That Great Business Show

45" Catch up with AwakenHub, shout for further applications for the SheGenerates Accelerator Light...Listen to Episode 54.

3.00" Diarmaid Mac Colgáin, co-founder Concept Dairy, on his new app, useful for dairy farmers and processors to see, and lock in, the best market prices. The app uses Diarmaid's extensive knowledge as a commodity trader in the UK for many years. Self funded to date, he's keen to talk to 'smart money' (must have serious connections into world dairy and other food commodity markets) but more so, he'd like introductions to processors across Europe and eventually the US. Intriguingly he also says his app can be adapted to trade other farming commodities, so we may see Cavan pig farmers selling pork belly futures, a la Wall St.? Diarmaid also rowed for Ireland, with medals to prove it!

Two 'hire in a heartbeat' choices for Diarmaid, McKenzie Scott, philanthropist, ex-hedge fund manager, ex-Jeff Bezos and Bill Winters, a former wunderkind at JP Morgan, the man who matured the derivatives market.

Update on Stephen McPeake and Civic Dollars (Episode 45).

23.00" Dr. Luke Kelly and Dr. Declan Kelly, of Eolas Medical, a software that "allows hospitals to have a single source of truth for their medical knowledge". The IgniteNI backed company has already raised £2 million, but that won't be the end of it, as they have world ambitions. They're already in 40 hospitals, they're generating revenue, and they want TeamGBS to introduce them to other hospital groups around the world.

Their 'hire in a heartbeat'? Bob Brisk, cardiologist plus a PhD in AI - as you do!

45.00" Trinity College Dublin has left Dublin 2! They've opened up operations in Wexford, Athlone and Galway...all is explained. Gillian Roddie explains what TCD Tangent is doing and who should pop onto their courses that gives you a TCD parchment on completion, plus the opportunity to throw a mortar board skyward!

Courses can be free and you'll have to listen to find out who gets to get on these free, business related, courses. Marie Vahey, an alumna, sings the praises of the courses and explains how Tangent has changed her business fundamentally.

Eventually they chose John Rocha and David Attenborough as their hires in a heartbeat...

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THAT GREAT BUSINESS SHOW EPISODE 54, AWAKEN HUB SPECIAL, BONUS ISSUE, posting on 25th September 2021

AwakenHub founders, Sinead Crowley, Mary McKenna, Mary Carty and Clare McGee, join Conall O Morain to talk all things AwakenHub, a not-for profit /social enterprise that already has 1,200 members, was founded in 2020 and aims to support and amplify women founders across the island of Ireland.  

Their next event is on 28th of September at 5pm Irish Time, as they launch the AwakenHub SheGenerate accelerator light.

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4.00" Keavy Ryan, partner at law firm A&L Goodbody and an Irish Proshare Association (IPSA) board member joins Dalata Hotels company secretary, Sean McKeon to discuss why the withdrawal of Ulster Bank from the Irish market may throw current Save As You Earn Schemes (SAYE) into disarray. They join co-host Susan Spence (founder Softco) in discussing talent attraction and retention problems due to an inadequate share option scheme that does not match a similar UK scheme, available to companies in Northern Ireland.

22.00" Geraldine Jones, founder Skin Formulas, talks about her brand that is sold in Dunnes Stores, Shaws (almost nationwide), Meaghers Pharmacies etc. She has bootstrapped the business herself and she's now hoping to head for the UK market without further investment - unless 'smart money' wants to join her. So how do you take on the might of the big brands (her products are not make up, but nutraceuticals, an important differentiator. Her 'hire in a heartbeat'? Well she chose two (wise woman!). She wants the sectoral knowledge of TeamGBS alumna, Aimee Connolly, as well as the unstinting encouragement of her uncle, also a TeamGBS alumnus, Peter Byrne, CEO of FRS.

39.00" Glimpse software founders Oran Mulvey and Shane O'Sullivan (both 26) entertained us with their youthful enthusiasm as well intriguing us with what could be world beating software to help small and large retailers find out who's shopping with them, in store (they compare their software to Google Analytices for bricks and mortar stores). They're currently raising €2m to help with their assault on the UK market and when (not if!) that's successful, they're heading for the US of A. Just listen to their exuberance. It'll lift your day. Their 'hire in a heartbeat', Werner Vogels, CTO and VP at Amazon.

