Local Enterprise Week 2024 saw a diverse range of businesses around Donegal taking advantage of the scope of events on offer, with thousands in attendance at 19 separate events hosted by both the Local Enterprise Office and a range of support partners across Donegal.
The week kicked off on Monday, with an exhilarating session hosted by business broadcaster and journalist, Richard Curran, who was joined by a panel of local business experts, Eleanor Hanna, of Hanna Hats, Martin McGuinness of MMG Ocean, and Donagh Kelly of Circet, who shared their stories of starting and growing businesses from Donegal.
Richard Curran (R) , journalist and broadcaster, with panelists, Martin McGuinness, MD, MMG Ocean, Donagh Kelly, Deputy CEO Circet, and Eleanor Hanna, GM, Hanna Hats, on stage at the “Taking Your Business To The Next Level” event and the Official Launch of Local Enterprise Week in the Radisson Hotel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. Photo by Joe Dunne 03/03/2024
Tuesday of Local Enterprise Week focused on Donegal food, with “The Food Coast Donegal Producers Showcase” in The Silver Tassie Hotel, hosted by Darragh McCullough of RTE’s ‘Ear to The Ground’. The event kicked off with keynote speaker Kwanghi Chan and a panel discussion with Siobhán Ní Gháirbhith of St Tola Cheese, Willie Cremen of Filligans and Eugene Gallen of Bon Appetit, who shared their insights into the culinary and consumer trends that will help Donegal food businesses innovate and grow. Niamh Ruane of Musgraves also presented on the buyer’s perspective, highlighting opportunities in the consumer food market.
There was also a host of Donegal’s finest food and drinks’ producers showcasing their products and networking throughout the event.
Niamh Ruane, Musgrave Group, Kwanghi Chan, Chef, Willie Cremen, Filligans, Siobhán Ni Gháirbhith, St Tola’s Cheese, and Eugene Gallen, Bon Appetite, on stage at the Food Coast Donegal Producer Showcase 2024 held in the Silver Tassie, Letterkenny. Photo by Joe Dunne 05/03/2024
Markus Caloja, Bakesimo by Maggie, attends the Food Coast Donegal Producer Showcase 2024 held in the Silver Tassie, Letterkenny. Photo by Joe Dunne 05/03/2024
John Graham, Ballyholey Farm, attends the Food Coast Donegal Producer Showcase 2024 held in the Silver Tassie, Letterkenny. Photo by Joe Dunne 05/03/2024
On Wednesday, the focus was on “Stepping Up to Export” while Thursday’s event focused on sustainability with a free online “Sustainability Kickstarter Workshop.”
Friday, 8th March marked the final day of Local Enterprise Week, and the focus turned to sport, with “The Business of Leadership – Lessons from Sport” event in the Mount Errigal Hotel. Household names from the fields of GAA and rugby, Jim McGuinness, Cora Staunton, and Bernard Jackman shared some of the experiences and sacrifices that made them champions in their field and the parallels their leadership, sporting approach and achievements have in the business world. Local Enterprise Week culminated with a cross border event, hosted by the Donegal Women in Business Network, to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Commenting on this year’s Local Enterprise Week, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Martin Harley said: ‘’Local Enterprise Week 2024 was a great success, and we’d like to thank all of our partners who helped to deliver a wide range of engaging and informative events. I’d also like to thank all of those who attended the events during the week in such great numbers. Through your Local Enterprise Office, Donegal County Council is providing vital services and assistance to our local businesses, so I would actively encourage any business to get in touch with the Local Enterprise Office, Donegal to find out more about the various programmes and supports available so that you can apply the learnings of Local Enterprise Week to your business.’’
(Front left) Conor Doherty, innovation Officer at ALPHA Innovation, Kevin Sexton, Alpha Innovation, Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise, Meabh Conaghan, Enterprise Ireland, Regional Director, and Steven Perry, Business Advisor Local Enterprise Office, with attendees at the ‘Ready, Steady, Innovate’ event in Lough Eske Castle Hotel, Lough Eske, Co. Donegal during Local Enterprise Week 2024. Photo by Joe Dunne 07/03/2024
Philip O’Kennedy (R), Business Advisor Local Enterprise Office, with the panelists, Damian Devaney, Senior Partner TBV Global, Emma Boylan, Outside the Box, Edel McBride, Irish designer, and Scott McInnes, founder of Inspiring Change, at the ‘Communicating with impact’ event in the Century Cinema in Letterkenny during Local Enterprise Week. Photo by Joe Dunne 05/03/24
Adding to this, Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal said: “Thanks to everyone for their help in making this year’s Local Enterprise Week a resounding success. Working in partnership with our stakeholders, we were delighted to present such a jam-packed programme of events that drew such great numbers in attendance. This year’s theme was ‘Be Brave’ and each day, our panel of speakers, together with local businesses shared their stories to deliver inspirational events for businesses across Donegal. In the lead up to, and throughout the week, the support and exceptional cooperation that we had from our partners made the planning and delivery of Local Enterprise Week seamless and I would like to thank them all sincerely for their support in making it happen.”
(Back Left) Kwanghi Chan, Chef, Siobhán Ni Gháirbhith, St Tola’s Cheese, Willie Cremen, Filligans, Eugene Gallen, Bon Appetite, (front left) Niamh Ruane, Musgrave Group, Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise, MC – Darragh McCullough, and Maura Toner, Food Coast Donegal, attend the Food Coast Donegal Producer Showcase 2024 held in the Silver Tassie, Letterkenny. Photo by Joe Dunne 05/03/2024
Among the supports available through Local Enterprise Office Donegal are Start Your Own Business Programmes, Green for Micro, and Trading Online Vouchers to help Donegal businesses reach a wider audience by embracing e-commerce and trade to the world online. A technology accelerator Scala, which is targeted at start up entrepreneurs with the potential for fast growth, will also get underway next month. The closing date for applications is Thursday, 4th April 2024 at 5:00pm. Find out more here: www.localenterprise.ie/Donegal
If you attended any Local Enterprise Week events, Local Enterprise Office Donegal would appreciate your feedback. Take the quick survey here: https://tinyurl.com/282yvrnh
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