2.5% increase in value of Dublin property expected over next 12 months by Dublin estate agents – The Sunday Times ‘Dublin Property Price Guide’

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  • 2.5% increase reflects a softening of the market when compared with 5.8% figure forecasted for 2023

 

  • Buyers saying no to ‘fixer uppers’ due to rising renovation costs, lack of available builders and steep increases in energy costs

 

  • Top five most expensive three bed houses in Dublin are in Ranelagh, Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Monkstown and Blackrock

 

  • Top five most affordable three-beds are in Neilstown, Ballymun, Springfield, Killinarden / Kiltipper and Darndale

 

  • One estate agent estimates that 60% of sellers in Dublin 2 are landlords leaving the market

 

Dublin estate agents expect property values to rise by an average of 2.5% this year, according to the 2023 Sunday Times Dublin Property Price Guide, a dedicated 28-page supplement which will be published free with The Sunday Times this Sunday, 15 January.

 

This figure represents a return to 2021 levels of growth, also 2.5%, when compared with the 5.8% price rise expressed by estate agents for 2022.

 

The Sunday Times Property Price Guide, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, is the authoritative guide to the Dublin property market featuring a detailed analysis of Dublin property prices. It also includes interviews with a number of Dublin estate agents who outline their predictions for the coming year.

 

Commuter areas like Dublin 16, Dublin 3 and North Dublin are forecasted to experience the most growth at 5%, while a large swathe of postcodes are expected to remain static.

 

Estate agents across the 26 areas of Dublin city say their main concern is the low levels of residential stock, particularly the much sought after walk-in, family homes. Buyers are veering away from ‘fixer uppers’ due to rising renovation costs, lack of available builders and steep increases in energy costs. Coupled with a rental market at crisis point and a lack of new developments and housing stock on the horizon, it is clear to many of the city’s estate agents that how these coinciding crises are managed will impact house prices even further.

 

This report reveals that cash buyers from overseas are buying well staged homes in the desirable Dublin 6 area. Meanwhile in the city centre, affluent families from elsewhere in Ireland and internationally are choosing to invest in a property rather than rent amid the chaos in the student accommodation sector.

 

Several estate agents report that prices will rise the most in areas where first time buyers are most active.

 

The Sunday Times Property Price Guide also reveals that the top five most expensive examples of three bed houses in Dublin are in the following locations:

 

  1. Ranelagh (€1.25m)
  2. Sandymount (€1.1m)
  3. Ballsbridge (€1.1m)
  4. Monkstown (€793,600)
  5. Blackrock (€761,500)

 

The top five most affordable examples of three-beds are unveiled as:

 

  1. Neilstown (€245,000)
  2. Ballymun (€260,000)
  3. Springfield (€270,000)
  4. Killinarden / Kiltipper (€270,000)
  5. Darndale (€270,000)

 

Further key insights revealed in The Sunday Times Property Price Guide include:

 

  • Dublin city centre estate agent Owen Reilly said 60% of sellers in Dublin 2 were landlords exiting the market
  • Nearly all agents reported a preference for homes in turnkey condition with a high BER, as period properties and second-hand homes in need of renovations are decreasing in value due to rising material costs and the availability of builders
  • High prices are sustaining in traditionally affordable areas due to the high volume of buyers being priced out of more affluent areas. They are competing with investors looking for good value properties that will yield a better rent return
  • Returning expats ready to buy in cash and affluent families buying homes for children attending college instead of renting are driving demand in some postcodes

 

Róisín Healy, Deputy Features Editor with The Sunday Times, says: “Predicting the property market is never an exact science but speaking to estate agents at the coalface, market sentiment is fragile with a number of factors that will impact 2023 prices. With an energy crisis, student accommodation and rental crisis, landlords abandoning the market and a steep rise in the cost of renovations, first time buyers in particular are bearing the brunt and will have bidding wars and scarce supply to reckon with.”

 

The Sunday Times Dublin Property Price Guide will be followed by the Sunday Times Nationwide Property Price Guide which will be published on Sunday 22 January. For full details, pick up a copy of The Sunday Times this weekend or online at thesundaytimes.ie/dublinpropertyprices

 

For more information visit thesundaytimes.ie/dublinpropertyprices

or follow The Sunday Times Ireland on Twitter @ST__Ireland, Instagram @sundaytimesireland, Facebook @thesundaytimesIE and LinkedIn @The Sunday Times Ireland

 

 

€5.7bn invested in commercial property in 2022 with the industrial occupational sector remaining the star performer, but 2023 will be more challenging – Lisney Outlook 2023

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  • Nationwide housing completions 25% higher than the previous three years – but new home supply will drop-off from mid-2023 due to decline in commencement notices for new schemes
  • Number of residential properties for sale in Dublin currently is 60% higher than previous 12 months
  • 180,000 sqm of grey space available in Dublin office sector – one third of all supply
  • Industrial rent rates rising by 20%, at levels beyond those reached in mid / late 2000’s
  • Vacancy rate on Grafton Street falls to 7.6% due to arrival of seven new operators 

 

€5.7bn was invested in commercial property assets in 2022 as accurately priced properties continued to attract attention, according to a new report today from Lisney, Ireland’s largest independently-owned multi-disciplinary property advisory company.

 

Entering 2023, the overall investment market is still a process of price discovery and limited activity is occurring or likely to occur in the coming months. However, Lisney is optimistic for recovery around September 2023 and believes that once this comes, it will happen quickly.

 

While the overall commercial property market dynamics changed last summer as interest rate increases took hold, the industrial occupation sector remained strong in 2022. Currently, numerous high-profile occupiers are seeking space or negotiating deals. Entering the new year, combined requirements exceeded 460,000 sqm across Dublin, the equivalent to between 15 and 18 months take-up.

 

The two main talking points in the Dublin office market last year were the adjustments in the global tech industry and continued remote / hybrid working. Both trends resulted in the rise of grey space, where there is now 180,000 sqm available and more is due in 2023. Currently, this is 32% of all supply and accounts for 5.1 percentage points of the 13% city centre vacancy rate.

 

Works will continue on office buildings under construction (280,000 sqm currently), however there will be little or no new starts in the near term. Lisney states this is due to the higher cost of both finance and building materials.

 

Retail wise, Grafton Street had a very successful year in 2022. The vacancy rate (based on the number of units) fell to 7.6%, with seven new operators taking stores. These retailers were mainly from overseas and agreed deals on adjusted terms to those sought prior to the pandemic. While the vacancy rate is higher on Henry Street (close to 13%), there will be further interest in this area during the 2023. However, retailers will continue to assess the ongoing viability of their business, which may result in renegotiated property deals.

