Bakestone Launches New Café, Bringing Confidence to the City with 18 New Jobs and Locally Sourced Products
Cróí na Cathrach Bakestone Launches New Café, Bringing Confidence to the City with 18 New Jobs and Locally Sourced Products Twelve years after first opening its doors in Carrigtwohill, Bakestone, the independent Cork café and pantry brand, has officially opened a new location on Perry Street. This marks its first expansion into Cork city centre, with a new café beside Emmet Place that brings Bakestone’s locally sourced, high-quality food offering into cróí na cathrach (the heart of the city). Founded
Springboard Communications named PRCA Agency of the Year for the second time
Springboard Communications, the independent Irish communications agency, has been named PRCA Agency of the Year at the 2025 Spotlight Awards for Excellence in Communications, held at The Shelbourne, Dublin on 20 June. This marks the second time the agency has received the prestigious national award, having previously won in 2023. The PRCA recognised Springboard Communications for its people-first approach, long-standing client relationships, and commitment to purpose-led growth. Judges also commended the
Fragomen Grows Irish Operations with New Cork Office
Fragomen, the world’s leading provider of immigration services, has opened a second office in Ireland, expanding its footprint to better serve clients across the southern region. The new Cork office strengthens Fragomen’s ability to offer locally informed support in areas where demand for global mobility services is growing. Cork is fast becoming a hub for business and innovation. Its vibrant ecosystem—spanning life sciences, technology, financial services and cybersecurity—along with strong
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Holly Arboriculture Shortlisted for Newstalk Changemaker Business Awards 2025
We’re delighted to share that Holly Arboriculture has been shortlisted for the Newstalk Changemaker Business Awards 2025 in the Innovative Technology category. This nomination is a real honour and reflects our commitment to bringing specialised, non-invasive technology into tree care. By investing in this equipment, we’ve made it possible to assess tree health more accurately without causing damage. We’re currently the only consultancy in Ireland using both the Arborsonic 3D Acoustic Tomograph and the
Kathy O’Dwyer Recognised Among Top 5 Women in Business by All-Ireland Business Foundation
Kathy O’Dwyer, Founder & Director of Career Training Internships, has been recognised by the All-Ireland Business Foundation as one of Ireland’s Top 5 Women in Business. This prestigious accolade celebrates her outstanding leadership, entrepreneurial drive, and continued contribution to career development and business excellence in Ireland. The Top 5 Women in Business award is presented to exceptional female business leaders who have demonstrated excellence in their fields while inspiring others through
Aviation Report Echoes Tri-Region Chambers Priorities for All-Island Connectivity
The Chambers of Commerce of Cork, Dublin and Northern Ireland have welcomed the recent publication of A Pathfinder for Irish Aviation, highlighting the report’s strong alignment with the Tri-Region Partnership’s ambitions to drive all-island connectivity, linking our sub-regional strengths and promoting regional growth and international competitiveness. The Tri-Region Chambers have long supported the restoration of key intra-island air links, and the removal of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport,
Clicks. Content. Conversions.
- Cork Chamber’s Call for Digital Excellence- Cork Chamber has officially launched the Cork Digital Marketing Awards 2025, celebrating the digital excellence driving business growth and brand visibility across the region. The awards honour the talent, innovation and strategy that continue to define Cork's thriving digital marketing landscape. New for 2025, the Cork Digital Marketing Awards will be celebrated in partnership with the Marketing Institute Ireland, Cork. Open to businesses of all sizes and
Seaman family leads the charge as hundreds set to ‘Make their Mark on Cancer’ on Sunday, July 13th
Hundreds of walkers are expected to take to the road on Sunday, July 13th for the ‘Make Your Mark on Cancer’ charity walk, a 22 km journey from The Viaduct to the Town Hall in Bandon, in support of the Mercy Cancer Appeal.Now in its twelfth year, the walk continues to honour the memory of Mark Prendergast, a beloved Bandon man who lost his life to testicular cancer in 2012. Since the inaugural event in 2013, the walk and its supporting fundraisers have raised over €566,528 to support cancer services at
Limited Office Space Available At The Rubicon Centre
Start, Scale, or Grow Your Business at The Rubicon Centre Looking for the ideal place to launch or expand your business? The Rubicon Centre offers a vibrant, supportive environment tailored for startups, growing SMEs, and established companies seeking strong industry-academic links. Limited Office Space Available – Act Now! What’s Included: Private Offices – Secure, quiet, and professional spaces that let you focus, all while being steps away from a dynamic entrepreneurial community.Meeting Rooms –
Competitiveness Must Remain Core to Cork’s Future
Speaking at Cork Chamber’s Annual General Meeting at the Imperial Hotel, President Rob Horgan delivered a clear message: Cork’s ability to compete on the national and global stage depends on decisive action across housing, infrastructure, education and international engagement. Mr Horgan, now entering the second year of his presidency, said Cork must be “future-fit, investment-ready and above all, competitive.” He emphasised that sustaining this competitiveness requires coordinated focus on quality of
Mercy University Hospital opens state-of-the-art Seminar, Skills and Simulation Classroom to enhance healthcare training
