Limerick TY student overwhelmed with local support on his new hurling business start up

This is 16-year-old entrepeneur Cathal Sweeney from Limerick who has created a successful business and is selling his product nationwide.

Cathal from Raheen, Mungret, in Limerick is a TY student at Mungret Community College and he plays GAA for his club, Mungret St. Pauls.

Cathal has a huge passion for hurling and has been playing since he was five years old.

He is the proud business owner of Glo Hurling which he created near the end of last year.

"I decided to develop a GAA wall ball called the glo ball, which glows in the dark. I came up with this idea because there have been countless winter evenings when I wanted to go outside and puck a ball for 10 or 15 minutes, but I couldn’t — it was pitch dark, and the lights outside were very limited.

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"For nearly half the year, it gets dark from 6pm, which makes training difficult".

The ball is phosphorescent, meaning it absorbs light and gradually emits it over time, creating a glowing effect. To enhance this, Cathal paired it with a UV light, which is eight times stronger than a standard torch and gives the Glo Ball a long-lasting glow.

He has now sold around ten orders across each county in Ireland so far.

"I came up with the idea in October and then I spent two months trying to make samples and make the actual product work. Then I posted about it online and opened pre-orders in November," Cathal said.

"I looked the idea up online to see if there was anything and I couldn't find a ball like the one I created."

Cathal manufactured the glow in the dark balls abroad and set up a website for his business using Shopify.

"Setting up the website itself was straightforward but getting samples and actual balls made was very difficult".

Cathal said the process was difficult because he spent weeks getting samples over and back and wasn't happy with a lot of the samples.

He said he waited until he found a ball he was fully happy with.

"It's a standard hurling speed ball with phosphorus powder inside. The powder reacts with light and I pair it with a UV light, which is much stronger and more efficient for charging glow-in-the-dark items. So if you shine the UV light on the ball, then it glows.

"My parents have supported me, but I came up with the idea and I do everything myself. Like packaging the orders, making the videos, stuff like that".

Cathal said that since starting the business near the end of last year, he has gotten a lot of orders.

"I have four colours. So I have pink, yellow, blue and white. And for each pink glow ball I sell, I donate one euro to Breast Cancer Ireland. 

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"I picked Breast Cancer Ireland because there was these two women and they came into my school and did a talk about breast cancer and the dangers and the amount of people it affects. 

"So every one euro spent for the pink balls are going towards that charity".

"I've had a load of support from people across Ireland supporting me. It's great like I didn't think when I first started that I would be able to take it this far.

"I've probably sold at least 10 orders to each county".

Cathal said that each Glo Hurling ball is €7.80 and with the UV light it's €11.50.

Three balls, which is what 90% of people order, is €23.

Hurling is a passion of Cathal's and he has been playing since he was five years old in Mungret, Limerick.

His hope for the future of his business is to have his glow balls in every club in the country.

"It removes the need for smaller clubs to buy really expensive floodlights. I want them to be in shops across Ireland and get recognised nationally".

Cathal's business came first in the senior category of the Limerick student enterprise competition and he is preparing to represent Limerick in the All Ireland competition in May.

Cathal said that he has received a lot of supportive and positive feedback from people in Limerick specifically.

"When people hear I'm from Limerick, I end up getting a load of orders from Limerick. I'd say 10% of my total orders are just from people around my area that I know".

Cathal has thanked his business teachers, Ms. Clancy and Ms. Fox, who have supported him throughout his business journey.

To visit Cathal's website, you can do so via the link here.