Cavan business to shine at Ploughing Championships

One of Cavan’s best small businesses will get a chance to exhibit their business to almost 300,000 people at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, County Laois next week as part of the Local Enterprise Village.

Elena Brennan Jewellery, a company supported by Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Cavan, designs and handcrafts fine jewellery.

The Local Enterprise Village, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, will house over 30 small businesses and will be located at the heart of this year’s National Ploughing Championships from September 17-19.

With some of the biggest companies in Ireland taking up residence at the Ploughing every year, the Local Enterprise Village continues to be a popular destination on the site for those looking to pick up something unique to bring home from some of the best small businesses in Ireland.

Gillian Madden, Senior Enterprise Development Officer, Local Enterprise Office Cavan and member of the NPA Local Enterprise Village Committee said: “This is a great opportunity for a small business in Ireland. The chance to bring their ideas and products to almost 300,000 potential customers is a showcase like no other. The Local Enterprise Village has become one of those areas everyone wants to drop into to find their local business and see what they can pick up.

"There is a huge variety of businesses highlighting the depth of sectors that the Local Enterprise Offices support from manufacturing to food and beverage, to software solutions. Whatever you are interested in there is something for everyone at the Local Enterprise Village.”

Some of the clients involved this year cover areas such as kids clothing and games, agtech products, luxury bathing and skincare products, artisan food and drink producers, sustainable clothing and beauty products and a range of innovative products from Ireland’s best small businesses.

NPA Director John Dunne said: “It is wonderful to see so many diverse and impressive businesses partaking in this year’s ‘Local Enterprise Village’ at the National Ploughing Championships taking place in Ratheniska, Co Laois, on September 17th, 18th and 19th. This is an ideal and unique opportunity for these companies to showcase their products and wares to over 250,000 visitors that Ploughing attracts.”

The Local Enterprise Village is just one of a number of initiatives that the LEO network runs to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland. Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow.

Since their inception 10 years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 70,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses.