Wexford company gets ‘ploughing-ready’ thanks to Local Enterprise Office
The National Ploughing Championships, Europe’s largest outdoor event, returns to Offaly from September 18th – 20th, and D-Plant Horticulture is getting ‘ploughing-ready’ thanks to Local Enterprise Office Wexford.
At the ‘Local Enterprise Village’ at he Ploughing Championships this year, Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are helping 30 small businesses launch products and services to the thousands of visitors expected at the three-day event. 291,500 people, a record-breaking number, attended the National Ploughing Championships last year and Wexford will be represented in September by D-Plant Horticulture from Enniscorthy.
D-Plant Horticulture supply polytunnels, offer an extensive range of quality vegetable seeds, supply eucalyptus trees for growing as firewood and offer a plant nursery service for wholesale orders.
The full list of exhibitors in this year's Local Enterprise Village is as follows (this list may be subject to change):
- Carlow LEO: Jo Browne (perfumes, colognes and skincare) www.jobrowne.com
- Cavan LEO: Fitzpatrick’s Gourmet Ketchup (ketchup, marinades and sauces)
- Clare LEO: Airmid Natural Handmade Skincare (skincare company) www.airmidsoap.com
- Cork City LEO: Basil (artisan market for take home food)
- Cork North and West LEO: Caherbeg Free Range Pork Ltd/ Rosscarbery Recipes (Irish biltong and gluten-free black and white pudding)
- South Cork LEO: De Roiste Puddings Ltd (artisan breakfast meat products)
- Dublin City LEO: Quirky Irish Icons (handmade icons of Ireland made with clay) www.quirkyirishicons.ie
- South Dublin LEO: Emma By Jane (clothing and jewellery brand) www.emmabyjane.com
- Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown LEO: Viva Green (biodegradable, chemical and plastic free products) www.vivagreengroup.com
- Fingal LEO: BusterBox (subscription service with treats and toys for dogs) www.busterbox.com
- Galway LEO: Irish Socksciety (custom-made quirky socks) www.irishsocksciety.ie
- Kerry LEO: The Busy Botanist (organic herb teas) www.thebusybotanist.com
- Kildare LEO: Centrepiece Rosettes (rosettes and sashes manufacturer) www.centrepiecerosettes.ie
- Kilkenny LEO: Theft Finders (on-line database for reporting lost or stolen items) www.theftfinders.ie
- Laois LEO: Le Skinny Chef (Irish French fuzion cuisine) www.leskinnychef.com
- Leitrim LEO: Dromod Boxty (traditional recipe boxty and pancakes) www.dromodboxty.ie
- Limerick LEO: RTR Electronics (electronic and mechanical design engineers) www.rtrelec.com
- Longford LEO: Lir Agri (bio-security solutions for dairy and pork sector) www.liragri.com
- Louth LEO: Farm Tours Ireland Ltd (agri-tourism) www.farmtoursireland.com
- Mayo LEO: Wildwood Balsamics (producer of Irish balsamic vinegars)
- Meath LEO: The Studio (artisan coffee) www.thestudiocoffee.com
- Monaghan LEO: JB Rugby Innovations (rugby tackling equipment) www.tacklelow.ie
- Offaly LEO: Intellicom Ireland Ltd (telecommunications company) www.intellicom.io
- Roscommon LEO: Saoirse Saddlery (saddle making and fitting) www.saoirsesaddlery.ie
- Sligo LEO: SUIP Manufacturing (sprayer attachment for ride-on lawnmowers and ATVs) www.suipco.ie
- Tipperary LEO: Tipperary Boutique Distillery (whiskey distillery) www.tipperarydistillery.ie
- Waterford LEO: Hightower Painting Products (adjustable stand for holding pots of paint)
- Westmeath LEO: Dead Centre Brewing (hand-crafted ales) www.deadcentrebrewing.com
- Wexford LEO: D-Plant Horticulture (home-grown wood energy) www.dplant.ie
- Wicklow LEO: Little Big Bikes (convertible balance bikes with pedals) www.littlebigbikes.com
Minister Breen who met several Local Enterprise Village entrepreneurs at a LEO-run training day in Dublin, said: “The Local Enterprise Office network is a key pillar in the Government’s support for the growth and development of micro and small enterprises. By having dedicated supports in place to help small businesses at international events like the National Ploughing Championships, we are promoting trade and driving innovation and export growth for all business sectors across the country. I would encourage all visitors to the National Ploughing Championships in September to pay a visit to the Local Enterprise Village to support Ireland’s start-ups and small businesses. The Local Enterprise Offices are central to the delivery of these dedicated supports, which help build a culture of entrepreneurship and enterprise, delivering jobs in every County in Ireland.”
Minister Breen was joined earlier in the Summer at the launch of the Local Enerprise Village in Dublin by Oisin Geoghegan, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices, Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of The National Ploughing Association, Martin Corry of Enterprise Ireland and Paula Butler, Assistant Chief Executive of the Local Government Management Agency and representative of the County and City Management Association.
Tom Banville, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Wexford said: “As Europe’s largest outdoor event, the National Ploughing Championships are an international showcase for Ireland’s small business sector. To help small businesses get ‘ploughing-ready’, Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities across the country are providing expert training, marketing and project management support to maximise selling opportunities through the Local Enterprise Village.”
Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association Managing Director said: “It is inspiring that so many small businesses and start-ups will be launching new products and services at this year’s National Ploughing Championships’ at the ‘Local Enterprise Village’ with the support of Local Enterprise Offices. This is a unique opportunity for these small businesses, with 291,500 visitors in attendance last year, to showcase their companies to the large number of visitors that Ploughing attracts.”
The 87th Annual National Ploughing Championships take place from September 18th to 20th at Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly.
Find out more about this year's National Ploughing Championships here.
