Working, Living & Travelling In Ireland

Author: Katleen

8th anniversary of this blog!

Hi all,

This blogpost has been sitting in my draft section for over a year, so I thought it was high time I publish it!! Before diving in into writing my first blogpost on this blog 8 years ago, I have to tell you another story first to understand the context:)

In 1993 , I moved from Antwerp ( Belgium) to Dublin, met my now husband, and in 1996, we moved to Galway, lured by an interesting offer in a startup. It’s funny how this all went, as I had been applying for a number of jobs online, but in those days you didn’t really know where the job was you were applying for. One day I received a phone call, asking if I was still interested, and I had to ask where this job actually was. They told me it was in Galway. I had been to Galway once before, and all I could remember was that it rained – the whole time- so I wasn’t so sure I wanted to go to the place “where it was always raining”.. I took the train to Galway, and had my interview in the lobby of the then Great Southern hotel on Eyre Square, now the Meyrick hotel. I admit I had kind of forgotten about this “crucial” event in my life, and experienced this strong déjà vu when I was in the now( much fancier) lobby this ( actually last year’s )Christmas party at SmartBear. The circle was round!

Sadly, the start up I joined didn’t last very long, I lost my job, and I had to start afresh. All wasn’t lost, as I learnt a skill that would come to stand to me.

One of the founders was very keen for us to learn HTML, and tasked us to set up our own website to understand what is involved in running a website. I remember buying a book on HTML and found it all very fascinating. We could choose any subjects, but he reiterated it had to be something that we loved, or something we knew a lot about. I decided I would set up a website( blogs didn’t exist yet) on Angelfire, with resources about Ireland, and more specifically about finding a job. I started with the basics around transport, recruitment agencies, but there was also a “live” aspect about, in the sense that I had a running overview of all the job announcements as they came in. We got married in 1999 and just before our wedding, my website on Angelfire got hacked, and I lost all the content I had so carefully collected. The kids were born in 2004 and 2006, and it was Christmas day 2009, visiting our in laws in Northern Ireland, I resumed my writing, this time on Blogger and a few years later I moved to WordPress. I sort of added the topics again, but never really got back into it, and published various articles about my travels, holidays and of course jobs/job news.

Fast forward to today, 8 years later and it’s Christmas day 2017, I am still very interested in the job market in Galway! Back in September I set up a Facebookpage in September called Galwayjobconnector, to provide info about the opportunities there are in Galway. The part I enjoy most is the weekly newsletter I publish, to go over what’s happening on the job front, what companies are moving to Galway, what skills they are looking for etc. and publish/re publish free job bulletins. Having experienced first hand what it means to move to a new country/city, it’s my way of giving back to those who came after me, and have no idea where to start. I also have this idea of doing a weekly Facebook Live to showcase jobs, and we’ll see how that goes:) Follow my page if you want to get insights in the Galway job market!

As much as jobseekers get lost in the maze of information, employers are finding it harder and harder to find the right talent, so to marry the two sides, I am part of a team of people that set up Opentalent, to bring people from all backgrounds to Galway in April to interview with Galway companies that have open roles. And if that’s not enough, we are adding a brand new concept of job speed dating, where talent can meet with employers and have a conversation. Follow our Facebook page here to keep informed of what companies are taking part. Register your interest in the job speeddating here.

For now, I’d like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas, and may 2018 be full of joy!

XXX

Katleen

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December 25, 2017
My new short commute into Galway from Oranmore!

Hello all,

As I am still working on a few small business interviews, I thought I’d write a blog post on the travelling part on this blog.

Some of you readers may be looking at job opportunities in Galway City ( Go check out the Job Expo event, 11th of Feb)and deciding where to live, and may not be familiar with the traffic congestion in and around Galway. Gridlock in the city is not getting any better and may start to affect investment in Galway as this article suggests or workers choose to work elsewhere to spend more time with their families. Although I don’t quite see a resolution for the city gridlock at peak times, there are some positive developments for the bottlenecks south of the city.

There is the long awaited motorway between Gort and Tuam, due to open as early as November this year, 3 months ahead of plan. I drive past the roadworks every day, and it’s starting to look like a motorway! And then there is the option to commute by train/bus if you are living south of Galway City.

This motorway will allow traffic to flow freely from Gort onwards into Galway, bypassing the bottlenecks at Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge and Oranmore. ( If there is a sizable funeral in Clarinbridge you can add 1 hour to your journey, unless you know the dark backroads in that area). once complete, Gort will be + -30 minutes from Galway City, and just over 40 minutes from Shannon Airport.

The Galway City Commute by Car

So I started to work in Galway City in May ( I live just under 30 kms south of Galway, also known as the Burren Low Lands)and and was all excited about getting the train from Ardrahan into Galway.

