Episodes
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is writer, broadcaster and comedian, Barbara Scully. As our 2024 season of podcasts draws to a close we take the time to reflect on some core themes for Irish business: How gender politics has shaped the evolution of Irish workplaces Why it’s vital for businesses to embrace valuable experience And in the 50th year of Guaranteed Ireland, Barbara and host Bríd O’Connell consider how Ireland has moved on from the days...
Published 11/18/24
Published 11/18/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is Joanne Geary, Managing Director of Ireland’s leading home and property portal, MyHome.ie. On this episode, Bríd and Joanne discuss: - Why it’s important to describe what’s happening in Irish housing supply as a ‘crisis’ -Why the government actually needs to build 200k houses this year and the ideas that will stimulate increased output by property developers - Her experience of being a female leader in a male-dominated...
Published 11/04/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is Crystel Robbins Rynne the Chief Operating Office of HR Locker which is an employee management software application. Crystel explains how HR Locker has embraced CSRD reporting and advises on how they’ve achieved staff buy-in on it. Crystel tells Bríd about the innovations and ideas they have to maintain and grow culture in a fully remote company. How do you communicate culture to graduates and new starters in this...
Published 10/21/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is Dean Rock, the 8-time All Ireland winner who is now the National Sales Manager for Procure.ie - the largest utility broker in the company with over 6000 commercial customers. He tells Bríd about how he has applied the same thirst for incremental improvement that he saw with the Dubs to his business career. He sees the GAA skillset being an ideal basis for success in business. And it’s a key part of Procure’s recruitment...
Published 10/07/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is Paul Coffey and Brian Drinan owners of Cork café group, Perry Street. In this episode, married couple Brian and Paul discuss the pressing need for the Irish government to support Irish hospitality by cutting the VAT rate in the upcoming budget. There’s also a discussion about why they feel there’s a disregard for hospitality in Ireland, and they describe their ambitious plans to ‘reimagine’ the Irish café experience with...
Published 09/30/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is Sinéad Crowther of Tonstix, which is an Irish honey jelly pop that provides relief for sore throats, colds, hayfever and allergies. In this episode Sinéad explains how recent research suggests that the product, which is medicinal-free, is more effective at soothing sore throats than a steroid. She breaks down the business’ marketing plan to drive growth in Ireland and the UK. And she talks about important new distribution...
Published 09/16/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is David Mc Keown, Co-CEO of Kilsaran a leading Irish manufacturer of concrete products. Kilsaran is 60 years old this year, in this episode we explore the history of this family-run business, founded in the small Louth village of the same name. On the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast we speak to trailblazers from the Guaranteed Irish business community about how their businesses stay competitive in a global marketplace, what...
Published 09/02/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is the International Rugby Experience’s Sales and Marketing manager, Emma Foote. The experience, which is located in Limerick, gives visitors an fully-immersive, multi-sensory insight into what it takes to become a rugby legend. Paul O’Connell is the chairperson of the board that runs the tourist attraction and Emma describes how his input has greatly enhanced the experience.  The Venue, was initially funded through a €30m...
Published 08/12/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is Patrick Cotter, CEO and founder of Rural Wifi. Rural Wifi is an alternative wifi provider based in Ireland that has already been part of the team that brought wifi to the Aran Islands. Not only that, the company supports the largest transport wifi network in the UK and Ireland. Before Rural Wifi, its founder Patrick Cotter had founded Fleet Connect, a trailblazing company which at one point in 2013 had the largest wifi...
Published 07/14/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is Lisa Kennedy from Tourist SOS. Having recently rebranded from the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS), Tourist SOS is expanding, with ambitions to move into Europe. It is a free, nationwide service that is unique to Ireland and dedicated to helping international tourists who experience a crime or other distressing incident whilst here. On the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast we speak to trailblazers from the Guaranteed...
Published 06/30/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is MarieAnn McLoughlin Dwyer, a Co-Founder of Runway 28 Gin.  She tells us the story behind her small-batch, premium, artisan gin blended by Listoke Distillery in County Louth. The gin is inspired by the world of aviation and indeed MarieAnn is a former air-hostess, she is married to a pilot, so it’s a world that she knows very well. Her ambitions for the brand lie in expansion into the United States, and also their new...
Published 06/17/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is Glenisk’ commercial powerhouse, Emma Walls. Based in Tullamore, County Offaly, Glenisk is an iconic Irish brand that makes an award-winning range of dairy products from the home of the family farm where they employ eighty people. The company hit the news headlines in 2021 when a fire that burned for days, ravaged their production facility. It was, naturally, a desperately difficult event for the company to deal with but, as...
