South East Energy Agency have announced that they will be the first ever sponsors of the Chamber Meet & Greet series of county-wide events. These drop-in sessions happen every second month in different parts of the county – and are aimed at giving the business community throughout Carlow a greater voice.
‘The Chamber Meet & Greet series appealed to us as sponsors, because there are a lot of similarities in the way that we work. We at South East Energy Agency also focus on supporting businesses and the wider community throughout the county – not only providing expert advice but also managing and delivering energy upgrade projects from start to finish to help them become more energy efficient and to reduce costs. We felt that there was natural symbiosis of purpose – exchanging information, connecting and supporting – we were delighted to come on board.’ Explains Paddy Phelan CEO of South East Energy Agency. “Having supported a large number of businesses, organisations and community groups across County Carlow and the southeast, we encourage other businesses to take inspiration from their success and start their own energy efficiency journey.”
County Carlow Chamber of Commerce launched the Meet & Greet series late in 2025 to ensure that members and businesses throughout the county would have easy access to the Chamber, and an opportunity to let the Chamber know of issues that may impacting their business, sector or region.
‘ We are very proud to be a county-wide Chamber, representing member businesses from every corner of Carlow.’ Explains Chamber President, Norah Ryan. ‘The Chamber Meet & Greets evolved out of a desire to ensure that we as a Chamber were accessible to all members – and to give us a first-hand understanding of the challenges and opportunities that are facing businesses in every part of the county.’
These informal, drop-in events are open to members and non-members alike, and they are an opportunity to meet with the Chamber team, to find out information that may be of assistance to your business and to fill the Chamber in on issues that may be impacting your area or sector. They take place every second month in a different town and provide a chance to connect both with the Chamber and with other businesses in your locality.
The next Chamber Meet & Greet will take place in the Old Post Office Café in Bagenalstown – so if you are a business based in the wider area make sure to drop in to us between 10am and 12pm on the 31st of March. Full information is available on our website – Events Directory | Carlow Chamber
Background Information on SEEA
South East Energy Agency is a not-for-profit organisation delivering and accelerating energy-saving projects across the southeast. The organisation provides independent, trusted expert advice on energy use and efficiency while also project-managing and delivering energy upgrade projects from start to finish, helping households, community groups and businesses not only understand but actively reduce their energy usage.
South East Energy Agency’s purpose is to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, climate-resilient southeast region by supporting the public sector, communities, businesses and more recently large Industry to plan, fund, and deliver impactful energy and climate actions. The organisation is committed to helping all energy users consume energy more efficiently, with tailored solutions and full project support.
With the Irish government’s national climate objective aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050, South East Energy Agency recommends that anyone considering energy upgrades contact their team to explore the grants, support, and project management services available. More information is available at www.southeastenergy.ie
Norah Ryan – President of County Carlow Chamber
Paddy Phelan – CEO South East Energy Agency