The morning trains worked out great ( leave 7:23 AM, arrive 8:10 AM), the evenings less so, as the first train that would work for me was at 5:50 PM, arrive 6:40 PM which was too long of day for me. So I resorted to drive into Galway by car and park (55 Euros a month), joining the thousands of other commuters. To avoid traffic in the mornings, I had to leave the house at 7 AM to hit Galway City at around 7:40 AM. The evenings were not so pleasant, even if I left the office at 4:30 PM I was never home before 6 PM. Christmas traffic was particularly heavy, some evenings my commute was more than 2 hours and a half…. I was not a happy camper.

The Galway City commute by rail from Oranmore

A colleague of mine mentioned that he was thinking of getting the train from Oranmore and that there were more regular trains. So I went to investigate what trains there were to Galway, and more particularly what trains there are from Galway to Oranmore as it was that part of my day that really was making me miserable. Check out the website called “Transport for Ireland” to get all transport options near you, I would recommend you take a look at the app, it’s quite good, and gives you live options,options you may not have been aware of. Below is the most up to date timetable from Oranmore to Galway and back.

There is an Oranmore Special Fare – We have a special adult day return fare from Oranmore to Galway for €6 and a special child day return for €4. This is only available from Oranmore to Galway and not in the opposite direction (Info from Irishrail’s website). Best to check with your employer if they offer tickets under the taxsaver scheme.

So now I leave the house at 7:30 AM, park my car( free so far) at the Railway station in Oranmore, and get the 8 O’clock train, getting me into Galway City at 8:10. The evenings are quicker( downhill?), leaving Galway city at 5:20 PM to be in Oranmore at 5:27 PM, getting me home around 6 PM. It really has made a difference for me, and every evening when I step on the train, I smile to myself, and think it’s the best #7minutecommute ever and grateful I am out of my previous commuter hell!

Have a great weekend!

Katleen

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February 4, 2017
New Start in Galway City & the Mark Fordham memorial walk

Hello all,

Writing this blog is fun, but from time to time I need a break, so it’s been a week or two or even three since my last post. During this break, we spent a week at the beach in Spain, I worked my last week at Magento and just last week I started a new job in Smartbear! Yiha!

Changing jobs is a big thing, but after 5 years of working from home, I got quite excited to get the train into Galway from the railway station in Ardrahan. Prior to last week, I think I have taken the train twice into Galway, partly because I have a car, and secondly because it’s very expensive. You’ll see the prices in my Facebook live video below.

Luckily there is tax saving scheme called http://www.taxsaver.ie/ (Taxsaver) where you can offset part of the cost on your taxes, and then it becomes interesting! It also totally stresses less, you’re never stuck in traffic, and no parking fees in Galway. The downside is that there aren’t many trains, so this can mean that you are out of the house for 12 hours. I’ll be doing some tests to see what’s the best way to get into Galway before gridlock sets in.

I’d seen a Facebook event to a memorial 1 mile walk for Mark Fordham at the Ballinderreen GAA pitch , and decided to take the boys to it. I remember reading about the tragic accident that occured late last year, and although I don’t know the family, I wanted to show my support of taking part in this walk. I wasn’t alone. There was an incredible turnout and a solemn atmosphere. I overheard a lady explaining to her children that all participants were having the same thoughts, and sending good vibes to his family. We walked around the grounds twice and were met with an abundance of tea, coffee, biscuits, scones, and Nutella pancakes, made by friends and volunteers of Firstlight, which is an Irish charity that supports suddenly bereaved parents and families.

I took some footage, but missed on the (for me) most poignant image of the release of balloons, and how the kids all went to grab the balloons and either kept on to them or burst them! It brought tears to my eyes.

Here are just a few impressions of the day. The weather has been very changeable this week, but it was meant to be that the weather stayed dry during the whole walk.

Michael Leech

Marie Fahy, Michelle Leyden

To find out more about Firstlight, check out their Facebook page here .

I’ll be continuing my series of interviewing small business in the West of Ireland. If you are interested to be featured, drop me an email to katleen(at)workinglivingtravellinginireland.com or come and say hello on my Facebook page about working, living , travelling in Ireland.

Have a great start to your week.

Katleen

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May 22, 2016
Connemara Maths Academy : Smallbusiness interview West of Ireland

Hello all,

It’s been a busy weekend as I took part in the 5th Walking Festival on Inishbofin Co. Galway, and had an incredible time. We are regular visitors to Inishbofin, but it’s the first time I took part in the Walking Festival. The weather was amazing, beautiful walks and great company! Check out the Inishbofin website and Facebookpage to keep informed of events, there is quite a few during the year. Below is a video I made of some of the pictures I took !

Read my previous article about Inishbofin here.

My next small business is located in Connemara, which is the area you need to drive through to get to Inishbofin. Let’s hear it from Aengus from Connemara Maths!

Aengus O’Connor B.Sc., D.L.S., M.Phil., P.D.E.
Director, CMA

Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland.

