From left to right (standing): Isobel Tyler, Ronan Oduntan, Ross Hume, Michelle Baavgai, and Chloe Whelan (seated): NCI final year Marketing Practice students at the Near FM studio.
On Monday, March 31st, 2025, as part of their preparation to showcase their work at the Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre in May, NCI students wowed live on air as they chatted to Myra Gleeson on Near FM about their final year project.
Isobel Tyler, Michelle Baavgai, Ross Hume, Ronan Oduntan, and Chloe Whelan are in their final year of the BA (Honours) in Marketing Practice programme here at National College of Ireland. Along with their classmates, they have been working incredibly hard as graduations draws near. It was fantastic that these talented, diligent, students had the opportunity to speak to Myra about the upcoming pop-up event that is taking place in Swords Pavilions, sharing the inspiration behind all the work that went into creating these products, as well as discussing some personal goals for the future.
To listen to this brilliant interview, you can tune into Near FM’s Listen Again Podcast.
You can listen to part one here.
You can listen to part two here.
An overview of this year’s Capstone project
This year’s Capstone Project tasked students with building their own ‘white label’ businesses from the ground up. Students created their own business websites using this year’s Capstone Project partners Shopify, which gave them the opportunity to explore the importance and benefits of digital marketing, website management, as well as utilizing the scope and power of social media as students promoted their products on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. The result of this project features several impressive eCommerce businesses ranging from cosmetics and fitness to self-care and wellness products that students will display at NCI’s marketing showcase.
Pop along to the Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre Pop-Up event
On the weekend of May 24th and 25th, 2025, a select number of Marketing Practice students will be showcasing and selling their products at Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre.
When – May 24th and 25th, 2025.
Where – Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre.
Get Directions.
At this Pop-Up event, the public will have the opportunity to learn and ask questions about the broad range of exciting and dynamic courses that NCI has to offer. They will also see some of the brilliant businesses that our Marketing Practice students have developed. It is a brilliant opportunity to find out more about National College of Ireland and support young learners and up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
The people behind the project
Isobel Tyler spoke on air about Féin-Ghrá, the company that she has been working on with classmate Emma Costelloe
“Féin-Ghrá is a new Irish beauty company centred around self-care and holistic wellness. The business was created because we wanted to create a product that combined our interests in beauty, wellness, and mindfulness. With Féin-Ghrá we have created a daily self-care ritual, and conveniently it all comes in one box! Emphasizing the importance of practicing self-love every single day through grounding wellness practices because self-love starts from the inside out, Féin-Ghrá encourages consumers to consider holistic avenues to not only nurture their natural beauty but to enhance their mental well-being by practicing grounding mindfulness rituals that nourish the mind, body, and soul.” ~ Isobel Tyler and Emma Costelloe, Final Year Marketing Practice students at NCI.
Michelle Baavgai, Ross Hume both spoke to Myra about their product Guardian Angel.
“Guardian Angel is more than just a product—it is a movement for safer nights out. Our mission is to raise awareness about drink spiking and empower individuals with a simple, discreet solution: a scrunchie that doubles as a protective drink cover. We believe that no one should have to worry about their safety while enjoying a night out, and through education, advocacy, and innovation, we’re working to create a culture of awareness and prevention. Guardian Angel is a reminder to look out for yourself and others because safety is a shared responsibility. Together, we can take a stand against drink spiking and make a real difference.” ~ Michelle Baavgai and Ross Hume, Final Year Marketing Practice students at NCI.
Ronan Oduntan spoke on behalf of himself and his teammate, Conor Rooney Law, about their new boot cleaning kit called ROCO Clean.
“ROCO Clean is the ultimate sports boot cleaning kit, designed for players who want to keep their boots fresh, game-ready, and long-lasting. Our all-in-one kit includes a small brush, a double-sided cloth, and bottle – all neatly packed in a hardshell case. Whether you're a weekend warrior or a competitive athlete, ROCO Clean makes boot maintenance quick, easy, and effective, so you can focus on your game, not the dirt. Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good – ROCO Clean.” ~ Ronan Oduntan and Conor Rooney Law, Final Year Marketing Practice students at NCI.
Chloe Whelan spoke to Myra on behalf of herself and her other teammates, Kate Gilmer, and George Kinna about their new loungewear brand Cloud & Co.
“Cloud & Co is a women’s loungewear brand designed for young ladies who love fashion and comfort. Born from our passion for stylish clothing, we create pieces that blend effortless elegance with everyday ease. Our collection is all about making you feel as good as you look—because at Cloud & Co, comfort and confidence go hand in hand. Where comfort meets confidence.” ~ Chloe Whelan, Kate Gilmer, and George Kinna, Final Year Marketing Practice students at NCI.
Near FM’s ethos is to educate, inform, and entertain. The station provides listeners with a broad range of programming from talk shows to radio dramas, to music across all genres, so it was brilliant that NCI students had the opportunity to speak about their hard work, their excitement about the upcoming event in Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre, as well as sharing details about course life at National College of Ireland.
We want to say thank you to Myra Gleeson and the Near FM team for having us, as well as saying congratulations and well done to the students who participated.
Interested in studying Marketing Practice? The BA (Honours) in Marketing Practice programme is an impressive 3-year course, designed to give students a practical learning experience where they will develop tangible skills that they will go on to utilize in the workplace. For further information, you can visit the BA (Honours) in Marketing Practice course page.
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