Tag Archives: Clare LEO

One of Clare’s best small businesses will get a chance to exhibit their business to almost 300,000 people at the National Ploughing Championships next month as part of the Local Enterprise Village. Moher Cottage, located beside the Cliffs of Moher on the Wild Atlantic Way, is supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare and is a destination gift store, manufacturing and selling their own fudge, prints and gifts under their ‘Moher Cottage’ brand. Founded by Caitriona and Kevin Considine, with decades of hospitality and business experience between them, spotted the need for a new visitor experience for those visiting and living in Co. Clare. Moher Cottage is also online on www.MoherCottage.com The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) will see over 30 small businesses from across the country take a stand in the Local Enterprise Village in the heart of the Ploughing Championships, opening their businesses up to almost 300,000 prospective customers across the 3 days of the event. The …

A KILLALOE company has scored on the double by winning a Lean Leadership Award that brought extra cash of up to €150,000 into the company over an 18-month period. Thinking Toys was recently presented with an Award of Achievement in recognition of lean leadership at the 2022 Lean Business Ireland Awards. Implementing transformation change with stock management through a new Lean Management Programme to deal with an overstocking issue helped the company reduce their suppliers to 130 and product lines to 4,000, which cut the value of stock it held by 35%. Thinking Toys had grown from employing two people with ten suppliers and 200 products in 2004 to nine employees with 160 suppliers in 2020 across the world and 5,500 product lines. The family business was set up by Michael and Áine Conacur, inspired by their eldest child Ailis, who has Sturge Weber Syndrome and who had major brain surgery when she was two. The frustration and difficulties the …

DESIGNER Laura Vaughan is the latest talented craftsperson to join the high profile ‘Made Local’ campaign. This is the second year of the prestigious initiative from the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland and Laura, who has a degree in interior architecture, was selected for her creative curation of the work of other Irish designers and makers, as well as her own range of products Laura’s Design Studio and Gift Shop is a working studio located on Upper O’Connell Street in Ennis. As well as showcasing the work of other designers, Laura offers her own range of digitally printed lampshade, matching cushions, napkins, tea towels and aprons. Combining her background in interiors and textiles, Laura launched her own distinctive homeware range at Showcase 2016, and her patterns and products are constantly evolving and growing. Laura’s collection is designed and made and printed in Ireland and as well ask making her own shades, Laura offers a lampshade restoration and making service …

A CLARE student has taken second prize in the Intermediate Category at the National Final of this year’s Student Enterprise Programme. Mae Kivlehan, from Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon, was awarded for ‘Tried & Tested, which was a cookbook with a compilation of recipes from sports stars, celebrities and locals. The winning student worked under the guidance of her teachers, Laura Garvey and Caitriona Hynes. The finals of the Local Enterprise Office initiative were broadcast virtually on Friday from Croke Park with An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Ambassador Derval O’Rourke speaking with host RTE’s Rick O’Shea, as students and teachers watched on from across the country. The Junior Category was represented by The Art Co from Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon and the Senior Category was represented by Portable Pouches from St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point. Praising the winning students and all those representing Clare at the National Finals, Padraic McElwee with Local Enterprise Office Clare said: “This is a proud day for …

Start-ups and small businesses from across the country that have been supported by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have delivered a net total of 3,700 new jobs in 2017. This brings the total number of new jobs created by LEO-backed companies to 15,000 since the LEOs were set up in 2014. The jobs results by the LEOs were welcomed by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys and the Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen, the opening of the annual LEO Forum in Athlone today (Monday). The 31 LEOs nationwide, run in partnership by Enterprise Ireland and local authorities, provide a ‘first stop shop’ for the supports available to entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses. Minister Breen said, “In a challenging environment, LEO clients have contributed substantially to economic development up and down the country, especially outside of the main urban centres. I would encourage the Local Authorities and …

Clare County Council through the Local Enterprise Office Clare has embarked on a collaborative initiative to build stronger trading links with Providence in the north-eastern U.S. State of Rhode Island. A new business centre has been established in Providence to cater for County Clare enterprises seeking to enter the US market. The Ireland West International Trade Centre (IWITC) is also supported by local authorities in Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo, Leitrim and Galway. Twelve enterprises from across the West of Ireland have returned from a visit to Rhode Island where they engaged with various businesses and political leaders and explored the potential opportunities for winning business in the United States. Clare businesses were represented Louise McGuane of the Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Coin Coraclare and Aidan Quilligan, Sixmilebridge of Clubify. Members of the Irish delegation also were guests of honour at World Trade Day, held annually in Bryant University. This event is focused on developing international trade and was attended by over …