On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of The Station House in Letterkenny, Brian Gallagher. Brian began to explore the possibility of building a hotel on the family site along Oldtown Road in 2002. Construction began in September 2005 and the 81-bedroom hotel opened its doors on August 1st, 2006. …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of Inis Communications, Trish Hegarty. Trish worked as a journalist with the Irish Times, RTÉ and BBC Radio Foyle before setting up her PR, social media, and digital content agency in 2004. Inis Communications recently launched the Inis ExPRtise PR toolkit for SMEs …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the founder of Glenard Plant in Letterkenny, James Russell, and his son, Eamon, and daughter, Denise McTeague, who took over the running of the business based at Tara Court in 2016. James set up Glenard Plant with the help and support of his wife, Anne, …
Business Matters Ep 165 – James Russell, Eamon Russell & Denise McTeague Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the founder and owner of Cácaí Aoibhín in Gweedore, Aoibhín O’Dea. Aoibhín set up her baking business at the age of 13 and has been working full-time on the venture since finishing secondary school. She travelled to Dublin and Wicklow for work experience during her …
Business Matters Ep 164 – Aoibhín O’Dea & Martin Murray Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the Chief Commercial Officer with Precision Sports Technology, Seán McVeigh, about securing an investment of $100,000 from three US-based businessmen at the Alpha Innovation event in Rathmullan last Friday. Ciaran also speaks to one of those investors, John T Fries, who was presented with the the …
Business Matters Ep 163 – Seán McVeigh, John T. Fries & Larissa Feeney Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell’s guest is former managing director of Fruit of the Loom and former Chair of the International Fund For Ireland, Willie McCarter, who now works as an independent advisor. Four days after graduating from Trinity College in Economics and Political Science in 1969, he began his masters degree at …
On this week’s Business Matters, we go back to an interview in February when Ciaran O’Donnell spoke to Liam Langan from Dunfanaghy. Liam set up his quantity surveying practice with a former work colleague, Jason Tully, in 2012. Headquartered in Dublin, the company opened a second office in Letterkenny last year and currently employs 22 …
Business Matters Ep 161 – Liam Langan – Playback edition Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, we go back to an interview in January when Ciaran O’Donnell spoke to the co-owner of Donegal Bees in Glencolmcille, Thomas Ellis A former carpenter, Thomas set up the company in 2013, and in 2020 Áine Curran became a co-owner. Donegal Bees has the only wax-processing facility in Ireland and …
Business Matters Ep 160 – Thomas Ellis – Playback edition Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of Mallow Mia in Newtowncunningham, Linda McClean. The food scientist turned gourmet marshmallow and rocky roads maker, set up the business in 2014, and in 2020 she opted to go full-time at the venture. After graduating from Queens and completing her masters degree …
Business Matters Ep 159 – Linda McClean & Siobhan Grant Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to the owners of Alexander’s of Ballybofey, Joe and Tracey Alexander. The business was taken over from the McClure family by Joe’s parents in 1960 and has been trading successfully since. Joe bought over the shop and became the sole owner in 1989. And in 2019, his …
Business Matters Ep 158 – Joe & Tracey Alexander Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the co-owner of Citadel Gymnastics in Letterkenny and Gweedore, Fiona Murphy, and the owner of Kelly’s Centra and Kelly’s Diner in Letterkenny, Mairtín Kelly. Having graduated in mechanical engineering, Fiona Murphy decided to leave her job as a project engineer in Donegal Town and set …
Business Matters Ep 157 – Fiona Murphy & Mairtín Kelly Read More »
On this week’s Busines Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by hairdresser, Terance Boyle. A native of Kilcar, Terance left school at the age of 14 and after a number of jobs, he decided to pursue a career in the hair industry when he moved to Letterkenny, spending the next ten years with Patrick Gildea. Terance …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by local estate agent, Louis Boyce. A native of Carrigart with a strong background in retail, Louis set up a property agency with Denis Faulkner in Letterkenny 20 years ago. He left the company in 2014 and spent the next three years in London. Louis went …
Business Matters Ep 155 – Louis Boyce & Deirdre McColgan Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the founder and owner of The Miik Bar in Carrigans, Shannon Porter. Shannon’s family owns a large dairy farm that comprises 450 cows and 200 ewes on 800 acres. She graduated with an Honours Degree in Agriculture from Harper Adams University in 2021, and a …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Oliver McBride, editor of The Fishing Daily and director at Salt Water Media. After working in a number of different jobs while combining his third-level studies, Oliver set up The Fishing Daily in September 2019, and in January 2020 the news platform went live In …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner and founder of the Sliabh Liag Campsite in Teelin, Ciarán McHugh. The seven-acre site was developed in 2021 and around 250 people stayed there over the June bank holiday weekend. Last month the Sliabh Liag Campsite won Campsite of the Year at the …