I live in Connemara and run residential summer programmes for teens (10-17) at three centres in absolutely stunning locations along the Wild Atlantic Way (WAW) at Kylemore Abbey, Glenstal Abbey & Killary Centre.

Can you provide me with a description of your business?

Summer Camps for teenagers where learning through discovery, creativity & adventure is the corner stone of our philosophy in a maths centered programme.

How long have you been in business? In this business? In other businesses?

This summer 2016 will be our third season. We started in 2014 with two weeks and 40 students and are now open for 7 weeks. Our summer camps sold out last year and bookings are up three fold already this year. Are you ready to be swept away? Check out this video:

How did you get started in this business?

Having worked as a musician and with qualifications in Maths and Music performance & media technology I have always used music tech and media technology when teaching mathematics. When I returned to Ireland in 2012 I saw an opportunity to offer programmes that had maths at its centre through using creative technologies and adventure activities. It’s a great combination and kids have a ball. We have the latest technologies such as Virtual Reality where students will build their own virtual worlds.

Is this your full time job, a hobby or a bit of both?

Full time.

How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business?

I spent many years studying and working! B.Sc (Maths); DLS (Law); M.Phil (Music & Media Tech); PDE (Maths). I worked as s teacher, lecturer, head of department & principal in UK for three years, Italy (3yrs), Switzerland (1 yr) & Syria (3yrs) while also working as a consultant in Saudi Arabia and UAE. International experience is vital I think.

How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business?

Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest

You may find our website here http://www.connemaramathsacademy.com/

Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?

We see ourselves being the number 1 Summer Camp provider in Europe within the next 5 years.

Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?

We already do. 30% of our students are from over seas, US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, Ukraine & Brazil.

How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?

Our business is dependent on technologies so it impacts is hugely. For example Virtual Reality ( VR) is now available at consumer prices so we can use this to great effect.

What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?

Connemara is in my blood and my family and I can’t imagine living anywhere else!

Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where?r.

My business partner Kim Moran.

Kim Moran, Marketing Executive, Connemara Maths Academy

Can you describe your customers?

Happy students & parents!

Why do your customers select you over your competitors?

We offer a unique programme with the very best teachers and the latest technologies. Our methodologies work and students benefit enormously from our programmes.

What are the biggest challenges for running this business?
Marketing.

What keeps you going, when the chips are down?

Marketing.

Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why?

Yes. Learnstorm (formerly Mathletes)

Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business?

Exercise often & consult a mentor regularly. Always know how many sales you currently have & make sure your cash flow is secure. Sales, sales, sales.

What did you learn from this interview?

That marketing is key while quality should never be compromised.

Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland! If you would like to be interviewed, please drop me an email to katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch.

Connect with me on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook!

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April 26, 2016
Hayes Vegetables Gort – Catherine Hayes: #SmallBusinessinterview West of Ireland

Hello all,

It’s time for another #smallbusinessinterview in the West Of Ireland!! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Catherine Hays from Hays Vegetables. I met Catherine for the first time last year at the Summer Market and I can see she’s going from strength to strength. I arrived home quite late on Thursday, and decided to head to Gort on Friday morning ( before heading back to bed) to pick up some fresh vegetables. I love making soup, and picked up potatoes, leeks, onions and some home baked bread from her stall. I can’t wait now to make some wholesome soup :).

In case this is your first visit to my blog, I have started to interview #smallbusiness in the West of Ireland, as I’d like to give them a helping hand to make them shine and also show to the outside world what the West of Ireland has to offer.

Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland! If you would like to be interviewed, please drop me an email to katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch.

Connect with me on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook!

So far I have interviewed following businesses :

Quickest Fox Marketing Earthwise Micro Biz Awards Dutch Bakery ziplines.ie Meetthewool.com jclearn.ie

I always ask to supply me with a few pictures ( or if you have a video, even better). Catherine gave me a few pictures, and I made a small video using Google Photos.

Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland.

My name is Catherine Hayes & I grew up on a dairy farm just outside of Gort, Co. Galway. I am currently running a market garden business ( free from chemicals) on some land 2 km from Gort and selling my produce at GortFridayMarket every Friday morning.

How did you get started in this business?

I started growing properly about 1.5 years ago (January 2015) and my first market in Gort was July 2015. Previous to this I had studied analytical science to PhD level & had spent a number of years working in research in Sweden as well as Ireland. At some stage I decided I wanted to come home & managed to find a position that would suit me. As circumstances would have it, on returning to Ireland the position fell through & I found myself at a loose end. I decided to take a year out from science & try something new. I got a place as an intern on BeechlawnOrganicFarm in Ballinasloe and remained there for 1.5 years (till Nov 2015) when I took up my own enterprise full time. At present I am also attending a Market Garden Course run by Jim Cronin in Bridgetown Co. Clare to improve my skills in this area, with a view to expanding my business and market.

