Pat McDonagh, Stephen Hudson, Permanent TSB; Bernie Everard, Laois Chamber CEO; John Mulholland, Chief Executive Laois County Council; Mark McCrory, Permanent TSB and Martin Crowley, President Laois Chamber at the Laois Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast in The Killeshin Hotel with Pat McDonagh, owner of Supermac's & Papa John's Portlaoise
Close on 200 people attended this morning’s Laois Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast in the Killeshin Hotel which featured a sitdown interview with Pat McDonagh, owner of both Supermac’s and The Killeshin Hotel.
The Laois Chamber of Commerce was re-launched in recent months following the appointment of a new board and Bernie Everard as CEO and it has certainly hit the ground running.
Almost 100 businesses in the county have signed up as members already and more will follow as the vibrancy and energy of the group certainly seems to be hitting the right tone with the business community.
Sponsored by Permanent TSB, whose Laois-Offaly manager Stephen Hudson addressed the meeting, Pat McDonagh, Bernie Everard and the Chamber’s president Martin Crowley all spoke.
Mr Crowley, a Cork native who lives in Emo and who sold his meat distribution business a couple of years back, announced details of a massive Laois jobs fair which will take place in February next year.
Pat McDonagh, in an interview with Ronan Berry from Midlands 103, spoke out strongly on the insurance claims culture that exists in Ireland as well as how he has grown his business since its foundation in 1978.
He said the Supermac’s in Portlaoise, which he opened in 1995, is one of the group’s best-performing outlets and how he plans to grow his staff numbers in Portlaoise even more when the new Supermac’s opens off Junction 17 at the motorway.
The Laois Chamber of Commerce holds a series of smaller networking throughout the month and can be checked out on the Chamber website.
Photographer Alf Harvey was in attendance and captured a selection of images which you can check out in full below.
Pat McDonagh, Bernie Everard, Laois Chamber CEO; Martin Crowley, President Laois Chamber and Stephen Hudson, Permanent TSB manager Portlaoise at the Laois Chamber of Commerce Business BreakfastThe Laois Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast in The Killeshin Hotel with Pat McDonagh, owner of Supermac’s & Papa John’s Portlaoise interviewed by Ronan Berry, presenter of “Looking After Business” on Midlands 103.The Laois Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast in The Killeshin Hotel with Pat McDonagh, owner of Supermac’s & Papa John’s Portlaoise interviewed by Ronan Berry, presenter of “Looking After Business” on Midlands 103.The Laois Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast in The Killeshin Hotel with Pat McDonagh, owner of Supermac’s & Papa John’s Portlaoise interviewed by Ronan Berry, presenter of “Looking After Business” on Midlands 103.Alastair Roe, Vimar with Maria McCormack and Carmel O’ConnorNeala Keating, Sherry Fitzgerald; Darragh Dunne, FRS; Bernie Whelehan, Sherry Fitzgerald and Marie Kinsella, Rehab EnterprisesGreg Margas, Vimar with Frank Cullinan and Marty Magennis, Robertson LowCarol Murphy and Jane Watts, People First Credit Union with Eamon Donovan, ModusBarry Lambkin, Medichem; Claire Cummins, LSM and Gillian Reidy, Penhouse DesignBrendan Farrell, Hectares; Liam Campion, Campion Concrete and Eoin Brislane, LSMEamon Callaghan, Vision 85; Sean Mallen, Get Funky Design and Declan Kennedy, Recharge OfficeJenny and Mary Miller, 57 Boutique & Gift Emporium with Donnagh Treacy, The Gandon InnPat McDonagh, Stephen Hudson, Permanent TSB; Bernie Everard, Laois Chamber CEO; John Mulholland, Chief Executive Laois County Council; Mark McCrory, Permanent TSB and Martin Crowley, President Laois Chamber at the Laois Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast in The Killeshin Hotel with Pat McDonagh, owner of Supermac’s & Papa John’s Portlaoise