Business Matters Ep 152 – Ciarán McHugh & Toni Forrester Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the co-owner of the Caisleáin Óir Hotel and the co-owner of Errigal Brewing in Annagry, James McDevitt. Caisleáin Óir, which employs around 60 people, was opened in 2002, and last year, James and his sister, Anita, secured a license for their brewery. A qualified secondary …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to Shaun Doohan and his daughter, Amy, who along with Shaun’s mother, Margaret, run the well-known Shamrock Lodge in Falcarragh which won Pub of the Year at the recent Highland Radio Customer Appreciation Awards. Ciaran also speaks to Donegal County Councillor, Anthony Molloy, and Brendan Bradas O’Donnell, …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the CEO of Highland Radio and Letterkenny Chamber President, Fionnuala Rabbitt, who hosted the chamber president’s annual lunch in the Radisson Hotel on Friday afternoon. Ciaran also speaks to the leader of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, who delivered the keynote address at the Letterkenny …
Business Matters Ep 149 – Fionnuala Rabbitt & Mary Lou McDonald Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of Colmcille Press in Derry and spokesperson for the Derry University Group, Garbhán Downey. A former journalist with the Irish News, the Sunday Times, the Belfast Telegraph and the Derry Journal, he was also the editor of the Derry News. In 2005, Garbhán moved …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of TC Promotions based on Arranmore Island, Thomas Costello. A native of Aranmore, Thomas began his DJing career as a 14-year-old in Smuggler’s Nightclub in 1990. After a number of years working in construction which took him to London, Limerick and Dublin, Thomas returned …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the managing director of Silver Strand Rope Works in Moville, Patrick McLaughlin. Patrick set up his business at the age of 17 at the same time he was sitting his Leaving Certificate in 1990. Back in December, Silver Strand Rope Works, which is the only …
Business Matters Ep 146 – Patrick McLaughlin & Aine Moyne Grieve Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the co-owner of Bugger Jacks in Milford, Ciaran Blaney. The 24-year-old set up the business at Lagg Service Station in Milford in July 2019. The takeaway outlet at Milford Retail Park was opened in February 2022 and a few months later, Burger Jacks 45-seater restaurant opened …
Business Matters Ep 145 – Ciaran Blaney & Kevin Sexton Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of Orchard Stables at Manorcunningham, Lisa Wallace, and the Head of Enterprise at Donegal’s Local Enterprise Office, Brenda Hegarty. A native of Austria, Lisa Wallace first came to Ireland on a family holiday in 2012 and soon after, she returned to spend six …
Business Matters Ep 144 – Lisa Wallace & Brenda Hegarty Read More »
Last Thursday saw the launch of the Inishowen Sustainable Energy Community’s strategic plan in the Ballyliffin Lodge Hotel. Business Matters presenter, Ciaran O’Donnell, travelled to the launch and spoke to a number of people who are involved in the plan aimed at creating a decarbonised and more sustainable Inishowen. These included the joint CEO of …
Business Matters Ep 143 – Paul McGonigle, Andrew Ward & Claire Irwin Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the owner of The Wheelhouse Cafe in Burtonport, John Reilly. Fourteen people are employed at The Wheelhouse and he is set to create six new jobs when his glamping site, which will accommodate nine pods, opens in June. John moved from Scotland to Burtonport as a ten-year-old …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of Alcorn’s Garden Centre and the owner of Tropical World in Letterkenny, Clive Alcorn. Clive’s late parents, Tommy and Martha, set up a flower shop at Loughnagin in the eighties and Clive began working full-time in the business while still a teenager. When …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Letterkenny-based graphic designer and photographer, Stevie Toye, and the owner of Ards Coffee Tree, Patrick Stewart. After graduating from Letterkenny IT, Stevie Toye worked as a graphic designer for a number of local newspapers and Browne’s Printers in Letterkenny before branching out on his own. …
Business Matters Ep 140 – Stevie Toye & Patrick Stewart Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Mary Meehan, owner of Veve Boutique and V2 which are both located in Donegal Town, and her daughter, Aishling, who has been working full-time in the business for the last three years. Verve Boutique was established in 1999 and last year it was named Irish …
Business Matters Ep 139 – Mary Meehan & Aishling Meehan Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the founder of Joe Gallagher Entertainment based in Strabane, Joe Gallagher. Joe took his first steps in the entertainment business as a 14-year-old DJ, and his DJ work subsequently took him to Norway, Denmark, Switzerland and Greece. He set up Joe Gallagher Entertainment in 1983 and has …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of O’Donnell’s Bakery in Laghey, Andrew McElhinney, and recruitment officer with Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training Services, Tara McGuire. On Christmas Eve in 2010, O’Donnell’s Bakery, which was established in 1969, closed down. Within a month, Andrew McElhinney, who had been a …
Business Matters Ep 136 – Andrew McElhinney & Tara McGuire Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the CEO of the Harris Tweed Authority, Lorna Macaulay, who helped Donegal ETB develop the country’s first-ever certified weaving course that was launched last year. Ciaran also speaks to Errigal College TY student, Matthias Uhlich, winner of the Donegal Local Enterprise Office Student Enterprise Programme for …
Business Matters Ep 135 – Lorna Macaulay & Matthias Uhlich Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by entrepreneur and presenter of Newstalk’s Down To Business show, Bobby Kerr, and founder of 3D Issue, Paul McNulty, who were part of the first event of Donegal Enterprise Week that was launched on Monday. Ciaran also talks to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon …
Business Matters Ep 134 – Paul McNulty, Bobby Kerr & Simon Coveney Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the managing director of IHeating & Cooling Ltd, Fabian McShane. A qualified plumber and fitter, Fabian’s background is in engineering, air conditioning and refrigeration. He set up IHeating & Cooling Ltd, which specialises in air-to-water heat pumps, in 2017. Listen back here:
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the director of Buildcost, Liam Langan. Liam set up his quantity surveying practice with a former work colleague, Jason Tully, in 2012. Headquartered in Dublin, the company opened a second office in Letterkenny last year and currently employs 22 people. Buildcost has recently secured contracts …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the founder of Donegal Natural Soap Company in Glenties, Isobel Sangha. Isobel began making soap for family and friends and set up her company in 2010. As a member of the Guaranteed Irish team, Isobel is always searching for new Irish ingredients to use and promote …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell’s guest is the Head of Regions, Property, and Enterprise Development with IDA Ireland, Denis Curran. Established in 1949, the IDA is the state agency responsible for promoting Ireland for foreign direct investment. A native of Letterkenny, Denis has been with IDA Ireland for 24 years and his first …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the owner of Ghost Productions and owner of Kickboxing LK, Tommy McCafferty. Tommy’s decision to buy a camera to help market and promote Kickboxing LK led to him setting up Ghost Productions in 2018, and his first paid job was for a gym in Strabane. Since …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the co-owner of Donegal Bees in Glencolumbkille, Thomas Ellis. A former carpenter, Thomas set up the company in 2013, and Áine Curran became a co-owner three years ago. Donegal Bees has the only wax processing facility in Ireland and a product range of almost 900. …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to the founder of Pumpskynz, Catherine Devine, and Letterkenny Chamber CEO, Toni Forrester. In 2020, local journalist, Catherine Devine decided to quit her role with the Donegal News to invest all of her working time into her company, Pumkskynz, which makes silicone gel covers for diabetes equipment such …
Business Matters Ep 127 – Catherine Devine & Toni Forrester Read More »
On this week’s edition, Ciaran O’Donnell’s guest is the team leader at Finn Valley AC, Patsy McGonagle. Patsy was to the fore when the club purchased a disused factory in Stranorlar in the early 80s for £32,000 sterling. Over the last 40 years, the building has expanded to become a vibrant, multi-purpose centre that …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Paul Kelly, a director with Irish company, Harcourt Technologies, which is providing the 3D construction printing technology for a housing development in Lancashire in England. The social housing project will comprise 46 units and a community centre for homeless army veterans and low-income families. It’s …
On this week’s Business Matters, we dip into the archives for this replay edition which features Ciaran O’Donnell’s interview with Liam Cassidy first aired in May 2022. Liam is known as ‘The Serial Factory Fixer’, having turned around the fortunes of factories and supply chains all over the world. Now living in Newbridge in Co. …
Business Matters Ep 124 – Liam Cassidy – Playback edition Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the co-owners of MGC Tree Services at Milltown, New Mills, Oisin Crawford and Jason McGeehan. Oisin and Jason have been friends for over twenty years. Having worked together on different projects with other companies, they set up their own tree surgery company in December 2020. …
Business Matters Ep 123 – Oisin Crawford & Jason McGeehan Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the co-owner of Evolve Clothing, Mark McCloskey, who opened Evolve at Letterkenny Retail Park with his brother, JP, in 2008. They relocated to a larger unit and the current store is over 9,000 square feet. Evolve has shipped goods to 70 different countries in 2022 and …
Business Matters Ep 122 – Mark McCloskey & David McHale Read More »
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell’s guest is award-winning knitwear designer, Edel MacBride. She sold her first item at an arts and crafts fair at the age of 12, and went on to study fashion design at Limerick Technical College in 1984. Edel won the Late Late Show Designer of the Year Award in 1995 …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to the owner of Batch Coffee House Bar and Kitchen in Falcarragh, Ciaran McGarvey. After graduating with a BA in Economics at DCU, Ciaran worked in Lifestyle Sports in Dublin for two years before returning to Donegal to take up the role of food and beverage manager …
Ciaran O’Donnell’s guest on this week’s Business Matters is the CEO of Donegal Local Development Company, Padraic Fingleton. DLDC, which was established in 1995, provides a wide range of support to individuals, communities and voluntary groups across Donegal. DLDC’s 80 staff are currently working on 13 programmes. Earlier this month, its three-year strategic plan was …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to motivational speaker and owner of The Motivation Factory, Nikki Bradley. Nikki was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare and often deadly form of bone cancer, when she was 16, and that diagnosis had a huge influence on the path her life would take. She set up …
On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of Doherty’s Butchers in Letterkenny, Stephen Shiels. Stephen has been a butcher for 37 years, having started his trade with the late Paddy Kelly on Letterkenny’s Upper Main Street next to Dillon’s Supermarket. When Paddy retired nine years later, Stephen moved to Doherty’s …
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