29th January 2024
Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond TD, visited the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Carlow last Friday, 26 January, where he met with members of the LEO team and some client companies.
The Minister was welcomed to the Local Enterprise Office by Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Andrea Dalton of Carlow County Council, Chief Executive of Carlow County Council, Coilín O’Reilly and Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Kieran Comerford.
Minister Richmond said:
“I am delighted to visit the Carlow Local Enterprise Office and meet with the team and their clients. Meeting businesses across the country is one of the best parts of my role and it is amazing to see the impact of the LEO’s work in practice.
“The team here in the Carlow LEO do amazing work, supporting over 200 companies which employ over 1,000 people across Carlow. From financial supports to mentorship and training, there are a huge amount of supports available from the LEO.”
Minister Richmond was introduced to five local Carlow businesses, including Ronan Murphy, co-founder of VisionGreen Consultancy. VisionGreen focus on sustainability for business and the positive impact this can have. They believe in supporting business to make a difference in the communities and societies they operate in through making more sustainable choices for their businesses.
The Minister then met Norah Ryan of Barrow Training & Development, who leads a team of nine women who deliver a range of healthcare courses online, on-site and in the classroom to suit all student levels, learning styles, and budgets.
Minister Richmond also spoke with Catriona Cullen, co-founder of Cullen Nurseries, who, alongside her husband, delivers the best of native Irish trees and hedging plants to clients throughout Ireland.
The Minister then met Joanne Doyle, founder of Enchanted Castle Melts, based in Bagenalstown, that produce a large selection of scented soy wax melts. After finding that she got headaches from other wax melts available on the market, Joanne was inspired to develop her own. Joanne recently took part in Showcase Creative Expo, Ireland’s annual Creative Expo, attended by buyers from Ireland and abroad.
Minster Richmond was then introduced to Alexandria Kelly, a passionate nature enthusiast and graduate of Institute of Technology Carlow, who in 2021 launched the Flower Child brand which now acts as a hub for her creativity featuring a range of Aromatherapy Home Fragrance products and more.
On the conclusion of his visit, Minister Richmond said:
“The impact of the support provided by Local Enterprise Offices cannot be underestimated. The work of the team here in Carlow LEO is clear, as is their success through that of their clients.
“The entrepreneurs I met today are a testament to Carlow and set an example to the possibilities open to anyone who wants to start their own business. I would strongly encourage all entrepreneurs and businesspeople in Carlow to contact the LEO team to see what supports are available to you.”
ENDS
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