How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business?

It’s hard for me to comment on outside influences on my business as I am not very long “in the game” but if I were to guess the main influences would be social & environmental – people need a certain amount of disposable income to buy fresh vegetables, and its hard to compete with the loss-leaders that the multinational supermarkets advertise on a weekly basis. However environmental issues are making people more aware of what they are consuming & more concerned about buying vegetables that have been grown without the use of chemicals.

Do you know who your competitors are?

At present in Gort the main competitors are the large supermarkets – however I do believe that a certain amount of competition is necessary & if anything people are becoming more aware of naturally grown, organic vegetables and this raises demand.

How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business?

I market my business in two ways at present – FaceBook & word of mouth. I have an active FaceBook page for my stall HayesVegGort & GortFridayMarket, where i post at least twice weekly, with my product range, recipes or updates on how things are going on the farm. But I also find that in a rural community such as Gort, word of mouth is very powerful. I have numerous customers who come & say “I heard you had lovely carrots” or something like that. So consistently good quality & good customer service are working for me as well at present.

Any special things planned for 2016 or further ahead?

I hope to expand in the next year or two. At present I have one large polytunnel (20 ft x 64 ft) and about 1/4 acre of outside veg – this will grow to another large tunnel & maybe another 1/4 to 1/2 acre outside. In 5 years I hope to maybe have grown to 3/4 tunnels & also have one full time person in employment. In 10 years – hard to say, but i should have a very successful veg (and possibly fruit) business with perhaps a shop.

Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?

The global market is not a viable option for me as my product is perishable, but I can envisage competing on a national scale within Ireland.

How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?

Computers, technology etc are very important to me, in all aspects: communications, marketing, sales, record-keeping, finance, research etc. Overall technology is an integral part of my business. Working outside (or inside in the tunnel on a rainy day).

What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?

The satisfaction of seeing something grow, of sitting down to a meal of my produce. I also love the interaction with the public at the market – its my favourite part of the week. The people of Gort & the surrounding area have been very supportive of me in this venture & they show this support by consistently turning up at the stall every week.

Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where?

I have a network of other organic farmers that i have developed over the course of my internship. I am also in the process of setting up a network of small growers in Ireland specifically to cater for people like me who are starting out or are early-stage. We have already met a few times and are currently setting up a schedule of Farm visits around the country so we can chat about successes & problems on small market garden holdings.

Can you describe your customers & why do they choose you over other suppliers.

My customer base, geographically is Gort & its hinterlands. I have every age group and social economic background but the thing they have in common is they all seem to appreciate the taste & quality of my produce. They understand that I sell mostly my own veg and I stand over it all, its grown locally without the use of chemicals, and freshly harvested for the market. It is a physically demanding job.

Is this just about planting and harvesting vegetables? What challenges do you face?

There is also a lot of strategic planning that needs to go into an enterprise like this – for example, April & May are known as the “hungry gap” when the last of the winters crops have finished but the summer crops aren’t ready – this needs to be planned a year in advance to have crops to sell in this time. I am at the mercy of the weather – this year, sowing is very late due to the wet spring that we’ve been having.

What keeps you going, when the chips are down?

When I get down, I either take a walk through my crops or look at photos from last year, especially my tomato plants – that’s enough to make me want to do it all over again this year!!

Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why?

At present I am involved in a number of local community groups on a volunteer basis, GaillimhTheasComhalatas and BurrenLowlands. At some stage the stall holders at Gort Friday Market would like to organise a special market day for the town – music, barbecue etc to showcase the market.

Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business?

For someone starting their own business? Believe in yourself – you can do anything you put your mind to.

What did you learn from this interview?

I learned that I have actually achieved quite a lot in a short space of time. Thanks for the interview!!

Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland! If you would like to be interviewed, please drop me an email to katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch.

Twitter : @ecotreasure, Find me on Facebook

Katleen

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April 17, 2016
Easter Break : Galwayfoodfestival, The Burren, The Galway Plaza

Hello all,

We are coming to the end of a 2.5 weeks Easter break, yes, the break was 2,5 weeks long!

I had a few days off, and decided to visit the Galway Food Festival that took place from the 24th till the 28th of March. The weather was cold, wet and blustery, but I thought I’d go anyway, as I had heard about the Galway Food Festival via Twitter. Not that I am Twitter buff yet, far from, but as I interviewed Quickestfox Marketing I learnt about the #galwayhour, which takes place every Tuesday from 9 PM till 10 PM. So I joined in one evening, and got talking to Clew Bay cookies and wanted to taste those American style chocolate chip cookies. You can find them on Twitter @cookiequeenlisa

Check out this Video from the Clew Bay Cookies team !

