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Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cork woman turned grant into thriving vintage shop supporting eight artists
Katie Sloane used Cork County Council's Creative Start-Up Scheme to open Peach Vintage in Midleton, which now provides a platform for eight local craftspeople to sell their handmade items. The 2025 funding round is now open, offering up to €3,000 grants plus mentorship to artists and makers looking to establish retail spaces A Cork County Council scheme aimed at supporting artists, designers, and craftspeople in establishing retail spaces across the county has been hailed as "a huge help" by a business owner who received a grant in last year's funding round. The Creative Start-Up Scheme, now open for applications for 2025, is part of the Council's wider effort to revitalise town and village centres through supporting creative enterprises. Each approved project can receive up to €3,000 in funding as well as business guidance and mentorship from the Local Enterprise Office. The scheme welcomes proposals for temporary or seasonal pop-up shops in vacant retail spaces. It also encourages applications from small retailers who wish to expand their offering by featuring more artists or makers or by enlarging their current retail footprint. Katie Sloane is the owner of the Peach Vintage shop in the East Cork town of Midleton. Opened at the Courtyard on Main Street a year ago, the shop sells vintage and pre-loved goods as well as a selection of hand-made art made by local artists and craftspeople. Katie said she received "great help" from the Local Enterprise Office as part of the scheme and "the help from the County Council was fantastic." "It's a vintage store with a creative space, where eight people sell their handmade items, all local," Katie told the Irish Independent. The craftspeople within Peach Vintage include a jewellery-maker and a photographer. "The grant is so beneficial, because it paid for the signage, it's beautiful signage and everyone comments on it," Katie said. Announcing this year's scheme, the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll, said: 'This fund will provide a welcome boost to successful applicants and help stimulate creative activity across Cork County. Over the past four years, it has supported the creation of unique retail spaces such as Blackwater Valley Makers in Fermoy, Le Cheile Arts in Dunmanway, Peach Vintage in Midleton, and Orla O Visual in Mallow. Creative businesses can bring renewed energy to our towns and villages, transform them into distinctive destinations, and offer opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their vision into reality.' The scheme is funded by Creative Ireland, a national initiative that fosters connections between people, creativity, and wellbeing. As an all-of-government programme, Creative Ireland aims to empower every individual in Ireland to realise their creative potential, enriching communities and places through cultural engagement. The 2025 scheme is open for applications until June 19th. An online information session will be held on June 3rd. For more information, email Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cork woman turned €3,000 grant into thriving vintage shop supporting eight artists
Katie Sloane used Cork County Council's Creative Start-Up Scheme to open Peach Vintage in Midleton, which now provides a platform for eight local craftspeople to sell their handmade items. The 2025 funding round is now open, offering up to €3,000 grants plus mentorship to artists and makers looking to establish retail spaces A Cork County Council scheme aimed at supporting artists, designers, and craftspeople in establishing retail spaces across the county has been hailed as "a huge help" by a business owner who received a grant in last year's funding round. The Creative Start-Up Scheme, now open for applications for 2025, is part of the Council's wider effort to revitalise town and village centres through supporting creative enterprises. Each approved project can receive up to €3,000 in funding as well as business guidance and mentorship from the Local Enterprise Office. The scheme welcomes proposals for temporary or seasonal pop-up shops in vacant retail spaces. It also encourages applications from small retailers who wish to expand their offering by featuring more artists or makers or by enlarging their current retail footprint. Katie Sloane is the owner of the Peach Vintage shop in the East Cork town of Midleton. Opened at the Courtyard on Main Street a year ago, the shop sells vintage and pre-loved goods as well as a selection of hand-made art made by local artists and craftspeople. Katie said she received "great help" from the Local Enterprise Office as part of the scheme and "the help from the County Council was fantastic." "It's a vintage store with a creative space, where eight people sell their handmade items, all local," Katie told the Irish Independent. The craftspeople within Peach Vintage include a jewellery-maker and a photographer. "The grant is so beneficial, because it paid for the signage, it's beautiful signage and everyone comments on it," Katie said. Announcing this year's scheme, the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll, said: 'This fund will provide a welcome boost to successful applicants and help stimulate creative activity across Cork County. Over the past four years, it has supported the creation of unique retail spaces such as Blackwater Valley Makers in Fermoy, Le Cheile Arts in Dunmanway, Peach Vintage in Midleton, and Orla O Visual in Mallow. Creative businesses can bring renewed energy to our towns and villages, transform them into distinctive destinations, and offer opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their vision into reality.' The scheme is funded by Creative Ireland, a national initiative that fosters connections between people, creativity, and wellbeing. As an all-of-government programme, Creative Ireland aims to empower every individual in Ireland to realise their creative potential, enriching communities and places through cultural engagement. The 2025 scheme is open for applications until June 19th. An online information session will be held on June 3rd. For more information, email Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
RTÉ News
22-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Monaghan company wins top prize at National Enterprise Awards
