SFA calls for €600 million fund to help small businesses

Thu, Mar 12, 2009

The Small Firms Association (SFA) has called for the establishment of a €600 million fund aimed at providing grant aid to the small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector as more companies struggle with rising business costs.

The aid would only go to companies that have the proven capacity to grow but whose survival is threatened by excessive day-to-day business costs and currency exchange difficulties.

It’s all go as GoBus creates 35 new jobs with new service

Thu, Mar 12, 2009

With an overall investment of €3 million, 35 employment positions created and filled and a super competitive new service, the development of the brand new transport operator, GoBus, is certainly a welcome business story in a somewhat gloomy economic climate.

Proactive wins three year contract to promote Galway Races

Thu, Mar 12, 2009

Galway marketing agency Proactive has been awarded a three-year contract to promote the Galway Races summer festival.

Trust – an important ingredient for all organisations, CIPD event told

Thu, Mar 12, 2009

The issue of trust in all organisations was discusssed last week by Murray Clarke, principal lecturer in Organization Behaviour and research methodology during his address as guest speaker at the Medtronic sponsored CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development) evening.

McInerney celebrates with 100 houses for 100 day sale

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

Ireland’s national home builder, McInerney, is celebrating 100 years in business this year with a deal for new homebuyers.

CityJet expansion provides major boost for west of Ireland industry

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

There was good news for travellers in the west this week with the annoucement that CityJet is expanding its services from Shannon Airport.

Let’s Do It Galway invites Galway business to stopover meeting

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

Let’s Do It Galway, which is responsible for organising the Volvo Ocean Race Galway Stopover, invites members of the Galway business community to an information evening on Tuesday next March 3 at 7.30pm.

Get down to business at Cava

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

Cava Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar recently launched its new business and corporate lunch programme and is the perfect place to take clients or discuss tactics while tucking into the wonderful organic and local produce that is on offer.

Grants for going green

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

Q: I am very interested in running both my home and business in a more environmentally friendly way. Can you provide details of any schemes or grants available to me if I choose to “go green”?

Best Western Flannery's Hotel wins Best of the Best award

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

The Irish annual meeting of all Best Western hotels in Ireland was held in Best Western Flannery's Hotel in Galway last week when the host hotel was named the Best of the Best in terms of quality and customer service.

The Connacht Tribune, one hundred years

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

The first issue of the Connacht Tribune was published on May 22, 1909. The newspaper was housed in Market Street, originally known as North Street (the Tribune side was known as North Street West). We know from the 1651 map that the site it occupied was originally part of the Athy Castle, also the castle belonging to the French family and part of the convent occupied by the Poor Clares. There was an underground passage from the convent running under Market Street and branching underground to St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church. This enabled the nuns who were and are an enclosed order, to attend services in the church, and to use the tunnel as a hiding place in times of persecution.

More power to the gas people?

Thu, Feb 19, 2009

THOUSANDS of electricity customers have already made enquiries about switching electricity provider to Bord Gais since the option to switch became available from noon on Wednesday.

Screenway to host Ireland's largest media and publishing event in Galway

Thu, Feb 19, 2009

What has been described as the biggest media and publishing technology event ever to be held in the west will be held in Galway early next month.

DesignX 2009 to be held on March 5 in Glenlo Abbey Hotel will be a mecca for those in the print,media and publishing industries as it will involve free seminars and in depth demonstrations on Quark Xpress 8, Adobe CS4, Extensis Portfolio, Apple PDF workflows, and Epson Photo Printers,

Entrepreneurs must challenge business models to beat downturn

Thu, Feb 19, 2009

IRISH entrepreneurs will have to be more innovative in their thinking than ever before and challenge existing business models by differentiation and lower cost if they are to build successful businesses in the face of the global economic downturn.

Financial Solutions Skillnet’s training programme to beat ‘recessionary blues’

Thu, Feb 19, 2009

Financial Solutions Skillnet (FSS), which offers subsidised training and networking for West of Ireland financial services companies, has received funding of €136,500 from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to deliver its second year of training.

How to claim tax relief for R&D

Thu, Feb 19, 2009

Q. My company has incurred significant R&D expenditure during the past few years. The product is now ready to go to market and I hope to be profit-making within two years. Can I claim tax relief for the expenditure incurred to date and how do I claim it? Are there special rules for claiming R&D costs?

Grocery survey shows bigger price gap — but gap to discounts shrinks

Thu, Feb 12, 2009

The price gap on a basket of groceries between the three big supermarkets is widening and the gap between their prices and Aldi and Lidl is narrowing, the latest price survey from the National Consumer Agency shows.

Fall in love with your business again despite the downturn

Thu, Feb 12, 2009

With February being the month for love, it’s time to 'fall in love' with your business. Fall back in love and make amends. Say you're sorry when you've expected too much; acknowledge when you've been a little insensitive and promise to get realistic about expectations.

Experienced hotelier appointed new general manager of the g

Thu, Feb 12, 2009

The luxurious and award winning g Hotel has recently appointed Damien O’ Riordan as general manager to one of Ireland’s most fashionable five star properties. Damien has built a career for himself working in a selection of the most renowned establishments across Ireland and the United States of America and now plans to draw on these experiences to create the ultimate hospitality experience for guests, both locally and internationally at the g hotel.

Receivers and liquidators

Thu, Feb 12, 2009

Q. I read your answer on liquidation and insolvency last week with interest. However, I have a different set of circumstances. I have a trading company with the trading premises held within the company and financed by a large bank loan. The lending bank has a fixed charge over the property and a floating charge over the other assets. I am not going to be able to keep the repayments going on the loan much longer. I have only been able to do so by increasing the period during which I can pay my creditors and I can’t do this much longer as the creditors have me under huge pressure. I have been told that the bank might appoint a receiver but your answer last week did not refer to this. What is a receiver and how is a receiver different from a liquidator?

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