Ones To Watch: 7 High-Achieving Students

Mohammed Shoaib Malik
DCU

Malik is a Computer for Business student who serves as the CEO and co-founder of Locanter, a Dublin-based events and activities discovery platform. He and several course-mates were inspired by their own experiences of depending on social media and word-of-mouth to find stuff to do. Built on a shoestring budget, the app is showing promising early traction – reaching 1,000 downloads in two weeks.

Ailbhe O’Regan
TCD

The mythology and spirituality associated with her hometown has clearly rubbed off on this Tara, Co. Meath, native. O’Regan is a History of Art, Architecture and Religion student, who also makes in-demand whimsical jewellery with Flowerchild Designs. She manages the design, production, marketing, and overall operation of this one-woman show, which has seen serious success with collections selling out.

Her pieces have been worn by influencers like Keelin Moncrieff, and you’ve probably seen bits from her sold-out, Palestinian-inspired jewellery collection, which she launched to raise funds for Gaza. Alongside design, O’Regan balances a modelling career. At Dublin Independent Fashion Week last year, she closed the show in a gown from Irish designer Niamh McGovern.

Fionn Barron
SETU

This filmmaker won the new Údarás na Gaeltachta Award for Cruthaitheoir Ábhair Gaeilge na Bliana, for his lyrical and compelling short film Gairdíní Stella. The Irish-language documentary examines the Stella Gardens area of Dublin, after the impact of the 2002 floods, which forced dozens of families to evacuate their homes. It captures the immediate chaos and destruction of the floods at the time, and the irreversible change that lingers today.

Alice Kelly
TUD

Widely known as the ‘From Scratch Baker’, Kelly is a classically trained baker, entrepreneur and digital creator. When she was 18-years-old, this Kildare native started her viral business by converting a vintage horse box into a pop-up bakery. Amassing millions of followers across TikTok and YouTube, she shares accessible baking recipes and the realities of running a business.

She released her debut cookbook, From Scratch: 80 Foolproof Recipes, in July. Elsewhere, she is also an ambassador for both Breast Cancer Ireland and the Irish Haemochromatosis Association. Keep an eye out for her pop-ups across Dublin, where she gives away thousands of free baked goods.

Orla Mahon
UCD

A Philosophy student, Orla served as Editor of the University Observer alongside Adam Schmitz. The Observer published a major investigative report detailing the sexual violence and image-based sexual abuse in UCD, and their coverage was featured in national broadsheets and the BBC. For her work, Mahon earned a Justice Media Award and took home the Journalist of the Year award at the SMEDIAS in April.

Eoghan Frayne
MU

This Gaelic football talent balances an elite inter-country career with his academic pursuits. At just 21, the Summerhill GFC forward was named captain of the Meath Men’s Senior Football team, leading them to Championship victories over Dublin, Kerry and Cork during a surprise All-Ireland semi-final run in 2025. Renowned for his razor-sharp accuracy and exceptional leadership, Frayne is pursuing a degree in Business Management in Maynooth, and starred for the college during their quarter-final Sigerson Cup campaign.

Darragh O’Dempsey
DCU

This English and History student recently celebrated one year since the release of his poetry anthology, A Serpent’s Hiss, which was remarkably compiled while he was in the midst of his Living Cert prep. O’Dempsey’s work focuses on the emotional turmoil of being young, and on self-discovery, with the serpent being a recurring motif throughout. He’s also done live readings in his native Waterford. Impressive work for an 18-year-old.

Photo: Joe Evans

Read the full Student Special in the current issue of Hot Press: