Minister Perry visits Creative Spark in Dundalk

Minister of State for Small Business, John Perry TD, today paid a visit to the Dundalk’s Creative Spark where he met with management, creative start-up enterprises, and local small businesses, all of whom use the facility.

Mr Perry had specifically asked to visit the purpose-built building on Clontygora Drive, which opened its doors 18 months ago, and with which he had maintained contact since the early planning stages of the development.

The facility now houses 12 creative enterprises: Smart Eco Hub, Element Design, Geraldine’s School of Speech & Drama, Transformation Coaching, iCreate Digital Media Academy, Bance Nolan Ltd, Stageandlighting.ie, Sync IT, Green Gorgeous, Play & Creative Art Therapy, Polska Szkola Dundalk and SpeechZone.

The Creative Spark building is a popular choice not only for workspace, but also by businesses based elsewhere, as a training space and meeting space.
Creative Spark offers a comprehensive programme of classes across a broad spectrum, boasting fine art print studio and kiln room. The Workroom, a classroom facility, is used by local creative enterprises Abbey Art Studios, Petals and Bows and Peacefelt and by RehabCare to deliver specific creative skills classes.

The Minister was met at the Creative Spark building by Manager, Sarah Daly, who following the formalities of speeches and a presentation, brought the Minister on a tour of the building, allowing him to meet with business owners who have already shown their support for the facility by making Creative Spark their base.

Mr Perry was also invited to launch the Creative Spark Summer-Autumn Programme of Courses which will this year include jewellery making, life drawing, screen printing, ceramics and much more. Registration is now being taken for courses commencing from May 12th.

Speaking to those assembled, Minister Perry recalled his visit to a building site in 2011, which is now the Creative Spark building, and spoke of his support for the initiative and the businesses now based there.

“You are the champions of the next boom of entrepreneurship. This is an incubation centre for enterprise and creativity.”

Speaking on behalf of those in Creative Spark, Sarah Daly said: “We are delighted to welcome Minister Perry back to Creative Spark – he visited when we had just broken ground in 2011, so it was wonderful to be able to introduce the Minister to the vibrant creative community growing within the centre. Creative Spark is a member of the National Association of Community Enterprise Centres (NACEC) which recently launched a report into the impact of community enterprise centres around the country and it is heartening to see that the government has recognised this and that the Minister is actively engaging with the association and visiting many of its members.”

The occasion also provided the opportunity for other people in the local SME community take a look around Creative Spark and realise how the building could meet their needs either as a workspace, training and meeting space or hot desk facility.

For further information on Creative Spark, the businesses based there and the Summer-Autumn programme of classes visit www.creativespark.ie

Smart ECO Hub highlights potential for Irish wood-based biomass industry with cross-border conference

Smart ECO Hub delegates and representatives pictured at the World Sustainable Energy Days event held in Austria
(L-R) Ciaran McGrath- Smart ECO Hub; Neil O’Brien – Amber Green; Neil Greenan-Smart Bunker; Sean Dolan- Dolan Energy; Dwyer O’Neil –Amber Green Solar; Aidan Marron – Activ8 Energies; David Gibbons -Netronics, John McGahan- Innovative Roofing; Clare McAllister – Electric Ireland; Jimmy Gargan Pure Heat Technologies; George Hagen – Northern Bio Energy; Alan Fannin – Dartery Technologies, John Martin – Green Energy Technologies; Vincent Boden – Down Light Attic Seal; John Cowan – Northern Bio Energy.

Ireland’s potential in establishing and expanding a wood-based biomass industry is to be highlighted at a cross-border conference to be held in the Carrickdale Hotel, Dundalk on Wednesday, March 26.

‘Biomass Energy – Growing the industry’ is being organised by Smart ECO Hub. The aim of the Smart ECO Hub cluster is to stimulate product development and commercialisation through collaboration. This project is part financed by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Cross Border Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

This cross border event will combine a conference, networking opportunity and exhibition and will appeal to those with an interest in the biomass energy sector including policy makers, facilities managers considering alternative low carbon fuels, growers, equipment manufacturers, installers, consultants and researchers.

There have been many strides taken both north and south in the area of promoting low carbon biomass energy.

A number of initiatives have already been set up, creating a firm base for Ireland’s biomass industry, including the agriculture, manufacturing and retail sectors and those attending the conference will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from these entrepreneurs on how they set up their projects and how they see the future.

John W Martin who will speak at the event, was for many years a dairy farmer in Waringstown, Co Armagh. Today, the cattle are gone and instead John has found a firm footing with his 120 acres of land dedicated to short rotation willow growing, which is chipped, stored and dried on his farm.

The conference will also hear of the success story of Gurteen College in Co Tipperary. Under the leadership of Principal Mike Pearson, the residential agricultural college has reduced energy bills to the extent it now grows and harvests woodchip on 80 acres to fuel the College’s two 300kw boilers.

Earlier this year, Smart Eco Hub – the cross-border cluster organisation for the sustainable energy sector – brought representatives from 16 companies to Austria to attend The World Sustainable Energy Days event – this combines a major trade exhibition and conference program and is the premier European event for Biomass and related sustainable technologies.

Included in the delegation were those already involved in the biomass Industry along with people considering a move into the sector.

Ciaran McGrath, Technical Manager, Smart ECO Hub, explained the benefits of the visit which has been swiftly followed by the decision to hold the cross-border conference.

“Obviously Austria’s biomass industry is at an advanced stage. This meant that in bringing the company representatives to the World Sustainable Energy Day event, we could show them how much they can progress in the sector, as well as giving them an opportunity to network with those who have been in the Austrian industry for many years.

“The Austrian visit was such a success that we felt there was a need to organise a conference and exhibition showing how we can all work together and watch Ireland’s biomass industry grow.”

The ‘Biomass Energy – Growing the Industry’ event takes place on Wednesday, March 26 in the Carrickdale Hotel, Dundalk.

Admission is €60 for non-Smart ECO Hub members, including light lunch. The exhibition fee for those wishing to highlight and publicise their product is €250.

For registration and further information, e-mail info@smartecohub.com or telephone 00353 42 9385722.