59.00" Roisin Carroll, Sales and Marketing Manager, Carroll Estates tells us how she works with her dad, her sister, her brother-in-law, and how they keep the peace. Her real reason to be on That Great Business Show was to try to tell the world about their houses for sale in Malahide, Dublin, but they're already selling like hot cakes so we chatted to her about the family business, Japanese toilets and the TV show, Grand Designs. As we say, we do business differently. Roisin's 'hire in a heartbeat'? Helena Morrissey, mother of nine, former boss of Newton Investments and campaigner for greater female presentations on company boards.

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Episode 52 That Great Business Show - Eamonn O'Reilly, CEO, Dublin Port Company

Eamonn discusses every aspect of Dublin Port, handling 84% of the country's container and trailer traffic.

Dublin Port (DP) has 4,000 people working within its walls, but not working directly for DP (165 people are directly employed).

The majority of workers work for companies like Stena, P&O, ICG etc.

DP had turnover of €89m last year and he explains how DP makes its money.

He explains why ships lie offshore DP for various reasons, over weekends.

Eamonn tells us the history of hobblers and how that has changed with regular slots for ships.

Ferries have fixed slots, based on best times for them commercially.

DP is beginning to reach constraints capacity, and rail won't play a major role.

They're going to try to squeeze more activity within the port, particularly cut down the dwell time of goods within the port.

You can stack containers up to about six to be efficient.

He cites Valparaiso in Chile, which is the most efficient port in the world, which passes about three times more goods through than DP.

Biggest containers into DP can carry 1,200 containers but ships can carry up to 22,000.

Brexit has changed the profile of the business at DP, as trade flows, like water, follows the line of least resistance.

They've seen an enormous growth of goods coming directly from continental Europe.

He says that trying to build houses on the DP land is an appalling idea and he explains the history of Bremore Harbour.

One metre of quay wall can cost €100,000 and a quay might run 300 metres.

To build Bremore he reckons might cost €4 billion plus and doubles when lands have to be remediated. The quickest all of this could be built would be 20 years.

DP is the 'single most important transport infrastructure in the country'.

3D printing will replace some traditional manufacturing which will have an effect on trade and therefore port volume.

There will be a decoupling between port volumes and GDP growth.

Cruise ship bookings are allocated two years ahead.

He discusses road access to the port and the need to introduce road pricing, to help manage the capacity of our roads infrastructure.

DP plans will mean a new private bridge next to the East Link or Tom Clarke Bridge. Pre-application discussions have already started with an Bord Pleanála.

They're working on a 4km greenway from East Point business park, down the Tolka estuary, to the most eastern extreme point of DP, where the boats enter the port.

And Eamonn's 'hire in a heartbeat' is Peter Rice, a structural engineer, who made possible the Sydney Opera Centre, the Lloyds building in London and others.

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Episode 51 of 'Ireland's best business podcast' -

Westport, Mayo, based entrepreneur, Fidelma McGuirk, founder of Payslip

She explains how she attracted world backers for her rural Ireland based, but globally focussed, business

She was previously involved with the TaxBack company where she set up operations across 21 countries. She moved to Westport in 2015.

Her global customers don't mind where her business is based, as her own customers are multi-located so they don't even think (or ask) where Payslip is based.

They have a strong bias to draw people to the western seaboard to work from there.

They are creating 150 jobs, 30 of which they filled in just two months.

They've raised €12.3 million which should last them for at least two years. She says fund raising is never easy, but they managed to raise their money in just 7 weeks.

She says, "A VC isn't there to run your company" and she explains the importance of finding the right investors, and how to do find them.

The best model for a funding is to get a 'load of no's' early on - rather than having the process long-dragged out.

She talks us through the nitty-gritty of a funding round, warts and all.

Conall and Fidelma chat about how difficult it is to set up your own business and why being in business means it's 'always on'

She wants to build Payslip into a global leader in payroll operations.

She talks about the need for more women role models in business and the need for changes in taxation for founders.

Her 'hire in a heartbeat' - Mark Simons, but she's already hired him. Eventually she opted for Lexi Reese, COO of Gusto and/or she says she'd be 'honoured' if the team at technology investment firm Base 10 would join her team.

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Episode 50 That Great Business Show - 'Ireland's best business podcast' - posting on 3rd September 2021

2.00" Rachel Reidy, Head of Allbright Ireland, promoting women in business

She knew the Allbright organisation from her latter years spent in London. When she moved back to Ireland last November she thought there was an opportunity to found an Allbright location in Dublin.

