The Donegal Dublin Business Network marked its first full year of activity in the capital last week with a charity Christmas business lunch which raised more than €8,000 for the north-west branch of Pieta House in Letterkenny.
The gathering in the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge was addressed by former politician Ivan Yates, now a television and radio presenter on TV3 and Newstalk.
He told those present that he believed the creation of a business community in Dublin that leveraged connections with Donegal was a tremendous idea.
“There’s tremendous long-term potential in any organisation that can identify something that delivers a consistent common affinity, particularly if that results in people being open to offering support. You have created a fantastic resource,” he added.
The Donegal Dublin Business Network was formed in early 2017.
It aims to connect Dublin-based business people by providing members with access to a wide range of activities such as breakfast seminars and other networking events.
These get-togethers provide members with an opportunity to experience presentations by a broad range of speakers with insights, expertise and experience from different spheres of business and elsewhere.
DDBN Committee Chairman Paul Doyle told those present at the Christmas lunch that the group, which has an on-line presence at http://www.donegaldublinbusinessnetwork.com/, had over 170 fully paid up members who were referring business, networking and assisting each other to varying degrees.
He also thanked Tom McEvoy of Pieta House for attending the event to give members an insight into the work being undertaken by his organisation in County Donegal and elsewhere.
The Christmas fund-raising lunch was supported by a range of businesses with Donegal connections, most notably the event sponsors MCR Group and Bannon Commercial Property Consultants and those who both contributed and purchased prizes for a charity auction and raffle.
Sean Perry was a very capable and entertaining master of ceremonies for both of these.
The DDBN Committee wished all its members and everyone from Donegal engaged in business enterprise a happy Christmas and expressed particular thanks to the following members and businesses who bought auction items:
• Framed Donegal GAA 1992 Magee Replica jersey, bought by Manus Brady of Manus Brady Chartered Accountants – www.manusbrady.ie
• Four Ball in Ballyliffin Golf Club plus two twin rooms for two nights in The Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin, bought by Donagh Kelly of KN Group – www.kngroup.com
• Two premium rugby tickets for Ireland v Wales game in the Aviva stadium, bought by Donall Barrett of MCR Group – www.mcrgroup.ie
• One night B&B in the Shelbourne Hotel plus chauffeur transfers from anywhere in Ireland – bought by Manus McGarvey of M&N Groundworks – www.mandngroundworks.com
• A framed Donegal GAA Jersey signed by 2017 senior football team, bought by Manus McGarvey of M&N Groundworks
• A one-hour Helicopter Ride for four people around North County Dublin, bought by Karen Reynolds of Matheson Solicitors – www.matheson.com
• A four-ball at Carton House Golf Club plus €200 to spend, bought by Fred Sweeney of BRM Building
• A framed Celtic FC Jersey signed by Brendan Rodgers, bought by Ciaran McBride of Irish Chauffeurs – www.irishchauffeurs.com
