WESTMEATH COMPANY REVELS AS PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURNS

Westmeath company, Dcode Dyslexia from Local Enterprise Office Westmeath, were one of over 30 Local Enterprise Office clients from across the country who exhibited in the Local Enterprise Village at this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Laois as Europe’s largest event returned for the first time since 2019.

An attendance of 277,000 at this year’s National Ploughing Championships will have a positive knock-on impact for all the small businesses who were attending the Local Enterprise Village last week.  The Local Enterprise Village, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in local authorities across the country, saw over 30 small businesses from LEOs given the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the massive crowds that visited Ratheniska in County Laois last week.

Dcode Dyslexia created by Mary Moran is supported by the Local Enterprise Office Westmeath is a simple and effective reading programme for struggling and dyslexia students helping to turn them into confident readers.

A host of well-known faces dropped into the Local Enterprise Village across the three days including An Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar, US Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin, Minister of State Damien English, Newstalk’s former Dragon, Bobby Kerr and RTE’s Anne Cassin.

They all had the chance to meet with Mary Moran and some of Ireland’s best up-and-coming small businesses including the likes of MyGug from LEO Cork North & West converting food waste to gas for use in your home, former All-Star Mattie Forde with sportswear company Bodibro supported by LEO Wexford, Lucy&Me and their children’s furniture company from LEO South Dublin and LEO Donegal supported designer Bernie Murphy.  There was something for everyone at this year’s Local Enterprise Village.

Mary Moran, Dcode Dyslexia commented on her time at the Ploughing Championships: “It was a fantastic experience to gain exposure for dyslexia, something that needs a lot of exposure. My experience was very unique, one that I’ll never forget and will treasure because of all the wonderful people I got to interact with over the three days.”

Christine Charlton, Head of Enterprise, LEO Westmeath outlined what a fantastic opportunity this was for businesses; “Small businesses very rarely get an opportunity like this, and it is a significant event for them all in the growth of their business.  They were at the very heart of the action at the Ploughing Championships getting the chance to tell their story and sell their product / service to a massive new audience, an audience that were excited to be back following a two-year break.”

“We had been working with Dcode Dyslexia across the Summer to ensure they maximised this opportunity through sales and marketing training and stand design.  The Local Enterprise Village is always a great buzz, and they were one of the big hits for visitors to Ratheniska.” 

The Local Enterprise Village is just one of the Local Enterprise Offices initiatives that aim to support and promote small businesses across the country. There are 31 Local Enterprise Offices located in local authorities nationwide funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through Enterprise Ireland.  Other initiatives include Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day, the Local Enterprise Showcase, the Student Enterprise Programme and the National Enterprise Awards.  For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices and their range of supports and programmes, go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie.