Martine Brennan will be hosting a one-day event for women at the beautiful Parknasilla Hotel (Sneem, County Kerry) on Saturday 22nd May.
Find out more at http://www.parknasillahotel.ie/news/?c=60
Kerry events
Kerry Businesswomen’s Network 8th April
Avine McNally, Assistant Director of the Small Firms Association, will be the speaker at the April meeting of Kerry Businesswomen’s Network (www.kerrybusinesswomen.com). The topic will be current business issues, focusing on finance and getting paid on time (a problem for many of us!).
The meeting will be on Thursday 8th April at the usual venue – the Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee. Registration starts at 7 pm, with the meeting starting at 7.30 pm.
Guests are welcome. Please contact Anne Kiely at kerrybusinesswomen@gmail.com if you would like to attend.
A Capital Woman talks to Kerry Businesswomen
Ellen Gunning, author of “Capital Women of Influence” and Director of the Irish Academy of Public Relations will be visiting Kerry on Thursday 4th February to share tips and stories with the Kerry Businesswomen’s Network. Her topic is “You CAN be a woman of influence”. The meeting is at the Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee, starting at 7 pm (registration from 6.30 pm).
Ellen is a journalist, broadcaster and PR Consultant who presents the “Mediascope” programme each week on 103.2 Dublin City FM. In summer last year she also presented and produced the 13-week “Capital Women of Influence” series:
“I woke up one morning and thought – that’s what I’d love to do, I’d love to interview successful, influential women. I began some research and the more I learned, the more fascinated I became. I then decided that there was a book in it too, and The Liffey Press agreed!” Ellen explains.
Ellen is also author of “Public Relations – a practical approach” and has served as a government-appointed Director of the National Concert Hall and the Central Council of the Irish Red Cross.
Tea and coffee will be available from 6.30 pm, and participants will be able to enjoy opportunities for networking before and after the presentation. The event is free to members, and guests are also welcome to attend. Booking is essential (contact Anne Kiely on 085 7163762 or kielyassocs@gmail.com).
Kerry Businesswomen’s Network was launched in July 2009 and already has 75 members. The main networking events are usually on the first Thursday of the month but additional events and workshops are also arranged. For further information and membership details, visit www.kerrybusinesswomen.com or contact Anne Kiely, Kiely & Associates (085 7163762 or kielyassocs@gmail.com).
Farmers’ Market Training Days
Kerry County Enterprise Board is running a Farmers’ Market training programme. The next courses will be held on Tuesdays 2nd and 9th February in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney.
The first day will focus on individual stall holders and will include advice on hygiene, branding, pricing and presentation.
On 9th February, the training will deal with the wider issues of organisation and promotion of markets.
Michael Gleeson, Rural Development Consultant, will be presenting the courses on behalf of the Enterprise Board. For full course and booking details, see www.kerryenterprise.ie.
Open Coffee Tralee 9th December
Forget about the budget on 9th December - you can’t do anything about it!
But you CAN come to Open Coffee Tralee on Wednesday 9th December at the Meadowlands Hotel, Oakpark (www.meadowlands-hotel.com), from 10.30 am. Meet other business people and raise funds for Kerry Cancer Support Group.
The idea of Open Coffee is to meet people in a relaxed atmosphere – no speakers, no agenda. There’s no need to book – just turn up!
The Meadowlands Hotel will also be handing over the cheque to Tara’s Tiny Footprints from the first Open Coffee event in October.
Budget 2010 Breakfast Briefing
Kerry County Enterprise Board, in association with Peevers Slye Cotter (PSC Taxation Services) will be presenting a Breakfast Briefing on the budget which will be announced on 9th December.
Booking is essential – book online at www.kerryenterprise.ie. The cost per person is €20 and the venue is the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, from 9 am to 10.30 am on Friday 11th December.
Friday Forum networking lunch
Book with Anne Kiely of Kiely & Associates for the second Friday Forum networking lunch on 27th November, 12.30 to 2 pm at the Meadowlands Hotel restaurant in Tralee (http://www.meadowlandshotel.com).
There will be a short talk about Funtime Kerry – a new initiative to attract visitors to Kerry and answer the question “What can I do today?”
Book with Anne Kiely (kielyassocs@gmail.com) and then pay on the day – €15 each.
Skelligs Chocolate Man
A big thank you to Colm Healy of Skelligs Chocolate Company who gave a great talk at last night’s Kerry Enterprise Network (County Enterprise Board) meeting at the Killarney Park Hotel. He was inspiring, interesting, innovative …. and he brought samples of the wonderful chocolate made in beautiful St Finian’s Bay in South Kerry. I will definitely be buying more!
Kerry Enterprise Network
Computers to Chocolate – melt-down or success?
Colm Healy is a man who likes chocolate…… come to the Kerry County Enterprise Board’s Network meeting on Monday 16th November and find out why!
Colm has been Owner and Managing Director of Skelligs Chocolate Company since October 2004, but his earlier business career focused on providing IT services for SMEs. He describes his 20 years of business experience as “running various service-orientated businesses through technical and now food manufacturing”.
On Monday 16th November, 7 for 7.30 pm at the Killarney Park Hotel, he will tell us about his experiences and the ups and downs of business.
Ballinskelligs-based Skelligs Chocolate Company has the distinction of being the most westerly chocolate maker in Europe. They can produce over 60 varieties of hand-made truffles – each batch takes about 5 days to produce. In March 2006, the company joined with the Cocoa Bean Company, which makes flavoured chocolate bars.
Colm has recently studied for a Diploma in Business Management at UCC. He comments:
“The recession gave us time to breathe and to look at the research information we had amassed but never had time to look at. I don’t like recession fatigue – while it’s not easy for any of us, most are getting by. Our company decided on a positive course of action; if a business is sound it will ultimately survive even when the times are rough. Our passion for our products has enabled us to win many Great Taste Awards”.
Colm’s current plans include expansion into the premium chocolate market in the USA.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING, PLEASE POST A COMMENT HERE.
Open Coffee Tralee
We had a good first Open Coffee Tralee event in October, so come along to the November Open Coffee on Wednesday 11th November at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee.
There’s no need to book – just turn up between 10.30 and 11.30 am.
Participants in last month’s event appreciated the opportunity to meet with other business people in a relaxed atmosphere with no specific agenda!