracelets at the annual Cavan Craft Fair in Moynehall and also sell in school. We also sell our products to In 2011 I was doing a small amount two minutes, at a hard pace and then ran two minutes at a
anybody who shows an interest in them. On the 5th of March, we attended the annual Young Enterprise competition which of running, nothing to write home slow pace about eight times in all. This is what would help
took place at the Slieve Russell Hotel. It was an immensely enjoyable day and despite the fact that we didn`t receive any about, and my friends all were us nish the marathon strong. We also had to put the miles
prizes, we were informed that we had a pro table and well organised business. training to do the Dublin City in and we would regularly meet up at the weekend and run
By being part of a Mini Company, we have learned the key Marathon 2011. When they had a few miles. I ran the great Ireland run in April and managed
attributes needed to have a successful, pro table company. completed it they were talking to do the 10 KM run in under an hour. I also entered the
We have learned that co-operation and teamwork are about how great it was and the Dublin half Marathon in the Phoenix Park in September
essential in a Mini Company so that we can all work together feeling they got when nishing and I knew it was something and did a good time so I knew I was on track to be able to
e ciently and create a high quality product. We have all that I really wanted to do. But how? Who could I train with? nish the Marathon in a decent time. Two weeks before the
learned that you will face much adversity when creating a Who was in the same boat as me marathon I had to do my last long
business from scratch, but if you persevere and put your best and what charity could I run for? run of 20 miles and then rest for
foot forward, you will reap the rewards. I forgot about the marathon for a two weeks only doing little 3 and 7
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Robertson while until one day on Facebook mile runs. We stayed up in Dublin
and Mr Patterson for their help and invaluable input I saw a post from the Cavan the night before the Marathon and
throughout the course of the year. Without their help, our branch of cystic brosis saying collected our race numbers from
progression wouldn`t have been possible. We thoroughly that Lorraine O’Neil was going to the RDS and I was up early the next
enjoyed the Mini Company experience and all that it entails. run the marathon in October and morning getting the last bit of fuel
We unquestionably learned an awful lot which will stand to would love if others could join her on board before the marathon
us in the future. and raise money for the Cavan start at 9.00 am.
branch. This was it. my chance to I couldn’t believe how many
train for the marathon and raise people were running the
money for a great cause. marathon and for so many great
It was February, a cold and dark causes. We started and ran down
Tuesday night in Bre ni Park, when we rst met as a group through O’Connell street and then up into the phoenix park
to train for the marathon. There were about twenty there then round through Rialto, into Terenure and back into the
Newgrange Report that night, from all walks of life and nobody really knew city past UCD. It was tough but all the training had paid o
anyone else. Little did we know we would all become great and I was able to nish in 4 hours 26 minutes which I was
The rst years went to Newgrange as part of our friends and help each other through the Marathon. delighted with.
history study on the Neolithic period (new Stone The rst night we trained we never ran a step, we just walked In school we held a jersey day and cake sale which was a
Age). When we arrived we went to the museum and a few laps and then walked a few more laps at a quicker pace. phenomenal success, with all members of sta and students
looked at the tools, weapons, clothing and models Then we met that Thursday and anyone who felt up to it ran contributing by baking and buying cakes. I managed to
of the house in the Neolithic time. We then watched a lap and walked a lap each time for half an hour. We built raise, with the help of the school and my family, €1800. I
an interesting video on how they found Newgrange it from there and within a month we were all running laps have the bug now and plan to run a few more marathons in
and what it was used for in the past. Then we got at a fairly decent pace. To gain speed we started running the near future. Anyone interested in running the Marathon
tempo runs which meant that we ran for a certain time, say
for Cavan Cystic Fibrosis next October 2013, can contact
a tour of the Newgrange passage tomb which was Lorraine O’Neill on 086-3526522.
very enjoyable. The tour guide showed us what by John Galligan
is was like in the chamber on the morning on the
winter solstice. It was a fun and informational trip.
Thank you Ms Forde and Ms Trenier for organising it.
Gemma Dugdale

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