Highland Radio Business Matters

In this week’s programme, the first of 2025, Chris Ashmore finds out more about a new barista milk product that is set to hit the shelves this month. Grove Dairy in Casltederg in Tyrone  is a family-run business established by Jack and Hazel Mitchell, who began processing and bottling milk on their farm in 1978. […] The post Business Matters – EP 225: Grove Dairy Farm’s new Baris...

In the last programme in the Business Matters series for 2024, Chris Ashmore takes a look at a rapidly expanding and highly successful Inishowen based marine engineering company, Seabound Engineering. The company specialises in the building of aluminium vessels and its order book is full for the next three years. With quite a few projects […] The post Business Matters – EP 224: Seaboun...

In this week’s programme, Chris Ashmore speaks with Donegal’s first woman professional golfer, Gemma McClenaghan (nee Hegarty)  from Shrove in Inishowen. A graduate of the famous uUniversity of St. Andrew’s in Scotland back in the late 90s, she went back to third level education in 2019 and undertook a Professional Golfers Association training course through the […] The post Business Matters...

On Business Matters this week, Chris Ashmore’s guest is Mark Doherty, owner of the Century Complex in Letterkenny, which in addition to the multi-screen cinema also boasts a superb indoor Century Play area for kids, a new indoor crazy golf facility, reality darts, shuffleboards and much more including the Backstage Restaurant, Bida’s Corner bar and […] The post Business Matters –...

In this week’s edition, Chris Ashmore speaks with Liam Tinney, the owner of Tinney’s Toys, a Donegal firm that has enjoyed considerable success since it was established in 2013 and which has seen massive growth having really pushed its online presence. Chris paid a visit to the premises in Drumnahoe on the outskirts of Letterkenny […] The post Business Matters, Ep 221: Tinney&#82...

On Business Matters this week, Chris Ashmore reflects on the Letterkenny Chamber Business Awards nights and also takes a look at Wild Atlantic Camp glamping and its Christmas initiatives. The Chamber Business Awards were held in the Silver Tassie Hotel, Letterkenny, and once again the gala presentation night was a big success. Toni Forrester, Chief […] The post Business Matters, Ep 220 &#821...

On Business Matters this week, Chris Ashmore finds out more about the wind energy sector, and especially off-shore developments. He’s been speaking with Dave Linehan, Head of Policy and Research at Wind Energy Ireland. He has also been speaking with Ron Kerrigan General Manager of the Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa Hotel about a major €1 […] The post Business Matters, Ep 219 – Wind En...

In this week’s edition, Chris Ashmore speaks with John Duffy who, along with Laura McGoran, runs a regenerative, organic farm near Churchill. What they are doing could be an eye opener for many when it comes to uplands farming, and they have a business with several different revenue streams. These include on-farm events  on their […] The post Business Matters, Ep 218: The Future Oak Fa...

On Business Matters this week, Chris Ashmore speaks with Newtowncunningham based Andy McGowan who has been in the plumbing business for 20 years. He now specialises in leak detection, using the latest technology.  Meanwhile, a new first phase of the entrepreneur development programme known as New Frontiers, which is funded by Enterprise Ireland, begins next […] The post Business Matters, Ep...

The CEO and Co-Founder of Ireland’s first ever national baby bank is from Donegal. Community Connect is a newly registered charity that provides essential baby items to families struggling to afford them. In this week’s progamme, Chris Ashmore speaks with CEO and co-founder Elaine Noonan about Community Connect. It currently has hubs in Dublin, Cork, […] The post Business Matters, Ep 2...

The CEO and Co-Founder of Ireland’s first ever national baby bank is from Donegal. Community Connect is a newly registered charity that provides essential baby items to families struggling to afford them. In this week’s progamme, Chris Ashmore speaks with CEO and co-founder Elaine Noonan about Community Connect. It currently has hubs in Dublin, Cork, […] The post Business Matters, Ep 2...

In this episode of Business Matters, Chris Ashmore looks at the forthcoming North West Future of Energy Conference which will take place on Thursday, November 7th at Ebrington Square in Derry, and also 50 years in business for Buncrana based firm McDaids Bathrooms, Plumbing, Tiles. Sponsored by SSE Renewables, this annual cross-border event brings together […] The post Business Matters, Ep 2...

