A business based in County Kildare will get a chance to exhibit to almost 300,000 people at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, County Laois next month.
Equine Products Ireland Limited is a micro-enterprise supported by Kildare Local Enterprise Office (LEO), and owned by equine nutrition expert James Kelly of Narraghmore, who also serves as the Director of the company.
It specialises in equine nutritional supplements.
The Local Enterprise Village, an initiative of the LEOs, will house over 30 small businesses — including Equine Products Ireland Ltd — and will be located at the heart of this year’s National Ploughing Championships from Tuesday, September 17 to Thursday, September 19, 2024.
Upon hearing that the company’s application to take part in this event was successful, Mr Kelly said: “Equine Products Ireland are thrilled to have been selected to represent Kildare in the Local Enterprise Village at the National Ploughing Championships.”
He added: “We welcome the opportunity to showcase our products to the diverse crowd who will be in attendance; we are very thankful for all the help from our local enterprise office and this help allows us and so many other companies like us to grow and thrive.”
A selection of businesses from across the country helped launch the Local Enterprise Village for 2024 at Airfield Estate in Dublin.
These included: Leah Cleary of Fore Distillery (supported by LEO Westmeath), Dublin fashion designer Jennifer Rothwell (supported by LEO Dublin City), Anouk O’Connell of natural wool company Olannmor (supported by LEO Wicklow), Aymar Gourdet of Le Skinny Chef (supported by LEO Laois), Joanne Doyle of Enchanted Castle Melts (supported by LEO Carlow), Aoife Potie of Nuasan (supported by LEO Galway) and Mildred Tang of canvas tote company Chic Tote (supported by LEO Dun Laoghaire Rathdown).
Commenting on the Local Enterprise Village initiative, Kildare County Council’s Head of Enterprise, Jacqui McNabb, said: “This is an opportunity like no other for a small business in Ireland… the chance to bring their ideas and products to almost 300,000 potential customers is a showcase like no other, and we had huge interest from potential exhibitors for this event.
“The Local Enterprise Village has become one of those areas everyone wants to drop into to find their local business and see what they can pick up.”
She continued: “James [Kelly] has over 30 years of experience in the equine breeding industry which led him to develop nutritional products recognised as the ‘Best in Class’ for equine health and performance.
“He has been proactive in engaging with the supports the local enterprise has to offer to grow his business and strengthen his brand.”
“There is a huge variety of businesses highlighting the depth of sectors that the Local Enterprise Offices support from manufacturing to food and beverage, to software solutions… Whatever you are interested in there is something for everyone at the Local Enterprise Village,” Ms McNabb concluded.
Some of the clients involved this year cover areas such as: kids clothing & games, ag-tech products, luxury bathing and skincare products, artisan food and drink producers, sustainable clothing and beauty products and range of innovative products from Ireland’s best small businesses.
The Kildare National Ploughing Association Director, John Dunne, also gave his views: “It is wonderful to see so many diverse and impressive businesses partaking in this year’s Local Enterprise Village at the National Ploughing Championships.”
“This is an ideal and unique opportunity for these companies to showcase their products & wares to over 250,000 visitors that Ploughing attracts,” Mr Dunne added.
The Local Enterprise Village is just one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country.
Others include: Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Local Enterprise Showcase.
The LEOs in local authorities are funded by the government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
They were first established in 2014.
For further information about LEOs, you can visit www.LocalEnterprise.ie.
According to the official website of Equine Products Ireland Ltd, the owners have been involved in breeding thoroughbred horses for more than 30 years.