Limerick schools have dominated the shortlist of entries to make it to Friday’s eagerly awaited final of a Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) Transition Year comp-etition aimed at deepening the understanding of economic potential of the estuary.
Salesian College, Pallas-kenry; Coláiste Mhuire Askeaton; Castletroy College and Laurel Hill Secondary School have all been selected from entries submitted from across estuary counties – Clare, Kerry and Limerick.
They will join Causeway Comprehensive, Kerry and title holders St. Patrick’s Comprehensive at Friday’s final of the Compass (Creating Our Marine, Ports and Schools Synergy) Transition Year Schools Competition at the Foynes Aviation and Maritime Museum.
The schools are asked to submit a project that fundamentally, across a common theme, illustrates the understanding the importance of deep water for a modern port.  Foynes Port itself and the Estuary has the potential to become an international economic hub by taking advantage of what are among the deepest and sheltered harbours in Europe and the world.
The competition is based on the Shannon Integrated Framework Plan, which was launched last year and was fed into by Limerick County Council, SFPC as well as the IDA and the local authorities for Clare and Kerry.
The theme chosen for this year’s final is ‘Great Ships Need Deep Water’ and the four Limerick schools will each make ten minute presentations of their project ‘The Wild Atlantic Hub’ to a panel of judges and in front of regional stakeholders and other schools at Friday’s event before the winners are announced a short time later.
Said Pat Keating CEO of Shannon Foynes Port Company: “The inaugural event was a great success and entries this year were up considerably. We have schools from the three estuary counties of Clare, Kerry and Limerick in the final so the students will be pitching on behalf of their counties as well as their schools.
“The competition is focussed on giving young people across the region a better understanding of just how valuable a resource we have here and the submissions reflect great enthusiasm and interest on behalf of the students.”
The competition judges are Committee Chairman and SFPC Harbour Master Mick Kennelly; Anne Morris, Limerick Chamber; Helen Downes, Shannon Chamber; Jim White, retired SFPC Harbour Master and Frank Lynch, retired SFPC Company Secretary.