 

Heading into 2023, the number of residential properties for sale in Dublin was almost 60% higher than the 12 months previous. Lisney says this will mean fewer instances of frustrated buyers bidding far in excess of asking prices in the coming months. Part of the supply increase is being fuelled by weary investors selling their buy-to-lets as life as a landlord has become too stressful with rent caps and eviction bans along with possible additional changes. Further investors will also leave the market this year which will be good news for buyers but unwelcome news for renters with even more difficulties in a severely undersupplied lettings market.

 

A full breakdown of the key sectors contained in the Lisney Outlook 2023 report is outlined below, while the full in-depth report can be accessed here: https://lisney.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Lisney-Outlook-2023-PDF.pdf

 

RESIDENTIAL:

Although the residential market was characterised by buyer frustration at the start of 2022 in Dublin, this pivoted during the summer months with the 10% to 13% annual growth rate in Dublin prices registered since mid-2021 easing, with purchasers becoming more price sensitive. This was due to the geopolitical and macroeconomic factors, most notably the war in Ukraine, rapid rises in the cost of living (particularly energy), interest rate hikes for the first time since 2011 and less disposable income.

 

2023 will be a more challenging year for the market with the timing of sales being very important for success. Lisney predicts that buyer price sensitivity will remain in place for at least six months of the year with no increases in price. Market stability during the second half of the year will greatly depend on how supply evolves and on wider political and economic issues both in Ireland and globally.

 

At the upper end of the market (+1m), there is still a large number of sales occurring on and off market. Dublin supply was at an all time low in January 2022 but steadily increased over the year, partially due to investors selling buy-to-let properties.

 

Cash purchases will continue to dominate country home sales. International buyers will be the most active in the Irish country homes market this year, especially homes on the higher price scale. Those from overseas will be a mix of Irish abroad but also citizens of other countries seeking full-time or part-time holiday homes in Ireland. The majority will be from the US but European countries will also feature strongly. UK demand, with the exception of expats, will continue to feature less than was the case pre-Brexit. New supply will be slow in the early months of 2023, but by spring, the number of county homes on the market will grow.

 

DEVELOPMENT LAND:

Significant construction cost inflation during 2022 (various materials increased anywhere between 10% and 110%) along with the higher cost of finance has impacted the viability of schemes. It is likely to be at least mid-2023 before demand for sites improves and into the second half of the year before activity levels increase. Many primary and secondary funders will remain largely absent from the market during the beginning of 2023. This will mean that cash purchasers will be the dominant buyer short-term.

 

A comprehensive new planning act is due in 2023, which will replace the 2000 Act and all of its amendments There was some upheaval in the market last year in anticipation of this legislation as many were awaiting more certainty. Once adopted however, it should assist in providing greater certainty to developers and landowners. It should also help in addressing long delays in planning decisions, addressing the appointment of staff to An Board Pleanála, which is currently vastly under resourced and help with streamlining judicial reviews.

 

The Residential Zoned Land Tax will apply to serviced residentially zoned lands from the 1st January 2024. However, the final identification of applicable lead will be during 2023. It will be important for landowners to make submissions to the relevant local authority if they intent on keeping lands in their existing use for the foreseeable future.

 

NEW HOMES:

In 2022, nationwide housing completions were at their highest level in 13 years with an estimated 26,000 units finished, while this remains 25% higher than the previous three years, this still remains well below what is required. With rising construction costs taking hold, commencement notices for new schemes began to decline during summer 2022. This means that from mid-2023, new home supply will drop-off. First-time-buyers make up just over half of the new home market and continue to benefit from government backed schemes such as the Help-to-Buy scheme which remains in place for 2023 and 2024.

 

INVESTMENT:

In the investment sector, marketing dynamics quickly changed in Summer 2022. Entering 2023, the investment market is still a process of price discovery and limited activity is occurring or likely to occur in the coming months. There is a disconnect between vendors price expectations and what purchasers (and their credit committees) are willing to pay. Yields will drift further, however, Lisney is optimistic for recovery and activity around September 2023 and believes that once this comes, it will happen quickly.

 

OFFICES:

The two main talking points in the Dublin office market in 2022 were the adjustments in the global tech industry and continued remote / hybrid working options. Both trends resulted in an increase of grey space, where there is now 180,000 sqm available and more is due in the first half of 2023. Currently 32% of all supply accounts for 4.2 percentage points of the 13.2% vacancy rates across Dublin (or 5.1 percentage points of the 13% city centre vacancy rates). Lisney predicts there are three sectors to look out for in 2023:

  1. Highly profitable professional services firms
  2. Smaller scale indigenous tech
  3. The Irish State

Entering 2023, there are active requirements in the market and about 130,000 sqm of space reserved. It is likely demand and activity will be weaker during the first half of the year but will strengthen over the second half. Works will continue on office buildings under construction (280,000 sqm), however, there will be a little or no new starts in the near term as a result of the higher cost of both finance and building materials. Lisney predicts this will create future risks in the market with a lack of A rated buildings in three to five years’ time, which will cause issues for occupiers needing to meet ESG requirements

 

INDUSTRIAL:

There are numerous high-profile occupiers currently seeking space or negotiating deals, and entering 2023, combined requirements exceeded 460,000 sqm across Dublin. This is equivalent to between 15 and 18 months take-up. This suggests another good year for 2023. However, supply constraints are also likely to affect activity levels this year with Dublin’s vacancy rate now sub -2% with less than six months stock available. On a positive note, reconstruction of smaller / trade counter type units will recommence this year; none have been built in over 15 years.

 

Headline rents continued to grow last year with prime rates rising by almost 20% and reaching levels beyond that of mid / late 2000’s. This was due to both higher construction costs but also competition for buildings. The pace of growth this year will be slower. Landlords will remain bullish on lease terms with any new buildings achieving 25-year leases with break options pushed out to year 12 or 15.

 

ESG is also coming more into focus in the logistics space for larger landlords and occupiers. As the operations of logistics companies usually have a large carbon footprint, many are seeking ways to reduce embodied carbon in their warehouses. For example, timer-frame warehouses are being considered instead of steel frame, where the frame can be 30% more expensive. There have been a few examples of this in Dublin and this trend will continue to grow over the years ahead.

 

RETAIL:

In the latter half of 2022, there appeared to be more acceptance that there has been a change in city centre footfall particularly regarding office workers and hybrid working. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the busiest weekdays in the city centre, however, there is a push from employers to increase the number of staff working from the office which may result in higher footfall during 2023. Retailers have reported that footfall is ultimately down two days a week.

