Chamber members review a productive year
THE annual general meeting of Charlevilel Chamber took place at the E Centre, Baker’s Road, Charleville before a good attendance on last Thursday night.
Those present were welcomed by the President P. J. McCarthy, who gave a rundown on the activities of the Chamber over the past year.
Mr. McCarthy said they were currently involved in preparing for the installation of ten top of the range CCTV cameras at strategic locations throughout the town. This will be the first phase of the project and should be operational by the end of April and will be hugely beneficial to the businesses and people of the town in the prevention and detection of crime.
The cameras will be monitored from the local Garda station.
The Chamber is involved with Cork County Council, Ballyhoura Development and the Cork Institute of Technology in developing and promoting an engineering cluster concept in Charleville, whereby all members of the cluster will work together in sourcing new markets for the betterment of all. The aim is to create a hub of engineering excellence in Charleville.
“The Chamber welcomes the establishment of the new training centre at the former Mannix College and we are working closely with the Education Training Board’s (ETB) in promoting the new training facility,” said Mr McCarthy. “Currently they are offering and seeking applications for over 20 courses, such as adult literacy, computers, horticulture, catering and cookery, heavy goods vehicle driving, upholstery design, healthcare support and intellectual disability practice, social media and E commerce marketing.
“Within the past 12 months we have organised ‘Facebook for Business,’ Twitter for Business,’ and Linkedin for Businesses’ courses at the E Centre. ‘Start Your Own Business’ and ‘Social Media’ courses are regularly run by the Local Enterprise Office and Ballyhoura Development Clg at the E Centre.
“We also provide a service whereby we assist local businesses with promotions and product launches, sales and marketing of their products or any events and activity designed to grow their business. We have recently published blog articles on the Chamber website for local businesses such as Derek Curtin Ltd Construction, U Drive Driving School, Charisma Fashions, Phones Made Easy, Office Assist, Charleville Tyre & Auto, Garden Features, Fitzpatrick’s Jewellers, Murray Cloney & Associates and O’Halloran Building Solutions. This service is open to any local business,” said Mr. McCarthy.
In other projects the Chamber is in touch with Cork County Council regarding alleviating the traffic congestion in the town and the Christmas lights were hugely improved at a considerable cost which was met by the town traders and a grant from Cork County Council.
The Chamber hosted the stage end of the An Post Rás and the next day’s stage start last May attracting some 600 riders and supporters to the town. The Chamber also hosted the Charleville Business Awards at the Charleville Park Hotel last November.
Chamber sub-committee, Charleville Heritage Society has recently twinned with Croesgoch Heritage Society in Pembrokeshire in Wales. The Society hosted a delegation from Paraguay and UCC IN January to launch an annual Eliza Lynch Scholarship for Women’s Studies and an annual Eliza Lynch Lecture at UCC. The Society continues to run monthly meeting on historical events and personalities and organising their annual festival of history which this years is on September 7-10.
Three founding members of the Chamber, P. J. O’Gorman, Jim O’Mahony and Michael McGrath, were deemed life members for their contribution to the business of the Chamber over the years.
The following were elected for the coming year; President; P. J. McCarthy, Deputy President; Michael Murray (Accountant), Hon. secretary; Maria O’Donoghue, Asst. do; Monica Gilmore, Treasurer; John Donegan, Asst. do; Sean Fitzgibbon; PRO; Ml. McGrath. The three directors of the E Centre are Jim O’Mahony, Michael Donegan and John Donegan.