In this week’s Business Matters with Chris Ashmore, the programme begins with a look back on the highly successful inaugural Ballybofey and Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce Awards. Secretary Louise Patton reflects on the night and goes through the winners. Next, Chris looks at the new auto-enrolment pension scheme which is set to begin in September […] The post Business Matters, Ep 214 &...

In this edition of Business Matters, Chris Ashmore has been speaking with Catherine Devine, the founder of Pumpskynz which sells stylish and functional accessories for diabetes management devices which also empower individuals to embrace their diabetes with confidence and style.  She’s outlines the journey to date for her business which has considerable potential. Indeed, there are […] The p...

On this week’s Business Matters, Chris Ashmore is joined by the owner of Inis Communications, Trish Hegarty. Trish worked as a journalist with the Irish Times, RTÉ and BBC Radio Foyle before setting up her PR, social media, and digital content agency in 2004. In this episode, we’ll hear about how her Inishowen-based PR agency […] The post Business Matters, Ep 212: PR agency Inis Communicatio...

In this week’s Business Matters with Chris Ashmore, the focus of attention is the Finn Valley Voice newspaper in Ballybofey, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month. The origins of the paper date back to June 1994, when then-president of the Chamber of Commerce, Susan McGonagle, had a simple but powerful idea – to […] The post Business Matters, Ep 211: Finn Valley Vo...

In this episode of Business Matters, Chris Ashmore will be looking at a report from farming, food and agribusiness specialist professional services firm IFAC  finds that expanding internationally is high on priority list for many Irish agrifood SMEs. He speaks with  David Leydon, Head of Food & Agribusiness with IFAC about its report which is called  […] The post Business Matters, Ep 210...

In this week’s edition of Business Matters, Chris Ashmore begins by speaking with Louise Patton of the Ballybofey and Stranorlar Business Chamber about its inaugural awards night, and also the chamber itself and the role it can play in promoting a positive message about the Twin Towns. He also finds out about how Business in […] The post Business Matters, Ep 209: Twin Towns Business Aw...

In this week’s edition of Business Matters, Chris Ashmore has been speaking with the key personnel behind a very successful Ballyshannon based company, Get Up and Go Publications Ltd. It produces high-quality inspirational diaries, journals and planners that go far beyond Ireland’s shores and retail outlets. Indeed, around 600,000 copies have now been sold. The […] The post Business Matters,...

Have you ever thought about launching your own fashion brand? Well, for one Donegal entrepreneur a long held dream has been realised. Back in spring, Convoy woman Elaine Ayton launched a brand new online brand Calculate Clothing, offering a unique mix of comfort and style. And she is this week’s guest on Business Matters with […] The post Business Matters, Ep 207 – Convoy woman’s...

In this week’s Business Matters, Chris Ashmore looks at two businesses in the county, one that is just opening and other that is well established. A new sustainable fashion centre Circular Dress Collaborative is a new hub for sustainable fashion and events in the communities of Donegal and surrounding counties. It encourages consumers to participate […] The post Business Matters, EP 20...

In this week’s Business Matters, Chris Ashmore speaks with Manus O’Boyle, the founder of a Burtonport-based boat tour company called Donegal Sea Adventure. The business began last year and its sea safari experiences, using a purpose built high speed boat, offer a great insight into the heritage, culture, and history, of islands off the west […] The post Business Matters, EP 205: Donega...

On Business Matters this week, Chris Ashmore looks at the prospects for increased investment in railways in the north-west – including re-establishing a link between Donegal and the network on the rest of the island – and he also has an update on the main event being planned by the Donegal Women in Business Network […] The post Business Matters, EP 203: The case for rail investme...

In this week’s episode, Chris Ashmore finds out more about a new pet-friendly coffee shop that has opened in Letterkenny, and also looks at a new energy efficiency grant for businesses. There has been an explosion in the number of coffee shops in Donegal over the past couple of years. The latest offering is Brosef, […] The post Business Matters, Ep 202: Brosef, the pet-friendly coffee...

In this episode the focus of attention is the forthcoming Mary from Dungloe International Arts Festival which is the biggest festival of its kind in the county.  Festivals can play a major role in boosting economic activity and the festival in Dungloe is a prime example of this, with numerous businesses benefiting. Over the years […] The post Business Matters, Ep 201 – Career opportuni...