 

Despite this, Grafton Street had an excellent year in 2022 with the vacancy rate (based on the number of units) falling to 7.6% with seven new operators taking stores. These retailers were mainly from overseas and agreed deals on adjusted terms to those sought prior to the pandemic. While the vacancy rate is higher on Henry Street (close to 13%), there will be further interest in this area during 2023. The mixed-use scheme at Cleary’s Quarter on O’Connell Street, along with the sale of the former Debenhams store (if concluded in early 2023), will bring new life and vitality to the northern shopping core.

 

CORK: 

The Cork investment market will remain quiet for at least the first six months of this year. Most investors have adopted a wait-and-see approach, delaying their decisions until there is greater clarity on interest rate stabilisation (particularly in the EU and US) and a better understanding of when market prices will settle.

 

The development land market experienced many similar trends in the overall investment sector in 2022. Prices fell as schemes became unviable, impacted by severe construction cost inflation, higher costs of finance and government policy changes. Cash purchasers will be the dominant buyer type of land in the short-term, but will only consider land they deem good value.

 

The main talking points in office space both in Cork and urban areas during 2022 were working from home and the tech industry. Grey space (or sub lettings) mainly from tech occupiers have been slower to impact the Cork market. Cork is also about 12 months behind Dublin where almost 32% of all supply is now categorised as grey. However, this trend is now becoming more noticeable in Cork with several occupiers considering subletting surplus accommodation. Lisney predicts this will push vacancy levels higher in 2023 (which are currently at around 14%) and may impact headline rents which have been stable in Cork since 2020. Even if rents remain unchanged, there will be greater incentive packages on offer from landlords. On a positive note, grey space is usually fully-fitted, which provides cheaper solutions for businesses requiring flexible or short term accommodation.

 

The industrial sector will continue to experience high demand in 2023. However, occupiers will experience difficulties sourcing space which could impact full year activity levels. The market now has a vacancy rate of less than 2% and options are limited. Any new buildings being developed have taken mid-construction and have not been added to the supply. Speculative building will be limited in 2023 due to rising construction costs and issues around finance. This may result in larger occupiers in the market agreeing terms on a design-and-build basis. All this will result in further rental growth in 2023, having increased already by 11% last year.

 

The retail sector has been severely impacted by global events in recent years. Just as retailers were beginning to recover post lockdown, rising inflation and the resultant increase in interest rates along with weaker consumer sentiment started to take hold. Despite this, property deals have and are actively occurring on key retailing pitches with the vacancy on Patrick Street at 21% and 12% on Oliver Plunkett Street (based on the number of units). While recent deals have been on adjusted terms to those who sought in 2019, opportunities are on offer to retailers who are in a position to capitalise them.

 

David Byrne, Lisney Managing Director of Lisney said: “2022 was a very exciting year in Lisney as we continued to invest heavily in the business, most notably the acquisition of the Sotheby’s International Realty franchise for our residential business which has proven a great success. In addition, we welcomed 37 new staff to the business in the year reflecting our growing client base across commercial, valuations and residential businesses.

 

Despite the various challenges which might be faced by the property sector in any given year, the most enduring will be the subject of sustainability and the role the real estate sector must play in this space. This will remain a central tenet of our strategy in 2023 as we work with colleagues and the communities in which we operate for a more sustainable future for all.”

Aoife Brennan, Lisney Research Director, says: “Lisney first produced an annual outlook document in 1958 so this is our 65th publication covering all parts of the commercial and residential markets. 2022 was a strange year, at a societal and economic level, as well as in the Irish property market.  We began the year optimistic for a post-COVID recovery with demand strong. However, as the fallout from the war in Ukraine took hold with rising interest rates and changing macroeconomic indicators, the market slowed mid-year.  We believe 2023 will also be a year of two halves, but with demand and activity starting slow and building over the year, especially into the latter half as hopefully there is more certainty on interest rate stability and improvement in global economies.  A trend that will carry across the entire year will be the increased awareness and acknowledgement of importance of ESG”

 

For more details about Lisney, visit www.lisney.com

You can also follow Lisney on Twitter: LisneyIreland and Linked In: Lisney Ireland

 

Christmas FM’s annual ‘Donation Day’ takes place on Tuesday 20th December to raise funds for Barnardos, Barretstown, Make-A-Wish Ireland and The Community Foundation for Ireland through ‘The Magic of Christmas’ initiative

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  • Christmas FM is asking you to help Give the Gift of Childhood to 5,000 children who need it most 

 

Christmas FM, the much-loved festive music station that raises money for charity and spreads seasonal goodwill across Ireland will be running its annual Donation Day on Tuesday 20th December to raise funds for children’s charities Barnardos, Barretstown, Make-A-Wish Ireland and The Community Foundation for Ireland through The Magic of Christmas initiative.

 

During the 12 hour long festive radiothon from 7am – 7pm on Tuesday 20th December, Christmas FM will be asking you to help Give the Gift of Childhood to 5,000 children who need it most. Donations can be made through www.christmasfm.com or by calling 0818 911 977.

 

Here’s an example of what a listener’s donation can do:

 

  • €50 could cover a month of warm, nutritious breakfasts for a vulnerable child
  • €100 could help to fund one of Barretstown’s essential therapeutic programmes for a whole day
  • €200 can help towards the granting of a wish for a seriously-ill child in your community, to make a lasting difference to their quality of life and well-being

 

The funds raised will go directly towards helping vulnerable children in our communities affected by traumatic life events such as poverty, abuse, neglect and bereavement, and to supporting children whose lives are affected by serious childhood illness. By donating to The Magic of Christmas, you will….

Give the Gift of Childhood to 5,000 children who need it most, because every 

child deserves Magic at Christmas.

 

Garvan Rigby, Co-Founder of Christmas FM, says: “This is our 15th year on air and a massive milestone for everyone at Christmas FM. Over the last 15 years we have raised over €3,000,000 for a range of charities and we will continue to keep raising vital funds with the generous help and support of our listeners. In addition to fundraising throughout the festive season, our Donation Day will help us raise as much as possible for The Magic of Christmas initiative and we’re encouraging listeners to donate and get involved.”  

 

Commenting on Donation Day, the charity partners jointly said: “We would like to thank The Magic of Christmas for working with our charities as the official charity partners for the next three years. We’re really looking forward to Donation Day – Tuesday 20 December – and hope that Christmas FM listeners will donate to help transform the lives of children in communities across Ireland. With the support of listeners, we really can make a difference and Give the Gift of Childhood to those who need it most, because every child deserves Magic at Christmas.”

 

The costs of running Christmas FM are covered by various sponsors. This year the radio station is generously supported by Premier FM sponsors An Post, Cadbury and Coca Cola. Christmas FM is run each year by a core management team, assisted by many volunteers who donate their time. Christmas FM will also be broadcasting from The Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley. Donation Day on Christmas FM is proudly supported by Dmg Media.

