The Bottom Line on KCLR

This week on The Bottom Line on KCLR John was joined by Helen Carroll to discuss the Agri business sector, the impacts of another year without the public being able to attend the Ploughing Championship and as restrictions have been easing over the last number of months Helen discusses how things are hopefully getting back to normal.   As concerts and live performance begin again after 18 months of...

Jason Clerkin, Chief Executive of Kilkenny Abbey Quarter Development, joined John to provide an update on the progress of the work at The Abbey Quarter Site and to answer questions about the development of business on the site.

Alexandra Hamilton, Senior Engineer at Three Counties Energy Agency joined John to discuss what simple changes businesses can make now to reduce their carbon footprint, how they can work towards being carbon neutral and save money.

As The Bottom Line returned for a new season, John Purcell was joined by Samantha McCaughren, Business Editor of The Sunday Independent to take a look back on what had been some of the big business stories from the summer from further lifting of restrictions to the ongoing challenges with the global supply chain.   Jason Clerkin Chief Executive of Kilkenny Abbey Quarter, joined John to provide an...

Laura Slattery, Irish Times journalist,  joined John to discuss some of the topical business news stories from the week. Laura also spoke to John about her recent experience of holidaying in Ireland and the impacts of Covid-19 on domestic tourism. Many pubs and those in the licensed trade have been closed since March 2020, and with proposals for reopening being brought before cabinet on Tuesday, P...

With the postponement of the planned full re-opening of restaurants and hospitality it has been a really hard week for many in the sector, John caught up with Economist Jim Power to hear his thoughts on the delayed reopening, the economic impacts and his view on the Central Banks latest forecast released during the week. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open took place in Mount Juliet Estate over the wee...

Health & Safety has changed irrevocably over the last year and as many business owners may now be preparing for staff returning to the office, John chatted to Emer Gaffney, Managing Director of Carraig Safety Consultants for Health & Safety guidance on what employers need to consider for a return to the workplace.

Sonix Entertainment is an Event Management company based in Kilkenny and Managing Director Glenn Tector joined John to speak about the devastating impacts of Covid-19 on his business, what the future looks like for the sector which has been almost totally closed down since the pandemic began and how he remains resilient.  

Samantha McCaughren, Business Editor of the Sunday Independent, joined John to chat through some of the business stories that were making the headlines during the week. Sonix Entertainment is an Event Management company based in Kilkenny and Managing Director Glenn Tector joined John to speak about the impacts of Covid-19 on his business and what the future looks like for the sector which has been...

 “Powerhouse – Carlow Businesswomen’s Network” is a new Women in Business Network and Helen Whelan, owner of Thrive Café, based in Tullow spoke with John about her own experiences of owning & operating a business and the benefits of having a business network for entrepreneurs.

Inflation is a topic that is discussed a lot, but do you know how inflation is calculated or if inflation is good or bad for the economy? Economist Austin Hughes chatted to John about Inflation and the impacts for consumers and businesses.

The School of Design at Institute of Technology Carlow recently marked 50 years of design education with the launch of their website DesignCarlow.ie and Colin Deevy, Head of Product Design Innovation at IT Carlow chatted to John about the long history of design in Carlow & Kilkenny.

Economist Austin Hughes joined John to provide insights into inflation, what it means, how it is calculated and what impacts it can have on business. Irish Bootstrapper is a new lifestyle brand focusing on adventure, purpose and positive mental health and Founder Eugene Devereux chatted to join about his business, how it began and his plans for the future “Powerhouse – Carlow Businesswomen’s Netwo...

Twenty Questions is our feature which gives you the chance to get to know the individuals behind the businesses and organisations within our communities across the two counties and our latest guest was Brian O’Farrell, CEO of County Carlow Chamber of Commerce.

ND Sports Performance is a Kilkenny based company which specialise in Sports Evaluation Technology and works with the crème de la crème of the Worlds sporting elite along with sportsmen and women, sports clubs and teams the length and breadth of this country.  Noel Doherty, Chief Executive,  chatted to John to tell him more about the business and how it began after Noel sustained a hamstring injur...

Eamon Quinn, Business Editor at the Irish Examiner joined John to discuss one of the main stories that was making the headlines during the week, which was the G7 meeting. Eamon chatted through the complexities and potential impacts for Ireland. ND Sports Performance is a Kilkenny based company that works with the crème de la crème of the Worlds sporting elite along with sportsmen and women, sports...

In early June, the Government announced their Economic Recovery Plan and Neil McDonnell, Chief Executive of ISME, the independent representative association for Small and Medium Enterprises across the country spoke with John about the plan and what it would mean for the many small to medium enterprises that they work with.

Early in June, Morwenna Coniam, Dublin Bureau Chief at Bloomberg News joined John to chat through some of the business stories making the headlines as well as providing an international perspective on global issues likely to impact on Ireland.

Morwenna Coniam, Dublin Bureau Chief at Bloomberg News joined John to discuss the business news stories from the week as well as looking at how some of the big international issues are likely to impact on Ireland. Neil McDonnell, Chief Executive of ISME, the independent representative association for Small and Medium Enterprises across the country joined John to discuss the Economic Recovery Plan...

Aidan McCullen, Author of “Undisruptable: A Mindset of Permanent Reinvention for Individuals, Organisations and Life”, transformation consultant, Adjunct Professor at Trinity College Dublin, and host and founder of the Global Innovation Show speaks with John about the importance of recognising the need to learn new skills and reinvent yourself in order to adapt in life and in business.

Hawkeye Falconry based in the grounds of the Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny is a purpose built falconry school. John recently met with owners Caroline and John Duggan and chatted to them about their business and how they used the lockdown as an opportunity to develop their business and offer a unique experience.   

Xuemei Germaine, CEO and Founder of Carlow based MicroGen Biotech spoke with John about her organisation, the work they do and what it means to be named as one of the 24 finalists in this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.  

Kevin Brennan Managing Director of Kilkenny Company Modubuild was recently named as a finalist in the International Category of this year's Entrepreneur Of The Year awards. Kevin recently joined John on The Bottom Line to chat about the work they do and what it means to be named as one of the 24 finalists in this year’s awards.

To take a look back over some of the biggest news stories of the week and the implications for business, John was joined by former Editor in Chief of NewsTalk and Managing Director of Harte Media, Garrett Harte.  With the Government having announced the latest guidelines on easing of Covid restrictions, John was joined by Ciarán Conroy, Chair of Kilkenny Tourism and Colin Duggan, President of Coun...

With the IMF urging Ireland to increase taxes, a report from the ESRI which suggested that broad based tax increases from the Irish Government may be needed to fund future public spending, Economist Jim Power joined John to share his thoughts on how this will impact consumers as well as businesses.  With the news that Flakes for our '99's may be in short supply, Jim discusses Brexit, which despite...