CATHAL Sweeney, the creator of Glo Ball – a sliotar that glows in the dark – has won the overall prize at the 2026 Student Enterprise National Finals in Mullingar, County Westmeath.
The teenager, a fifth year student at Mungret Community College, said that he developed the product to cater to players who wanted to train for longer during the winter months but who did not have access to floodlighting.
On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Cathal explained the reasoning behind his creation, saying: “I was pucking the ball, and I think it was probably 5.30pm or 6pm in November.”
“I just kept missing the ball. I couldn’t see it. I’d come out with like three or four balls, and then I’d go back in with none.
“So I decided that instead of complaining about it, I’d do something about it.”
Thus arrived Glo Ball, which has generated in the region of €40,000 this year.
Sweeney’s was one of around 90 businesses from across the country shortlisted in the three main categories of the awards, which are managed by Local Enterprise Offices (LEO).
This is the 24th year of the Student Enterprise programme, which has seen more than 500,000 students take part since its foundation.
“Innovative thinking, creative solutions, and perseverance to simply make their ideas happen. These students don’t want to make sales; they want to help change the world and make it a better place,” commented LEO’s Gareth Evans.