[fbvideo link=”https://www.facebook.com/workinglivingtravellinginireland/videos/999370083512634/” width=”500″ height=”400″ onlyvideo=”1″]

The weather really didn’t improve until Easter Monday, when we went for our ( annual) spin/pilgrimage to the Burren, the Rockshop , followed by a stroll on the beach in Lachinch, Co. Clare

I took below videos at Crimlin, Co. Clare, which is on the way to the Cliffs of Moher.

[fbvideo link=”https://www.facebook.com/workinglivingtravellinginireland/videos/1001410116641964/” width=”500″ height=”400″ onlyvideo=”1″]

And then also the other side!

[fbvideo link=”https://www.facebook.com/workinglivingtravellinginireland/videos/1001411863308456/” width=”500″ height=”400″ onlyvideo=”1″]

We then drove past the Cliffs of Moher, had a cake stop at the Rockshop and then headed to Lahinch, Co. Clare.

Burren Co. Clare

To finish off the Easter break, I went for a quick trip to Dublin, and decided on the way back to call into the newly opened Galway Plaza off the M6 Motorway in Kiltullagh( Exit 16, Loughrea exit). I had seen some activity there the last time, and thought I’d take a quick peak. For those unfamiliar with the M6 Motorway, it was officially completed and opened to traffic on the 18th of December 2009, and was the first city-to-city direct major inter-urban route to be completed in Ireland. Galway to Dublin is 198 Kms, which I can drive in about 2 hours, whilst other claim they can do it in 1 hour and a half!( P.S. the speedlimit is 120 Kms). If you are leaving Galway on a empty stomach, the first opportunity to eat something is in Athlone ( McDonalds). Granted, you could take a few other prior exits, but they will lead you further land inward). Quite happy to say you no longer have to starve yourself ( or your fellow passengers) as the Galway Plaza has it all figured out. They really ought to call it the “The Galway Foodcourt Plaza”, as it has a a number of food outlets, eat your heart out! I use Google Photos, and just noticed that you can create videos, name the video and add music, style etc. So I created following Video.

As a side note, there was some news in the media this week about the Motorway they are building between Gort- Tuam, and how this motorway will get connected to the M6 early 2018. You can find the article here. Below is the an image of this gigantic interchange, I can’t wait for it to open!

The Rathmorrissey Interchange under construction … where the M17/M18 Gort-Tuam Motorway will meet the M6 Galway-Dublin Motorway ( Connaught Tribune)

Have a nice evening,

Katleen

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April 3, 2016
#SmallBusinessinterview West of Ireland : http://www.ziplines.ie/ Jade Goodfellow

Hello all,

Another week has flown and it’s time for my weekly Sunday #smallbusiness interview. Happy Easter to all my readers!! It’s Easter Break here, and we are enjoying some downtime. We visited the Galway Food Festival yesterday, boy, it was wet and windy! Go check out the videos on my Facebookpage I took, using this new gadget I found called Periscope.

I have started to interview small businesss in the West of Ireland, and have the pleasure to interview Jade Goodfellow from http://www.ziplines.ie

Please share the love and share this interview with your friends and family, as that’s the way these small businesses will get that little bit more of exposure and will help them grow!

If you are a small business( or know a small business) in the West of Ireland and would like to get featured, please drop me an email katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch with next steps.

Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland.

I am a mum of 3, 2 boys and a girl aged 16 months, 4 years and 10 years. My background is in fashion & costume having worked in film & TV for the past 8 years. I love adventure, spending time with my children and travelling. I live and work in Athenry, Co Galway.

Can you provide me with a description of your business?

My business, Zip-Lines Ireland is an online shop selling Kids adventure products for the home and garden, we specialize in domestic zip-line kits (with everything you need in the DIY box) but also sell Balance Toys and Carts. I am currently crowdfunding on kickstarter (You can help here! http://kck.st/1QE86IE) so I can produce my own brand of Zip-Line that will save on costs and create jobs.

Zip-Lines Ireland will be in business 2 years in April, we will be celebrating this with the launch of our very own brand! I have had 2 other businesses in the past so have brought valuable knowledge over from the experience of those. I also work on my husbands business BinStrap which has given me great insight into the areas of manufacturing, import and export among others.

How did you get started in this business?

In April of 2014 I was online looking for inspiration of things to do in my garden with our children and came across garden zip-lines, I thought this was a fantastic idea so set about trying to find one. When I couldn’t find anything it dawned on me that somebody should be doing this! So I contacted a supplier, did some calculations and went for it!

Is this your full time job, a hobby or a bit of both?

It’s a full time job, but I also have mummy duties to attend to and a house to maintain 🙂 I still work periodically in film and TV when a project comes up that I feel really passionate about and I’m in my 3rd year of a BA in business. I’m super busy ALL the time but I make time for the things that matter.

How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business?

