Monaghan’s top ranking for small businesses evident at Ireland's Craft Expo – 13/02/13

Sean Conlan highlighted the strength of the craft industry in Monaghan following a visit to the recent Ireland’s Craft Expo event in the RDS in which exhibits from Monaghan proved extremely popular.

“I was delighted to see the high level of participation of Monaghan businesses at Ireland’s Craft Expo in the RDS recently. Monaghan ranks number one in the country for start-up businesses in Ireland and this expo was a great example of that.

“While at the event, I visited some excellent exhibits from Monaghan including Monaghan artist Helen Steele who has collaborated with Harvey Nichols and who boasts a range of international celebrities and royalty among her clients as well as Brenda McGinn whose Busy Bee Ceramics was a big hit at the event. I also visited Liz Christy who makes Hand-Woven Scarves. She is a textile designer and hand-weaver, designing each scarf as an original. Finally I met with Louise Loughman of Swallow Yarn Barn. Louise has collaborated with Liz Christy to do a number of large tapestry type wall hangings for schools and credit unions.

“The Irish Times recently reported that Monaghan ranks number one in the country for small businesses means the level of business activity in an area based on factors such as the number of start-ups. By analysing these figures, a better picture can be given of the health of business in a given area nationally and regionally. Experian, who conducted the analysis, determines a credit risk score for every business in Ireland and Monaghan scored the highest.

“These small businesses keep young people from emigrating and feed into local economies. They are integral to our economy recovery. I congratulate the Monaghan business owners whose work proved so popular at Ireland’s Craft Expo. Their work is a fine example of the sense of creativity and entrepreneurship that exists in our county.The next step is to create a Made in Monaghan brand which can be used as a marketing tool both nationally and internationally “