How would you like your New Year resolutions to yield real results and achieve your goals in 2013?

Thu, Jan 10, 2013

Ballybane Enterprise Centre is hosting a free Seminar on Tuesday 15th January for anyone who wants to achieve their personal goals in 2013. These goals may be anything from managing stress better, to eating more healthily, giving up smoking, or improving relationships.

Call for applications for WDC micro-loan fund for creative industries

Thu, Jan 10, 2013

The Western Development Commission (WDC) has launched its second call for funding applicants under its Micro Loan Fund for Creative Industries. Following a very successful first call in June of last year, the fund has already disbursed €120,000 to creative businesses in the Western Region and looks forward to increasing its disbursals over 2013.

Advertiser Deals proving a great hit with Galway deal hunters

Wed, Jan 09, 2013

Bargain hunters hoping to avail of great Galway deals in all areas of shopping have been logging on in droves to avail of the Advertiser Deals site which was launched in Galway last month.

Sweet smell of success for Cloon Keen Atelier as its scent is named as one of London’s ‘must-haves’

Thu, Jan 03, 2013

Galway perfumer, Cloon Keen Atelier, has announced that their first perfume, Castaña, was listed as one of the seven best perfumes of 2012 by the London Evening Standard’s ES magazine.

Retail Excellence Ireland welcomes increase in post-Christmas shopping

Thu, Jan 03, 2013

According to Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), Ireland’s largest retail industry trade body, Christmas 2012 saw an increase in the number of consumers out shopping and early figures indicate that sales are up overall when compared to Christmas 2011.

David Fitzsimons, CEO REI said: “The turnout of shoppers for the Christmas season is well ahead of expectations with retailers offering the very best value and service to consumers. It is also welcome to see a return of consumer confidence, based on the increase in consumers, and we can only hope that this will remain throughout 2013.”

Put money saving coupons on your smartphone for 2013 with Woosh Wallet

Thu, Dec 27, 2012

Discount coupons, free coupons, money-saving coupons…who knew it was so easy to save money with smartphone coupons? Galway-based Woosh Wallet’is a new app for iPhone and Android that offers you just that. Coupons on your phone that you simply show to your server to redeem.

Ireland Assist creates 70 new positions in its Galway support centre

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Local Assistance and Insurance Services Company, Ireland Assist Ltd, recently created more than 70 new positions in its Medical Assistance and Travel Claims Support Centre in Galway City.

Galway tourism businesses granted global ecotourism recognition

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Internationally recognised certification in Ecotourism standards have been presented to a group of Galway tourism businesses.

Athenry based Fidelma Ray of Cycle West Ireland received a Gold award as an ‘Ecotourism Operator’. Slieve Aughty Riding Centre attained a Gold award for their ‘Walking with a Donkey and Family Green Holidays’. Silver awards were presented to Peter Downey of Riverside Paradise of Esker, Banagher, Co. Galway and Flor Burke of Crann óg Eco Farm, Drummin, Gort, Co. Galway. The programme was co-ordinated by Ecotourism Ireland, which is one of only fourteen such organisations worldwide recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The programme was initiated and funded through the Rural Development Programme by Galway Rural Development Company.

Mind your Mental Health

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

These days we are constantly hearing ‘tis the season to be jolly’ and everyone asking if you have your Christmas shopping done or if you have plans for Christmas Day. However it is not always a jolly and happy time for a lot of people who struggle with the idea of and days around Christmas and the New Year. In fact it is a time that people need to be aware of their mental health, as quite often Christmas can be a lonely and troublesome time especially during these tough economic times.

Any of us can experience real distress due to a stressful event of chain of events and this can be caused by too many strong feelings and thoughts at the one time. It is normal to feel down or sad at times during your life. If you’ve had to cope with a stressful event, you may need time deal with the outcomes and sadness, however these feelings might last for a while, but for some people those feelings can be hard to shake off. Triggers can vary from person to person but often include events such as losing a job; problems at work; bullying; financial worries; health problems; the death of someone close; the breakup of a relationship or in many cases, a combination of some of the above. Sometimes it can happen for no obvious reason.