Mercy University Hospital (MUH), Cork, has opened a state-of-the-art Seminar, Skills and Simulation Classroom within its Centre of Nurse Education. Designed to deliver immersive, realistic training, the new facility aims to transform how healthcare professionals develop clinical and teamwork skills by simulating real-life scenarios in a safe environment. The Seminar, Skills and Simulation Classroom was developed in the Mercy’s Centre of Nurse Education (CNE) complex, led by its Director, Ann Cummins and
On Track for a more Connected Cork
Cork Chamber supports Light Rail and Commuter Rail Expansion Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, is delighted to welcome the publication of the emerging preferred route for the light rail network in Cork. This landmark project will play a pivotal role in transforming Cork's transport infrastructure, creating a well-connected, efficient and sustainable network that aligns with Cork’s ambitious climate goals. The emerging preferred route includes 17km of light rail from Mahon Point in
Cork Chamber Expresses Concern Over US Tariffs and Calls for Focussed Diplomatic Response
Enhancing our Competitiveness is Key to Economic Stability Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has expressed concern over the US administration's announcement of a 20% tariff on all EU imports from EU, recognising the potential impact on key regional sectors and emphasising the importance of a measured and strategic response. “This announcement by the US President is very significant for our national and regional economy and our focus must now be on assessing the impact, supporting businesses,
Rachel Stevenson appointed as CEO of Mercy Hospital Foundation
The Mercy Hospital Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Rachel Stevenson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Bringing nearly 30 years of experience in the voluntary sector, Rachel is a highly accomplished senior leader with a deep commitment to driving positive change. Rachel began her career in London and has championed causes across disability, social disadvantage, Black & Minority Ethnic issues, and homelessness. For the past 23 years, she has served as Director of Fundraising at
Sustainable Savings: New Online Tool Connects Businesses with Green Funding
-A free, easy-to-use tool helping businesses access funding to reduce energy costs- Businesses across Ireland and Europe can now take advantage of a powerful new tool designed to help cut energy costs and enhance sustainability. The REEValue.eu platform, developed as part of the EU co-funded LIFE REEValue project, has now launched, aimed at businesses of all sizes and industries, with a particular focus on SMEs with high energy consumption in the food and beverage manufacturing, transport and logistics
The Business of Belonging: Creating a Region of Opportunity for All
Cork stands at a unique juncture, poised to lead Ireland into a future that balances economic growth, sustainability and cultural vibrancy. This was the central message delivered at the Cork Chamber Annual Dinner 2025, where Chamber President Rob Horgan set out a vision for an ambitious and dynamic future for the region. This flagship event, proudly sponsored by AIB, brought together over 1,000 distinguished guests including representatives from the business and political communities. It featured a
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GE HealthCare's €132m investment a 'resounding endorsement' of Cork as a prime investment destinatio
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, today welcomed the announcement of €132 million investment by GE HealthCare. Commenting on the news Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber said, “This is a resounding endorsement of Cork and Ireland as a world-class location for global businesses to invest, grow and thrive. This expansion underscores the confidence that foreign direct investment (FDI) companies have in our region, thanks to our highly skilled workforce and access to global markets. “GE HealthCare
Chambers spearhead all Island connectivity and economic growth
Following on from the highly successful mission to Belfast in May 2024, Cork, Dublin and Northern Ireland Chambers have come together once again, to foster deeper cooperation and connectivity across the island of Ireland. This most recent gathering brought together delegations made up of business leaders and stakeholders from the three regions for the series of meetings and events in Dublin. Travelling with Cork Chamber were representatives from Cork Chamber Board, along with participants from Port of
Triskel Sample Project space visual arts development programme in Cork continues into a New Year
The exciting visual arts partnership between Triskel and Sample-Studios continues into 2025, offering another twelve months of providing a visual arts project space for artists, especially emerging and mid-career artists, to test ideas and to develop new work that can be seen by the public. Triskel Sample Project Space offers tangible career development and audience engagement opportunities to artists on their ‘home turf’ where they have a safe space to develop new ideas, within which risk-taking is
Cork Chamber Honours Jim Barry with Outstanding Contribution to Business Award 2024
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has announced Jim Barry, Managing Director of Barry Group, as the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Business Award 2024. Presented at Cork Chamber’s Dublin Dinner, the award celebrates Jim’s profound impact on Irish business and recognises his significant achievements in developing Barry Group into a powerhouse in the Irish wholesale distribution market. Under Mr Barry’s leadership, Barry Group has transformed from a local family-run operation into