Allbright in Ireland, (the organisation is named after Madeleine Albright) begins as a digital entity (www.AllbrightCollective.com) but is in discussions regarding a physical location in Dublin. Their app is available now, and she asks women to join the Women in Ireland group on the app.

Their programmes include one that will help with 'that difficult conversation', when women are looking for pay rises. That's the Allbright Accelerator.

And there's Elevator, the senior leadership programme - aimed at helping middle managers get to the next level in business.

LVMH has appointed Allbright their official 'learning partner', and the 'knowledge base' of Allbright will be made available to their women staff.

They have a 'sisterhood matching' tool on their app and next they'll be adding a mentor match to the app.

Her 'hire in a heartbeat', Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble

She's on [email protected] waiting to hear from you.

24.00" Robbie Scanlan, CEO, of Allied Imports, owners of the Tipperary Crystal brand as well the Graham Knuttel and Orla Kiely brands.

The business was founded by Robbie's dad in 1973, but going further back his grandad owned the huge Hammond Lane foundry in Dublin, makers of most of the manhole covers in the city.

Allied Imports has raised funding from Renatus (an investment company featured on a previous episode of TGBS).

They tried to buy Links of London, but failed in their bid which Robbie says was a blessing in disguise. That's when the Orla Kiely opportunity came along. They have developed 110 new Orla Kiely product lines, just being launched, with Orla being hands-on herself. They already have a lot of pre-orders. He explains how Allied Imports ended up working with the Orla Kiely brand after they had run into trading difficulties.

Networking he says is so important to make sure he sees or hears of whatever opportunities are available. He learnt all about networking from horse-race owner JP McManus and Nóirín, his wife. He explains how one of Ireland's richest men operates.

The way that Graham Knuttel came into the Allied Imports fold makes for funny and fascinating listening about 'Victor', a billionaire who had decided to make Graham Knuttel the next Pablo Picasso!

They have hired John Herlihy, ex Google, Paul Duffy, ex Pernod Ricard and Anthony Davey who has just sold his Farrow and Ball business, for their board, to help with their European expansion.

His 'hire in a heartbeat', JP McManus !

50.00" Orlaith Duff, Oonagh Whyte, football rivals, national school teachers and co-founders of Field Queens

Despite their on-pitch rivalry they work very well together. They say there's a massive market because there are no women's GAA gloves, specifically made for women, on the market. They have kids sizes from 4 years old and up. They reckon that there could be up to 100,000 women playing GAA nowadays. They're starting with their GAA gloves only to establish their brand. It's a 'passion project' for them, aimed at empowering young women, recognising their commitment to the sport. The greater aim is to develop a full clothing line, but they still love their teaching roles. They want to be stocked in all sports stores in Ireland and they'll be looking at the US market where Ladies GAA Football is also strong. They'll be contacting LEO Meath shortly, to help develop their business.

Their 'hire in a heartbeat' - Anna Geary, Cork GAA star. Find out why.

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3.00" Neil Hughes, Managing Partner of Baker Tilly Ireland explains SCARP, the newly enacted examinership system for smaller businesses. H says that this fundamental change in company law is a 'once in a lifetime' event. He says there are tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of businesses who have been brought to their knees during Covid. The process takes less than 70 days - but a scheme could be in place within 42 days (compared to up to 150 days, plus hefty legal fees, in examinership). He calls it a 'short, sharp, SCARP. Neil explains where the name came from (strange!) but he says that SCARP is here to stay. He talks about the Retail Excellence Ireland survey of members and their rental arrears and what that means for SMEs. He reckons that the initial up-front costs should be much, much lower and also that the process is far more private than the open court Examinership system. This more discrete system means that predatory Interlopers won't be able to know that businesses they might want to scoop up are going through the process. Dept of Jobs still has to allow enabling legislation, so we won't see SCARP really kick in until 2022. The process is EU driven to give business owners a second chance. The legislation is similar to Australian law where it works very well. He says that Ireland is now a leader in restructuring law worldwide - a big turnaround from some years back.

