The Hot Desk

Hot Desk Jan 28th, Suzanne Parker guest host was joined in studio by  Dr. Laurence Fitzhenry from SETU will be coming in to talk about OcuHealth and their win at Venture Launch 2025.

and cousins Colin and Conor O’Shea about their storage business Rent a Box.

and also Regina Mangan from Liberty Blue will be looking forward to the Property Market in 2026.

Hot Desk Jan 21st Suzanna Parker guest hosts this weeks show and is joined in studio by Claire Mooney President of Network Ireland Waterford branch to look forward to the year ahead.

 Lynda Lawton from Waterford Chamber of Commerce to talk about the South East Jobs and Skills Fair being held in the Granville Hotel next month.

 Finally, Clair Moriarty from Anita Cambie Financial will be on to discuss current mortgage threads and whats in store for 2026.

Mary was joined in studio by Carmel Grant of Carmel Grant Designs, and Polly Doyle of Polly & Andy - they’re among the talented Waterford Designers who will represent the Déise at Showcase Ireland in the RDS.

Breda Dooley at Matrix Recruitment will discuss what 2026 salaries look like in Ireland and where skills shortages are most acute.

And the small firms association has launched its three year strategy document. Mary heard from David Broderick of the SFA about what it means for business owners.

Waterford-based Tom Cullen of SIMI about how the motor industry in Ireland should fare in 2026, given the significant year-on-year growth in the sale of electric vehicles in 2025. 

Fractional CFO Joe O'Regan will give advice to SMEs on setting budgets and other financial plans for the year ahead. 

And as more and more consumers move away from fast fashion,Mary chats to Tramore-based Catherine DeCourcy about her clothing company, MilyDesigns. 

Dungarvan Brewing Company and Mary spoke to the owner Tom Dauber, who is visiting from the US. He and operations manager Katrina Murphy discuss the festive season, and what lies ahead for 2026. 

Fresh from opening a new premises in Carrick on Suir, Ronan Mulligan of Mulligan’s pharmacy joined Mary in the studio. 

And Mary spoke to Manager of Waterford Oysters, Clíona Mhic Giolla Chuda, about the global growth of the business, 35 years since it started. 

Mary is joined in studio Karen Dollery and Louise Prendergast of Viking Hotel Waterford, which has just received a 4 star classification.

 She also spoke to Jimmy Burrows of the Fresh Food Courtyard, Dungarvan, about a recent win at the Butchers Guild Awards, and about trade in general at Christmas 

And we hear about how Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens, Tramore were the winners of the Tourism Partner of the Year Award, at the Asia Matters Business Awards. Chairperson and Founder of the Gardens Agnes Aylward will have all the details.

HotDesk Dec 3rd Mary is joined by Meg Dunphy of CIPD who will discuss flexible work and how businesses and employees feel about it, five years on from lockdown.

Damien Smyth of Campion insurance in Waterford warns that cyber risk is now a defining threat to accounting firms.

And new research shows jobseekers fear AI is unfairly screening out their applications  - Michelle Murphy, Director of Collins McNicolas will have the details.

On this episode of The Hot Desk with thanks to MK Brazil. Dr. Don O’Neill, Head of the Department of Culinary Arts, Hospitality & Tourism at SETU. Andrew Lambe from Company Bureau. Maggie Kenny from The Grazing Table

Aoibhin Fallon stands in for Mary this week.

She chatted to Fergal Kelly, solutions engineer with Compar Vision Systems and robotics, based in the Cleaboy business park in Waterford.

He will talk about the company’s recent expansion and also the rising concern that robotics are taking over many of the manual jobs traditionally done by humans.

Trevor Darmody (Festival Director) and Mary Merritt (Market Manager) from Winterval in studio to discuss the positive impact the popular Christmas festival is expected to have on Waterford city.

Also, WLRs David Farrell and Kieran Foley speak to the winners of last weekend's Waterford Business Awards.

Mary spoke to Stuart Fitzgerald, CEO of Waterford based Fitzgerald Power, on global challenges for Irish SMEs in the export market. 

Colin Landers of Landers Bespoke Carpentry and Joinery in Villierstown will join Mary in studio to discuss what it means to be a finalist in the IKTG (Ireland Kitchen Trade Guide awards), which take place in Belfast in November.

And Mary heard all about a new Irish Fintech company -Global Health Capital - designed exclusively formedical professionals. Co-founder Graham Byrne will join me to discuss.