Some of you may have a public library card, others probably haven’t set foot in a library in ages. I fell into the latter category! I walk past the Galway Library twice (!) a day, and one lunchtime – yes, they are open over lunch as well 🙂 – I went in and I got myself a library card. These days it’s a credit card sized card, see below. How to join!
Image of a an Irish Public Library card
The card was free, and is valid pretty much around the country, meaning that if you rented a book in Galway City, you can return it to the library that’s nearest to you. My nearest library is in Gort, but as I am never in Gort during the day, I am now having access to a service I never had before. Actually, when the kids were smaller we did avail of the mobile library to rent children’s books( yeah, I think we still have them)..
So now onto the unexpected benefit parts. I am a keen listener to podcasts, but never really ventured into Audio books. Turns out there is an app you can download called “Borrowbox” aka Bolinda, that enables you to get free access to Ebooks and AudioBooks , using your library card. Just a quick note, your login is your library card, the pin are the last 4 digits of your library card number.
This resource provides a wide range of over 500 courses, including Yoga, Digital Photography, Computer Basics, Excel, and much more. You can learn at your own pace.
This resource is the world’s most comprehensive collection of news content. It’s database’s detailed indexing helps users quickly find the news information they need. Each issue of each newspaper is indexed thoroughly, so researchers have access to not only top news stories but also the information contained on the various sections of the papers. The indexing covers not only complete bibliographic information but also companies, people, products, etc.
I am enjoying my audio book, I am currently listening to the “Compassionate Achiever” on my daily commute – it’s interesting and look forward to listen to others!
Time for a new interview! If you are new to my blog, I have been interviewing small businesses in the West of Ireland since 2016. Check out all the interviews I have done to date. The last interview was with An Mheital Rothar, Galway’s Community Bike shop and excited the present my newest interview with Gary Casey from Athastour walking tours in Galway. I was walking around Spanish Arch in Galway City, and just as I walked under the Arch I saw Gary, so I thought I’d go over and say hello!
So how does this interview work, and how can you get interviewed? I have learned that people aren’t responding to email anymore, and have gotten most of my completed questionnaires via Facebook or Twitter. The interview exists out of a number of questions that are stored in the cloud via Google docs. I then send a link , the interviewee clicks on the link, enters the answers to the questions and the beauty is there is no need to send documents over email. I love it! I then review the questions, ask for clarifications if needed, and then publish. So if you are up for a close-up 🙂 of your business/startup in the West of Ireland, please drop me an email here or connect me with on my Workinglivingtravellinginireland Facebook Page or Twitter. I do read my email! And remember, the more you put in, the more you get out of it. 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. My name is Gary Casey, 40, from Galway. I run Athas Tours guided walks of Galway city.
Can you provide me with a description of your business? Athas Tours provided individuals and groups the opportunity to walk around and see all the main Galway city sights in a fun and energetic way. I am a sole trader at the moment and do the tours myself.
How long have you been in business? In this business? In other businesses?How did you get started in this business? I have been in business since February 2017 in this business. I did a course on setting up a business and decided to follow through on this idea.
Is this your full time job, a hobby or a bit of both? It is a bit of both, not quite full-time yet, but hopefully soon.
How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business? I have seen how well-run Galway is as a tourist city. The most necessary skill is telling a story with a bit of wit attached and I think I can manage that!
How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business? They all have a bearing on it. Economic tourism is the key i.e. keeping the tourist economy competitive. The rest are secondary to this. Keep Joe Tourist interested by not ripping him off and giving him value for his notes.
Do you know who your competitors are? I know very well who they are the buggers. Seriously, I think they compliment me and vice versa. Room for all.
How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business? Where can people find you?
I market via social media but try to keep costs down as Facebook etc can be expensive.
Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?
I am just going week on week. I hope to be able to expand enough to eventually get a minibus and expand to driving tours.
Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not? I would love to but have not thought it fully through.
How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?
It is really everything, just as in every other business.
What do you love about the area you live in/do business in? It is life itself. A flaneurs dream. People of all walks of life mixing in Galway’s tiny medieval streets, all searching for answers to questions asked forever.
Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where? I have talked to several historians and online is an invaluable source of opinion.
Can you describe your customers? Anybody is a potential customer. I just need to make them believe!
Why do your customers select you over your competitors?
Karma.
What are the biggest challenges for running this business? Karma and cashflow.
What keeps you going, when the chips are down? Questionnaires from nice people I meet on the streets.
Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why? Yes and I fundraise. I have collected for the GRCC and GAA.
Anything special things planned for 2017?
Lots but I won’t share just yet!
Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business? DON’T OVERTHINK. As Nike and Arnold say, Just Do It.
What did you learn from this interview? That questions lead to answers and sometimes more questions. Life is a big circle. That is good. Never let it get too square or triangular.
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 next, please drop me an email to katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch.
Time for a new interview! If you are new to my blog, I have been interviewing small businesses in the West of Ireland since 2016. Check out all the interviews I have done to date. The last interview I did was with Temple Cafe and excited the present my newest interview with Edwin Meppelink. This interview is slightly different, as it is with a volunteer at a not-for -profit organisation.
So how does this interview work, and how can you get interviewed?
I have learned that people aren’t responding to email anymore, and have gotten most of my completed questionnaires via Facebook or Twitter. The interview exists out of a number of questions that are stored in the cloud via Google docs. I then send a link , the interviewee clicks on the link, enters the answers to the questions and the beauty is there is no need to send documents over email. I love it! I then review the questions, ask for clarifications if needed, and then publish. So if you are up for a close-up 🙂 of your business/startup in the West of Ireland, please drop me an email here or connect me with on my Workinglivingtravellinginireland Facebook Page or Twitter. I do read my email! And remember, the more you put in, the more you get out of it. Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland!
I found this picture on their Facebook Page, I loved the vibes !
Volunteers having fun at An Mheitheal Rothar Galway City
Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland.
My name is Edwin Meppelink. I am from Zutphen in the Netherland but I am living in Ireland for the last 11 years. First in Quin Co. Clare and for the last 4 years in Oranmore Co.Galway.
Can you provide me with a description of your business?
There are different elements. We have the workshop where people can come and fix their bicycle with the guidance of volunteer mechanics. We do Service & repairs where people can leave their bikes and we fix them for a reasonable price and we provide training in bike maintenance and on school we teach cycle skills.
How long have you been involved with this organisation?
I joined in Jan 2016 but AMR officially exist since June 2013.Since Jan 2016 I help out as a volunteer at An Mheitheal Rothar. The Galway community bicycle workshop. I am doing this to help people and because bicycles are my passion. Below you find a link that tells the story of An Mheitheal Rothar. https://bikeworkshops.ie/our-story/
Is this your full time job, a hobby or a bit of both?
AMR is fully run by volunteers but some are there full time. For me, it’s a hobby.
How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business?
Yes I have a full City and Guild bicycle maintenance certification. At the workshop, we have 3 others who did the same certification. We are the only official certified mechanics in the whole of Connacht!!
How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business?
Every single one has an impact. The social aspect is that we work with many volunteers. We are not focused on profit but on the environmental and social aspects. Legally we need to make sure we are covered in case of accidents etc. Political as we work together with the county council (every year we open the Galway bike week in association with the council)
Do you know who your competitors are?
Yes, all of them are the Commercial bike shops in and around Galway.
How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business? Where can people find you?
Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?
It’s difficult to say as we work on a volunteer basis but we are looking at plans to split some parts and start the repairs on a more commercial basis.
Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?
No we are a local business and the focus will stay on that.
How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?
No
What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?
I think of all the region in Ireland, Galway is still the best.
Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where?
We are in close contact with Marty Manering and Paul Ryan from highnelly bicyles www.highnelly.ie
Can you describe your customers?
Our customer are mainly students but more and more we see people coming in that like to learn more about how to maintain their bikes.
Why do your customers select you over your competitors?
We are cheap! We don’t charge per hour (only on donation). We use second hand parts (which are for free) and new parts are very low in prices.
What are the biggest challenges for running this business?
As it’s all on a volunteer basis it’s hard to get commitment and to look for growth.
What keeps you going, when the chips are down?
The social aspect and the passion for bikes.
Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why?
No charities but we do support schools with a bicycle skills training
Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
Have fun and believe in what you do….
What did you learn from this interview?
That we do a great job 🙂
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 next, please drop me an email to katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch.
This weekend came around very quickly, and after Alexander’s Soccer training in Oranmore, we jumped on the train in Oranmore to call over to the Radisson Hotel in Galway to have a look at the jobexpo. I have been experimenting with Facebook Live( ie live broadcasting) and tried to start a Facebook Live session on our way to the Radisson but the reception wasn’t strong enough. So the first video was recorded off line.