Cork is uniquely positioned as a model city for urban evolution
The Cork Chamber Dublin Dinner, held this evening at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road in association with EY, showcased the vital collaboration between Cork and Dublin and its significance to the prosperity of Ireland as a whole. The event was attended by over 600 leaders from Ireland’s business, political, and diplomatic sectors. The keynote address was delivered by the former Tánaiste, Simon Coveney TD, who is stepping away from politics after 25 years of public service. Drawing on his experience as
Election 2024 - Business Priorities to Shape Cork’s Future
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has today launched its General Election 2024 manifesto, outlining the key priorities for businesses and the wider economy across Cork City and County as the election approaches. Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber, said, “Through our continuous engagement with members across Cork City and County, Cork Chamber has a unique understanding of the key priorities and concerns for businesses and individuals in Ireland’s fastest-growing city region, Cork. The next
Accelerating Sustainability in Irish Business
-Cork Chamber Spotlights Energy Efficiency as Key to Sustainable Business Growth- Cork Chamber hosted the first national REEValue event today, focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency in business. The event forms part of the REEValue project, an EU-funded initiative that aims to accelerate sustainability across sectors through collaboration, innovation and practical solutions. Among the attendees were international project partners from Malta, as well as local business leaders, government
Marbral Advisory have appointed Conor Gourley as a Business and Talent Development Manager
International change and project management specialists Marbral Advisory, have appointed Conor Gourley as a Business and Talent Development Manager in Dublin. The new role has been created in response to the Company’s growing multi-jurisdictional portfolio and expansion into Ireland. Mr Gourley will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building and maintaining client relationships, and developing a regional pool of high-quality consultants to meet client demand. He will be
Progress in offshore renewable energy welcomed by the Cork Offshore Renewable Industry Forum
The Cork Offshore Renewable Industry Forum (CORIF) has welcomed recent progress towards the development of the offshore renewable energy industry, both in Cork and across Ireland. The approval of both the Planning and Development Bill and the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy (DMAP) by the Dáil last week marked significant steps forward for the offshore renewables industry, and continued cooperation between industry, policymakers and developers is critical to ensure
New York and European capital cities the most sought-after routes for future connectivity for Cork’s
New York, alongside key European cities, is top of the wish list of businesses in Cork for future connectivity, according to the results of the Cork Business Travel Survey 2024. The survey, conducted by Cork Chamber in cooperation with Cork Airport, provides key insights into the priorities of business travellers and airport users in Cork, as well as their most wanted destinations for future connectivity. Cork Airport plays a key role in the economy of Ireland’s southern region, contributing over €1
Cork Chamber outlines business priorities for Budget 2025 in meeting with Minister for Finance
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, met with Minister for Finance Jack Chambers as part of the Minster’s visit to Cork today. Chamber representatives from across the Cork region and key sectors joined in the meeting to discuss the current business landscape in Cork with the Minister, as well as key priorities for Budget 2025. President of Cork Chamber Rob Horgan said, “We very much welcome the opportunity to meet with Minister for Finance Jack Chambers in Cork today. With Budget 2025 fast
MARBRAL ADVISORY CONTINUES EXPANSION WITH PRINCIPAL ROLE IN IRELAND
International change and project management specialist Marbral Advisory, has appointed Chris Cashell as a Principal Change Architect. The new role has been created in response to the Company’s growing multi-jurisdictional portfolio and expansion into Ireland. Mr Cashell will deliver planning and implementation of projects in technical, operational, and cultural change environments. He will also be responsible for contributing towards the successful growth of the business and brand in Ireland. Mr
Cork Business Organisations express disappointment at delay to Events Centre funding decision
In a joint statement, Cork Chamber of Commerce, the Cork Business Association (CBA), the Cork branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), the Vintners Federation (VFI) in Cork, and the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) have expressed disappointment that Government is to further delay a decision on funding for the Cork Events Centre. Despite significant funding commitments made by the private sector, the Government continues to delay the decision around vital state funding for the Events Centre,
Driving energy transition: Cork Chamber launches REEValue to support the decarbonisation of business
-Adopting energy efficiency measures or investing in renewable energy can help Irish businesses to lower their energy bill by 10%- Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, announced today a new service that delivers advice to businesses aiming to become more energy efficient and invest in renewable energy sources. This free service, which is open to members and non-members nationwide, is being delivered through a wider European Commission funded project, called REEValue and focuses on the food,