 

The main FM radio frequencies for Christmas FM are Bray 99.5, Cavan 99.4, Clare 105.2, Cork City, part county 106.7, Cork North, part county 87.7, Dublin City & County 105.2, Dundalk / Drogheda 104.2, Galway City part County 87.9, Kildare North 88.1, Kilkenny City 104.3, Letterkenny 105.7, Limerick City 105.5, Longford 101.6, Sligo Town 95, South East 103.8, Tralee / Killarney 105, Waterford City 105.9, Wicklow Town 106.6FM.

 

Christmas FM is also broadcast on Virgin Media Channel 900. Find out all the ways to listen at https://christmasfm.com/listenin/

 

Listen on FM or just log on to www.christmasfm.ie or listen on the app, your smart speaker or connected device at any time of the day to hear your favourite Christmas hits.

 

 

Follow the station on social at:

@christmasfm

Christmas FM – Bringing You the Magic of Christmas

themagicofchristmas.ie 

Follow The Magic of Christmas on social at:

@supportthemagic

Grafter, the Irish flexible workspace provider, opens fourth premium Dublin location in historic landmark building at 6-7 St Stephen’s Green

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  • Smyth House extends to nearly 27,000 sq. ft over six storeys and offers retail and coffee shop, fully modernised private offices, customised workspaces and larger floor space for growing teams

 

  • Grafter’s retail offering will have a barista café which will be open to the public as well as Grafter members

 

  • Grafter inviting independent lifestyle brands interested in showcasing their products in the impressively located retail space to get in touch

 

Grafter, the Irish flexible workspace provider that offers members a dedicated place for work, rest and everything in between, has unveiled Smyth House, a 27,000 sq. ft. premium location in a historic landmark building at 6-7 St. Stephen’s GreenDublin 2.

 

Established in 2021, Grafter already operates a collection of beautifully restored buildings in the heart of Dublin city (Leeson House, Ely House and Tom’s House) and London (Bedford House). The overall aim of the Grafter proposition is to put ‘life’ back into ‘work’ by providing stylish, luxury, productive and creative workspaces that allow work and life to co-exist in harmony.

 

Originally the former residence of the Earls of Meath, Smyth House is a significant cultural and historic landmark in Dublin’s city centre. In the late nineteenth century, architect Thomas Drew designed the current Florentine Gothic style building as a home and business for Robert Smyth and Son’s, the famed Dublin wine merchants and grocers. In more recent years, Smyth House has been a well-known retail location, home to both Habitat and Topshop. Now, this prestigious building is offering businesses an opportunity to be part of the next chapter in its truly unique history.

 

Smyth House introduces Grafter’s first combined retail and café offering, open to the public as well as members. A design-led communal lounge will enable members and passers-by to meet and connect over a cup of barista coffee. Grafter’s café will be managed by recently appointed Head of Hospitality Robert Scanlon.

 

With 30+ years’ experience in hospitality as a manager, creative director, consultant and restaurant owner, Scanlon has worked with some of Ireland’s best-known and well-loved restaurants and venues such as Residence Private Members Club on St. Stephen’s Green (now The Grayson), Pichet Restaurant and Airfield Estate. In 2015, Robert opened Osteria Lucio Restaurant in partnership with Michelin-Star chef Ross Lewis of Chapter One.

 

With Grafter’s commitment to community, the firm is also inviting lifestyle brands to showcase and sell their products in the retail space. With a focus on premium Irish-made furnishings, high-quality décor and homeware pieces as well as exquisite gifts, brands looking for a home for their products should send an email to the Grafter team [email protected] to learn more about joining this impressive retail location.

 

For Grafter members, Smyth House will also offer fully-modernised, beautifully designed office accommodation behind a renowned period facade. With a total of nearly 27,000 sq. ft, Smyth House has been sympathetically renovated to offer a seamless combination of contemporary design and mature architecture that will offer a range of well-proportioned workspaces including private offices for personal use, customised workspaces for start-ups or larger floor space for a growing team.

 

With connection at the very heart of modern working, Grafter has dedicated 13,000 sq ft of the Smyth House floorplan to communal space including:

 

  • 13,000 sq ft of communal breakout and design-led lounge space
  • State-of-the-art meeting rooms
  • Phone booths
  • Private, bookable phone pods
  • Fully-stocked kitchenettes on each floor, with complimentary coffee, tea, wine and beer
  • Bookable hot-desks and shared workspace

 

The individually designed offices and meeting rooms feature state of the art technology such as high-speed fibre connectivity and video conferencing services, as well as Bluetooth controlled sit / stand desks and ergonomic chairs. To ensure Smyth House offers a seamless, plug-in experience, the technology includes:

 

  • Cat 6 cabling throughout
  • Acoustic paneling and sound dampening for privacy
  • Dedicated and controlled A/C in each private office
  • Dedicated comms rooms on each floor
  • Fully managed wired and wireless Wi-Fi networks
  • Fast, consistent and reliable web browsing on every member device, including video conferencing and VoIP calls
  • Two enterprise grade, DIA circuits, including automatic transfer to redundancy line to ensure no lack in connectivity

 

The building also offers secure bike storage for up to 40 bikes and shower facilitates with towel services and toiletries, facilitating a healthier, more environmentally-friendly commute to work, plus plenty of live greenery to encourage fresh thinking. Members have 24/7/365 access and are supported by a dedicated onsite reception and concierge team.

 

Emma Kennedy, CEO of Grafter, says:

“We are very excited to add Smyth House to our growing portfolio of properties in Dublin and London. It is such a historic building and we’re extremely proud to have been in a position to refurbish it to such an exceptional standard and breathe new life into this prime location. We are excited to bring this one-of-a-kind retail element to the market. This unique retail space will be a collective to be enjoyed by passersby and members alike – whether they’re looking to enjoy a cup of barista coffee with friends or colleagues, or are searching for that ideal piece to treat themselves or a friend after a business win.

 

It’s a joy to be creating a portfolio of outstanding, design-led workspaces in vibrant locations that provide everything our members need for a productive, fulfilling and enjoyable day. We have chosen our buildings for their second-to-none locations and mature, period architecture, while inside, you’ll now find a totally transformed and refurbished space, with every amenity for the modern workday. We are also actively looking for new houses in Dublin, around Ireland and across London and I’m really looking forward to seeing Grafter grow over the next few months and years.”

 

A two-minute walk from Grafton Street, Smyth House boasts one of the best locations in Ireland – with multiple choices for dining, entertainment and shopping on the doorstep. Members can commute in easily by Dublin Bus, LUAS, DART or bike, while Dublin Airport is just 30 minutes away by car or public transport, allowing easy access for business travellers.

