Highland Radio Business Matters

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of Colmcille Press in Derry and spokesperson for the Derry University Group, Garbhán Downey. A former journalist with the Irish News, the Sunday Times, the Belfast Telegraph and the Derry Journal, he was also the editor of the Derry News. In 2005, Garbhán moved […] The post Business Matters Ep 148 – Ga...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of TC Promotions based on Arranmore Island, Thomas Costello. A native of Aranmore, Thomas began his DJing career as a 14-year-old in Smuggler’s Nightclub in 1990. After a number of years working in construction which took him to London, Limerick and Dublin, Thomas returned […] The post Business Matters...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the managing director of Silver Strand Rope Works in Moville, Patrick McLaughlin. Patrick set up his business at the age of 17 at the same time he was sitting his Leaving Certificate in 1990. Back in December, Silver Strand Rope Works, which is the only […] The post Business Matters Ep 146 – Patrick McLaughlin &...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the co-owner of Bugger Jacks in Milford, Ciaran Blaney. The 24-year-old set up the business at Lagg Service Station in Milford in July 2019. The takeaway outlet at Milford Retail Park was opened in February 2022 and a few months later, Burger Jacks 45-seater restaurant opened […] The post Business Matters Ep 145 – C...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of Orchard Stables at Manorcunningham, Lisa Wallace, and the Head of Enterprise at Donegal’s Local Enterprise Office, Brenda Hegarty. A native of Austria, Lisa Wallace first came to Ireland on a family holiday in 2012 and soon after, she returned to spend six […] The post Business Matters Ep 144 &#8211...

Last Thursday saw the launch of the Inishowen Sustainable Energy Community’s strategic plan in the Ballyliffin Lodge Hotel. Business Matters presenter, Ciaran O’Donnell, travelled to the launch and spoke to a number of people who are involved in the plan aimed at creating a decarbonised and more sustainable Inishowen. These included the joint CEO of […] The post Business Matters...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the owner of The Wheelhouse Cafe in Burtonport, John Reilly. Fourteen people are employed at The Wheelhouse and he is set to create six new jobs when his glamping site, which will accommodate nine pods, opens in June. John moved from Scotland to Burtonport as a ten-year-old […] The post Business Matters Ep 142 – Joh...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of Alcorn’s Garden Centre and the owner of Tropical World in Letterkenny, Clive Alcorn. Clive’s late parents, Tommy and Martha, set up a flower shop at Loughnagin in the eighties and Clive began working full-time in the business while still a teenager. When […] The post Business Matters Ep 141 &#...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Letterkenny-based graphic designer and photographer, Stevie Toye, and the owner of Ards Coffee Tree, Patrick Stewart. After graduating from Letterkenny IT, Stevie Toye worked as a graphic designer for a number of local newspapers and Browne’s Printers in Letterkenny before branching out on his own. […] The post...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Mary Meehan, owner of Veve Boutique and V2 which are both located in Donegal Town, and her daughter, Aishling, who has been working full-time in the business for the last three years. Verve Boutique was established in 1999 and last year it was named Irish […] The post Business Matters Ep 139 – Mary Meehan &...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the founder of Joe Gallagher Entertainment based in Strabane, Joe Gallagher. Joe took his first steps in the entertainment business as a 14-year-old DJ, and his DJ work subsequently took him to Norway, Denmark, Switzerland and Greece. He set up Joe Gallagher Entertainment in 1983 and has […] The post Business Matters Ep 1...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the owner of O’Donnell’s Bakery in Laghey, Andrew McElhinney, and recruitment officer with Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training Services, Tara McGuire. On Christmas Eve in 2010, O’Donnell’s Bakery, which was established in 1969, closed down. Within a month, Andrew McElhinney, who had be...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the CEO of the Harris Tweed Authority, Lorna Macaulay, who helped Donegal ETB develop the country’s first-ever certified weaving course that was launched last year. Ciaran also speaks to Errigal College TY student, Matthias Uhlich, winner of the Donegal Local Enterprise Office Student Enterprise Programme for […] Th...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by entrepreneur and presenter of Newstalk’s Down To Business show, Bobby Kerr, and founder of 3D Issue, Paul McNulty, who were part of the first event of Donegal Enterprise Week that was launched on Monday. Ciaran also talks to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon […] The post Business Matters E...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the managing director of IHeating & Cooling Ltd, Fabian McShane. A qualified plumber and fitter, Fabian’s background is in engineering, air conditioning and refrigeration. He set up IHeating & Cooling Ltd, which specialises in air-to-water heat pumps, in 2017. Listen back here: The post Business Matters Ep 1...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the director of Buildcost, Liam Langan. Liam set up his quantity surveying practice with a former work colleague, Jason Tully, in 2012. Headquartered in Dublin, the company opened a second office in Letterkenny last year and currently employs 22 people. Buildcost has recently secured contracts […] The post Business Ma...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the founder of Donegal Natural Soap Company in Glenties, Isobel Sangha. Isobel began making soap for family and friends and set up her company in 2010. As a member of the Guaranteed Irish team, Isobel is always searching for new Irish ingredients to use and promote […] The post Business Matters Ep 131 – Isobel S...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell’s guest is the Head of Regions, Property, and Enterprise Development with IDA Ireland, Denis Curran. Established in 1949, the IDA is the state agency responsible for promoting Ireland for foreign direct investment. A native of Letterkenny, Denis has been with IDA Ireland for 24 years and his first […] The post Business Matte...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the owner of Ghost Productions and owner of Kickboxing LK, Tommy McCafferty. Tommy’s decision to buy a camera to help market and promote Kickboxing LK led to him setting up Ghost Productions in 2018, and his first paid job was for a gym in Strabane. Since […] The post Business Matters Ep 129 – Tommy McCafferty...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the co-owner of Donegal Bees in Glencolumbkille, Thomas Ellis. A former carpenter, Thomas set up the company in 2013, and Áine Curran became a co-owner three years ago. Donegal Bees has the only wax processing facility in Ireland and a product range of almost 900. […] The post Business Matters Ep 128 – Thomas El...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to the founder of Pumpskynz, Catherine Devine, and Letterkenny Chamber CEO, Toni Forrester. In 2020, local journalist, Catherine Devine decided to quit her role with the Donegal News to invest all of her working time into her company, Pumkskynz, which makes silicone gel covers for diabetes equipment such […] The post Busine...

  On this week’s edition, Ciaran O’Donnell’s guest is the team leader at Finn Valley AC, Patsy McGonagle. Patsy was to the fore when the club purchased a disused factory in Stranorlar in the early 80s for £32,000 sterling. Over the last 40 years, the building has expanded to become a vibrant, multi-purpose centre that […] The post Business Matters Ep 126 – Patsy...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Paul Kelly, a director with Irish company, Harcourt Technologies, which is providing the 3D construction printing technology for a housing development in Lancashire in England. The social housing project will comprise 46 units and a community centre for homeless army veterans and low-income families. It’s […] Th...

On this week’s Business Matters, we dip into the archives for this replay edition which features Ciaran O’Donnell’s interview with Liam Cassidy first aired in May 2022. Liam is known as ‘The Serial Factory Fixer’, having turned around the fortunes of factories and supply chains all over the world. Now living in Newbridge in Co. […] The post Business Matters Ep 124 – L...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the co-owners of MGC Tree Services at Milltown, New Mills, Oisin Crawford and Jason McGeehan. Oisin and Jason have been friends for over twenty years. Having worked together on different projects with other companies, they set up their own tree surgery company in December 2020. […] The post Business Matters Ep 123 &#8...