Today (18^th September 2018) Carlow County Council & the Institute of Technology Carlow with support from Bank of Ireland, County Carlow Chamber, Carlow County Development Partnership, Carlow Tourism & Carlow Local Community Development Committee launched two R-Innovate Network Events which will be hosted in Ballon on 3rd October 2018 and Bagenalstown on 23rd October 2018.The events will feature national and local speakers who will share and discuss their own journeys in achieving success from a rural domain on to a national and international platform. Speakers include Anna May Mc Hugh , Bobby Kerr , Valerie Carty - Ballon Business Hub ,Breda Malone - Visioning , Lorna Buggy - Buggy Curtain Making , Barry Curry - Systeme,Colin Rea - Rea Department Store ,Clodagh Corcoran - Builin Ur & Liz Dolan - Barrow Training

The R-Innovate Enterprise Development Program which has been taking place in County Carlow since March 2018 was designed based on the needs of rural enterprises to introduce innovation into their business. The program was held in Ballon and Bagenalstown and worked with over 30 businesses across the respective town and village hinterland. The overall objective of the program was based on guiding businesses on their next stage of development with a local understanding and a global perspective.

Launching the networking events Cathaoirleach Brian O’ Donoghue said “R-Innovate is about creating more jobs for rural Carlow. The events will give a sense of how rural towns and villages may develop over the coming years, and an understanding into the range of existing and new businesses that will form the backbone of the local economy”.

Speaking about the Networking Events Kathleen Holohan, Chief Executive with Carlow County Council said “The events in October are an opportunity to get an outside opinion on rural and regional development, together with an insight into the challenges and also a sense of the ambition and prospects for some of the businesses who took part in the program”. Holohan concluded by saying “A partnership approach was key to the success of the R-Innovate programme and I am delighted with the support of Bank of Ireland, County Carlow Chamber, Carlow County Development Partnership, Carlow Tourism & Carlow Local Community Development Committee on this project who all brought a wealth of knowledge, networks and opportunities which was of huge benefit to the programme participants”.

For further information on R-innovate or if you are interested in attending these networking events contact Sarah Byrne on 059 9129783 or e-mail enterprise@carlowcoco.ie or book via Eventbrite

Ends

For further information contact Kieran Comerford on 086/8252037 or e-mail: kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie Pauline Hoctor on 086/4109079 or e-mail: phoctor@carlowcoco.ie Peadar Casey – IT Carlow or e-mail: Peadar.Casey@itcarlow.ie

Booking for Anna May Mc Hugh – 3^rd October 2018 – Click Here: Tickets - Ballon

Booking for Bobby Kerr -23^rd October 2018 - Click Here:Tickets - Bagenalstown

R- Innovate October 2018 .jpg (size 3.8 MB)