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02/04/19 - Resilience and determination of Donegal’s creative businesses celebrated

 

Donegal Creative business event 379x269

Businesses featured in ‘Donegal – We Create’ get their first

look at the finished book recently. Included with Chief

Executive of Donegal County Council, Seamus Neely, Head

of Enterprise Michael Tunney, Assistant Head of Enterprise,

Brenda Hegarty and Liam Porter who wrote the stories are-

Paul McMahon, The Rusted Pixel, Sharon McDaid, Silver Birch

Gallery, Lynn Costello Erskine, The Pear in Paper, Caitlín

NicGabhann of Caitlín.ie, Thomas McLaughlin, Tádaiás,

Karen O’Kane, Koko Designs, Elaine, Lyndsey and Zara

McGonigle of McGonigle Glass.  Also featured in the book

but not in the photo is Jessica Peoples from Zona Dance Studio.

 

 

‌Resilience and determination of Donegal’s creative businesses celebrated



The resilience, determination and ambition of eight creative businesses from Donegal has been celebrated in a new book and series of short movie clips, commissioned by Local Enterprise Office, Donegal.



‘Donegal - We Create,’ launched in Rockhill House during Local Enterprise Week, features the stories of Sharon McDaid of Silver Birch Studios in Carndonagh, Jessica Peoples of Zona Dance Co in Letterkenny, Lynn Erskine Costello of The Pear in Paper, Donegal Town, Karen O’Kane of Koko Designs, Ramelton, Paul McMahon, The Rusted Pixel, Letterkenny, Zara, Elaine and Lyndsey McGonigle of McGonigle Glass, Donegal Town, Caitlin NicGabhann of Ghaoth Dobhair and Thomas McLaughlin of Tadaiás, Manorcunningham.

 

 

Donegal creative business event Girls 379x269

Elaine, Lyndsey and Zara McGonigle of McGonigle Glass at the

recent launch of ‘Donegal – We Create.’

 



The book is the second in a series of positive business stories from the county, following last year’s publication of ‘Donegal - We Make Things’ when six businesses with a focus on larger scale making/manufacturing and export, were featured.



This year’s publication took the creative industries in the county as its theme and the snapshot of businesses featured gives just a glimpse of the varied creative expertise in the county.

 

BBC Ulster & Sharon McDaid - Donegal creative business event 379x269

Marie Louise Muir from BBc Ulster speaking to Sharon McDaid

of Silver Birch Studios, Carndonagh at the launch of ‘Donegal –

We Create.’

 



From art to 3-d models, glass making to dance, card making to music and silk painting to fashion, the stories featured not only highlight the passion of those involved in the creative industries, but also shows the level of determination and dedication it has taken to make the businesses a success.



Speaking at the launch in Rockhill House, Head of Enterprise, Michael Tunney, said that creativity was inherent in the DNA of Donegal and that the stories from the book showed how wide and varied the levels of creativity are in the county.

 

 

Sharon Maxwell LYIT - Donegal creative business event 379x269

Sharon Maxwell lecturer in the Fashion & Promotion course at

Letterkenny Institute of Technology pictured at the launch of

‘Donegal – We Create’ in Rockhill House.

 



But, he also said that creativity abounds across the disciplines and stressed that the characteristics shown by the creative businesses that has helped them find success, are characteristics common to all businesses.



“When we commissioned the first set of stories last year, the plan was always to show how wide and varied the field of businesses is here in Donegal - but it was also to highlight that you can build a strong and successful business from here.

 

Caitlin.ie and Pear in Paper - Donegal creative business event 379x269

Caitlín NicGabhann of Caitlín.ie and Lynn Costello Erskine from

the Pear in Paper, pictured with their specially commissioned

commemorative art pieces produced by Ciaran Boyce of

Modern Eire at the recent launch of ‘Donegal – We Create.’

 



These creative businesses all find their inspiration here in Donegal, but what all of the businesses have also found is that with the help and support on offer from the Local Enterprise Office, they can match the talent and ambition they have with real and tangible business success.”



Mr. Tunney urged anyone in business or with a business idea, to talk to the Local Enterprise Office.



“We have shown in these stories over the past few years that Donegal is a great place to live and to do business. We have shown that when you have the right mindset and ask for help, obstacles can be overcome and you can be based here in Donegal and be more than local - you can be a successful global business, he concluded.”

 

Michael Tunney & art pieces - Donegal creative business event 379x269

Head of Enterprise in Donegal, Michael Tunney pictured with two

specially commissioned commemorative art pieces produced by

Ciaran Boyce of Modern Eire at the recent launch of ‘Donegal –

We Create.’ Michael collected the piece for Jessica Peoples of Zona

Dance Studio who was in london with her Dance Troupe and was

unable to attend the launch, while the other piece for the Local

Enterprise Office represents all of the stories featured in the book.

 

 

Local Enterprise Office Donegal is supported through co-funding from the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund 2014 – 2020. To contact the Local Enterprise Office in Donegal, log on to www.localenterprise.ie/donegal or phone 0749160735.

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