Just to give you a very brief background to Galway jobs & myself. When I arrived in Galway late 1990’s, there were a few American multi-nationals in the hardware/PC industry manufacturing business and related accessories such as American Power Conversion, Digital, Nortel and a few medical device companies, Boston Scientific being the biggest player in that market. Galway was rocked when in 1993, the Digital plant that employed 700 peoples ceased production. More info on this website. Many of the highly educated, creative individuals started their own businesses in the Galway area ( and many more becoming taxi drivers 🙂 , but also lead to many people emigrating in search of a job. Fast forward 20 years, and Galway is home to a large amount of Medical device companies as pictured in below map, more info here.
In one of my previous posts about the start-up scene in Galway, there are a number of recent arrivals of software companies in the City Centre. Companies like SmartBear, Heat Software, Metlife, Ipswich, Altocloud, Siteminder and Mathworks but to name a few. Most of them were present at the recruitment fare.. Metlife particularly has ambitious recruitment plans. They currently have about 45 people in a temporary office space, but are due to move into a completely renovated, state of the art new office space right beside the Library on Augustine’s street in the City Centre. Galway is becoming the new Silicon Valley and there are opportunities to make Galway your home (again).
This is the second video I took using Facebook live, and visited the SmartBear stand. If you are interested in any of the positions, drop me an email with your CV.
I didn’t get to go to each stand as it was very packed, but managed to take a few pictures of the vacancies that were advertised on their stands.
Check out their blog for more info on the event, or view/listen to a few interviews that were done on the day. Also check out Lookwest– The online guide to Business, Work and Life in the West of Ireland and Obair, a local Employment Service Network (LESN) provides a free information, guidance and support service to people who are unemployed in Galway City and in receipt of a payment from the Department of Social Protection (DSP).
Follow my Facebook Page with regular updates on what’s happening on the employment scene in Galway and beyond.
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 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 particularlyin 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!
Last week I interviewed Philip Gleeson from Quickest Fox Marketing, and this week I am excited to share the interview with Jackie Queally from Earthwise. I would recommend you listen to her talk about the Burren, and lot’s of interesting aspects of the Burrenlowlands.
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.
My father is from the coast, close to Lahinch (Moy), and I moved over from Scotland where I lived for about 20 years to be nearer him. He is an elderly widow now. I used to run a very successful small tour company in Scotland that took people to ancient sites – anything from prehistoric to the Middle Ages. It included a lot of Templar places and I also wrote specialist guides, including two to the world-famous chapel Rosslyn just south of Edinburgh. I used to run workshops there too. I have always been involved on teaching adults and healing/therapies.
Can you provide me with a description of your business?
I adapted the knowledge I had used in Scotland as there is some overlap, to create local Irish tours that take people to hidden spots in nature. There we learn to dowse (divining energy lines and water lines), and also experience sound healing, using drums, gongs and voice. It helps people become more present. Most of us need to be more in the moment. These are slow tours as opposed to the speedy ones you can easily find that go to busy tourist spots.
I have written three books on the Burren in the last three years, and in the seven years since I came to Ireland I have written two other spiritual books too (nature photography with my poems and ley lines). Another aspect is the workshops I run along pilgrimage routes I create, using mindfulness techniques, sound healing and dowsing. Dowsing has many applications. You can learn to dowse for healing, or for making decisions. People find it very interesting.
How long have you been in business? In this business? In other businesses?
I started this business in what I call sacred geography in 1999. I’ve been running local and all-Ireland tours as a guide since 2013. However I’ve also trained in sound healing, sonic acupuncture, naturopathic deep massage, tuning fork balancing therapy and gong healing. So I like to incorporate sound into my tours and also workshops. For instance I gave a group a sound healing participatory workshop recently. These were MS sufferers who loved it. I also do one-one sessions with the tuning forks and instruments. Clients find it is a very effective form of therapy. I used to teach reflexology and was a spiritual healer before I started the tours in 1999.
I give talks on many subjects, including the Burren landscape from a more spiritual perspective. This year I am giving a wide range of workshops and talks in Nova Scotia! I gave two talks recently in England too, one of them on the Burren’s mystical landscape.
How did you get started in this business?