Neil's hire in a heartbeat? (He gives a very circuitous answer, but eventually plumps for rowing gold medallist Paul O'Donovan

29.30" Shane Kiernan, founder of IAMUS Technologies, says that his company will be a €1 billion business in the next six years! He was a posh City banker but now gets his hands dirty (literally) working occasionally in chicken coops that are the size of football pitches and house 50,000 broiler chickens. Shane started his entrepreneur journey in school, running an unofficial (and not sanctioned!) tuck shop. He delivered goods from Northern Ireland, during which time he was interviewed by broadcaster Gerry Ryan, an chat that led to 5,000 emails in his inbox the following morning. He worked with the Bill Clinton Foundation and has met the US President twice. This brought him to Kenya but that's another story...He established a business in the Philippines employing 220 people. He tells us that 2,000 chickens are eaten every SECOND around the world and this has led to producers looking for ways to produce more, better. He has had help from poultry entrepreneur Vincent Carton who showed him a major gap in the market. He says that his robots are gender neutral! IAMUS are funding at the moment and want to talk to TeamGBS about investing in his business. There are 350,000 chicken sheds around the world so he says it's a massive investment opportunity, so he's trying to raise $2 million to kick off his international business. He talks about Cargill's massive recent investment in the US chicken industry. His business is not selling individual robots, but he sells his robotic solutions, what he calls Robotics as a Service. He talks about his involvement with the Techstars accelerators. He aims to have 3,300 robots manufactured by 2025. He's using IFAC to help raise funds.

And Shane's 'hire in a heartbeat'? Oxford don, Dr Marian Dawkins.

54.00" Jeud Ennis of Signworks.ie. Her dad got her into the business of painting grass, or more correctly painting logos on grass on pitches. A logo is painted by her team in two days, She started with Croke Park and then, by chance, met a South African at a UK tradeshow who introduced her to 3D painting of brand logos. Her first 3D logo was for Royal Liver. She explains that stadium managers don't always appreciate her painting her grass. She gives a shout out to her brothers who run a company called Sportsworks.ie that is involved in pitch maintenance and more. She can turn around 3 logos in a couple of days with a crew of 4. Rain can destroy logos and she explains how she handles marketing managers about distorted logo colours. She loved to pick up business across Europe and Dubai (she's been on holidays there and loves the place). She'd like the FA and the RFU to tender 'her way'...

She wants TeamGBS to put people in the touch with her who wants branding, for example golf clubs (she says it's highly affordable) and would love to meet with international turf laying company SIS in Sligo.

And, who would she 'hire in a heartbeat'. Robbie Keane and Paul O'Connell (she wants to play golf with him!).

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E48 That Great Business Show, 'Ireland's best business podcast'

Presented by Conall O Móráin

3.00" Rita Ora (yes, that RO) introduces our first guest, Catherina 'Cat' Butler, co-founder with Niall Phelan [both founders are vegan] of The Naked Collective drinks company. Cat was previously a financial controller at Lifestyle Sport, something called a 'Business Navigator' with IKEA, Finance Director at United Drug, CFO at logistics company Primeline…so all in all, nothing to do with a drinks company…AND we just love that. A truly great pivot!

They produce 'naked' (nothing added, only goodness) drinks under the Mude (beloved of Rita, see above) and the So.Beer non-alcoholic beer.

She explains how IT company ORTUS (www.Ortus.ie) found a workaround to stop their emails (with the word 'naked' in them) being sent to spam.

She was looking for something bigger, a business that would allow her to live out her 'true values'.

She wanted to leave a legacy of which she could be proud.

She explains how to win a crowded marketplace and how she managed to get the support of big name retailers, including Spar and BWG, at the very beginning. They've recently been nominated for the Spar International Brand Challenger programme that will give them visibility across 13,500 shops across 48 countries.

They're already selling in Ireland, the UK, Italy, Canada and the USA, where co-founder Niall has just re-located (with his family) to spearhead the 'Naked' assault on the North American market.

They produce their products in the UK, Mississippi, USA and Niagra Falls, Canada. Cat explains how bad Brexit was for them. They aim to produce their drinks as near to their markets as possible.

Their product was featured at the Academy Awards - and she explains how they pulled that one off.

They have already raised €6 million last October and they're currently raising another €6 million for sales/marketing to grow their brands particularly in North America. Their entire team, to date, has been hired 'virtually' during the Pandemic.

She wants TeamGBS to buy their products, available in Spar, Tesco and Lidl, and she wants your feedback. They're also open for funding and happy to talk to anyone who might like to invest. Her hire in a heartbeat? Roz Purcell.

26.00" Alan O'Neill, author of Culture Matters - the 4 must have values to supercharge your business.

'Secret' One - is the organisation culture. Culture is the most important driver of business success. He explains what he means by corporate culture. He explains why and how respect is essential in a business. But, how do you get people to adopt a corporate culture? Alan tells us how. We discuss 'pigs' working in financial services and the destruction they can leave behind.

