Local Enterprise Week 2023 was a great success, with a diverse range of businesses around Donegal taking advantage of the scope of events on offer. The week kicked off with an inspirational session hosted by broadcaster and entrepreneur, Bobby Kerr, who shared his experiences of growing and scaling a business to a packed room in the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Other events that took place throughout the week included a workshop on digital marketing, an event exploring the opportunities around Donegal’s tweed sector, and an insightful talk on International Women’s Day to encourage female entrepreneurship in Donegal. On Friday, Local Enterprise Week drew to a close with a Business and Sport seminar focusing on inspirational leadership lessons from leading figures in Irish sport, Brent Pope, Nina Carberry, Michael Murphy and host Enda McNulty. 

Pictured l-r are: Carole Murray of Pearl and Lace, Louize Carroll, consultant psychologist, Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal, Jo Daly, President, Donegal Women in Business Network, Elaine McInaw, Eileen Kelly and Caitriona Sinnott, Facilitator, Donegal Women in Business Network at ‘Building Firm Foundations’, an event to celebrate International Women’s Day held as part of Local Enterprise Week 2023.

Commenting on this year’s Local Enterprise Week, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Liam Blaney said: ‘’Local Enterprise Week 2023 was a great success, and we’d like to thank all of our partners who helped to deliver a wide range of engaging and informative events. I’d also like to thank all of those who attended the events during the week in such great numbers. Through your Local Enterprise Office, Donegal County Council is providing vital services and assistance to our local businesses, so I would actively encourage any business to get in touch with the Local Enterprise Office, Donegal to find out more about the various programmes and supports available so that you can apply the learnings of Local Enterprise Week to your business.’’

Adding to this, Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal said: “This is my first Local Enterprise Week as Head of Enterprise, and together with our stakeholders, we were delighted to present such a jam-packed programme of events that drew such great numbers in attendance. This year’s theme was ‘Be Inspired’ and each day, our panel of speakers, together with local businesses sharing their stories, delivered inspirational events for businesses across Donegal. In the lead up to, and throughout the week, the support and exceptional cooperation that we had from our partners made the planning and delivery of Local Enterprise Week seamless and I would like to thank them all sincerely for their support in making it happen.”

Fashion editor of The Irish Times, Deirdre McQuillan leads a panel discussion with Lorna Macauley, CEO Harris Tweed Authority, Donnchadh Ó Baoill of Udaras Na Gaeltachta, Kieran Molloy of Molloy and Sons, Chris Weiniger of Donegal Yarns and Muiris Kennedy, Marketing Consultant at Crolly Distillery for ‘Inspired Yarns: Stories of Donegal’s Fashion and Textile Industry’, held during Local Enterprise Week.

Among the supports available through Local Enterprise Office Donegal are Start Your Own Business Programmes, Green for Micro and Trading Online Vouchers to help Donegal businesses reach a wider audience by embracing e-commerce and trade to the world online.  A new technology accelerator Scale-X, which is targeted at start up entrepreneurs with the potential for fast growth, will also get underway next month. The closing date for applications is midday on the 27th March 2023. 

If you attended any Local Enterprise Week events, Local Enterprise Office Donegal would appreciate your feedback. Take the quick survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/73YRV6H

Pictured with Head of Enterprise, Brenda Hegarty and the Local Enterprise Office team are sports personality Brent Pope, Nina Carberry, former National Hunt jockey and Michael Murphy, former captain of the Donegal Senior Gaelic Football at ‘Business and Sport: Inspirational Leadership Lessons’, which was the closing event of Local Enterprise Week 2023.