Business consumer expo coming to Dundalk next month

Dundalk Chamber of Commerce will host a business consumer expo in the Marshes Shopping Centre on Friday May 15th from 10am to 5pm.

Sponsored by the Local Enterprise Office and Bank of Ireland, the free event will feature over 100 exhibitors and guest speakers including John Teeling of the Great Northern Distillery.

Minister Perry to open new Local Enterprise Office at Dundalk Town Hall this morning

Minister of State for Small Business John Perry will be in Dundalk this morning to open the new Local Enterprise Office at the Town Hall.

The Sligo-North Leitrim TD will cut the ribbon on Crowe Street at 10.30am, with the new office set to be the primary function of the Town Hall now that Dundalk Town Council has been abolished, with its services moved to the Louth County Council offices on the St Alphonsus Road.

The LEO is an amalgamation of the old County Enterprise Boards and local authority Business Support Units. It will offer advice on starting or growing a business, host training and events, offer financial support and much more.

For further details on the service visit www.localenterprise.ie/Louth

Edel appointed new Dundalk BIDS manager

New Dundalk BIDS manager Edel O’Mahony. Picture: Arthur Kinahan

Edel O’Mahony is Dundalk’s new Business Investment District Scheme (BIDS) Manager.

With a wealth of business knowledge from a career in both the private and public sector, Edel will lead the Dundalk BIDS team of Fiona Cunningham and Sinead Roche from the BIDS office at the Market Square.

Edel will be known to many in the business sector for her roles with both the Dundalk Economic Development Group, and more recently, the Louth Economic Forum.

While working with the Dundalk Economic Development Group, Edel had a part in developing plans for the Regeneration of the Dundalk Town Centre, the results of which can be seen with the refurbished Market Square. Her work in this area took her to numerous town centres throughout Ireland, and in doing so gave her great insight into tried and tested town centre initiatives. During this time she was also developing marketing and promotional projects for Dundalk.

Her role on the Louth Economic Forum saw her gain considerable experience in a variety of sectors including Indigenous Industry; Tourism & Heritage; Foreign Direct Investment; Agriculture, food and fisheries; Broadband and Sustainable Energy.

Edel is keen to use her ready-made list of contacts for the betterment of the town. She has forged excellent relationships with organisations including Enterprise Ireland, DkIT, Louth County Council, Local Enterprise Office, IDA and Fáilte Ireland.

In addition, Edel has a proven track record in accessing various funding from local, regional, national, EU and international sources.

Speaking on her new position as Dundalk BIDS Manager, Edel described her enthusiasm for the challenging role.

“I’m really looking forward to hitting the ground running. Obviously we are in challenging times but it only makes me more positive that BIDS and the ratepaying community can build successful relationships and work together effectively for the good of the town.

“The ratepayers have voted their support for the independent initiative that is Dundalk BIDS, and so it is vital that I listen to them and take their feedback on board.”

She added that her experience to date is very beneficial to her new post.

“I feel my work in both the private and public sector will be very beneficial to Dundalk BIDS. I’ve already gained a great deal of experience in liaising with various agencies such as all of which is a powerful advantage to my work with Dundalk BIDS.

“I’m a Louth woman and I am no stranger to Dundalk. I went to school here, I’ve worked here, and I live here. I already have an idea of the issues facing the town as well as the many positives that Dundalk has in its favour.”

BIDS Chairperson, Brian O’Neill said of Edel’s appointment: “The BIDS Committee realises Edel’s experience and knowledge on the ongoing development of the town centre can only have an extremely positive effect on Dundalk. We look forward to seeing Dundalk BIDS go from strength to strength, under her management.”

Dearey welcomes news of Enterprise Office being based at Dundalk Town Hall

Mark Dearey

Local councillor Mark Dearey has welcomed the news that the new Local Enterprise Office will be located in the Town Hall in Dundalk.

The Enterprise Office is an amalgamation of the Louth County Enterprise Board and the Business Support Unit of Louth County Council and will be based in the Town Hall from mid-April.

Cllr Dearey, who is running for the Green Party in both the local and European elections on May 23^rd, said there had been huge public interest in what would become of the Town Hall once Dundalk Town Council was dissolved.

He said he had encouraged the County Manager to use it as a means of generate further footfall and business for the town centre and he told LMFM that he was happy that she had followed up on his suggestion.