 

Find out more about Grafter here: www.grafterhouse.com

You can follow Grafter on

Linked In: Grafter

Instagram: grafterhouse

Cadbury, Coca-Cola and An Post on board as Premier FM Sponsors of Christmas FM 2022

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All listener donations made to Christmas FM will go directly to children’s charities Barnardos, Barretstown, Make-A-Wish Ireland and The Community Foundation for Ireland through ‘The Magic of Christmas’ fundraising initiative

 

Christmas FM, the well-loved Christmas radio station that kicks off the festive season around Ireland, is delighted to announce that Cadbury, Coca Cola and An Post are on board again this year as Premier FM Sponsors for the radio station.

 

Christmas FM will switch on Christmas in Ireland when it returns to the FM airwaves on the 28th November 2022. The much-loved station, which marks the start of the official Christmas season for many, will play Christmas hits around the clock.

 

This year, Christmas FM has launched ‘The Magic of Christmas’ fundraising initiative which brings together Barnardos, Barretstown, Make-A-Wish Ireland and The Community Foundation for Ireland as their official charity partners for the next three years. Christmas FM is aiming to raise over €1,000,000 over the next three years to help the charities support vulnerable children in our communities affected by traumatic life events such as poverty, abuse, neglect and bereavement, as well as supporting children whose lives are affected by serious childhood illness.

 

Christmas FM, which is celebrating its 15th year on air this year, has raised over three million euro for a range of charities since it began broadcasting.

 

Garvan Rigby, Co-Founder of Christmas FM said:

“We are so excited that with the help of our incredible sponsors Christmas FM is back on air for our 15th year. Cadbury, Coca-Cola and An Post have returned as premier FM sponsors again this year and we’re delighted to have them on board. Celebrating our 15th year on the airwaves is a significant milestone for us which we wouldn’t have been able to achieve without the BAI and our amazing listeners and volunteers who have supported us and our chosen charities throughout the years. We’re really looking forward to switching Christmas on in Ireland while also fundraising for our charity partners through The Magic of Christmas’ initiative. We would also like to thank Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley who have kindly donated the studio space this year.”

Maighréad Lynch, Brand Manager at Cadbury Ireland, said:

“We’re delighted to be working with the amazing Christmas FM team once again, it’s something that we look forward to every year. It’s fantastic that Barnardos, our charity partner, will be part of the Magic of Christmas fundraising initiative with the station this year as well as many other brilliant children’s charities who do such vital work across the country. Christmas is the time for generosity and showing you care and we are really excited to work with Christmas FM to help bring some festive magic and cheer this year while supporting many worthy causes.’’

 

Aisling Wilde, Frontline Activation Country Lead at The Coca-Cola Company, said:

“Coca-Cola and Christmas have a longstanding connection and our sponsorship of Christmas FM for the 4th year allows us to bring the Coca-Cola Christmas spirit to the Irish airwaves again. Christmas always finds its way and after two years of restrictions, we can’t wait to start spreading the Christmas spirit across the island of Ireland. Our iconic Christmas truck and Designated Driver initiative will both return alongside other exciting experiences, bringing a sprinkling of magic to everyone this festive season.”

 

Richard Miley, Marketing Communications Lead of An Post Mails & Parcels, said:

“For us, at An Post, Christmas is about sending from the heart and spreading the magic of Christmas. That is why we are delighted to be once again working with Christmas FM, the station that is the sound of the season. The real magic is that we get to spread the Christmas message and also support the work of these wonderful charities.”

 

Christmas FM will also be broadcasting from The Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley who have kindly donated their studio space this year. Tune in from the 28th November to hear a host of familiar voices who will be donating their time to bring you round the clock Christmas hits and festive news. The station will be broadcasting live on FM, on smart speakers, the Christmas FM app and online at www.christmasfm.com.

 

 

Find out all the ways to listen at https://christmasfm.com/listenin/

 

Christmas FM is now available online at:

www.christmasfm.com

 

You can follow the station on social at:

@christmasfm

Christmas FM – Bringing You the Magic of Christmas

Enet signs €6m+ deal with Total Splicing Solutions (TSS) to facilitate fibre network expansion in multiple locations nationwide

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Enet, Ireland’s largest open access telecoms network provider, has today announced a significant new €6m deal with Total Splicing Solutions (TSS), an experienced provider of professional fibre optic services and resources to major telecommunication and network implementation companies.

The three year contract will involve TSS working with Enet to roll out their recently announced €50m+ expansion in fibre networks in multiple locations around Ireland. The expansion will see Enet’s fibre network connect major commercial, retail and industrial zones to increase the availability of high-capacity data transport for data centre connectivity, mobile data traffic and mission critical business traffic. The move will allow network operators and more business premises across the country to directly connect to Enet’s comprehensive telecommunications network. The work conducted by TSS on behalf of Enet will involve subduct, cabling and splicing to enable service delivery and for infrastructure build contracts.

 

Peter McCarthy, Group CEO of Speed Fibre Group, the home of Enet, says: “We’ve had a long and very successful relationship with TSS and we’re delighted to announce this significant new agreement. The work we will engage in together will help supporting thousands of businesses and consumers across the country with the network capacity they need to grow and prosper. By further enabling our world-class telecommunications networks, this work will also really cement Ireland’s position as an ideal location for businesses to operate in.”

 

Ian Coughlan, Managing Director of Total Splicing Solutions (TSS), says: “Our company is extremely pleased to consolidate its relationship with Enet, thereby continuing to develop a relationship which is now over 18 years in existence. Our expertise affords the client access to one of the most sophisticated teams of network technology professionals who are at the cutting edge in terms of technical knowledge and real-world implementation experience.”

 

Enet, which is part of the Speed Fibre Group, operates the largest alternative wholesale telecoms network in Ireland, which comprises of over 5,600 Km of fibre infrastructure, including the Irish State’s Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), proprietary metro networks, a unique dark fibre backhaul infrastructure, as well as one of the largest licensed wireless networks in the country.

Taken together, Enet’s infrastructure creates a fully integrated nationwide telecommunications network that is truly open access in nature, enabling retail service providers and network operators to deliver world class data connectivity services to their customers throughout Ireland and enabling them to connect internationally.

Enet also offers carriers a wide and innovative range of world-class fibre and wireless wholesale products and services, ranging from Managed Connectivity, Infrastructure Access, Direct Internet Access and white label broadband.

Total Splicing Solutions (TSS), founded in 1999, offers turnkey support in the deployment of high-performance voice, data and Internet protocol (IP) networks throughout Ireland and Europe. The company works closely with many of the leading telecommunications network providers in Ireland to deliver new innovations in installation techniques and processes. TSS also partners with cable manufacturers as well as fibre optic equipment providers to develop new products and trial new fibre optic testing equipment.

