A YOUNG woman from Dingle, Co Kerry, has been named as Ireland’s most promising young entrepreneur.

Aisling Ní Shúilleabháin was announced the Young Entrepreneur of 2009 for  her business idea for Kiddies Crawlies, a range of comfortable and fashionable knee pads for babies and toddlers.

Aisling’s business idea beat 25 finalists to win a trip to Silicon Valley and attend an entrepreneurship masterclass with venture capitalist and one of Apple’s earliest executives, Guy Kawasaki.

A management support tool for the dairy industry designed by Tim Lane and the idea for a Killarney Lakes Marathon created by Robert O’Shea were also recognised at the awards.

Other concepts ranged from a five-a-day gadget to help people monitor fruit and vegetables intake to a website designed to fight obesity.

The competition was judged by Joanna Gardiner, Seán Gallagher of Smarthomes, Colum O’Sullivan of Cully & Sully’s and Mike Fitzgerald of Altobridge.

The finalists in the year-long Young Entrepreneur Programme received mentorship from companies in Kerry and advice from successful business owners.

Entrepreneur Jerry Kennelly said there was a shortage of young people starting businesses in this country.