That’s a fun question. In Edinburgh an elderly friend who since has died asked me to research the Picts and the Celts – after writing for six months we decided to offer day tours based on emerging local sites we discovered. I studied human ecology when young and I felt the early Celtic saints embodied the qualities we were advocating for human survival in the future!
Is this your full time job, a hobby or a bit of both?
I would say the talks and workshops are a hobby that pays. The tours pay more but are sporadic depending on when the discerning tourist is here. My aim is to do more tours this year so it becomes more lucrative. I was selling my books at Kinvara market last summer but that was to entice people to come on my unique tours. Unfortunately the market is held on a Friday when often people are returning to where they came from the following day.
Really I am combining various interests (healing, sounds, writing, trave)l into one overall business. The connecting theme is a deep appreciation of our earth as a living entity -so I changed the business name to Earthwise to encompass all that. I am also diversifying into Waterwise with a highly experienced engineer so we can educate people about the ways in which they can purify and enliven their water, as water is not in a good state often these days. Most diseases including cancer derive from the unsavoury water we drink. There is much that could be done using little money to improve our domestic water. We are not just looking at what is killed off in the water, but what healthy elements the water can contain. So many of the current products on the market are expensive and not so good for the water ultimately.
How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business?
I love giving talks and my first one was when someone asked me to talk on the Celtic trees at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1999. I took people through the nature reserve in Holyrood Park and we visited each of the tree types. It’s been a theme I continued. Walking and talking and listening to nature.
How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business?
I arrived at the time the recession was starting up, intending to take a sabbatical from the tours. Socially there has been and still is a lot of social changes occurring. People in rural Ireland seem to have surplus money to spend on things that are considered luxury items. That is why I am concentrating my writing and talks on the international market more. Tours and workshops are still aimed of course at the local market, but probably more toward Dublin. I also am starting to work with the corporate market but that is slow to take hold, offering them eco-wellness tours on electric bikes for instance. Generally things are slow here as there is not a captive audience like you have in a large tourist city such as Edinburgh where I used to live.
I would not invest in my own transport again as local companies warned me they tried and failed even during the boom times.
Environmentally the lack of access to places can be off-putting. I was used to the right-to-roam in Scotland. However there are places where farmers are very congenial and that helps. Also we don’t walk too far. I remember visiting Holy Island with a group on a sunny Sunday and we had the place to ourselves last Autumn. I prefer to pick a few places and take our time soaking in its atmosphere and interacting with the place more. It’s important to do this.
I find Senator Lorraine Higgins in Loughrea a hard-working local politician who really wants to help her constituents find rewarding work that will keep them here.
Do you know who your competitors are?
I am unique. I do try to help people in businesses that are related if they are starting out and need advice – and for more established businesses or individuals they sometimes ask me for help from a specialist knowledge base.
How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business? Where can people find you? Website, Facebook, Linkedin, Youtube, Pinterest, etc. Please provide details.
FB Burrenspirit (Spirit of Burren Tours / Creative Ireland)
FB earthwise books (Earthwise Publications)
FB earthwiseconnect (Earthwise)
CelticTrails (Celtic Trails)
Youtube: Jackie Queally
Pinterest: Earthwise Ireland
Linked In – Jackie Queally Dedicated to being Earthwise
Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?
I hope to write a few more books that will be more international in flavour. These will sell more than local topics do. I also would love the waterwise business to take off as I passionately believe in its aims. Since I hope to travel more in the next ten years I have no long term plans for the business. The beauty of what I do is I can live elsewhere and continue my research. I have enjoyed the last seven years here. It’s a quiet and easy-going place to dream and create in.
Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?
My customers have always been global for books and tours and talks. I have no plans to expand as I am based here for now due to my father being here. Neither does my kind of work lead to expansion as the product really is myself in various forms! The waterwise business is different- we would need to employ others if it expands.
How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?
I am not finding Facebook so easy to get actual customers through the door. It is time-consuming. I have heard that other media may be better. It is a full time job and I can’t afford to employ someone to do it… yet!
What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?
Every day is different according to who gets in touch and for what reason. It is demand-led to some extent you see. For instance, since beginning this article an international artist asked me to create an audio meditation for her jewellry website. I obliged with an Imbolc meditation created at a secret site that ties in with Brigit.
Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where?