 

www.enet.ie

 

www.totalsplicingsolutions.ie

Calling all festive music makers across Ireland!

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Are you a singer, songwriter or musician who has a festive song that could spread oodles of Christmas cheer

and goodwill across the nation this year?

 

  • Christmas FM is on the hunt for the next big Christmas tune to become the winner of ‘The Ryanair Gift Card Christmas FM Song Contest 2022’
  • Christmas FM is aiming to raise €1m+ over next three years for Barnardos, Barretstown, Make-a-Wish Ireland and The Community Foundation for Ireland under new fundraising initiative called ‘The Magic of Christmas’

 

Are you a talented songwriter, singer or music fan who has written a festive melody or recorded a cover version of a favourite Christmas song that could be the next big festive hit? If so, Christmas FM wants to hear from you!

 

The hugely popular radio station, which is the official soundtrack to the Christmas season across Ireland every year, has unveiled ‘The Ryanair Gift Card Christmas FM Song Contest’ for 2022 in a bid to find the next Christmas tune that will sprinkle festive joy right around the county. The winning song will have the honour of being broadcast across the airwaves to Christmas FM’s Irish and international fans along with the likes of Christmas legends like Wham, Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé.

 

Supporting homegrown talent, those interested from across the island of Ireland are asked to submit their application ahead of the closing date on the 2nd December at 1:00pm. All you have to do is write and record your very own festive tune or a cover version and fill out the entry form www.christmasfm.com/songcontest

 

Last year, Phil Redmond from Dublin was crowned the winner with his song ‘Home for Christmas’. The idea for the song came to Phil while he was thinking about those who would be coming home for Christmas to visit family and friends for the first time in years due to Covid-19.

 

Phil Redmond, winner of the 2021 Christmas FM Song Contest says:

“Winning the Christmas FM song contest was a huge achievement for me. I wrote ‘Home for Christmas’ especially for the competition and I was so happy to know people were listening to my song on the radio. I genuinely can’t explain how happy I was when I was announced as the winner, myself and my family were jumping around the kitchen cheering!”

“I look forward to hearing my song played again this Christmas. If anyone is thinking about entering the competition they should. It’s an amazing opportunity for singer songwriters to get great exposure. It now makes Christmas even more special for me.”

 

Walter Hegarty, co-founder of Christmas FM, says:

“From Mariah to Slade, from John Lennon to Frank Sinatra, Christmas FM is the station that plays all the festive classics that make coming together during this special time all the more enjoyable. We are delighted to have our Christmas FM Song Contest returning this year with Ryanair on board. It’s an exciting opportunity for us to showcase the very best vocal and musical Irish talent and add a fresh tune to the list of festive favourites on Christmas FM.”

 

Broadcasting almost nationwide, Christmas FM plays round-the-clock Christmas tunes, spreading an abundance of festive cheer and seasonal goodwill every single day in the run up to Christmas. The station will begin broadcasting on FM this year on the 28th November (subject to license).

 

The radio station is run each year by a core management team, assisted by many volunteers who donate their time. Meanwhile, the costs of running Christmas FM are covered by various sponsors, ensuring listener donations go directly to the fundraising initiative. This year the station’s FM sponsors are Coca Cola, An Post and Cadbury.

 

Christmas FM will also be broadcasting from The Clayton Hotel in Liffey Valley who have kindly donated their studio space this year.

 

Since it began broadcasting 15 years ago, the radio station has raised over €3 million for a range of charities. This year, Christmas FM has launched a new fundraising initiative called ‘The Magic of Christmas,’ which brings together Barnardos, Barretstown, Make-a-Wish Ireland and The Community Foundation for Ireland as the official charity partners for the next three years. During this time Christmas FM is aiming to raise over €1,000,000 to help the charities support vulnerable children in our communities affected by traumatic life events such as poverty, abuse, neglect and bereavement, as well as supporting children whose lives are affected by serious childhood illness.

 

Christmas FM is now available online at:

www.christmasfm.com

 

You can follow the station on social at:

@christmasfm

Christmas FM – Bringing You the Magic of Christmas

 

 

Keyhouse, Irish-owned provider of cloud technology services to legal firms, acquired by global firm Dye & Durham

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  • Dye & Durham’s fourth Irish acquisition in 18 months is fuelled by the vision to create an integrated technology platform for legal firms and inhouse legal departments – led by the Keyhouse practice management system

 

  • Dye & Durham was the headline sponsor of the Irish Law Awards 2022

 

  • Law firm transformation competition worth up to €40,000 unveiled by Keyhouse to help firms improve internal processes and enhance efficiencies

 

Keyhouse, a leading provider of innovative software systems, training, and services for legal and business professionals in Ireland, has been acquired by global firm Dye & Durham, one of the world’s most prominent providers of legal, property and business technologies.

 

Keyhouse, established in 1991, provides innovative cloud and tech solutions to law firms, helping them deliver services more efficiently and ultimately driving greater profitability and productivity. The company, which is led by Brian Sweeney and Stephen Keogh, works with the majority of the top 500 law firms in Ireland.

 

The acquisition by Dye & Durham will allow Keyhouse to invest further in its technology and services so it can continue to help law firms achieve optimal results. This move will also provide clients with access to the most cutting-edge and secure cloud technologies available, while also offering Keyhouse the opportunity to expand further into international markets.

 

Keyhouse is the fourth Irish acquisition made by Dye & Durham over the last 18 months, joining other legal services companies including Brady and Co., Rochford Brady Group and Hibernian Legal. Keyhouse will now engage in greater integration with all third-party systems from within the wider Dye & Durham operation such as Search Facilities, Anti Money Laundering, Quote Conversion and On-Boarding applications as well as Compliance Modules.

 

The ultimate aim of Dye & Durham is to create a fully integrated technology platform for law firms in Ireland, led by the Keyhouse practice management system, which will provide all the necessary technology tools required by lawyers and their support teams to reduce the complexity involved in managing the vast volumes of information they deal with on a daily basis.

 

Building on Keyhouse’s deep understanding of the Irish legal services market and their close client relationships, Dye & Durham are also planning to establish a Client Innovation Council composed of legal industry thought leaders that will gather and develop insights on the use of digital technology in the legal profession. The objective of the initiative will be to provide all Irish legal professionals with the insights, techniques, and skills to help shape the future of the company’s solutions.

 

Day-to-day operations at Keyhouse will continue as normal with Brian Sweeney and Stephen Keogh remaining with the business, alongside the existing team who remain fully committed to meeting the needs of clients and delivering exceptional customer service.

