County Carlow Chamber welcomed Minister McGrath

Dec 15, 2022

[av_textblock textblock_styling_align=” textblock_styling=” textblock_styling_gap=” textblock_styling_mobile=” size=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” font_color=” color=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-lbovrn89′ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”]
The County Carlow Chamber of Commerce hosted its Presidents Christmas Lunch on Friday 2nd December in the Seven Oaks Hotel, with guest speaker for the afternoon, Michael McGrath T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

This year’s lunch was especially important as the Chamber is celebrating its 75th year representing and working on behalf of members businesses across the county.  Over 120 guests attended the lunch in the Seven Oaks Hotel, including many of the past presidents of the Chamber who have contributed so much over the years to the Chamber and the wider business community.

The event was supported by Business IT Solutions and opened with a welcome and introduction to their services from Paul Byrne, Director of BITS.  Colin Duggan, 37th President of the Chamber spoke of the work pf the chamber and the contribution of the past presidents and boards over the years, further touching on some of the key challenges for business in the current environment.  Jennifer Murnane O’Connor T.D then discussed some of the key priorities for Carlow and some of the challenges and concerns of businesses in the county.

Minister McGrath discussed the new Technological University of the South East and how is a game changer for Carlow and the South East Region, however noted that there is more to be done in the area in terms of housing and student accommodation.  Prior to the lunch, the Minister held a meeting with the board of the Chamber to discuss some of the key challenges for businesses in the county and region, while additionally he met with the Council Executives in relation to funding and the Carlow 2040 project.

The Chamber presented Minister McGrath with a selection of The Busker Irish Whiskey from the Royal Oak Distillery to mark his visit to Carlow, Brian O’ Farrell highlighted how the distillery is the only one in the world where all the different styles of Irish Whiskey are produced under the one roof.
[/av_textblock]

[av_one_half first min_height='' vertical_alignment='av-align-top' space='' row_boxshadow='' row_boxshadow_color='' row_boxshadow_width='10' custom_margin='' margin='0px' mobile_breaking='' mobile_column_order='' min_col_height='' padding='' svg_div_top='' svg_div_top_color='#333333' svg_div_top_width='100' svg_div_top_height='50' svg_div_top_max_height='none' svg_div_top_flip='' svg_div_top_invert='' svg_div_top_front='' svg_div_top_opacity='' svg_div_top_preview='' svg_div_bottom='' svg_div_bottom_color='#333333' svg_div_bottom_width='100' svg_div_bottom_height='50' svg_div_bottom_max_height='none' svg_div_bottom_flip='' svg_div_bottom_invert='' svg_div_bottom_front='' svg_div_bottom_opacity='' svg_div_bottom_preview='' border='' border_style='solid' border_color='' radius='' column_boxshadow='' column_boxshadow_color='' column_boxshadow_width='10' background='bg_color' background_color='' background_gradient_direction='vertical' background_gradient_color1='#000000' background_gradient_color2='#ffffff' background_gradient_color3='' src='' background_position='top left' background_repeat='no-repeat' highlight='' highlight_size='' animation='' link='' linktarget='' link_hover='' title_attr='' alt_attr='' mobile_display='' mobile_col_pos='0' id='' custom_class='' template_class='' aria_label='' av_uid='av-1afa6hd' sc_version='1.0']
[av_image src='https://carlowchamber.com/contentwp/uploads/2022/12/Presidents-2022-363-300×200.jpg' attachment='13300' attachment_size='medium' copyright='' caption='' image_size='' styling='' align='center' font_size='' overlay_opacity='0.4' overlay_color='#000000' overlay_text_color='#ffffff' animation='no-animation' hover='av-hover-grow' appearance='' link='' target='' title_attr='' alt_attr='' img_scrset='' lazy_loading='disabled' id='' custom_class='' template_class='' av_element_hidden_in_editor='0' av_uid='av-lbovva7n' sc_version='1.0' admin_preview_bg='']
Presenting Busker Irish Whiskey to the Minister. Colin Duggan, President of County Carlow Chamber; Michael McGrath T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; Rowena Dooley, Vice President of County Carlow Chamber
[/av_image]