I use various meet ups in Galway for networking, occasional training from Galway Rural Development, and Enterprise Ireland in Ennis and Galway, and the local Bank of Ireland manager Damien Gardiner holds local business days. He also lets you have a stand in his bank on Friday mornings if you book it. I also meet tour business owners from around Dublin once a year.
Can you describe your customers?
Genuine, loving, intelligent, resourceful, and varied.
Why do your customers select you over your competitors?
Reputation and especially the book Spirit of the Burren
What are the biggest challenges for running this business?
All the admin and time spent on computer. It is hard to eat and exercise properly but one has to. This means the days are full just keeping it all going!
I also like to visit friends and family who live away from time to time and that can break the rhythm of the days.
What keeps you going, when the chips are down?
As a preventative to this occuring: Meditation – right now I am qualifying in mindfulness but have taught synergy meditation for 10 years and also Gaia Touch. If down, a hot bath, a walk or reading a good book, that inspires me with its spiritual knowledge. Also gardening and baking when I have the opportunity. I like mushroom foraging and seaweed foraging too.
Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why?
I recently supported a local woman who created and then organised a supply of rocket stoves for refugees in the awful conditions at the camp in Calais. (https://www.gofundme.com/stoves4calais) Also Vincent De Paul here. I dislike extreme poverty and pity those who are searching for a better quality of life and are trapped at a young age due to political or social barriers to success.
Any special things planned for 2016?
Yes I met with a UN official in Gort recently as the creator worldwide of the geoparks wants their artist for peace Marko Pogacnik to start workshops in each of them, starting with the Burren geopark. Since I worked with Marko last Spring in Derry he invited me again to work with him again on this project. He is coming to the Burren as his first port of call and I am running some workshops to introduce people to his Gaia Touch exercises. The first one is on Saturday 27h February from 10am til 1pm and people must book through me at info@earthwise.me. These exercises help people work with the multi-dimensionality of the land as a way of helping the earth cope too with the many changes it is undergoing right now. Marko is well known internationally and this is an honour for me to help him. Also I am very excited about my work trip to Nova Scotia that is so connected to my old work in Scotland too.
Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
Follow your heart and don’t worry too much. Be prepared to work long hours though. If you have family demands too it is hard as the admin has increased so much compared to even the 90s so you need support in other areas of life to counteract the tedium of the emails etc.
What did you learn from this interview?
My life is busier than I thought, though I don’t do any one thing all the time and only do one thing at a time. I have a lot to be grateful for. Because I love what I do I don’t consider it a drain on my time.
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!
Coole Park is park very closely located to where we live, and we love going there for a walk or a picnic in the walled garden. I had noticed a while ago that there was some signage up that they were going to do some tree felling, but didn’t take too much notice.
I did take notice when the beautiful avenue of trees was taken down, however I understand this was done for safety reasons, as some of the trees were rotten/diseased and from time to time some branches would have broken off, which would have been very dangerous if you were walking under it.
Below are a few images. The largest transformation(first image) is across from the toilets in the park. This area would have been the back of Lady Gregory’s house. Someone told me that when they lived in the house, they could see the lake from the back of the house. The area that is now tree less, used to be their vegetable garden.
Image of Coole house in its hay day. The house fell into disrepair and has been leveled to the ground many years ago.
Exiting the walled garden, I took following images.
The play tree – the kids love it!
Sown off tree trunk – Counting circles, I think the trees was about 80 years old.
It’s of course a pity to see all the trees felt, but I think there good things happening too!!
The kids spotted this fresh growth of Cowslip, which is a protected Irish wildflower: I took following info from the Irish Wildflower website :
The yellow-orange flowers (8-15mm) nod in a one-sided umbelwhich is borne on a hairy, stout stem. The individual flowers are comprised of five joined petals, each flower bearing orange spots in the centre, and are scented. The bloom in April and May. The leaves are not unlike those of the Primrose in that they are wrinkled and hairy, forming a basalrosette. Like the Primrose, there are two forms of this flower. (See Primrose). One of fifty-six species which are given special protection in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (NI) Order, 1985, this plant is now quite rare in Great Britain due principally to being overpicked and dug up for gardens.
This is a native plant and belongs to the family Primulaceae
This pictures was taken on the avenue , walking back from the lake into the direction of the car park.
I took this last picture as it reminded me a bit of the once avenue we had. It’s not quite the same yet, but over time the trees will grow,so hopefully when our kids are adults, their kids can enjoy this wonderful place.