Tuam man named as Quality Assurance chief in CPA

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Michael Costello from Tuam, Co. Galway has been appointed as the Quality Assurance Executive in the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA).

Central Bank economist to give Paddy Ryan Memorial Lecture next week

Thu, Dec 06, 2012

Lars Frisell, Senior Economist with the Central Bank of Ireland, is to be the guest speaker at this year’s Paddy Ryan Memorial Lecture in GMIT on Tuesday next December 11.

Irish language is working for local businesses

Thu, Dec 06, 2012

Gaillimh le Gaeilge, the organisation responsible for the promotion of the Irish language in Galway city, is delighted to see that local businesses and organisations are continuing to use the Irish language and making “An Ghaeilge” their business. New signage featuring the Irish language has appeared on our streets reinforcing and strengthening Galway’s unique and cultural image.

The Great Outdoors on Eglington Street has recently added an extension to their shop which features new signage with the well known seanfhocal – ‘Is fearr an sláinte ná an táinte’. The manager of Great Outdoors, Louise O’Rourke said that ‘when renovating our store on Eglington Street, we thought it would be a good idea to introduce the Irish language to our signage. The seanfhocal fits with our ethos of promoting a healthy lifestyle and works well in our shop.’

Ability West and Coffey Group awarded NSAI certification

Thu, Dec 06, 2012

County Galway-based companies Ability West and the Coffey Group were among the 49 private and public sector organisations receiving awards last week from the Minister of State for Small Business, Mr John Perry T.D. The County Galway based companies joined the likes of the international telecommunications company Vodafone and the state’s Forensic Science Laboratory in achieving certified levels of excellence under a range of headings.

Sell the vision before selling yourself

Thu, Dec 06, 2012

We had this interesting correspondence from a reader this week and we think it is worth reproducing here. It might chime with some of you.

“I applied for a job in my current company – but in a completely different section. I was a 200-1 shot. There were at least three others in that section better positioned than I was.

Galway energy monitoring business Meterlogix goes national

Thu, Nov 29, 2012

Meterlogix.ie, an energy monitoring and management business based in Galway received its national launch this week.

Galwayman who designed energy efficient clothes dryer wins start-up award

Thu, Nov 29, 2012

PurOrigin, a new venture focused on designing and developing novel, energy efficient, domestic appliances, has won the University College Dublin 2012 NovaUCD 2012 Start-Up Award. In addition to the award the promoters of PurOrigin were presented with a €20,000 prize fund after being declared overall winner of University College Dublin’s 17th NovaUCD Campus Company Development Programme.

Should company have morality contracts forbidding romance at work?

Thu, Nov 22, 2012

No company wants to have to deal with unnecessary and avoidable costs of situations such as sexual harassment, discrimination, health and safety or unfair dismissal claims against the organisation. As well as costing a fortune these actions can harm the reputation of the business and have an impact on the productivity of the staff.

Learn how running can help you reach your business goals

Thu, Nov 22, 2012

Do you know how running can benefit and even change your life? Would you like to discover the benefits of running and increase your motivation to run?

Two Galway companies named winners in InterTradeIreland Seedcorn competition

Thu, Nov 08, 2012

Two Galway companies, Full Health Medical and Algae Health were named the Best Emerging and the Best High Growth companies respectively in the Connacht and Leinster final of the 2012 InterTradeIreland Seedcorn all-island business competition.

Drop The Monkey Business

Thu, Nov 08, 2012

Routine is a funny old thing. Nobody wants to fall in to a bad one, but we all know that a routine is needed to achieve goals. The trick to making sure your routine does not fall flat on its face is to reassess and rework it regularly. It is important in business not to get caught up in an old, boring, or out of date routine. Routines need to be continuously moving and changing.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.