Early May Update

A quick reminder that our Pig on a Spit BBQ is on in Scannells this Friday evening at 7pm and I’d like to get a rough idea of how many of you will be feasting on pork for the evening. Depending on the numbers we might have to fatten or starve the pig for the next few days J. Please email me at chamber@clonakilty.ie with numbers. 

 The Easter Promotion has been extended until the end of this week so you have a few extra days to complete those cards. 

 And finally:- Sea Angling Trip 

Are any Chamber members interested in a half days fishing of the coast of Courtmacsherry with Courtmacsherry Angling Centre one Sunday afternoon? €40 per person all equipment supplied, max. of 12 persons. If there is an interest then the first 12 replies will go, all others will be put on a standby list, if 24 people reply then there will be two trips, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, any number over the 24 will be put on a standby list. 

If we don’t quite get the numbers then the cost will go up accordingly. Money will be paid up front and only refundable if a replacement can be organized for you This would be a great opportunity for a bit of craic. 

-- Mick Hanly

Conference on Agri-Food

I had an excellent day yesterday speaking at the Cork County Mayor's Conference on the Agri-Food Sector in the Cork Region at the Trident Hotel in Kinsale. It was great to share a platform with Professor Pat Wall from UCD, Professor Alan Reilly from the FSAI, the County Manager Martin Riordan along with some amazing food business people.

The event was chaired by the Cork County Mayor Mr Tim Lombard. Pat O'Connell from Kay O'Connell's Fish Merchants gave an impassioned speech about the importance of supporting small local food businesses. Peter Ward from County Choice gave an excellent talk on the significance and potential of the Irish middle farm and developing food and agri tourism in support of on farm business. Ger Power of Cork County Council, along with the County Manager, outlined some really encouraging supports that Cork County Council is providing to food business. Kevin O'Gorman of Irish Distillers gave us an insight into the success story that is that company, which is an extraordinary good news story for East Cork.

Colette Twomey told us how the Clonakilty Blackpudding brand came from small beginnings to the major international brand that it now is. And John O'Brien brought us from Barryroe Co-op's first creamery manager who was a 26 year old veteran of the Civil War to the phenomenally successful international food ingredients business that is Carbery Milk Products today. Overall, it was a really thought provoking conference.

The big thing that I took away from the day was the importance of integrating tourism with food. This has so much potential, Peter Ward talked about visiting vineyards in California; they're just farms after all, we've got those in abundance combined with some of the greatest scenery in the world. The topic I chose for the day was Exporting Know How: Opportunity is Ireland's Regulatory Opportunity.

The text of my presentation is linked here.

-- Flor McCarthy

National Flower Festival in June

Plans for the National Flower Festival are progressing well. The Festival will be held on June 22nd -24th 2012. The three churches in town will be decorated by over 200 floral artists from all over Ireland.

The work will be done on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd. The Official Opening will be held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at 7.30pm on Friday 22nd. A Reception and Preview will be held afterwards. All Churches will be open to the public on Saturday 10.30am - 6.00pm and Sunday 12.30pm - 6.00pm. Entrance fee €10  includes all churches. 

A concert will be held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday 23rd  8.30pm. Entrance €10. The closing ceremony will be held in Kilgarriffe Church of Ireland on Sunday at 5.30pm. There will be a sales area in the Parochial Hall, where plants, bric a brac, home produce, candles and floral accessories will be on sale.

Many Flower Clubs all over the country are coming on their outings to visit Clonakilty. One group will arrive on Friday to stay for weekend, 23 will arrive on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. As well as the outings we are expecting many people visiting in cars. Hopefully Clonakilty will be a busy place for the weekend and we will get a chance to showcase it at its very best.

---Una Fleming, Chairman AOIFA

Annual Pig-on-a-Spit Summer Barbecue

Dear Chamber Member,

We‘re delighted to announce the Annual Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce Pig-on-a-Spit Summer Barbecue. Bring along your friends and work colleagues to enjoy a relaxed evening of fun, chat and good food at Scannells Bar on Friday May 4^th.

For our 2012 Summer BBQ we’ve organized a Pig-on-a-Spit and it promises to be an excellent evening of tasty food and good fun.

We do need to know the numbers attending so please email chamber@clonakilty.ie if you’re coming along. And if you're in a group, please let us know the number!

Admission is only €12.50 per person for Chamber members, partners & friends and €17.50 for non-members and we kindly request that you pay your admission in advance by calling into The Chamber offices. You can arrange a time suitable for you when making your reservation. We will take the last reservations by close of business Tuesday 1^st May.

We’ve attached a poster which you might consider printing off and displaying at you business.

The evening kicks off at 6:30pm on Friday 4^th . When you decide to go home is up to you ☺

We look forward to seeing you for what promises to be a fantastic event. The only thing we can‘t guarantee is the weather.


-- Mick Hanly, Administrator

The Winery Networking Event

Our second networking event will be held this Thursday 26^th at 9am in the Winery www.thewinery.ie  I would like to  thank you all for attending our 1^st event. Thank-you, it was a great turn-out.

I hope you all enjoyed the encounter & that you can continue to attend & encourage others  (& non members) to attend, to build these events into the business community we all hope for. In doing so we can stay in-tune we each & strengthen our resolve to keep business local. Note also If you are unable to attend, you might consider sending a staff member in your stead.  This way your business can continue to be represented & inform the group of up & coming promotions etc. Should you wish to make a short announcement (business or Chamber related) please notify me at the start, so that we can prepare timing for the announcements.

I have also recently posted a request for venues to local coffee houses & hotels in & around Clonakilty, & have received a number of confirmations. The Chamber with the venue’s will agree a Rota, so that the event locations will be consistently changing in an attempt to keep it fresh & as a business opportunity for the local venues / business owners.

Networking Structure.

·         Coffee morning style, it is intend to have relaxed / informal theme.

·         The event should also act as a forum for members to engage in local business issues / updates. 

·         It is anticipated that the event should run for around 45 minutes in duration.

·         Participants should Sign-in at the event. Provide contact details, including business name, email & website(if available). This info is to be used to build a data base / mail shot & assist in logging of potential new members. 

·         Participants should make extra effort to introduce themselves to new people / businesses. Groupings of old acquaintances / friends should be discouraged until towards the end of the session; & if this is the case new acquaintances made, should be introduced into these existing groups of friends. 

·         Over the next few events it is hoped that a short presentation slot for news, offers or promotions will be organized for members. Alternatively should you wish to make an announcement at the up-coming event, please contact Stephen Smith at Edge Architecture Ltd – 087 9213512    

--- Steven Smith, Events

Sponsor Living Links

CALLING ALL CHAMBER MEMBERS

Philip Newton of Clon Business Solutions is doing a sponsored half marathon (The Bay Run) on 6^th May for The Clonakilty & District Lions Club to raise funds for a local charity called Living Links http://www.westcorklivinglinks.ie/ who provide support to people who have been bereaved by suicide.  

 

Although a half marathon may not seem like much of an achievement, if you look at the attached pictures, two of which were taken back in February and September 2011, you will see why it is.

So far Philip has raised nearly €700 in a very short time and his goal is to raise €1300 in total which would equate to €100 per mile for a very worth while charity.  

 

If you would like to pledge your support you can e mail the amount you would like to pledge with your details to info@clonbusiness.com or you can call round with money or a cheque (made payable to Clonakilty Lions Club) to Clon Business Solutions, 32 Pearse Street, Clonakilty.  Remember, if you are a business, all money donated for sponsorship is tax deductable.

Remember, no amount is too small and certainly no amount is too large, so dig deep and start pledging.

---  Mick Hanly, Administrator