Every three months, Ireland’s Central Bank releases an economic forecast where it provides commentary and guidance on where the Irish economy is going. We last talked about this forecast in April and this week Martin O Brien, Head of Irish Economic Analysis at the Central Bank joined John to discuss the key points in the Banks latest Economic Forecast for Ireland which was released during the week.

With economic challenges all around, most business owners and managers are keeping their eyes peeled for new business opportunities and Denis Casey of Casey Business Consulting joined John to chat about Public Service Contracts and E Tenders, a sector which may offer new opportunities to SME’s.

One year on – John first spoke with John & Caroline Duggan of Hawkeye Falconry in May 2021 when they were preparing to open their Falconry School in Lyrath following one of our longest Covid lockdowns. During the week, John caught up with John Duggan to hear how the past 13 months in business has been for them and their team of falcons, hawks and eagles.

‘The Managers Handbook For A New World Of Work’ - is a business book which aims to give managers new skills, insights and information to better cope with the challenging world of business, Author Monica Murphy, joined John to tell us more about the book.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

Simon O Dwyer, Managing Director of Kilkenny based marketing and brand agency Threesixty joined John to chat through some of the business issues of the last few weeks.

O’ Neill Foley Chartered Accountants are the first company to move into the Brewhouse Office Building, the first development in the Abbey Quarter located in the heart of Kilkenny city on the site of the now closed Smithwick’s Brewery. Alan Serry of O’ Neill Foley spoke with John about the move, what it involved and how it fits into the company’s plans for the future.

Anna Daly is a familiar face to many as a long-standing host of Breakfast TV on Virgin Television and most recently on RTE’s Hospitals Live programme. Anna joined John to chat about her new career direction with the launch of her clothing brand Little Bliss.

With thousands of golf fans converging on Mount Juliet Estate for The Irish Open, Edwina Grace was out and about in Thomastown to hear from businesses about how the last couple of days have been and what is the impact on business with such an event.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

On Friday last, the elected public representatives for Kilkenny City municipal district voted to retain the one-way system with a change in direction for the traffic flow along High Street and Rose Inn Street. Mayor of Kilkenny, David FitzGerald who chaired the meeting on Friday, joined John in Studio to discuss the outcome.

Staying on the topic of the one-way system, John Hurley, CEO of Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce spoke with John about how his business representative group feels about what’s been decided. 

As business continues to emerge from over 2 years of Covid disruption, Reg Friddle, a Kilkenny based Coach, Trainer and Executive Mentor who works with businesses of all sizes across a variety of sectors through his business Preferred Future, joined John to chat about the key issues facing business leaders in the post lockdown world.

The Powerhouse Picnic, a summer BBQ event being hosted by Carlow Local Enterprise Office designed to encourage professional female business connections in an informal setting, is taking place on Wednesday 29th June 2022. To tell us more about the event John was joined by Melissa Doyle, Business Advisor at Carlow Local Enterprise Office and Liz Morrissey of ELM Beauty & Morrissey’s Pharmacy Carlow.

 With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

In this extended interview John Purcell chatted with Anneliese Duffy, Owner of Kilkenny based Linen Shirt Company and Sustainable Fashion Stylist Roxanne Parker about the impacts of fast fashion, how we can make changes when it comes to our fashion and what we need to look for on the labels when we are buying.

This week on The Bottom Line on KCLR, we talk about fast fashion and sustainability in the fashion industry with Anneliese Duffy, Owner of Linen Shirt Company & Sustainable Fashion Stylist Roxanne Parker.

Laurie Grace, Principal at Grace Solicitors spoke with John about the importance of business succession planning and the recent announcement that Grace Solicitors and Gerald Meaney Solicitors are to merge and become Grace Solicitors incorporating Gerald Meaney from July 1st, 2022.

During the week RadioCentre Ireland published the first ever revenue data for the Irish Radio Industry & to hear more about the data, Stephen Byrne spoke with Ciarán Cunningham, Chief Executive of RadioCentre Ireland.

Do the accents that we hear in adverts make a difference to us? Research commissioned by radio & digital broadcast specialists IRS + set out to understand the psychology behind accent, and whether a local voice used in adverts made a difference. Shane Brennan, Creative Director at Foe , spoke with Stephen Byrne to tell us more about the research, how it was conducted and what the findings were.