 

In addition to Ireland, Dye & Durham also has offices in Canada, Australia, and The United Kingdom. The business, which has engaged in 30+ acquisitions since its inception, works to ensure efficient, frictionless, and secure functioning of some of the world’s largest property and legal markets, deliver vital data insights to support corporate transactions and provide essential payments infrastructure to financial institutions and their customers.

 

 

Martha Vallance, Chief Operating Officer of Dye & Durham, says:

“The addition of Keyhouse to the Dye & Durham family will deepen our industry expertise, allowing us to both reach new customers and better serve our existing client base. As we continue to execute on our international growth strategy, it is an exciting time for our company as we expand our capabilities and strengthen our global footprint.

By joining our other Irish companies, Brady & Co., Rochford Brady Group and Hibernian Legal, Keyhouse is now a critical part of the backbone of the company’s operations in Ireland. We have invested in Irish legal technology and services companies because they share the same values. They’re committed to first-class service, unparalleled domain expertise and airtight reliability. As a result, we’re delighted to welcome Keyhouse to the operation. We look forward to consolidating the impressive legacies of these esteemed Irish brands which offer a combined experience of more than 100 years serving the Irish legal profession.”

 

Brian Sweeney, Managing Director of Keyhouse, says Dye & Durham is an excellent fit for Keyhouse as it will mean significant benefits for clients:

“Dye & Durham began this venture because they believe in everything Keyhouse stands for and naturally, we’re delighted to have our technology, service and personnel recognised by such a prestigious international brand. This new chapter will allow us to invest further in our technology and services so that we can continue to help law firms get better results for themselves and their clients. Our focus is on helping law firms to do better, and by joining the Dye & Durham family, we can now increase our offering to clients, allowing them to continue to thrive.”

 

Dye & Durham was the headline sponsor at this year’s Irish Law Awards. Now in their 10th year, the Dye & Durham Irish Law Awards 2022 aim to identify, honour, and publicise outstanding achievements, while also recognising those who have dedicated their lives to serving in the legal profession in Ireland. The event took place on Friday 28th October in the Aviva Stadium.

 

At the event, Keyhouse announced a new Law Firm Transformation competition. Entrants will have the opportunity to win up to €40,000 worth of products and services from Keyhouse to streamline and automate their business to make it as efficient and profitable as possible. The initiative is the first of its kind globally and will give law firms the chance to access exclusive best-in-class tools that will improve internal processes and enhance efficiencies, while also providing the flexibility needed to expand a business. Law firms interested in entering will find more details at www.keyhouse.ie/law-firm-transformation.

 

For more information visit www.keyhouse.ie or www.dyedurham.com or

LinkedIn: Keyhouse, Dye & Durham Ireland

Polio Survivors Ireland issues stark warning that the health, and potentially the lives, of those living with polio could be at risk this winter as a result of rising energy costs

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  • Polio survivors experience extreme intolerance to the cold which can result in hypothermia

 

  • Polio Survivors Ireland says extending eligibility criteria for the charity’s Heating Support Payment to help more members keep warm this winter will cost the charity as much as an extra €25,000

 

  • Heating Support Payment is funded through donations and fundraising costs

 

 

Polio Survivors Ireland is warning that the health, and potentially the lives, of its 1,000+ members could be at risk this winter as a result of rising energy costs. As polio survivors’ have an extreme intolerance to cold, putting them at risk of hypothermia, the organisation says it has no choice but to extend it’s ‘Heating Support Payment’ to more members in a bid to ensure they can continue to heat their home throughout the winter without having to make sacrifices, adding to the indignity of their situation.

 

With World Polio Day taking place on 24th of October each year, the organisation says it’s an opportune time to remind people that polio survivors’ extreme intolerance to the cold means that they have to take extra measures to remain warm at all times. Even in summer, polio survivors have to light fires and wear extra layers of clothing. Heating is therefore essential for survivors as without it many would have to resort to staying in bed all day to stay warm, or cut back on food to pay their energy bills. Polio survivors also cannot use hot water bottles as they may experience numbness as a result of polio and post-polio syndrome. This can result in survivors suffering severe skin burns.

 

The €125 euro support payment funded by Polio Survivors Ireland is necessary for low-income polio survivors each year to ensure they can pay their heating costs. As a result of the substantial increase in energy costs, Polio Survivors Ireland says they will now be broadening their eligibility criteria so they can extend this payment to more survivors than ever before.

 

The charity currently pays up to €30,000 each year to provide the Heating Support Payment to low-income survivors. The Heating Support Payment is funded entirely through donations and fundraising. Extending the payment to more members this year will cost the charity as much as an extra €25,000, which will come entirely from donations and fundraising.

 

Speaking about the winter Heating Support Payment, polio survivor Evelyn from Cork said:

 

“It keeps me out of bed, otherwise I would have to stay in bed to keep warm. The cold gives me pain in my joints and the heating in the house is very essential. With the amount of money we’re having to pay out, I don’t know where we’ll be, but the payment helps me.”

 

Fran Brennan, CEO of Polio Survivors Ireland, said:

 

“We all know that energy costs are rising at an alarming rate. Many of us are worried about how we are going to meet these extra costs, but for some people higher energy costs threaten their health and even their lives.

Our winter heating grant of €125 is provided to polio survivors on the lowest incomes. This costs up to €30,000 p.a. and helps approx. 230 of our members. This year, with huge increases in energy costs, many more polio survivors will face a challenge to stay warm and safe. We have to respond. We estimate this will cost an additional €25,000 and all of this money will have to come from donations and other fundraising.”

 

Polio Survivors Ireland was established nearly 30 years ago and is the only organisation in Ireland providing practical services and support to those unfortunate enough to have contracted polio as babies or young children. They provide a range of services including mobility aids and appliances, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and respite, and raise awareness of the issues faced by polio survivors. They also work to educate medical professionals, social care providers and health policy makers about the reality for all those still impacted by polio.

Polio Survivors Ireland has a network of support groups around the country and they also provide a telephone support service for those who can’t leave their home. As well as providing stair lifts, callipers, bespoke footwear, electric scooters and wheelchairs, the organisation also helps survivors to access a range of supports. For those who are isolated, a listening ear is often the most important lifeline the organisation provides.

 

World Polio Day takes place on the 24th of October every year. It was established over a decade ago to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis. While there is no cure for polio, it is preventable through vaccination. Polio is now only endemic in two countries, as a result of the vaccine, with Africa being the most recent continent declared polio free.

 

However, over the past several months, poliovirus has been repeatedly found in London sewer water. This was a vaccine-derived strain most likely acquired from travel abroad, by an individual. There has also been one case of polio in the US in a community with low vaccine uptake.

 

These worrying instances emphasises the importance of celebrating the availability of the polio vaccine, reminding us that keeping up to date with immunisation schedules is the only way to prevent and to eventually fully eradicate polio.