'Secret' Two - having a North Star. The team has to 'sing off the same hymn sheet'.

He talks about how to train young, seventeen year-old, employees and getting them to adopt the business aims.

'Secret' Three - have an ongoing review of the company strategy as companies evolve more and more rapidly nowadays. Alan thinks that 400 days is about the furthest out any business can realistically forecast nowadays.

'Secret' Four - people. He explains 'customer centricity, accountability, respect and agility' - he gives examples for each in just two minutes - total!

His 'hire in a heartbeat' - he's not allowed to mention one woman, but he chooses Martin Tobin of Landbell

46.00" Catherine Cleary, Ashe Conrad-Jones, co-founders of Pocket Forests - planting forests in just 6sq metres. Their business is based on a 1970s concept from Japan. Interestingly, they say there are no others doing what they're doing across the island. We ask how much the service costs...but did we get an answer? They argue that planting trees in cities add value to property values.

They have been hired by the Digital Hub to plant a forest in a skip. Thorntons skips have given them a free skip to plant their forest, and there's a logical reason why the skip is planted in a skip. You can now sit in your own little forest and eat lunch.

Their ideal clients will have land and money and they'd love to have a developer on board.

Interesting they use a 'no dig' method - that is fascinating and includes the 'lasagne method' and coffee sacks.

And how many clients do they need to justify a business? Is it a side hustle? No. They both want it to be a their bread and butter business.

They're still running their numbers, something that Deborah Meaden on Dragon's Den might not approve of.

They're looking at a 'meal pack' of trees that they could send in the post to budding gardeners. They're already working with the Newry Felons, former political prisoners in Northern Ireland.

The biggest forest they want to plant is only half a tennis court sized.

The dynamic duo promised faithfully to post themselves on LinkedIn, where TeamGBS will be able to get in touch with them. Meanwhile they're on www.pocketforests.ie

Their 'hire in a heartbeat' is actor, Viking and trees podcaster David Oakes.

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2.00" Aaron Hannon, from Ballina, Mayo, co-founder of Luminate Medical. Aaron (22) tells us you about some of the many, many business ideas he’s had, including his latest venture, a medical device to stop hair loss in those undergoing chemo therapy. 4m people a year, worldwide, lose their hair because of chemotherapy. 80% of those use wigs to cover their heads when they lose their hair and those wigs can cost up to €1,000 - so that adds up to a lot of money.

Previously Aaron created a post-stroke paralysis shaving device when he was just 16, that he subsequently patented. He explains why this unique device didn't work and why he now looks for ideas that give 'investable returns'. He explains how the company got on to the hugely prestigious Y-Combinator accelerator programme (alumni include AirBnB and Stripe) and he tells us more about their current $2.5million fund raising, which is allowing them to hire more R&D staff.

NUI Galway based Aaron was named a 2020 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World honouree in the medical innovation category. He was also named Mayo’s Best Young Entrepreneur 2019.

His hire in a heartbeat, Professor Declan O'Loughlin of TCD, 'the smartest person I know' according to Aaron.

23.00" Mitchell O'Gorman, CEO xWave Technologies. Mitchell has a huge background in the advertising industry but is now running an X-Ray related software company that says it saves lives by ensuring that patients get 'the best test first'.

30% of radiology scans are 'inappropriate'. xWave has built a software to make sure that people only get the tests they need. It means there are huge savings for insurers and patients. The company's return on investment is 60X for those using the software! They have a partnership European Society of Radiology (there are 120,000 members).

Mitchell explains his digital marketing and media background that has NO connection with an X-ray software (he had to check exactly what a radiologist did!). Pivoting from media to running a software was 'not easy'.

The company has already raised €600,000 from leading radiologists in Ireland and the UK and is about to launch a crowdfunding call-out through Spark Crowdfunding.

He asks TeamGBS (our listeners) for introductions to those in the medical profession who might be interested in their software solution.

Mitchell's 'hire in a heartbeat' is Ciaran Lee, ex Intercom, who has already said 'no' but TeamGBS may have a way of changing his mind??

44.00" Husband and wife team, Rachel and Brian Nolan, founders of Nobo (founded in 2012) have toiled away in the trenches, producing their dairy free ice-cream and chocolate (Nobo = NoCow!). However, in the last six months things have taken a big upwards trajectory. They have funded, moved into the former Helen Turkington store in Dublin's leafy Ranelagh suburb and they explain why they're basing their shop, artisan factory and world HQ in a non-industrial location. They also hint at a move away from ice-cream, to concentrate on their dairy-free chocolate that they've just introduced to markets in Netherlands and Canada. They discuss that (complicated) process and why they've chosen not to be in the UK at the moment.

They have big ambitions, and cite Alpro and Oatly as being the kind of big company they would love to create.

They're hiring with vacancies on Nobo.ie

Their (jointly discussed) 'hire in a heartbeat' Yvonne Chenard of Patagonia

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Episode 46 That Great Business Show

Presented by Conall O Morain

2.00" Breege O'Donoghue's first insight is that a retailer should be 'producing what you sell, not selling what you produce'.

When Breege joined Penneys they had 'just' 24 shops, they now have near 400 stores in 14 jurisdictions.

She tells stories about the retailing legend, Arthur Ryan, (RIP, July 2019). 'He was not a tough man, not a tough bone in his body'.

For her first major meeting in London, Arthur Ryan 'borrowed' Breege's shoes, so Breege goes to the meeting in her hotel slippers.

On another occasion Ryan (a great mimic) pretended to be Gregory Peck, making her run out of Champneys, the world famous health resort.

She offers three lessons that Arthur Ryan taught her.

• 'There are no mistakes, only learnings'
• It's all right to look for help, in fact it's a very positive'
• You're probably at your strongest when you're at your weakest, and to realise that'

Why Penneys/Primark didn't want to have an Irish business in Spain or Germany, but to have a Spanish business in Spain, a German business in Germany.

She explains their rigorous code of conduct for suppliers.

Penneys' first UK store was in Derby. She explains why Derby was chosen and why feet on the ground was essential.

"Don't be afraid to take risk. That's what business is about"

Breege tells us what makes a great buyer and how TU Dublin has been an essential part of finding great talent, for many years.

She talks of the importance of buyers being at festivals and night clubs all over the world. The difference for buying teams, buying for Florida versus buying for Chicago. Why do Spaniards like slippers? Americans don't have duvets, but have comforters - there's a reason behind each difference.

22.00" Breege explains the importance of independent audits making sure that garments are made ethically. She speaks of being in Gujarat and of the Penneys/Primark backed scheme that saw small holders increase profits from their cotton grow by 200%. That 'Cotton Connect' programme now extends to 185,000 women across many cotton producing countries.

She says that 'doing the right thing' is very important.

She talks about their very, very small management team, known at the time as the 'Gang of Four'. She references the rows they had, and the reconciliations -'Let's move on'.

What are the opportunities for another Irish retailer to make it internationally? She says that replacing retailers lost to Covid is a first priority.

She says that 'the high street will always survive' and talks of what's happening to retail in Paris.

She explains how Primark in Birmingham gives customers an 'experience', far more than a clothing shop - it includes a Disney café, the first outside the Disney properties.

Data is hugely important, she expects to see so much more on garment tags.

There was Beatlemania, SpiceGirlMania and now...Primania....the excitement that happens when a Primark store initially opens. She explains the process they go through when opening a store, the meticulous planning and consultation, and of course....PR.

39.00" What does she tell young businesses she mentors. i) education ii) be curious iii) take a risk iv) 'do the right thing' v) understand the differences vi) read all the fashion magazines, including Vogue, Bazaar and not just the UK versions, but also the Spanish, US versions etc...

She emphasises networking. She tells us the Breege O'Donoghue way of telling a co-worker that 'things are not working out'.

She says in her lifetime she has come across very few bad employees, but she has come across bad managers.

'Empower young people. Pile responsibility on their shoulders to see where they'll go'.

Where are suppliers (who have been in business for years) getting their ideas? Check it out, and ask.

She explains (kind of!) how hard she worked, sometimes 7 days a week. Holidays were shorter than normal an one day/all day trips to the UK were regular.

She hints at what some of the boardroom 'discussions' aka rows, were about.

Did it ever come to the board to change the name from Penneys to Primark?

Her involvement in other businesses and on the board of private and State businesses.

She may have liked to have been an astronaut!

Breege's 'hire in a heartbeat'....she refuses to answer, but eventually.....opts for Bono.

And what is she doing now, besides sometimes TWO yoga classes a day....and her obsession with sports (she digresses into the wonderful 1990 World Cup, Mick McCarthy, Ray Houghton), the T-shirts being printed overnight depending on who Ireland was playing, their platinum record in aid of the Children's Hospital. Her competition to spell 'Schillaci'.

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