As a parent selling to other parents, I feel that I can relate to my target market very well, I’m aware of their needs and wants and I know that my products address these needs. My previous businesses and working on my husbands business have given me a huge amount of knowledge on the workings of many different areas of business from services to retail and manufacturing. I am still learning and building my skills to improve myself and my business. I believe that no one person can learn or fully understand every aspect of business so I have surrounded myself with some very knowledgeable people, some of whom are friends, family or mentors and other professionals that I have met through networking groups like Irish Biz Group on facebook.

How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business?

At present in my business the social affects are positive as the products promote health and well being, encourage outdoor play and physical activity. The economic side of things can be challenging as people don’t have as much disposable income due to the downturn or are skeptical about spending money on things they feel are not necessities. Environmental is positive, our products don’t impact negatively on the environment as they don’t use energy and encourage children to turn off the TV & electronic devices to go outside.

Legal –we need to be sure that our product are safe to use and are compliant with EU Regulations, there is risk involved in selling products of this nature so we are very tight on quality assurance.

Do you know who your competitors are?

I have little competition in Ireland right now, there are two other businesses that sell domestic zip-line kits, but none that specialize in this area or with the quality/ weight allowance/ style/ variety that our zip-line kits have.

How do you market your business?

I market my business through social media, in parenting blogs, in print media and through PR.

How are people aware of your business?

I try to keep engaged with my customers through the business Facebook and Twitter pages and have frequent PR pieces published.

Where can people find you?

Website: http://www.ziplines.ie

Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/ziplinesireland

Twitter: @ziplinesireland

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-gavin-goodfellow-56152946

Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCSVQwInutOHfpEEHOtzRNDA

Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?

This year will see Zip-Lines Ireland launch our own brand of zip-line kits. In the next 3 years my primary focus will be to market and export these zip-lines and add some new products to the range. In the next 5 years I hope to have a physical store (with a difference) where people can view AND try all of our products.

Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?

Yes, I believe that there is a huge worldwide market for zip-lines particularly in Europe where there are few manufacturers of domestic zip-lines and the products that are currently available are not very affordable, the ones that are affordable are of poor quality or cannot hold weights over 11 stone (ours hold over 17 stone).

How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?

Technology has always been a part of my business and I’m delighted that I can do most of my business from the comfort of my own home, this gives me the dual benefits of working for myself and being around to do the school runs and be here for my children.

What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?

The area I live in is very community oriented and my children go to school a kilometer away so it’s really lovely to be so close to people who relate to the businesses core values, Although our products can be used in any gardens it’s helpful to have a garden with more space and trees are a huge asset, there are plenty of these around our area so my target market is literally on my doorstep meaning I can get valuable feedback from the people who matter.

Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where?

I attended a Lean Launch Programme run by the LEO with Declan Droney (founder of Kinvara Salmon) This sees a group of entrepreneurs start their businesses using lean methods – I found this to be an amazing experience, both in helping me create a vision for my business and communicating with like-minded people that are in a similar place with their businesses. Declan has been a huge support and motivating factor in my business!

My father in law Joseph Goodfellow (owner of Celtic Product Development) is my mentor in all things manufacturing, with over 50 years experience in the area his knowledge and expertise is invaluable.

I am a part of a really great business networking group on Facebook the ‘Irish Biz Group’ which is a fantastic resource for all businesses – there are people in the group from all areas in business who are more than happy to provide their knowledge and support, it’s also a great place to get business products and services that are known and respected.

Can you describe your customers?

My customers are parents/ child care practitioners of 3-14 year old’s with disposable income and the desire to get their children outdoors and active. My other group of customers are men and women 15-29 with a love of balance related sports (surfers/ yoga enthusiasts)

Why do your customers select you over your competitors?

My products are better quality, more stylist and can take larger loads, they are competitively priced and I’m big on customer service!

What are the biggest challenges for running this business?

The biggest challenges involve getting the business well known,and keeping the market largely to myself. There will come a time when someone else tries to take the market but I’m aware of this and will strive to make sure I have the best product on the market by continuing to develop and grown the products and brand.

What keeps you going, when the chips are down?

My support network, I have fantastic family and friends who believe in me and give me a positive boost when I need it, particularly the women in my life, they themselves are hard working, inspirational ladies who are always there when I need them. It works both ways though, I wouldn’t expect anyone to do anything for me that I wouldn’t do for them I believe in always helping others fulfill their potential and lifting people up.

Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why?

I support many charities, mostly children, family and homeless services as I feel that society needs to protect their most vulnerable, it’s important that we provide for our children and those less fortunate, to create hope and opportunities and fairness for all regardless of circumstance.

Any special things planned for 2016?

2016 will see the launch of my own brand of Zip-Line (lots of work to be done on branding, packaging etc) and our 2nd birthday which I intend to celebrate with a launch picnic.

Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business?

Do some research, make sure you have support (its 10 times harder without this), get as much help from your LEO or whatever resources are there for you to take advantage of (I highly recommend the ‘Lean Launch Programme’) . Learn your market and, when you know you have a viable product/ service that you are passionate about and willing to give your all to — go for it! And good luck 🙂

What did you u learn from this interview?

