The B!g Idea is a multi award winning project launched by Founder Kim MacKenzie-Doyle in 2021. The programme teaches critical thinking and creative problem solving aimed at inspiring the next generation to take on new challenges. Kim joined John to tell us more about the organisation and how people in industry can get involved by becoming a mentor.

In our first episode of The Bottom Line on KCLR for 2022, John was joined by Samantha McCaughren, Business Editor of the Sunday Independent to chat through some of the business news and issues that have been making the headlines over the past few weeks.

John Ryan, Owner of The Pembroke hotel located in Kilkenny City, spoke with John about the restrictions that have continued to impact on the tourism and hospitality industry and his thoughts on the year ahead.

The B!G Idea is a multi-award winning project, that teaches critical thinking and creative problem solving aimed at inspiring the next generation to solve complex social issues. Kim Mackenzie-Doyle, Founder of The B!G Idea joined John to tell us more about the organisation and how people in industry can get involved by becoming a mentor.

The newly elected President of our local Network Ireland branch, Valerie O'Sullivan joined John to chat about the organisation for women in business in Kilkenny and Carlow and what she’s hoping to achieve in 2022.

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

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

"Twenty Questions" is our feature piece where we literally ask our guest twenty questions which have been designed to give you an insight into the person outside of their role in business. 

Our latest guest was Yvonne O'Toole, Communications Lead at MSD.

In our last episode of The Bottom Line for 2021, John was joined by Economist Jim Power to take a look back through 2021.

Duncan Graham, Managing Director of Retail Excellence Ireland, spoke with John about the retail sector and how it has coped during 2021 and what the future looks like for retail.

"Twenty Questions" is our feature piece where we ask our guest twenty questions designed to give you an insight into the individual outside of their role in business. This month our guest was Yvonne O’Toole. 

Fiona O’Neill, Founder of Jobs for Family Carers, joined John to discuss the latest developments in her organisation, having recently been selected as one of 10 changemakers to take part in the Royal London Changemakers Programme, Fiona chats about her business journey and her plans for expansion in 2022.

Our last programme of 2021 finishes with a short piece read to us by Paddy Byrne, who along with his brothers started the Burnside Group which today employs over 1000 people locally.

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

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

In recent weeks the Government announced the commencement a dedicated rescue process for small companies, the act seeks to simplify and reduce the costs for small businesses who are experiencing difficulties. Minister Robert Troy TD is the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and he joined John to discuss the main provisions of the new act.

Tom Molloy, Director of Communications in Trinity College Dublin joined John to discuss some of the business news stories from the week.

During the week, the Government announced the commencement of a dedicated rescue process for small companies, the act seeks to simplify and reduce the costs for small businesses who are experiencing difficulties. Minister Robert Troy TD is the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and he joined John to discuss the main provisions of the new act.

The motor industry is a very significant employer in Carlow and Kilkenny employing approximately sixteen hundred people. John was joined by James Walsh, Dealer Principal of Walsh’s Toyota Kilkenny and Rowena Dooley, Dealer Principal of Dooley Motors in Carlow about how 2021 has been for them and how they feel about the car market as we face 2022. 

Focus and mental clarity are huge ingredients for business success, but for many it can be difficult to maintain that focus at this time of year while also dealing with the constant changes of the pandemic. Caroline Cunningham, Wellness Coach joined John to chat about the factors that can impact us and offers some tips on how we can manage these changes to retain that focus and build resilience.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.
 
To contact the show, email: [email protected]

In recent weeks Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey among the Kilkenny City centre retailers with the aim of capturing their views on the current one way traffic system. 

John Hurley, CEO of Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce joined John to discuss the results of the Chamber's survey in more detail.

Eoin Murphy is Business Development Manager at Cyber Security Company Stryve and known to hurling fans throughout the country for his successful hurling career with Kilkenny and Glenmore. 

Eoin joined John to discuss his career, the overlap between business and sport and how bringing his winning mindset from sport has helped him in his professional life.

Peter Henebry, Director at Maxem Engineering, a company which are suppliers to the electronics manufacturers speaks with John about the shortage of semi-conductor chips, the culmination of factors which have contributed to the shortage and how this is having an impact on the global supply chain.

Laura Slattery, Journalist at the Irish Times chatted to John about the big business stories of the week, from ongoing Covid restrictions, a financial services company being subject to fines by the Central Bank and non-fungible tokens.
 
Eoin Murphy, Business Development Manager at Carlow Based Company Stryve is well known to most through his hurling career with the Kilkenny team and his club Glenmore. Eoin joined John to chat about his career, how his sports and business career overlap and how he brings his winning mentality from sport to his work.
 
Understanding the supply chain crisis - Peter Henebry of Maxem engineering joined John to chat about the global pandemic, climate change, the demand for microprocessors and what it means for business. 
 
John Hurley, CEO of Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce spoke with John about the one-way system in Kilkenny City Centre and how the city centre retailers feel about it.
 
 
With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.
  

To contact the show, email: [email protected]