Small businesses are ready to shine at the Local Business Village in the National Plowing Championship
August 7, 2024
More than 30 small businesses from around the country will have the opportunity to present themselves to nearly 300,000 visitors at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, County Laois.
He Local business village, an initiative of the Local business officeswill be located at the heart of this year’s National Ploughing Championships starting on the 17thHe until 19He September. It will showcase the best of Irish entrepreneurship, with small businesses selling everything from Mexican salsa and chemical-free fertilisers to high-end designer fashion and sensory clothing.
With some of Ireland’s largest businesses setting up shop at Ploughing each year, the Local Enterprise Village continues to be a popular on-site destination for those looking to take home something unique from some of Ireland’s best small businesses.
A selection of businesses from across the country helped launch the Local Enterprise Village for 2024 at Dublin’s Airfield Estate. These included Leah Cleary of Fore Distillery, Dublin fashion designer Jennifer Rothwell, Anouk O’Connell of natural wool company Olanmor, Joanne Doyle of Enchanted Castle Melts in Carlow and Mildred Tang of canvas bag company Chic Tote.
Kieran Comerford, Local Enterprise Offices and Director of Local Enterprise VillageHe said: “This is a unique opportunity for a small business in Ireland. The chance to present your ideas and products to almost 300,000 potential customers is a showcase like no other. The Local Enterprise Village has become one of those areas where everyone wants to come to find their local business and see what they can find.
There is a huge variety of businesses which highlights the depth of the sectors that Local Enterprise Offices support, from manufacturing to food and beverage to software solutions.
Whatever your interest, there is something for everyone at Local Enterprise Village.”
John Dunne, Director of the Kildare National Conservation Area He said: “It is wonderful to see so many diverse and impressive businesses taking part in this year’s ‘Local Business Village’ at the National Ploughing Championships taking place in Ratheniska, Co Laois on 17 September.He18He & 19He“This is an ideal and unique opportunity for these companies to showcase their products and wares to the more than 250,000 visitors that Ploughing attracts.”
The Local Enterprise Village is just one of a number of initiatives run by Local Enterprise Offices to encourage entrepreneurship across the country. Other initiatives include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and the Local Enterprise Showcase. Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities receive funding from the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
In the photo at the launch of the Local Business Village at this year’s National Ploughing Championship (NPA – September 17)He-19He) are a selection of 33 LEO supported businesses who will be exhibiting with Kieran Comerford, Local Enterprise Offices and Local Enterprise Village Director and NPA Director John Dunne. Exhibitors pictured include: Fore Distillery (Westmeath): Represented by Leah Cleary, Fore Distillery. The haunted castle is melting (Carlow): Created and represented by Joanne Doyle, Enchanted Castle Melts offers hand-melted soy wax candles in a variety of scents and bath and body products. Design by Jennifer Rothwell Ltd.. (Dublin City): Created and represented by Jennifer Rothwell: her design company offers fashion and textiles, clothing accessories and art. The Skinny Chef Ltd. (Laois): Created and represented by Aymar Gourdet, this company produces artisanal pestos and sauces. Olannmor (Wicklow): Created and represented by Anouk O’Connell, Olannmor produces woven and knitted woollen products. Elegant bag (Dun Laoghaire Rathdown): Created and represented by Wynne Liu, Chic Tote produces premium canvas bags that embody style, sustainability and durability. (Image: Julien Behal Photography)