[av_textblock textblock_styling_align='' textblock_styling='' textblock_styling_gap='' textblock_styling_mobile='' size='' av-medium-font-size='' av-small-font-size='' av-mini-font-size='' font_color='' color='' id='' custom_class='' template_class='' av_uid='av-lbovxyf2' sc_version='1.0' admin_preview_bg='']
Presenting Busker Irish Whiskey to the Minister.  Colin Duggan, President of County Carlow Chamber; Michael McGrath T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; Rowena Dooley, Vice President of County Carlow Chamber
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_half]

[av_one_half min_height='' vertical_alignment='av-align-top' space='' row_boxshadow='' row_boxshadow_color='' row_boxshadow_width='10' custom_margin='' margin='0px' mobile_breaking='' mobile_column_order='' min_col_height='' padding='' svg_div_top='' svg_div_top_color='#333333' svg_div_top_width='100' svg_div_top_height='50' svg_div_top_max_height='none' svg_div_top_flip='' svg_div_top_invert='' svg_div_top_front='' svg_div_top_opacity='' svg_div_top_preview='' svg_div_bottom='' svg_div_bottom_color='#333333' svg_div_bottom_width='100' svg_div_bottom_height='50' svg_div_bottom_max_height='none' svg_div_bottom_flip='' svg_div_bottom_invert='' svg_div_bottom_front='' svg_div_bottom_opacity='' svg_div_bottom_preview='' border='' border_style='solid' border_color='' radius='' column_boxshadow='' column_boxshadow_color='' column_boxshadow_width='10' background='bg_color' background_color='' background_gradient_direction='vertical' background_gradient_color1='#000000' background_gradient_color2='#ffffff' background_gradient_color3='' src='' background_position='top left' background_repeat='no-repeat' highlight='' highlight_size='' animation='' link='' linktarget='' link_hover='' title_attr='' alt_attr='' mobile_display='' mobile_col_pos='0' id='' custom_class='' template_class='' aria_label='' av_uid='av-t5h2a9' sc_version='1.0']
[av_image src='https://carlowchamber.com/contentwp/uploads/2022/12/Presidents-2022-155-300×200.jpg' attachment='13299' attachment_size='medium' copyright='' caption='' image_size='' styling='' align='center' font_size='' overlay_opacity='0.4' overlay_color='#000000' overlay_text_color='#ffffff' animation='no-animation' hover='av-hover-grow' appearance='' link='' target='' title_attr='' alt_attr='' img_scrset='' lazy_loading='disabled' id='' custom_class='' template_class='' av_element_hidden_in_editor='0' av_uid='av-lbovw5f7' sc_version='1.0' admin_preview_bg='']
Michael McGrath T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; met with members of the board of County Carlow Chamber. Madeline Ryan, Bank of Ireland; Norah Ryan, Barrow Consultancy & Training; Daniel McCarthy, Talbot Hotel Carlow; Paul Byrne, Business IT Solutions; Brian O’Farrell, CEO of County Carlow Chamber; Rowena Dooley, Vice President & Dooley Motors; Yvonne Jones, MSD Carlow; Jennifer Murnane O’Connor T.D.; Colin Duggan, President of County Carlow Chamber & Woodford Dolmen Hotel; Michael McGrath T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
[/av_image]

