Kieran Comerford - Head of Enterprise
Kieran is Head of Enterprise in the Local Enterprise Office Carlow, having worked as Chief Executive Officer of Carlow County Enterprise Board previously. Kieran has worked in a variety of roles from retailing, banking, and information technology and in the training sector during his career and has worked in the Enterprise Development sector since 2002.
Since then, he has acted as an advisor & mentor to hundreds of start-up and developing companies and has rolled out a variety of unique business support and enterprise promotion events and projects. He has a focus on support development, strategic planning and business growth. His work has included a variety of projects at local, national and international level. His core responsibility as Head of Enterprise is the delivery of the Local Enterprise Development Plan on an annual basis.
He was chair of the National Network of Local Enterprise Offices from 2015 - 2017 and is a member of the department National LEO Steering Group. He has previously been involved in projects such as National Women’s Enterprise Day, National Enterprise Awards and is currently chair of the National Exhibitions Committee which rolls out the Local Enterprise Village at NPA and Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase.
As part of his role he is a member of a variety of strategic and operational working groups, committees and Boards at local and regional level including Carlow Tourism, Carlow Early Years Training Services, Carlow Childcare Committee, Carlow Local Community & Development Committee & Carlow Community Enterprise Centres Ltd.
He is a graduate of the Quinn School of Business in UCD and also holds a post graduate qualification from IT Carlow & UCC and has lectured for the IATA in the areas of Management, Accounting & IT.
To contact Kieran, email kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie or call 059/9129783
Helen Ryan - Economic Development Officer
Helen is Economic Development Officer with the Local Enterprise Office in Carlow. Her career in Local Authority began 10 years ago as a Development Officer with the Limerick City Childcare Committee.
Helen then worked on supporting the development of the Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan and later went on to manage the Social Intervention Fund grant scheme. This involved supporting applicants for both social and economic funding opportunities.
Helen’s role involves leading a number of key economic projects which fall under the remit of the Local Enterprise in Carlow. These include Town and Village Renewal scheme, Festival and Events scheme and Retail Incentive Schemes. Helen is currently leading the development of a new Business Brand for County Carlow which will be used to promote Inward Investment for the County and is also supporting the development of a co-operative enterprise hub.
Helen is a graduate of Waterford Institute of Technology and University of Limerick.
To contact Helen, email: hryan@carlowcoco.ie or call 059/9129782
Gabrielle Carroll – European Project Officer
Gabrielle is European Projects Officer with the Local Enterprise Office, Carlow.
During her career she has worked on a wide range of EU and Irish development programmes, including LEADER and Interreg, in the areas of economic development, covering SME supports, environment and community development. She has particular experience in the food sector from delivering supports from farm to SME level, through to leveraging the food sector to be a key driver of economic development.
Gabrielle is a graduate of University College Dublin where she attained a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, specialising in Agri Business and Rural Development. She also holds a Higher Diploma in Entrepreneurship from the Smurfit School of Business, UCD and a Diploma in Executive Coaching from WIT.
In addition to the delivery of the Interreg Catalyst project, her role involves working with stakeholders in the identification of key development projects for Carlow, securing EU and Irish finance for their delivery and the coordination of these projects in cooperation with partners in other EU Countries.
To contact Gabrielle, email: gcarroll@carlowcoco.ie or call 059/9129788
Pauline Hoctor - Business Advisor
Pauline is Business Advisor with the Local Enterprise Office Carlow. During her career she has worked in a range of areas including enterprise development, community development, human resources and the training sector.
Pauline is a graduate of Dublin City University where she attained a Bachelor of Business Studies. She also completed a Diploma in Training and Development at NUI Maynooth and is currently completing a Masters in Education and Training Management (eLearning) at DCU.
Her role involves the provision of business information and advisory services, advise on financial supports available from the state and connecting clients with appropriate state resources/agencies.
To contact Pauline, email: phoctor@carlowcoco.ie or call 059 9129784
Sarah Byrne - Administrator
Sarah is an invaluable asset to the team with her considerable local knowledge and understanding of local issues.
Her primary area of responsibility is accounts and record keeping and in addition to which she provides support to LEO clients in a variety of areas. Sarah is very experienced in delivering the highest standards of customer care having worked in both the Hospitality sector and having worked for the Enterprise Board for over a decade.
To contact Sarah email sbyrne@carlowcoco.ie or call 059/9129785