Packed attendance at Castlebar Entrepreneur event

Author: Press Office

Date Article Written Tuesday 20 September 2011

Over four hundred people attended the annual GMIT Innovation in Business Centre (IiBC) “Spirit of Entrepreneurship” event in GMIT Castlebar last evening (Monday 19th September).

Taoiseach Enda Kenny addressed the gathering in St Mary’s Hall and heard three client companies from GMIT’s Innovation Centre pitch their business ideas to the packed audience and a panel of dragons made up of entrepreneurs Sean Gallagher and Ciaran Crean, Mick Brougham of Enterprise Ireland, and Frank Sammon of CMS Peripherals (main sponsor).

John Hesnan of BulllyToons was the outright winner for his interactive animated education programme on bullying. He pitched his idea along with two others, Daria Blackwell of Knowledge Clinic and Maroon Tabbal of Hassle-Free World.

The audience heard Dragons Den panelist and Entrepreneur Sean Gallagher outline what investors look for in a promoter and pitch, while Ciaran Crean, co-founder of micksgarage.ie, spoke about the business of selling car parts on-line and e-commerce, and how his website business has grown.

This is the fifth year the GMIT Innovation Centre (Castlebar) has hosted the Spirit of Entrepreneurship event. Previous speakers include Jerry Kennelly, Stockbyte & Tweak, Frank Salmon, CMS Peripherals, John Concannon, JFC Manufacturing, Tommy Griffith, PEL Recycling, Sean Rowland, Hibernia College, Leonard Moran, Ovagen and Biological Labs Ballina, and Jonathon Ruane, Eventovate.  This year’s event was sponsored by CMS Peripherals, Kiltimagh.

Maria Staunton, Manager IiBC, GMIT Castlebar, says: “We’re delighted with the turnout and the huge interest people have in setting up their own business and developing existing businesses. They heard first hand from successful entrepreneurs who have been through the start-up process and got advice on funding and other supports. We hope people went away with a good understanding of what GMIT’s two Innovation Centres offer in Mayo and Galway. Our overall aim is to create more start-up companies in our region.”

For further information on GMIT’s Innovation Centres, email iibccastlebar@gmit.ie or telephone: 094-9043198. See also: http://www.gmit.ie/iibc/index.html
This year’s GMIT Innovation Centre Spirit of Entrepreneurship event is sponsored by CMS Peripherals, Kiltimagh. E.Irl are also supporting the event.