That I’ve come a long way and have amazing people in my life 🙂 But I also have lots to do! Thank you for the interview, I enjoyed it!
Let’s get connected! Find me on Twitter : @ecotreasure, Facebook: www.facebook.com/workinglivingtravellinginireland Have a great evening all! Katleen

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March 27, 2016
#SmallBusinessinterview West of Ireland : www.Meetthewool.com

Hello all,

On Sunday afternoon, once we’ve been to a football match and eaten our Sunday lunch ( and everybody else has comatosed on the sofa) I get out my laptop and start writing my new small business interview. If you are new to my blog, my name is Katleen, and I have been writing this blog since 2009. As a new year’s resolution, I wanted to learn more about what’s happening with small business in my area, and have started to interview Small Business in the West of Ireland, to give them a chance to do their story and show the world their business.

Let’s get connected! Find me on Twitter : @ecotreasure, Facebook: www.facebook.com/workinglivingtravellinginireland Please share this interview with your friends and family, as that’s the way these small businesses will get that little bit more of exposure and will help them grow!

If you are a small business( or know a small business) in the West of Ireland and would like to get featured, please drop me an email katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com

Today I am interviewing Sandra King from http://www.meetthewool.com . Sandra and I go back a few years now, as I featured some of her crocheted christening gowns when my then business was showcased on the morning breakfast show Ireland AM. Here is just a small clip of the christening gowns! They are fabulous!

Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland.

I am located in Ballinruan, a small rural village outside of Crusheen in Co. Clare.. I relocated here in 2007 from North Carolina. I grew up in the city, but don’t think there is any way I could go back to city living.

Can you provide me with a description of your business?

I am a designer of speciality yarns that I dye and spin myself. The fibre that I use is sourced from my own sheep….2 Wensleydales(Daisy and Rose) and 1 Bluefaced Leicester (Hyacinth). I also spin some traditional yarns.

Blue Faced Leicester (Hyacinth)

Wensleydale Sheep

Wensleydale Sheep

How long have you been in business? In this business? In other businesses?

I have been in this business for about 4 years. I have been in textile and non-textile businesses intermittently since 1986.

How did you get started in this business?

Because I have always been an avid crocheter and have a keen interest in textiles, spinning was a simple progression. In the past I have found it frustrating to find yarns of the desired colors, textures, etc. so I decided to get some sheep, a spinning wheel, and make my own.

Is this your full time job, a hobby or a bit of both?

It’s more a part-time job and a hobby. I run a boarding kennels, so sometimes my wool business is moved to the back burner for a day or two. However, most days I can find even a small amount of time to dye, spin, crochet or knit.

How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business?

I am naturally an organized personality which I find very helpful in this business. The skills I learned from a very close friend who is a spinner and weaver and also from attending various workshops. Also, the woman from whom I purchased my Wensleydale sheep is a wealth of knowledge on both the animals and dyeing and spinning their fleece.

How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business?

For me, the biggest impact is technological. I find it very challenging to keep up with social media networking and selling from my website.

Do you know who your competitors are?

Yes, there are many hand spinners but the secret is to design a yarn which is unique.

How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business? Where can people find you?

I have my website: http://www.meetthewool.com which I developed last year. Orders have been slowly coming in.

I have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/meetthewool which gets a lot of interest

I recently started an Etsy shop,https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/MeettheWool which I need to do more work with. I am a member of an Arts & Craft co-op since April, which has provided me with the most sales. I am on the steering committee of Creative Clare which is organizing to allow artists and craft workers the opportunity to network and market their products through events and studio trails.

Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?

This next year will see an increase in sales from the co-op and the web site. In five years time, I will have designed and successfully marketed a unique line of yarns internationally. In ten years, I just hope to maintain the status quo.

Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?

Yes, through my website and social media.

How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?

It allows me to sell internationally through my website. I am now starting to network through social media.

What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?

I love being able to walk out my door, see the beauty of the countryside and work from home in my quiet studio.

Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where?

I get some advice from my son, Gray, who is a CPA and who has a lavender growing business. Also, from personal contacts I have that are textile enthusiasts. I’m sure being a member of Creative Clare will give me many other contacts that I can draw from.

Can you describe your customers?

Anyone who knits, crochets or weaves.

Why do your customers select you over your competitors?

I spin 90% of my yarns from either Wensleydale or Bluefaced Leicester fleece, obtained from my own sheep. Fiber enthusiasts look for speciality yarns (which I spin) and which come from local sheep. I always include a photo of the sheep that their yarn is from. Each sheep has a name and this personalizes it for the customer.

What are the biggest challenges for running this business?

Being a one woman show, time enough to spin and dye enough product.

What keeps you going, when the chips are down?

My husband and my animals.

Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why?