 

To donate to Polio Survivors Ireland, visit www.polio.ie

Keep up to date with Polio Survivors Ireland on Facebook @PolioSurvivorsIreland and on Twitter @PolioIreland

For more details, please contact:

Winner of Champion Changemakers National Pitch-Fest announced, securing a Prize Bursary valued at €10,000

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‘Shamrock Squad Adventures’ from RDI Hub and Dingle Hub in Kerry announced as overall winner of Champion Changemakers National Pitch-Fest 2022. The social enterprise is a community of special needs families which focuses on working with support agencies, service providers and other special needs families to make the outdoors accessible for all needs

 

  • Shortlisted individuals and groups presented their social enterprise idea to a panel of expert judges at the National Pitch-Fest to win a Prize Bursary of supports and services valued at €10,000

 

  • Judges included representatives from Enterprise Ireland, Woods & Partners, Rethink Ireland and Social Impact Ireland

 

  • Funding for the ‘Champion Changemakers’ initiative secured from the Department of Rural and Community Development under the ARISE (Awareness Raising Initiatives for Social Enterprise) Scheme 2021

 

‘Shamrock Squad Adventures’ from RDI Hub and Dingle Hub is the overall winner of the Champion Changemakers National Pitch-Fest 2022. The groups social enterprise is a community of special needs families which focuses on working with support agencies, service providers and other special needs families to make the outdoors accessible for all needs.

 

Shortlisted groups and individuals took part in the National Pitch-Fest hosted at Innovate Communities, Ballymun where they pitched their social enterprise idea to a panel of expert judges from Enterprise Ireland, Woods & Partners, Rethink Ireland and Social Impact Ireland. Each idea was categorised under one of three themes – Environmental and Climate Action, Economic Inequality or Human Wellbeing. The shortlist was selected from a series of regional events that took place in community enterprise centres and enterprise hubs around Ireland in September, where participants took part in workshops and worked with local mentors to develop their idea into a social enterprise.

 

‘United Women’ from Action Tuam is a group of Refugee and Migrant women living in direct provision in Galway who were ‘Highly Commended’ by the judges at the National Pitch-Fest also. The women have come together to support each other and their community. Their ambition is to form a social enterprise using food to integrate communities, promote cultural identity, teach life skills, educate others on their traditions and create employment. Other ideas presented to the judges featured a new eco concrete solution, a digital support platform for new parents from minority groups, social integration through music and an online marketplace connecting lift-seekers with vehicle owners.

 

The overall winner, Shamrock Squad Adventures, will benefit from a Prize Bursary to the value of €10,000 which will set them on their journey towards the establishment of their sustainable and successful social enterprise and consists of key supports and services including:

 

  • Five dedicated mentoring sessions facilitated by the Local Enterprise Network
  • Idea verification processes, strategy scoping and impact framework development from Social Impact Ireland
  • Access to ReThink Ireland’s ‘Start your own Social Enterprise Programme’ which will provide essential tools and guidance required to take their idea to the next level, culminating in the opportunity to pitch for investment or additional non-financial supports to the investment value of €10,000
  • Legal advice from Arthur Cox on setting up a company limited by guarantee (CLG)
  • For the registered company, pro-bono support about the preparation of audit exempt financial statements for the purposes of CRO Filings and compliance with the Companies Act 2014 from Woods & Partners
  • Provision of dedicated hot-desking space for a 6-month period in the location of choice from participating member locations from the CEAI
  • Hardware and Software kit from Acer in conjunction with Softcat plc

 

Siobhán Finn, National Hub Network Manager at CEAI said:

“The energy, enthusiasm and creativity we saw from the finalists at the National Pitch-Fest was amazing. It was clear every participant is passionate about tackling social and environmental issues and creating positive change in their communities. We are so grateful to our excellent judges that were involved in the National Pitch-Fest, all the enterprise centres and hubs who participated in hosting the regional events and our brilliant partners who provided the range of supports and services included in the Prize Bursary. It was a privilege to witness such a high standard of social enterprise ideas and pitches, particularly during a time where these solutions are critical in society and to the economy.

 

A massive congratulations from myself and all the team at CEAI to the winning idea from Shamrock Squad Adventures. Their pitch was incredible and they deserve all the success going forward. I cannot wait to follow their social enterprise journey and watch it become a reality.”

 

The overall winner of Champion Changemakers 2022, Shamrock Squad Adventures said:

 

“We are delighted that Shamrock Squad Adventures is the 2022 Champion Changemaker, awarded by the Community Enterprise Association Ireland. We have been working with amazing mentors from RDI Hub and Dingle Hub since the hackathon in September. Shamrock Squad Adventures is dedicated to making the outdoors accessible and enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their abilities, and with the support bursary from the Community Enterprise Association Ireland, we hope to accelerate the platform development.”

 

Pauline Gannon, Co-founder & Director of Impact, Social Impact Ireland on behalf of the judging panel said:

 

“Champion Changemakers has provided a platform that supports community changemakers to develop solutions to the challenges they experience within their own communities, giving national recognition and supports, to local innovation. The exemplary projects showcased today, offer real solutions to overcome real challenges within communities across Ireland. It has been a privilege to be part of the process and we offer congratulations to all the projects. The high standard made the judging very difficult but also offers great hope for the future of Champion Changemakers as it grows from strength to strength.”

 

The CEAI would like to thank all their partners for supporting Champion Changemakers and to the organisations contributing their time and services for the Prize Bursary including the Local Enterprise Network, Social Impact Ireland, Rethink Ireland, Arthur Cox, Woods & Partners, Acer and SoftCat plc.

 

Notes to Editor:

This project was approved by Government with support from the Dormant Accounts Fund. The funding allocated is part of the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2021 and is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development in conjunction with Pobal.

 

About the Community Enterprise Association Ireland

Established over 20 years ago, the Community Enterprise Association Ireland, previously known as the National Association for Community Enterprise Centres (NACEC), is the country’s leading network of enterprise hubs, co-working locations, and flexible working spaces. Government-funded and supported by Enterprise Ireland, the organisation works to drive real innovation and entrepreneurship across local communities and regions.

The Community Enterprise Association Ireland achieves this by continually working to raise the overall quality, environmental and innovative performance of the sector, ensuring the national hub network continues to support the realisation of a sustainable and balanced regional development model for Ireland. As an established and respected voice of the sector, the organisation also confidently represents local enterprise centres/hubs at government level so that all new strategies, policies, and funding programmes take the needs and ambition of each community into account.

 

For more information visit communityenterprise.ie or follow CEAI on Twitter @CEAIreland and LinkedIn Community Enterprise Association Ireland