Published 06/04/24
Norma Reilly is Head of Lending at Community Credit Union, a not-for-profit cooperative owned by and run for the benefit of its 40,000+ members in the areas of Dublin 7 and Dublin 15. We speak to her at a very exciting moment in the history of the Credit Union movement in Ireland, as a collection of 77 credit unions are joining forces to offer mortgages with standardised rates and policies across the board for the very first time, in the form of a national brand - Credit Union Service...
Published 05/20/24
Lauren O’Reilly is listed on Ireland’s 30-under-30, she’s a recent Trinity College pharmacy graduate and she’s the co-founder of one of Ireland’s fastest growing new apps. In 2021, along with former classmate, Bidemi Afolabi, they founded ProMotion Rewards a shopping rewards app which now has 50,000 users and a million hits a month. In this episode, we hear about her incredible journey and how micro-influencers have helped to power her growth. On Guaranteed Irish Stories we hear from...
Published 05/07/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is Ger Teahon, the CEO of one of Ireland’s most vibrant young companies, Uniquely.  Ger tells us the story behind the growth of Uniquely, a sales and services outsourcing business with Customer Engagement Centers in both Dundalk and Galway, employing over 300 people nationwide. Ger describes the growing connection the business has with the town and people of Dundalk and why that is so important for business growth. And he also...
Published 04/22/24
Our guest on this episode of the Guaranteed Irish Stories podcast is Viatel Technology Group’s dynamic CFO, Gina Laverty. Gina tells us the story behind the growth of Viatel Technology Group, a cloud connectivity and IT services business, with over 300 employees that has hubs in Blanchardstown/Dundalk and Limerick. She also describes her own personal journey including how growing up in a family-run car dealership taught her the basics of business; how she has juggled her CFO role with being a...
Published 04/08/24
Join us on the latest Guaranteed Irish Business Podcast episode as we delve into membership criteria and sustainability with Karen Deignan, Co-Founder and Director of Sustainability Works, and Advisor on the Guaranteed Irish Appraisal Committee. Discover how Guaranteed Irish evaluates businesses for membership, aligning with economic, social, and environmental factors. Learn about the benefits of membership and how Guaranteed Irish fosters sustainability among its diverse member companies.
Published 03/18/24
Michael Jackson, Chairman of Guaranteed Irish and Managing Partner at Matheson, reflects on Guaranteed Irish's 50-year journey. He discusses the organisation's evolution, its role in today's economy, and underscores the importance of sustainability while exploring effective ways to leverage membership advantages.
Published 03/04/24
Join us for an enlightening discussion with Ger Crosse, Co-Founder & Director of Woodco Energy, as we explore the pivotal role of biomass in decarbonisation and the advantages of solar PV for businesses. Discover why biomass is the fuel of the future, government incentives for renewable energy, and how Woodco Energy is leading the charge towards a more sustainable tomorrow.
Published 02/27/24
Join us as we dive into the world of NEAT Gates with General Manager, Philip Keane, exploring their unique approach to aluminum gate manufacturing. Learn about their cutting-edge CNC equipment, commitment to sustainability, and the launch of their new online design platform. Plus, discover why NEAT Gates is shortlisted for the prestigious Guaranteed Irish Awards!
Published 02/20/24
Join us as we delve into the fascinating journey of Gethousesurvey.ie with Co-Founder & Director, Noel Tate. From its humble beginnings in 2018 to becoming a game-changer in the real estate industry, learn how this innovative company is simplifying the process of hiring a surveyor, ensuring consistency and quality in surveys, and empowering house buyers across Ireland to purchase with confidence. Discover valuable insights on common mistakes when buying a house, crucial information to...
Published 02/13/24
Listen in to our exclusive podcast with The Nature Trust, exploring their mission, partnership with Guaranteed Irish, and vision for the future. Gain insights from Ciaran and Declan on the importance of native woodlands and the significance of collecting acorns and seeds. We dive into the details of the Guaranteed Irish Forest initiative, including its location, planting process, and community involvement. Find out how you can contribute to and benefit from this impactful initiative....
Published 02/06/24
Join us on for an insightful episode of the Guaranteed Irish Business Podcast with Graham Stafford, CEO of Affirm Health (Proceive). Graham discusses their remarkable 40% growth in Ireland in 2023, successful expansion into international markets, and the launch of Proceive's 12th product, Every Mum, in March 2023. Gain valuable insights into the vitamin and supplement industry, exploring the nuances of product quality and the importance of choosing supplements wisely. Learn why not all...
Published 01/30/24
Exploring Innovation and Irish Brands: McCauleys on the Future Role of Pharmacies in Ireland Get a sneak peek into the future of pharmacies in Ireland with Jackie Kelly of McCauleys in our latest podcast episode. As part of the Uniphar group, McCauley's stands at the forefront of health and beauty pharmacies, showcasing a deep commitment to nurturing new and exciting Irish brands. Discover the pharmacy's role in innovation and its dedication to supporting Irish female founders, featuring a...
Published 01/23/24