The County Carlow Chamber of Commerce have announced Colin Duggan as the 37th President of the Chamber at the upcoming Annual General meeting, scheduled for July of this year. Colin is taking over from Eileen Brophy who has led the Chamber over the last year, and previously was the Director at the Delta Centre.

Colin is currently General Manager at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, a position he has held since 2005. A vastly experienced hotelier, he has worked in the industry for over 32 years and has been at the helm of the Woodford Dolmen Hotel as it has reinvented itself over the last 5 years, to become what is now one of the leading hotels in the South East. Following a large reinvestment and refurbishment, the Woodford Dolmen boasts an extremely busy conference, wedding, and dining business both from a local, regional & national trade. A warm welcome and friendliness of staff are the ethos of the hospitality industry, both of which are clearly evident in any visit to Colin and his team at the hotel.
Colin is also a Board member of Carlow Tourism, Carlow Town Forum, and the Board of Management of Carlow Institute of Further Education.

Commenting on the announcement, Colin said “It is an honour for me to be taking over as President of the County Carlow Chamber. It is a role that comes with great responsibility in representing the great businesses across the county and I look forward to building on the great work of the Chamber over the last 73 years since it was established by the local business community.

The Chamber has always been at the forefront in identifying and addressing the issues, challenges and concerns of members over the years and it is vital we continue to retain a strong unified voice at this time.”

Colin concluded “As we approach the final phases of reopening business after the Covid-19 lockdown. The challenges for all businesses are similar. We must be positive; we need to be strong and use the power of many to work to together to get business in Carlow thriving again. If jobs are to be saved, if businesses are to stay trading, we need to see certainty and clarity on the longer-term future of the economy. We need supports to address liquidity and cover overheads, otherwise debt, which is mounting for many businesses, will sink them. Working in several ways including lobbying locally and nationally to secure these supports will be one of my key roles during this presidency.”

County Carlow Chamber established by local businesses in 1947, represents the interests of businesses, both large and small, in across the County and its environs. The Chamber is dedicated to fostering a thriving county and is a catalyst in the promotion and progression of the town, county, and region. As an independent organisation funded through its members and activity, the Chamber takes a proactive approach to policy development, and lobbying to impact decisions that benefit the region.