Tipp business to feature at ploughing

A small business from Cahir will get the chance to exhibit to almost 300,000 people at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, County Offaly this month as part of the Local Enterprise Village.

Aoife Mac Giolla Coda, t/a Galtee Honey Farm is supported by Local Enterprise Office Tipperary. The business produces award-winning raw Irish honey and beeswax gifts from native Irish honeybees. Home to 200 colonies, the business started in 1970 and has grown and developed since then, the honey is fully traceable, and the gift range includes candles and skin care products.

The Local Enterprise Village, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, will house 30 small businesses from across the country and will be located at the heart of this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Offaly from September 16 to 18.

This year the Local Enterprise Offices are partnering with Google to enhance the offering within the Local Enterprise Village. Google will have their own area within the Local Enterprise Village where they will be hosting talks and demonstrations for small businesses and entrepreneurs who are looking to improve their business by utilising digital tools and AI.

The Local Enterprise Village was launched by the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth, at an event in Google.

She said: “This partnership between the Local Enterprise Offices and Google for the Ploughing Championships is an extremely positive development for the Local Enterprise Village at this year’s event. It will give small business owners both exhibiting and visiting the Ploughing the chance to tap into Google’s expertise in the areas of digitisation and AI in how they can significantly impact their business.”

With some of the biggest companies and organisations in Ireland taking up residence at the Ploughing every year, the Local Enterprise Village continues to be a popular destination on the site for those looking to pick up something unique to bring home from some of the best small businesses in Ireland.

Ahead of the event, Aoife said she is “delighted to represent LEO Tipperary at the Local Enterprise Village in Screggan this year. It is an honour to be selected and to join the 30 other small businesses to showcase our products to a national audience. It is also a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with existing customers and to develop connections with prospective customers over the three days!”

Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Anthony Fitzgerald, added: “This is an opportunity like no other for a small business in Ireland. The chance to bring their ideas and products to almost 300,000 potential customers is a unique showcase opportunity. The Local Enterprise Village has become one of those areas everyone wants to drop into to find their local business and see what they can pick up.”