A Co Monaghan-based digital healthcare company has won the top prize at the National Enterprise Awards. SPRYT aims to simplify medical appointment bookings for patients while increasing appointment attendance for healthcare providers through the use of artificial intelligence. The company was founded by Daragh Donohoe and Neill Dunwoody in 2022 and is based in Monaghan Town. SPRYT enables patients to book, change and pay for appointments via instant message. Patients can also interact with its AI receptionist named Asa similarly to like they would with a human receptionist. The software also allows healthcare providers to predict which patients are least likely to attend an appointment based on a patient's responses and language, as well as external factors such as the weather, with the aim of reducing no-shows and missed appointments. SPRYT has already been adopted by a number of GPs and clinics across Ireland and its AI receptionist tool has been piloted with the NHS in the UK. The med-tech company, which has been supported by the Local Enterprise Office in Monaghan, is now preparing for expansion into the UK, US and wider EU markets. SPRYT was announced as the overall winner at this year's National Enterprise Awards during a ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin tonight. This year's winners share a €50,000 investment fund. The awards, which are an initiative of the Local Enterprise Office and now in their 25th year, aim to celebrate the best small businesses in Ireland. Several other category winners were also announced tonight, including the Innovation Award which went to MoneySherpa. Supported by Local Enterprise Office Louth, the company aims to streamline the home buying process. Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices, said tonight's awards highlight companies that are ready to take the next step and scale up into international markets. He said: "We will no doubt see the winners here go on to do great things over the coming years but for every business that has made it to this point, it is validation that they have created an outstanding business. Entrepreneurship is the road less taken but we have to encourage more people to take that leap, and show them the benefits it can bring. "We have some amazing people across the country and many have started businesses that are taking on the world. Look at some of our previous winners like Pestle & Mortar, Bevcraft and Advanced Cosmetics. As the Local Enterprise Offices, we will continue to encourage and support great ideas and new businesses because we have the entrepreneurs to make amazing global companies," Mr Comerford added.
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Meath business selected in final for National Enterprise Awards
Premier Energy Storage will represent Local Enterprise Office Meath at the awards that take place on Thursday, May 22 in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin. Premier Energy Storage provides bespoke high quality fuel system solutions to assist clients transition to HVO fuel. The company offers expert guidance in making heating and power generation systems greener. The company serves clients across Europe and prides itself on remaining committed to sustainability, efficiency, and innovation. Sales Director at Premier Energy Storage, Jonny Heasley said: 'We are honoured to be recognised at a national level and see it as validation of our mission to deliver secure, reliable, and efficient energy solutions to our clients across multiple sectors.' This is the 25th year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by DreamDev Technologies, supported by Local Enterprise Office Kildare. Finalists compete for a prize fund of €50,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award. There is also an Outstanding Achievement award for a business that started with their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international growth with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland. Head of Enterprise at LEO Meath, Joe English said: 'The diversity of sectors and innovation shown again this year is outstanding and the winners will no doubt produce businesses destined for international success. 'These businesses have excelled in their areas and have the potential to follow in the footsteps of previous winners to become successful global companies.'
Agriland
13-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Food businesses among finalists for National Enterprise Awards
A number of food and agri-businesses are among the 31 finalists from across the country in the National Enterprise Awards. This is the 25th year of the Local Enterprise Office event, which was won last year by DreamDev Technologies, the Kildare-based company which developed an AI augmented platform. This year there is a wide variety of finalists competing for the title of National Enterprise of the Year at a ceremony on May 22. There is a selection of food businesses in the running this year including Naked Bakes from south Dublin, SOS Cookies from Limerick, Fused by Fiona Uyema from Kildare, jam maker Mór Taste from Wexford, and WONDR Jellies from Mayo, the world's first high-protein, low-sugar jellies. Other agri-related businesses which have been shortlisted are online auction platform, MartEye based in Galway and Kerry Woolen Mills. The finalists compete for a prize fund of €50,000 and, along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner, there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award. National Enterprise Awards There will also be an Outstanding Achievement Award presented on the night to an Irish business who started with the support of their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international success. This year's Outstanding Achievement Award will go to Keoghs Farm. In 2011 Tom Keogh created the Keoghs Crisp brand and from what was a 200-year-old potato farm, they export to 22 countries and employ 150 people at their base in north Dublin. Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices, Kieran Comerford said; 'This is the 25th year of the National Enterprise Awards and one thing we see year on year is amazing diversity of businesses from across the country, all excelling in their sectors. 'The 31 finalists have made it to this point and that in itself is validation that these are companies are primed for growth. 'We are excited to see who takes home the prizes in the final but we're also excited to see the next steps that these companies make in their areas as they all have the potential to become significant Irish businesses both here and internationally over the coming years.' The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of events that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country.
