Connect with us

News

Kerry’s brightest and best young entrepreneurs honoured

Published

on

PICTURE: DOMNICK WALSH

Y

YOUNG entrepreneurs from Killarney and Ballyhar were among Kerry’s brightest and best who took a bow when they received top accolades this week. Some €50,000 investment fund presented by Local Enterprise Office Kerry to six young entrepreneurs in the county, all aged between 18 and 35.

IBYE, which has a €2 million investment fund, is run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland.

A total of €50,000 was awarded in prizes across three different categories including best Business Idea, Best Start Up Business and Best Established Business.

The overall “Best Young Entrepreneur” for the county was named by Local Enterprise Office Kerry as Derek Counihan, age 32 from Tralee, who founded the company Harpoon. This business provides services to support businesses monetise their digital marketing using up to date technology. The entrepreneur also won the category for Best Start-Up Business and an investment fund from LEO Kerry worth €15,000.

The other main category winners on the day were Pádraig O’Leary, age 33, from Killarney, who won the Best Business Idea with his business Cora. Cora will provide cloud based services to assist pharmacies optimize their revenue streams through non-core activities. Pádraig won a prize of €7,000.

David Monson, aged 31, from Ballyheigue, of Monson Irish Jewellery, won the Best Established Business category and a prize of €15,000.

Jessica Clinton and Michael Lenihan of Ballyhar Foods were category runners-up in the Best Established Business category of the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) county finals which took place in the Ballygarry House Hotel on Wednesday.

The category runners-up also shared an investment of €13,000 between their three businesses. The other runners-up were: Rowan Copeland, aged 21, Castlegregory in the Best Business Idea category with Go Yeti; and Joseph Moynihan, aged 27, JM Agri-Design, Tralee, in the Best Start-Up Business category.

Tomás Hayes, the Head of Local Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Kerry said: “Our office started the search to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur in August and the competition received a record-breaking number of entries this year, with 1,800 young entrepreneurs applying nationally. After a very successful IBYE bootcamp and County Final, the future is bright for both youth entrepreneurship and job creation in the region.”

These sentiments were echoed by Moira Murrell, the Chief Executive of Kerry County Council who commended the participants on the very high standard of the applications received.

Special guests at the IBYE County Final included the Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Michael O’Shea, Jerry Moloney, Regional Manager of Enterprise Ireland and Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council.

The Regional Finals for IBYE to select 24 national finalists across the three competition categories will take place in January and February 2017.

Further details on the competition and supports available to young entrepreneurs are available through www.localenterprise.ie and from the IBYE website at www.ibye.ie.
 


 
Front, Tomás Hayes, Kerry LEO, Mayor Michael O'Shea, winner Derek Counihan, Jerry Moloney, Enterprise Ireland; back, David Monson, Jessica Clinton, Rowan Copeland, Padraig O'Leary and Joseph Moynihan. PICTURE: DOMNICK WALSH

Advertisement

News

New, smash-hit comedy play by Killarney Theatre Company

Published

on

By

A new comedy play by Glengariff playwright Ray O’Sullivan will come to Killarney next month as part of a regional tour.

Robbed! will be staged at the Gleneagle Club on Saturday, February 7, at 8.30pm, presented by the Killarney Theatre Company.

The production is the group’s fifth in a popular series of homegrown plays and follows the success of The Rise and Rise of the Healy-Raes, A Papal Blessing, Weight Watching and Stones.

The play centres on a failed GAA player who finds himself caught in a series of misunderstandings involving relationships, bingo balls and a robbery that quickly spirals out of control.

As events unfold, nothing goes to plan and the situation descends into chaos.

Rehearsals have been ongoing since October and the cast includes Ray O’Sullivan himself alongside Rosie Healy and DB O’Connor. Robbed! is O’Sullivan’s fifth full-length play and is expected to attract strong audiences across the tour.

Tickets cost €15 and are available from Ray O’Sullivan on 087 2279657 or from the Gleneagle on 064 667155.


The tour begins in Scartaglen Hertiage Centre on January 17, The Ivy Leaf Theatre Castleisland, on January 29, The Glen Theatre Banteer on January 31, Foilmore Community Centre Sunday February 1, Killorglin CYMS, February 5, Abbeydorney Community Centre February 12 and Bantry Westlodge Hotel February 21.

Continue Reading

News

Kerry FC take unusual step with Killarney friendly

By Luke Managan Kerry FC took the unusual step of playing a pre-season friendly in Killarney during the week as they faced local club Killarney Celtic in a match organised […]

Published

on

By Luke Managan

Kerry FC took the unusual step of playing a pre-season friendly in Killarney during the week as they faced local club Killarney Celtic in a match organised to raise funds for Palliative Care.

It marked a rare appearance in the town for the county’s League of Ireland side and drew strong local interest.
Kerry started brightly and were ahead within the opening minutes, setting the tone for an open and competitive contest. Their early pressure was rewarded again in the 21st minute when Ballyduff native Sean McGrath doubled the lead. The game was played at a high tempo, with both sides creating chances and enjoying spells of possession.
Luke Doolan was central to Kerry’s play throughout the first half, linking defence and attack and providing energy in midfield. Kerry continued to threaten down both flanks, while Killarney Celtic responded with a series of corners and set pieces, delivered with pace into the penalty area.
Celtic reduced the deficit in the 25th minute with a well-taken free kick from just outside the box, bringing the score back to 2–1 and lifting the home support. Kerry responded in the 36th minute with a powerful strike to restore their two-goal advantage, but Celtic continued to press and were rewarded again shortly after. Debutant goalkeeper Harry Halwax produced an excellent save, with the ball coming back off the crossbar, but the rebound was turned in to make it 3–2.
Kerry looked unsettled for a brief spell as Celtic pushed forward, but just before half-time Doolan struck again with a composed finish to give Kerry a 4–2 lead at the break.
The second half saw Kerry take greater control of the game, keeping possession well and limiting Celtic to crosses from wide areas. While the home side increased their physical approach, the match remained free of disciplinary issues. Kerry made several changes in the 78th minute, including the introduction of Daniel Okwute, who impressed last season.
Halwax was forced off through injury and replaced by Killorglin native Darragh Foley, who settled quickly. Kerry added a fifth goal late on to seal a 5–2 win, though Killarney Celtic continued to compete until the final whistle.
After the match, both Okwute and Foley spoke positively about the season ahead, expressing confidence in the squad and belief that Kerry FC can challenge any opponent.

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport