The Bottom Line on KCLR

Earlier this week, it was announced that Carlow based fin-tech company Unum is expanding and creating 50 new IT roles.  Having filled 80 roles in 2022, this latest announcement will see Unum expanding its employee base from 200 to 250, and for a second year has been named a Great Place to Work. Our reporter Edwina Grace spoke with Padraig O’Neill, Managing Director & VP of Unum Ireland.   Stay...

Economist Jim Power last spoke with us on the programme in Summer of last year, at a time when the omens for the economy were very ominous. This week, John caught up with Jim to get his insights into where the economy is at 6 months on. Every business has a story to tell, but how good are they at telling that story?  John Hurley, Chief Executive of Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce and Padraig Hyland,...

To kick off the new season of The Bottom Line on KCLR, this week’s episode focused on new beginnings and getting 2023 off to a great start.  To discuss goal setting within business, how to set realistic goals and be accountable for them, John was joined by Gerry Duffy of Gerry Duffy Academy, a very successful public and motivational speaker who has worked with numerous multinationals and SME’s, as...

Jim Power, regular contributor to The Bottom Line joined John to discuss the big issues facing the economy as we head into the summer break. Michael O’Boyle, Managing Director of Cycling Solutions Ireland, joined John in Studio to tell him more about the launch of Kilkenny’s Cycle Friendly City campaign and how you can become a Cycle Friendly Employer. Brian O Farrell, CEO of County Carlow Chamber...

John Purcell first visited Hawkeye Falconry in May 2021, as owners John and Caroline Duggan were preparing to open their falconry school which is based on the grounds of Lyrath Estate, Kilkenny. During the week, John Purcell caught up with John Duggan to hear how the past 13 months in business has been for them and their team of falcons, hawks and eagles.

Every three months, Ireland’s Central Bank releases an economic forecast where it provides commentary and guidance on where the Irish economy is going. We last talked about this forecast in April and this week Martin O Brien, Head of Irish Economic Analysis at the Central Bank joined John to discuss the key points in the Banks latest Economic Forecast for Ireland which was released during the week...

Simon O Dwyer, Managing Director of Kilkenny based marketing and brand agency Threesixty joined John to chat through some of the business issues of the last few weeks. O’ Neill Foley Chartered Accountants are the first company to move into the Brewhouse Office Building, the first development in the Abbey Quarter located in the heart of Kilkenny city on the site of the now closed Smithwick’s Brewer...

On Friday last, the elected public representatives for Kilkenny City municipal district voted to retain the one-way system with a change in direction for the traffic flow along High Street and Rose Inn Street. Mayor of Kilkenny, David FitzGerald who chaired the meeting on Friday, joined John in Studio to discuss the outcome. Staying on the topic of the one-way system, John Hurley, CEO of Kilkenny...

In this extended interview John Purcell chatted with Anneliese Duffy, Owner of Kilkenny based Linen Shirt Company and Sustainable Fashion Stylist Roxanne Parker about the impacts of fast fashion, how we can make changes when it comes to our fashion and what we need to look for on the labels when we are buying.

This week on The Bottom Line on KCLR, we talk about fast fashion and sustainability in the fashion industry with Anneliese Duffy, Owner of Linen Shirt Company & Sustainable Fashion Stylist Roxanne Parker. Laurie Grace, Principal at Grace Solicitors spoke with John about the importance of business succession planning and the recent announcement that Grace Solicitors and Gerald Meaney Solicitors...

On this week’s programme, John was joined by economist Jim Power for his insights into where the economy is at currently and what the prospects are for the rest of the year. Jim discusses the impacts of rising inflation and what can happen if it becomes embedded in people’s behaviours.  Kim Mackenzie-Doyle, Founder of The Big Idea joined John to chat about this year’s programme which saw around 20...

This week on The Bottom Line, Eamon Quinn, Business Editor at the Irish Examiner joined John to discuss inflation, the ongoing impacts of Covid and how they are both impacting our economy. Gillian Fanning, President of The Society of the Irish Motor Industry and first female president in the Society’s 100 years chatted to John about recent research conducted by the SIMI aimed at encouraging more w...

Dakota Irish, a tabletop gaming accessories company founded by North Dakota native Luke McIntosh, grew out of a passion for the fantasy game Dungeons and Dragons. The company which began in Graiguenamanagh, export their products all over the world and have recently expanded. Founder, Luke McIntosh joined John to tell him more about the business and how it began.

To chat through some of the business news stories from the week, John was joined by Morwenna Coniam, Dublin Bureau Chief at Bloomberg News.   Dakota Irish, a company founded by North Dakota native Luke McIntosh, grew out of a passion for the fantasy game Dungeons and Dragons. The company which began in Graiguenamanagh, export their products all over the world and have recently expanded. Founder, L...

Over the course of the last week, KCLR had been marking 18 years of the station being on air, so for our latest episode of The Bottom Line we began the show with a look back at some of the big business stories over that period. Tom Molloy, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Trinity College Dublin and former Editor of the Kilkenny People Newspaper along with Colin Duggan, President of...

To discuss the business stories of the week, John was joined by Alan Seery of O’Neill Foley, Chartered Accountants.  Carlow Toolmaking Services is a proud local company providing toolmaking services to some of the biggest names in the medical, pharma, food, and automotive industries. During the week John spoke with Director of Carlow Toolmaking Services Pat Amond to learn more about the company, i...

Economist Jim Power joined John to discuss the international business and economic environment and its impact at a local level, they also chat through some of the business stories from the week. Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD recently paid a visit to Kilkenny where he met with the Local Enterprise Office and with a range of businesses. Edwina Grace spoke w...

Twenty Questions on The Bottom Line is our feature piece, where each month we ask a guest twenty questions which have been designed to give you an insight into the person outside of their role in business. This month our guest was Bernard Horohan, Owner of Tile N Style.

Gillian Ryan and Gabrielle Carroll of Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board joined John in studio to discuss how their organisation can assist SME’s access a range of green skills programmes as well as being able to help businesses identify areas that may benefit from educational training and support.

At the beginning of April, the Central Bank of Ireland published its second quarterly bulletin for 2022. The bulletins contain information on key economic data as well as forecasts for the future,  Martin O Brien, Head of Irish Economic Analysis at the Central Bank of Ireland joined John to discuss the bulletin and to provide further insights on the economic landscape.

Last week the Central Bank of Ireland published its second quarterly bulletin for 2022. These regular bulletins contain information on key economic data as well as forecasts for the future. Martin O Brien, Head of Irish Economic Analysis at the Central Bank of Ireland joined John to discuss the latest bulletin and to provide further insights on the economic landscape. Ciaran Cunningham, CEO of Rad...

Newly established Yellow Deer Designs is a greeting, print and bespoke illustration business based in Kilkenny and run by Cáit Mackey Maher. Cáit spoke with John about turning what was a hobby into a business, attending Showcase Ireland and having her cards stocked in shops around the country.

At the end of March, Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce hosted their Chamber Chat at "The Brewhouse" located in Kilkenny's Abbey Quarter Development. The Chamber Chat also featured a walk through of the premises and during the tour John Purcell spoke with Jason Clerkin, CEO of Abbey Quarter Development, Colin Ahern President of Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce and Colette Byrne, Chief Executive of Kilkenny...

At the end of March, the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys announced details of the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme. To tell us more about the scheme and what is involved John was join by Ed Kissane, Financial Planning Manager at O'Neill Foley Chartered Accountants.

Rowena Dooley, Dealer Principal at Dooley Motors in Carlow joined John to discuss some of the stories that had been making the headlines this week and how they have been impacting on business. During the week, Minister Heather Humphreys announced details of a new Automatic Pension Enrolment Scheme. To find out what is involved, and the costs related to the scheme we spoke with pensions expert, Ed...