We visited the Galway Science and Engineering Science & Technology Festival Exhibition
It was very well organized and a lot more manageable than two years,when it was nearly impossibly to navigate the main hall, due to crowds!
There was a great mix of stands, university departments showing off their departments with scientific experiments, all the main Galway multinationals ( Cisco, Avaya, SAP, Medtronic, Boston Scientific) and
a variety of schools , displaying their scientific experiments.
Aside from the stands, there were a variety of free activities you could partake in, however those required prebooking via Eventbrite ( they also have a handy app for your phone) and unless you booked the events ahead, there were long queues, and you were unlikely to get in , unless you had a ticket:)
The kids loved it, particularly the stand of the engineering stand , where they could play with …. Lego!
Below you see a picture of the boys and another boy at the Engineering stand.
Alex, Two other boys, and Rueben
Having walked around the various stands of university departments, multinationals and local schools, I came to realize that there are a number of projects between a few of the multinationals and the local primary/secondary schools, but those projects are very much concentrated to schools where parents that work in the multinationals are working, so the further away the schools are from the city, the more likely the school would not be aware of the opportunities to expose primary school children to the world of science and engineering. ( I am a bit biased as my kids are in primary)
Below are just a few of the projects I observed:
The Lego League
Organized by Robotics Ireland, and is for 3 age groups:
Junior First Lego League : 6 to 9 year olds
First Lego League : 9-16 year olds
Robotics Ireland Intervarsity Challenge (currently third level students)
I had never really heard about this , but I think it’s a great initiative and if your kids/schools are interested in taking part in this challenge, you can contact them via thisemail Once an adult or teacher can get 6-12 interested children together, a team can be made.They are no longer taking applications for 2012, but maybe it’s something you can get involved with in 2013. As someone said to me yesterday if your child at a young age likes playing with Lego, fast forward 20 years, they might become an engineer.
I am enclosing a small clip of a moving robot/spacerobot that the pupils programmed to make those moves.
Another really exciting initiative is Scratch, which was showcased by Avaya.
It’s an interactive software programme aimed at primary and post primary pupils which will allow students to create interactive stories, animations,games, music and art and share their creations on the web.
It’s not restricted to schools, as the software can be downloaded free of charge here and the following link contains Scratch resources/lessonplans
The Steps website offers free visits of an engineer to primary and post primary schools and more info how schools can get involved in engineering, during Engineering week next year (25th of February till 3rd of March) for Schools to get involved in Engineering week 2013
Rueben was quite intrigued by putting a stent into a display of a heart at the Boston Scientific stand, loved watching through a miscroscope at the content of a teabag( I can see rocks he said) and controlling a submerged robot at the Marine research stand, was the icing on the cake!
We managed to get into the Blackrock Castle Observatory’s StarDome activity, which was a dome which looked a bit like a bouncy castle, as it was walls were filled with air, with a very narrow entrance, and required a swimming motion to open the doors then step into the middle and another swimming motion to get in the dome(hence the title of this blog article). Once we sat down on the floor, a very interesting display of the various star formations at night was shown, planets and their history, and a futuristic glimpse into 2075, where a grandad ( who origanlly came from earth) lives with his grandchildren on the moon.
Anything is possible:) who knows!
A thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all, and we are already looking forward to next years Galway Science & Technology Festival Exhibition! And hey, I even caught a fish!
I have never really touched on the subject of the Irish Economy, the bailout, the Troika
and the (possible ) reason(s) of our current debt problems.
I have no intention to personally give you an answer to all of these questions either :), but there are plenty of people who have very good knowledge of this all, and I’ll share some resources with you where you can read up about it to your heart’s content or watch some videos..
It’s seldom that the EU ( who have offices in Dublin) come to Galway to hold a conference, as usually these things are held in Dublin, so I was delighted to listen to the various presentations.
The conference was hosted by Margaret E Ward
There were presentations by :
Professor John McHale, Professor and Head of Economics at the National University of Ireland
Dr Aidan Kane, Lecturer in economics at the National University of Ireland
Seamus Coffey, Lecturer in economics at the University College Cork
During all these presentations, there were quite a few resources mentioned.
The ones that I wrote down were : http://www.irisheconomy.ie/ – Commentary and information about the Irish economy http://namawinelake.wordpress.com/ – all you want to know about NAMA
Warm regards from an exceptionally sunny Galway!!!
Katleen
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