Highland Radio Business Matters

On this week’s edition, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by former managing editor of the Derry Journal, Pat McArt. Pat has written a number of books and is a columnist with the Daily Mirror and the Letterkenny Leader. After attending Letterkenny Regional Technical College, he began his career in journalism with the Derry People in June, […] The post Business Matters Ep 96 – Pat...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to hearing aid audiologist and owner of Donegal Hearing Clinic, Sabrina Robb. Sabrina is a graduate of Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and a member of the Irish Society of Hearing Audiologists. Having worked in hearing healthcare for twelve years, she decided to set up her own […] The post Business Matters Ep 95 &#821...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Gerard McCormick, owner of Magees Pharmacy on Main Street in Letterkenny. He began working as a pharmacist in the family-run business after graduating from the College of Pharmacy in 1993, and took over the running of the long-established business in 2006. He has seen his […] The post Business Matters Ep 94 – Ge...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Ciaran Doherty, Operations Manager and Skipper with the Aine Fishing Company based in Burtonport. Ciaran is also chairperson of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation. He first went to sea at the age of four and joined the family-owned business on a full-time basis while still in his […] The post Business Matter...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Liam Cassidy. Born in Buncrana and raised in Kilmacrennan, he left school at a young age to join the army. A career change took him into the manufacturing sector in England, and he took up a senior management position with General Motors before moving to […] The post Business Matters Ep 92 – Liam Cassidy appeare...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to Donegal Local Enterprise Office’s Student Enterprise Award winner in the senior category for 2022, Cathal Cannon. A TY student at St Columba’s College in Stranorlar, Cathal developed the smartphone app – Sports Injury Response – which provides guidance on how to deal with a range of […] The post Business...

Buncrana-based Irish designer, Bernie Murphy, is Ciaran O’Donnell’s guest on this week’s Business Matters. Bernie worked at Fruit of the Loom for 21 years and set up her own business in 2017. She grew up in a family in which traditional sewing and knitting were valued skills, and at a time when the textile industry […] The post Business Matters Ep 90 – Bernie Murphy a...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Mary Bradley, owner of Pat’s Pizza in Letterkenny. A member of the well-known Keeney family, Mary’s ambition from a young age was to own her own restaurant. As a young girl, she worked in the famous Fiesta Ballroom which was opened by her father, Phonsie, […] The post Business Matters Ep 89 – Mary Br...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Ian Harkin, co-founder and managing director of Lottie Dolls, and chairperson of Finn Harps Football Club. A native of the Twin Towns, Ian studied accountancy and business at LYIT. He established Lottie Dolls in 2012 and the locally-based company employs ten people. Since its launch, […] The post Business Matters Ep 8...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Paddy Logue, owner of Logue’s Bar in Cranford and Chairperson of the Mulroy Drive Tourism Group. Paddy began working in the family business while still at school. He was assistant manager in the Carrigart Hotel for eight years before taking up a full-time position at […] The post Business Matters Ep 87 – P...

The success of Craoibhín Community and Enterprise Centre in Termon is the focus of this week’s Business Matters. Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to Mary Doherty, who has been manager of the centre for the last twelve years, about the turnaround in the fortunes of the centre. He also catches up with Cormac Coghlan, Community Operations Manager […] The post Business Matters Ep 86 – M...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Brendan ‘Bradas’ O’Donnell, owner of the Glenties-based broadcasting and media company, Bradas Video Productions. After leaving Glenties Comprehensive School, Brendan worked in the local McDevitt’s Factory before embarking on a film production course in Tralee in 1996. In 2000 he set up his own compa...

On the first Business Matters to be recorded outside of Ireland, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Peadar McFadden from Gweedore who is the manager of the 400-bedroom, four-star Double Tree by Hilton Hotel at Angel Kings Cross in London. The youngest of a family of seven, he started his career in the hospitality sector as […] The post Business Matters Ep 84 – Peadar McFadden appeared...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to Pamela Kearney, Business In The Community’s North West Regional Coordinator, and Nuala McCool, business studies teacher at Gairmscoil Chú Uladh in Ballinamore, about Business in The Community’s ‘Saothar an tSaoil’ (World of Work) Programme which is being delivered to second-year students in partnership w...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to Raphoe farmer, John Graham, about his decision to set up Ballyholey Farm Shop in 2014. Ciaran also speaks to Philip O’Kennedy, chairperson of Letterkenny Community Centre Committee, about the centre’s ambitious five-year business and strategic plan that was approved by the board at the end of […] The post Busi...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Seamus McMenamin, owner of Mantis Cranes Ireland, Mantis Cranes UK and McMenamin Engineering. Seamus left school at the age of 16 and worked for a local engineering firm for 14 years before setting up McMenamin Engineering in Killygordon in 1986. The downturn in 2008 prompted […] The post Business Matters Ep 81 &#8211...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by hotelier, Brian McEniff. The Bundoran native, who guided Donegal to its first All-Ireland senior championship title in 1992, reflects on the challenge of juggling a busy business life with his football commitments over many decades. He also talks about the admiration he has for his […] The post Business Matters Ep 80...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Feena McBride, founder of The Arty Fox which produces creative craft boxes for children. A teacher at Illistrin National School for 16 years, Feena took a career break in 2020 following the birth of her fourth child to devote more time to her business. Her […] The post Business Matters Ep 79 – Feena McBride appe...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to Kenneth Houston, founder of Unihacker – an online support programme offering a suite of courses designed to boost grades, and provide university students with the essential skills necessary for successful learning in higher education. Kenneth has recently returned home to Donegal after almost ten years teaching […]...

On this week’s show, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to Martin Harley, owner of Harley’s Cheers Bar in Ballybofey, and treasurer of the Donegal branch of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland. A Fine Gael County Councillor for the Lifford/Stranorlar Municipal District, Martin is also vice-chair of Donegal ETB. The Frosses native has been a publican in the […] The post Business Matters Ep 7...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by Denis Ferry, owner of Ferry’s Garage, and Leslie O’Donnell, owner of O’Donnell Crash Repairs, whose units are located at Lisnennan in Letterkenny. Both left school at the age of 14 and became close friends when Denis set up his garage at the Pinehill Industrial Estate […] The post Business Matters Ep...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to the Managing Director of McDaid’s Football Special in Ramelton, Seamus McDaid. The fourth generation to head up the well-known Donegal company, Seamus headed to Australia as a 20-year-old to work as an Australian Rules agent. A year later, he moved to New York for what was […] The post Business Matters Ep 75 –...

On this week’s programme, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to columnist, photographer, and owner of The Cristeph Studio in Letterkenny, Brian McDaid. Brian has been taking photographs for over 40 years and took over the Cristeph Gallery, which was originally located on Port Road, back in 2002. Brian also served with the Letterkenny Fire Service for 27 […] The post Business Matters Ep 74 &...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to Kristine Reynolds from Reynolds & Associates in Letterkenny, who was last week elected at President of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce. Kristine worked in the family-owned News Yard and Timeless Gift Store in the Courtyard Shopping Centre for five years after completing her Leaving Cert, before moving […] The post B...

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to co-owner of the Quay Restaurant in Donegal Town, and President of the Donegal Women in Business Network, Jo Daly, about the difficult times the restaurant sector is experiencing. Ciaran is also joined by Dungloe-based mechanical services contractor, Adrian Sweeney, who is also owner of Sweeney’s Homevalue […] The po...