[av_textblock textblock_styling_align='' textblock_styling='' textblock_styling_gap='' textblock_styling_mobile='' size='' av-medium-font-size='' av-small-font-size='' av-mini-font-size='' font_color='' color='' id='' custom_class='' template_class='' av_uid='av-lbovyg2i' sc_version='1.0' admin_preview_bg='']
Michael McGrath T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; met with members of the board of County Carlow Chamber. Madeline Ryan, Bank of Ireland; Norah Ryan, Barrow Consultancy & Training; Daniel McCarthy, Talbot Hotel Carlow; Paul Byrne, Business IT Solutions; Brian O’Farrell, CEO of County Carlow Chamber; Rowena Dooley, Vice President & Dooley Motors; Yvonne Jones, MSD Carlow; Jennifer Murnane O’Connor T.D.; Colin Duggan, President of County Carlow Chamber & Woodford Dolmen Hotel; Michael McGrath T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_half]

[av_one_full first min_height='' vertical_alignment='av-align-top' space='' row_boxshadow='' row_boxshadow_color='' row_boxshadow_width='10' custom_margin='' margin='0px' mobile_breaking='' mobile_column_order='' min_col_height='' padding='' svg_div_top='' svg_div_top_color='#333333' svg_div_top_width='100' svg_div_top_height='50' svg_div_top_max_height='none' svg_div_top_flip='' svg_div_top_invert='' svg_div_top_front='' svg_div_top_opacity='' svg_div_top_preview='' svg_div_bottom='' svg_div_bottom_color='#333333' svg_div_bottom_width='100' svg_div_bottom_height='50' svg_div_bottom_max_height='none' svg_div_bottom_flip='' svg_div_bottom_invert='' svg_div_bottom_front='' svg_div_bottom_opacity='' svg_div_bottom_preview='' border='' border_style='solid' border_color='' radius='' column_boxshadow='' column_boxshadow_color='' column_boxshadow_width='10' background='bg_color' background_color='' background_gradient_direction='vertical' background_gradient_color1='#000000' background_gradient_color2='#ffffff' background_gradient_color3='' src='' background_position='top left' background_repeat='no-repeat' highlight='' highlight_size='' animation='' link='' linktarget='' link_hover='' title_attr='' alt_attr='' mobile_display='' mobile_col_pos='0' id='' custom_class='' template_class='' aria_label='' av_uid='av-pc6i6p' sc_version='1.0']

[av_gallery ids='13346,13345,13344,13343,13342,13341,13340,13339,13338,13337,13336,13335,13334,13333,13332,13331,13330,13329,13328,13327,13326,13325,13324,13323,13322,13321,13320,13319,13318,13317,13316,13315,13314,13313,13312,13311,13310,13309,13308,13307,13306,13300' style='big_thumb lightbox_gallery' preview_size='portfolio' crop_big_preview_thumbnail='avia-gallery-big-crop-thumb' thumb_size='portfolio' columns='5' imagelink='lightbox' link_dest='' lightbox_text='caption' lazyload='avia_lazyload' img_scrset='' html_lazy_loading='disabled' alb_description='' id='' custom_class='' template_class='' av_uid='av-lbox0pfr' sc_version='1.0' admin_preview_bg='']

[/av_one_full]

Celebrating the Winners of the 2026 Carlow Business Awards

Carlow Chamber is delighted to congratulate all of the winners of the 2026 Carlow Business Awards. These awards recognise the outstanding achievements, innovation, resilience and commitment demonstrated by businesses and organisations across County Carlow. We extend...

Torc Candles – Winners of the Carlow Business of the Year 2026

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce announces winners of this year's Carlow Business Awards, sponsored by Carlow County Council           Last night (the 24th of September 2026) saw the announcement of all 26 winners of the Carlow Business...

Business Awards Booklet 2026 – Download your copy here

Awards Booklet Available to Download We are looking forward to a super night celebrating all that is best about businesses throughout the county at the Carlow Business Awards 2026 – sponsored by Carlow County Council. The event takes place in VISUAL Carlow on the 24th...

Awards Winners Announced Later This Week

Awards Winners Announced Later This Week Finalists & Local Business Community Come Together to Celebrate the Carlow Business Awards Excitement is mounting in advance of the finals of the Carlow Business Awards, which take place in VISUAL Carlow this Thursday (the...