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The winners of the South Kerry Development Partnership and North East & West Kerry Development Enterprise Awards programme at the Rose Hotel on Wednesday night. From left; James Sheehan of James Barbers Killorglin, Tomas and Katie from K & T Bakery, Cahersiveen, Maura Sheehy of Maura’s Flowers and Doireann Barrett of The Gluten Free Kitchen. Photo by Dermot Crean
FOUR Kerry businesses were this week selected to represent Kerry at the Munster regional competition phase of the Irish Local Development Companies Network national enterprises awards competition.
The businesses, two representing South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd. and two representing North, East & West Kerry Development, were chosen from an overall entry of circa 40 businesses from across the county in what is the first year of the competition.
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The South Kerry winners were James’ Barber Shop and K&T Bakery while the North Kerry winners were Maura’s Flowers and The Gluten Free Kitchen. All of the businesses who entered were set up since 2011 with assistance from the Local Development Companies through the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection.
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In front; the winners of the South Kerry Development Partnership and North East & West Kerry Development Enterprise Awards programme James Sheehan of James Barbers Killorglin, Tomas and Katie Gwis from K & T Bakery, Cahersiveen, Maura Sheehy of Maura’s Cottage Flowers and Doireann Barrett of The Gluten Free Kitchen. Back from left; Carlos Luque, Foodie Fiesta, Cathy Troth, Headpieces by Cathy, Michelle O’Grady, My Little Pet Shop, Diarmuid Murphy, Pacwebtv, Lisa Hutchinson, Just For You Gifts and Ewa Korzec, Joevany Leather Goods, finalists at the Rose Hotel on Wednesday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Welcoming everyone to the event, SKDP CEO Noel Spillane stressed the importance of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme in providing unemployed people with the opportunity to set up their own businesses.
“The Local Development Companies will be meeting with Minister Varadkar to seek to have the scheme restored to its original four years support structure from the current two to maximise the chances of these new businesses succeeding” he said. Noel added that these small businesses were the backbone of the economy of regions such as Kerry and it is vital that they are given all the support possible to help them succeed.
NEWKD CEO Eamonn O’Reilly congratulated all the businesses who took part in the event and said that he was sure the award winners would represent Kerry very well in the next stages of the national competition. “It is great to see the families of the business owners here tonight also and the support of both family and friends is very important to these new businesses when they are getting up and running” Eamonn said.
The national final of the competition is due to take place in Dublin in September.
Front from left; the winners of the South Kerry Development Partnership and North East & West Kerry Development Enterprise Awards programme James Sheehan of James Barbers Killorglin, Tomas and Katie from K & T Bakery, Cahersiveen, CEO South Kerry Development Noel Spillane, CEO Of NEWKD Eamon O’Reilly, Maura Sheehy of Maura’s Flowers and Doireann Barrett of The Gluten Free Kitchenat the Rose Hotel on Wednesday night. Back from left; Cllr Norma Moriarty, Anne O’Riordan (SKDP), Robert Carey (NEWKD), Joanne Griffin (SKDP), Eibhlís Harrahan (NEWKD), Edward Breen (NEWKD), Margaret Daly (NEWKD) and Sheila Casey (Chairperson SKDP). Photo by Dermot Crean