Michael English, Director at Recovery Hub Carlow joined Stephen Byrne to discuss his business and how the idea to open a recovery hub came about.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

On this week’s programme, John was joined by economist Jim Power for his insights into where the economy is at currently and what the prospects are for the rest of the year. Jim discusses the impacts of rising inflation and what can happen if it becomes embedded in people’s behaviours. 

Kim Mackenzie-Doyle, Founder of The Big Idea joined John to chat about this year’s programme which saw around 2000 students from across the country coming up with ideas to tackle some of Ireland’s biggest issues. With this year’s showcase event now complete. Kim spoke about her plans for The Big Idea in 2023.

Valerie O Sullivan, President of Network Ireland Kilkenny, spoke with John about how things have changed for business since January, Network Ireland Kilkenny’s upcoming Businesswoman of The Year Awards and her new role in Rothe House & Garden.

Seamus Marnane, Founder & Sales Director of Catering Innovation Agency (CIA), joined John in studio to chat about his business which is based in Carlow and supplies and installs energy efficient catering equipment all over Ireland.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

This week on The Bottom Line, Eamon Quinn, Business Editor at the Irish Examiner joined John to discuss inflation, the ongoing impacts of Covid and how they are both impacting our economy.

Gillian Fanning, President of The Society of the Irish Motor Industry and first female president in the Society’s 100 years chatted to John about recent research conducted by the SIMI aimed at encouraging more women to join the industry. 

“Twenty Questions” our feature piece where we literally ask our guest twenty questions, all which have been designed to allow you to get to know the individual outside of their role in business. Our latest guest was Anne Barber, owner of the Butterslip in Kilkenny.

Séamus Doran, Assistant Head of Economic Development and Enterprise spoke with John about the importance of training for those in business, the impact of Covid on training and how the Local Enterprise Offices can assist businesses with their training requirements.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

Dakota Irish, a tabletop gaming accessories company founded by North Dakota native Luke McIntosh, grew out of a passion for the fantasy game Dungeons and Dragons. The company which began in Graiguenamanagh, export their products all over the world and have recently expanded. Founder, Luke McIntosh joined John to tell him more about the business and how it began.

To chat through some of the business news stories from the week, John was joined by Morwenna Coniam, Dublin Bureau Chief at Bloomberg News.  

Dakota Irish, a company founded by North Dakota native Luke McIntosh, grew out of a passion for the fantasy game Dungeons and Dragons. The company which began in Graiguenamanagh, export their products all over the world and have recently expanded. Founder, Luke McIntosh joined John to tell him more about the business and how it began.

Brian O’Farrell, CEO of County Carlow Chamber of Commerce chatted to John about his recent trade trip to Liverpool along with six local companies and the Local Enterprise Office in Carlow.

The New Frontiers Programme is an enterprise support programme aimed at entrepreneurs with high potential and scalable business ideas or technology. The programme being run out of the Enterprise and Research Centre (ERIC) in South East Technological University Carlow Campus is recruiting for phase 2. To discuss the programme in more detail John was joined by Gemma Purcell, Enterprise Development Manager at South East Technological University and  Ann-Marie McSorley, Founder and CEO of Veri Connect who speaks about her experience of being part of the programme.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

Over the course of the last week, KCLR had been marking 18 years of the station being on air, so for our latest episode of The Bottom Line we began the show with a look back at some of the big business stories over that period. Tom Molloy, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Trinity College Dublin and former Editor of the Kilkenny People Newspaper along with Colin Duggan, President of Carlow Chamber of Commerce and General Manager of the Woodford Dolmen, joined John to chat about business in Carlow, Kilkenny and beyond over the last 18 years.

Edwina Grace was out and about across Carlow and Kilkenny tracking two Government Ministers as they met local businesses and review how business is progressing over the last challenging number of years. In Edwina’s Report we hear from Minister Damien English T.D. Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail; Minister Robert Troy, T.D. Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation; Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise at Carlow Local Enterprise Office and local business owners.

David Carpendale, owner of David Oliver Bespoke joined John to tell us more about his business and the work he does.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]