Two Leitrim teenagers are to showcase youth entrepreneurship - with cow manure briquettes.

Cousins Linda Dolan (17) and Clare Dolan (16) will represent Ireland at a Global Showcase in New York.

The two set up their business 'MURE', which offers odourless briquettes made from dried cow manure.

The fifth year students from St Clare's Comprehensive School in Manorhamilton won the all-expenses paid trip after winning the Foróige Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship's International Business Plan competition.

At the event they will meet young entrepreneurs from the United States, Australia, China, Mexico, Singapore, Israel, Germany and Belgium.

Commenting on their win, Clare said: "I can't believe we've won - setting up our own business has been such a great experience. MURE's aim is to reduce global warming as our product is renewable and made out of a completely natural resource - cow manure. 'Your Effluence is our Affluence' is our business motto".

Explaining where they came up with their idea, Clare said: "We were on our family farm when we were discussing the amount of cow manure that is being wasted and not being used for anything. We were trying to think of ways to turn this vast amount of cow manure into euro's when we came up with the idea to dry it out and burn it".

A year-long study carried out by the girls - in conjunction with their school and Sligo Institute of Technology - found their product to be more efficient than its peat counterparts.

"One of our biggest challenges was that our customers were worried about an odour from cow manure briquettes, but once they are dried and treated correctly there is no odour from them at all," Linda explained.

A MURE fire log costs €4 and fire bag, which consists of their briquettes, kindlers and a fire lighter, costs €5.

The girls are hoping to take their product nationwide.

"We are in consultation with McPartland Fuels, Corrib Oil and also several Apple Green stores asking them to stock our products," Linda added.