I support Dogs Trust because I care so much for dogs and their welfare. I also support Hogsprickle, a hedgehog rescue.

Any special things planned for 2016?

Getting the “Art in Studios” trail going and launching Creative Clare.

Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business?

Know that things will not always work out as you planned and have a Plan B!

What did you learn from this interview?

It forced me to think through some areas of my business and put them in writing.

If you’d like to read my previous interviews, you can check out :The Dutch Bakery, Dave Slaat, Ruairi Devlin, Founder of Micro Biz Awards, Jackie Queally from Earthwise, and my first interview was with Philip Gleeson from Quickest Fox Marketing.

Just a quick reminder, Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland!

If you would like to be interviewed, please drop me an email to katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch.

Connect with me on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook!

Have a great evening,

Katleen

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March 20, 2016
Interview with Ruairi Devlin – Founder of Ireland’s first Micro Biz Awards

Hello all,

My new year’s resolution is going well, so far I have done two interviews with two businesses in the West of Ireland. Last week I interviewed Jackie Queally from Earthwise.me and the week before I was given some insights in Twitter, when I interviewed Philip Gleeson – from http://www.quickestfox.com/.

Today I am interviewing Ruairi Devlin, who is the founder of Ireland’s first Micro Biz Awards. It’s an area close to my heart, as there are so many small/micro business in Ireland, and there are few (affordable)opportunities where these businesses can be showcased outside of their usual geographic area. I am hopeful a small business/micro business in the West of Ireland reads this interview and decides to pack up for the day to Dublin and showcase their business to the “other” side of the country and network, as much of business is networking with other people in business, and learn what works, what doesn’t, learn from mistakes, and also to inspire to push yourself just that little bit more out of your comfort zone and see how it can transform your business.

Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland!

Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland or what would you like to share with businesses in the West of Ireland.

My day to day business is Devlin and Associates who deal in all things taxation and business development, but what I want to talk to you about today is my work as founder of the Micro Business Awards. These are awards aimed at creating awareness of Micro Businesses and the work they do.

Can you give me a description of your business?

The Micro Business Awards are in their inaugural year with 7 categories up for grabs this year. Unlike a lot of the exhibitions out there ours is totally –. We are inviting small to medium-sized businesses from around the country to showcase themselves, giving them an opportunity to grow, prosper and network out of their normal networking area. This is an opportunity, to network and meet like minded business people that you may not have met before.

How long have you been in business? In this business? In other businesses?

This is the first year in this business but I have been in business with Devlin and Associates for a few years.

How did you get started in this business?

These awards started out as my brainchild, and with the support of Whatswhat Online Business Directory and Diamond Events we created the platform to give Micro Businesses a voice.

Is this your full-time job, a hobby or a bit of both?

This is a hobby which has become a full-time job. I am lucky that I have great support in my day job to make time for my work with the awards.

How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business?

I feel that the nature of my day job introduced me to the struggles facing small businesses and I was glad to give an outlet to make a name for them.

How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business?

When it comes to awards everything is a factor. For this year we made social interaction a huge factor in the awards and the returns are showing from it.

How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business? Where can people find you?

Linkedin Devlin and Associates Website Devlin and Associates

Facebook Devlin and Associates Twitter Devlin and Associates

We market our awards through social media as we have zero budget for advertising this year.

Website Bizexpo Twitter Whatswhat Facebookgroup Irishbizgroup

Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?

We plan on growing from strength to strength with plans already happening for next years awards and a jump to up to 20 categories.

Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?

There is no reason we can not expand the awards in the future

How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?

They are a huge part of our business as the awards look at websites etc.

What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?

I am fortunate to do business all over the country and love getting out into the West and meet all the small business owners and hear about their efforts.

Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where?

Through our networking group on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/groups/irishbgroup where we have over 1500 business owners more than happy to offer support and ideas.

Can you describe your customers?

Our customers come from all walks of life.

Why do your customers select you over your competitors?

We are the only Micro Awards in Ireland.

What are the biggest challenges for running this business? What are your big successes.

As with all events money is always a challenge. As this is our first year getting sponsorship was particularly difficult. FREE registration here for our Biz Expo which we are running in conjunction with the Awards. A handful of exhibition spaces are still available.

Take part in Ireland’s first Micro Business awards

What keeps you going, when the chips are down?

Feeling I have made someone else’s day.

Any special things planned for 2016?

With our first Awards Presentation coming on 19th April this is the first year of something special.

Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
Know your market. Get professional advice. Give me a call. 0831086692

What did you learn from this interview?

It is great to see someone doing this for the West. Looking forward to seeing its expansion around the country.

Just a quick reminder, Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland! My next interview will be with Dave Slaat from the Dutch Bakery in Sligo! If you would like to be interviewed, please drop me an email to katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch.

Connect with me on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook!

Have a great evening,

Katleen

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March 6, 2016

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