Enterprising youngsters get a piece of the fleadh pie

It's been estimated that this year's fleadh will be worth more than €60m to the local economy.

Some of Mullingar's youngest entrepreneurs have been busy this week ensuring that they get their own little piece of the fleadh pie.

On Tuesday we caught up with friends Hannah Daly, Lilly Rose Rock and Aimee Gilbride, who were doing a roaring trade selling a range of self-made goods, including earrings, pillows and bracelets.

In addition to making some well earned pocket money, the girls also had a donation box for St Vincent de Paul.

Another young lady who was busy working on Tuesday afternoon was Mullingar's newest author, Áine Hickey, who was selling her recently published book, We All Have Feelings, which has been flying off the shelves since it was launched last month.

In addition to being a right good read, all funds raised from the sale of the book are going to local cancer support charity LARCC, which helped Áine and her family when he mother Marie got cancer a couple of years ago.

Áine's friend Aoife Casey was helping her attract the crowds over to the booth at Collentines on Dominick Street which was being manned by Marie.

One of the busiest stands on Mullingar's streets over the past few days is the hair braiding operation set up by friends Ellie Kelleghan, Aoife McCormack, Holly Tuite and Martha Eivers.

When the Westmeath Examiner paid them a visit to the stand on Castle Street on Thursday afternoon the girls were busy braiding hair, as well as selling sunglasses, bracelets and necklaces.

Holly said that business was going very well and that she was going to use her money when she goes away on holidays after the fleadh.