A small business from Meath will get the chance to exhibit themselves to almost 300,000 people at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, County Offaly this month as part of the Local Enterprise Village.

Aura Sports Cream who are supported by Local Enterprise Office Meath are an innovative business developing pharmacist-formulated natural sports recovery creams, providing effective muscle and joint relief through Irish-made botanical products that are already stocked in pharmacies nationwide and gaining strong traction in the health, wellness, and sports recovery market.

The Local Enterprise Village, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, will house over 30 small businesses from across the country and will be located at the heart of this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Offaly from the 15th to 17th September. 

This year the Local Enterprise Village will also have a Business Advice Hub for any budding entrepreneurs or existing businesses who want to get advice from the Local Enterprise Offices Specialist Business Advisors.  So, for anyone who has a business idea that wants to figure out how to get it off the ground or for someone with an existing business who may want advice on funding, sustainability or building digital and AI into their business there will be advisors on hand to meet with.

The Local Enterprise Village will again host the Google AI team this year following on from the success of the Google area in 2025.  Their experts will also be in the Local Enterprise Village with an interactive area focused making AI work for you and your business. 

With close to 300,000 visitors expected across the three days of the event the Local Enterprise Village provides these small businesses with significant exposure to new audiences and potential new customers.  Enterprise Europe Network will also be based in the Village for the first time, giving advice to businesses who want to begin looking at new markets across the EU.   

Rory and Hugh Staunton, founders of Aura Sports Cream, speaking ahead of the Ploughing say:  "At Aura Sports Cream, we're delighted to be exhibiting at the National Ploughing Championships. It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase Aura Sports Cream to a wide audience, connect with customers from across Ireland, and build relationships with retailers, stockists, and sporting communities. As a proud Meath business, we're excited to share our Irish-made recovery products on one of the country's biggest stages."

They go on to say, “The National Ploughing Championships offers an unrivalled platform for businesses like Aura Sports Cream to showcase their products to a national audience, make valuable commercial connections, and build brand awareness at scale.  For a young Meath company that has already demonstrated strong growth and innovation, this event provides an excellent opportunity to engage directly with customers, retailers, distributors and sports enthusiasts from across Ireland.” 

Daniel Hamilton, Business Advisor, Local Enterprise Office Meath “At Local Enterprise Office Meath, we are proud to support ambitious businesses such as Aura Sports Cream as they continue to expand their reach. The Ploughing Championships is much more than an exhibition; it is a place where relationships are formed, opportunities are discovered, and Irish businesses can take meaningful steps towards their next stage ofgrowth.  We look forward to seeing Aura share their story and showcase the quality and innovation that is being developed here in County Meath.”

“The National Ploughing Championships is one of Ireland’s premier business and community events, providing an exceptional platform for Meath companies to showcase their innovation, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit to a nationwide audience. It is particularly rewarding to see businesses such as Aura Sports Cream representing the county, demonstrating how local enterprise can successfully develop products with national and international potential.”

“Meath County Council, through Local Enterprise Office Meath, is committed to supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, from start-up through to growth and export development. Opportunities such as the Ploughing Championships provide invaluable occasions for businesses to connect with customers, develop new commercial relationships, and raise awareness of the quality and diversity of products being created here in County Meath.”

“We are proud of the strength of the Meath business community and wish Aura Sports Cream and all of our participating enterprises every success as they showcase the very best of Meath innovation, talent, and enterprise on a national stage”, said Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive, Meath County Council.

With some of the biggest companies and organizations in Ireland taking up residence at the Ploughing every year, the Local Enterprise Village continues to be a popular destination on the site for those looking to pick up something unique to bring home from some of the best small businesses in Ireland.

The Local Enterprise Village will showcase the very best of Irish entrepreneurship and will house businesses across all sectors from clothing, craft and artisanal food to bovine genetics and woodwork machinery.

Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association, said: “The Local Enterprise Village is such a valuable part of the Ploughing, giving small Irish businesses from across the country the opportunity to showcase what they do to the huge crowds that attend each year.  We are delighted to welcome the 31 businesses selected this year and it’s great to see them have the opportunity to reach new customers and showcase their products & services to such a large audience.

It’s great to welcome Google back for a second year, alongside the Local Enterprise Offices who will be on hand offering advice and support. It's great to see such valuable supports available to small businesses and budding entrepreneurs.”

The Local Enterprise Village is just one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country.  Others include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Local Enterprise Showcase.  The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.  Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow.  Since their inception in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 80,000 jobs across the country.  The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses.  For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie