This is the first episode of the new Bottom Line Podcast brought to you by KCLR and providing a unique forum for discussion of business as it effects the people of Carlow and Kilkenny, the area served by local radio station KCLR 96FM.

The Bottom Line is at its core a weekly radio programme on business broadcast each Saturday morning on KCLR but the latest series of the programme will now also be available on podcast and voila – here it is!

The show “proper” kicks off on air on Saturday July 20th 2019 at 9 am on KCLR – if you’d like to listen live you can tune in on FM or through the KCLR website www.kclr96fm.com or through the KCLR app or Irish Radioplayer (both available from wherever you get your podcast fixes!

The Bottom Line is presented by John Purcell who as well as his broadcasting role is Chief Executive of KCLR and Chairman of IBI the organisation representing Ireland's independent radio sector, he says he is keenly aware of the issues involved in running a business and of the importance of business to a healthy economy and a prosperous community. The show will be seeking to represent this point of view on the programme.

The participation of business and feedback from the business community is important to us and we want to hear from you. So if you have issues or events you’d like us to cover on the show please let us know. Programme Producer Deirdre Dromey and I will be delighted to hear from you with ideas, suggestions or information about business events you may wish us to cover.

You can contact the programme through [email protected] or the team directly through [email protected] or [email protected]   

Finally, the support of local business by other members of the business community as well as by members of the public is a key ingredient in all our future success. 

This is at the heart of KCLR’s approach where a weekly business programme is just one of the ways in which the station seeks to positively impact on the local business environment in challenging times. 

I’d like to thank O’Neill Foley Accountants for their sponsorship of the Bottom Line. Without the support of local business such as O'Neill Foley, KCLR cannot continue to provide our services which independent research shows is used by 71,000 people locally every week.