Naas goes Purple !!!

Naas goes Purple !!!

County Kildare Chamber and Kildare County Council are undertaking a year long project, seeking Purple Flag for Naas town.

Purple Flag is “The Gold Standard” for night time destinations similar to the Blue Flag which is the standard for Ireland’s exceptional beaches. County Kildare Chamber, in collaboration with Kildare County Council are working on this year long project in order to seek accreditation of the Purple Flag for Naas. Being successful, Naas will fly the purple flag as the location of choice for premium hotel leisure breaks, restaurants, and evening entertainment by January 2019. This accolade has been achieved by 21 towns in Ireland – E.g. Kinsale and more locally, Maynooth, increasing tourism numbers and therefore growing employment.

A working group for this project has been formed.  For more details on our project , please contact Jennifer on 045 894074

Naas Wild Food Festival wins Community Project of the Year

Naas Wild Food Festival wins Community Project of the Year

Naas Wild Food Festival wins Community Project of the Year

Wild Food Fest_

The winner of the Inaugural County Kildare Chamber Community Project of the year has been won by Naas Wild Food Festival, a project run by Naas Tidy Towns.  The announcement was made this evening  (Friday 20th October ) by Allan Shine CEO of the Chamber.  It follows a 2 week online voting campaign which had 6 finalists vying for the most public votes.  The 6 finalists were:

Naas Tidy Towns – Wild Food Festival

Clane Project Centre

Kilcullen Market Square Redevelopment Project

Kilcock Men’s Shed

Tea Lane Graveyard Conversation Group

Kildare Town Youth Café

Allan Shine said, “ We received 2733 votes which was excellent, especially as this is the first year of this award category.  The winning project received 27% of the public vote.  They will now be invited as our guests to the Kildare Business Awards on the 17th November in The K Club where they will receive a cash prize of €3,000.   The community project award is a new initiative this year for the Chamber and the award is kindly sponsored by both Kildare County Council and The Queally Group.   Shine continued by saying, “ We received 24 applications this year and this shows the level of community projects that are actively underway in the county.  The Chamber congratulate Bill Clear, the team in Naas Tidy Towns and the community project Naas Wild Food Festival.

Naas Greenway Project

Naas Greenway Project

Naas Tidy Towns are launching their Naas Greenway Project on the Grand Canal at Tandy’s bridge at 3 pm on Saturday 13th June 2015.  The road between Tandy’s bridge and Osberstown bridge will be closed between 12 pm and 6 pm on this day.  (local access only)  (wheelchair parking available)  This will give people an opportunity to walk, cycle, run,  roller blade….. on a road free of vehicular traffic.

Meeting points:   Library 2.45 pm.  Tandy’s bridge 3.00 pm.  All are welcome to walk back to Alice’s restaurant for Tea/ Coffee/ Cake for 4.00 pm.

Bike Week 2015

Bike Week 2015

As part of bikeweek 2015, Kildare County Council wishes to encourage people to cycle into Naas Town Centre rather than to drive.  With funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Kildare County Council is offering a free €5.00 luncheon voucher on Wednesday 17th June to people who cycle to participating cafe’s in Naas.

Date Wednesday 17th June.  Cyclists must ask for their vouchers when ordering

Further information gdorman@kildarecoco.ie

Sunday Business Post Workshop on Naas

Sunday Business Post Workshop on Naas

Nth Kildare chamber Logo

A morning with the Sunday Business Post

Monday 15th June

Killashee Hotel 10am – 12pm

Speakers include Pat Leahy (Deputy Editor and Political Editor) and

 Ian Guider (Markets Editor)

Chairperson Allan Shine North Kildare Chamber

Topics

Kildare, how we can further attract FDI

Budget 2016

Government Policy in assisting SME’s

Branding Kildare

“Ministerless” since 2004, the effect this has on Kildare

Building a high street retail strategy

RSVP to info@northkildarechamber.ie 0r 045 894074

Parking Spaces in Naas

Parking Spaces in Naas

With a massive influx of people expected for Punchestown Festival next week, we thought it would be a great idea to highlight the various different parking spaces around the town.

Parking Map courtesy of Parkopedia.ie

Racing To Keep Up With The Business

Racing To Keep Up With The Business

IT is busiest five days of the year for all in Naas and the surrounding regions. Five packed days of racing at Punchestown means businesses in the town and nearby villages are kept very much in demand before and during the Festival.

Click here to Read More

Naas unites for Punchestown Festival 2015 – Press Release

Naas unites for Punchestown Festival 2015 – Press Release

A new Naas Town Committee was formed in recent weeks under the umbrella of the North Kildare Chamber of Commerce. The new committee has been hard at work over the past few weeks co-ordinating many activities around the upcoming Punchestown Festival. This year there will be buskers on the streets, a farmers market showcasing artisan foods, the town will be awash with Flags, buntings & banners and in excess of 30 businesses are taking part in the “Paint the Town Red competition” with a prize fund of €1,000.

Robert Mehigan, Chair of the Town Committee said, “ Naas is united, we have a newly formed voluntary committee representing 15 businesses from all sectors within Naas.  We are looking forward to the Punchestown festival and our aim over the next 3 months is to map out our key initiatives for the Town of Naas that will assist both the business and the visitor experience in the town. Punchestown is the highlight of the year for many  businesses with local hotels, restaurants, pubs and shops all benefitting from the festival.

Allan Shine, CEO of the North Kildare Chamber said this morning “This year, 12 businesses in Kildare are main sponsors of races at the Punchestown Festival and the economic benefit to the local economy will reach €65 million this year. We are expecting this year’s Festival to break several records especially with the reported increase in visitors from abroad. Every Hotel in Kildare is reporting excellent occupancy figures and this is a great opportunity for us all to showcase the entire County. With a record prize fund, an increase in visitors, an increase in local businesses sponsoring races at the festival and all corporate hospitality sold out in advance, Punchestown Festival 2015 looks set to  remain one of Ireland’s Top Sporting Festival’s.”

ENDS

Kildare County Council Arts Services and North Kildare Chamber join forces with an Artistic Entrepreneur Bursary Fund

Kildare County Council Arts Services and North Kildare Chamber join forces with an Artistic Entrepreneur Bursary Fund

A new exciting bursary fund has been launched this week.  Kildare County Council and North Kildare Chamber have joined forces with a bursary fund of €1500 which will act as a catalyst for an artist to develop their business ideal or a for a fledging arts business to expand.  With the fund of €1500, the winning applicant will also receive complimentary membership of the Chamber for 12 months and can also avail of a free desk in the Chamber I Hub.  The Chamber I Hub is for start-up businesses where a business can avail of office, boardroom and training facilities and can also avail of the Chamber ‘s panel of mentors.

Eoghan Doyle, Assistant Art’s Office said “  With an increasing number of artists looking to develop their creative talents into a strong business, this bursary will be a real boost for a new or developing business in the county. Kildare County Council are delighted to partner with the Chamber on this bursary award. The membership, training and especially the mentoring opportunities from the Chamber will be hugely beneficial to the recipient of the bursary. ”

Allan Shine, Chief Executive of the Chamber said “ I am delighted to partner with the council with this Artistic Entrepreneur Fund, the winning applicant can avail of the services we provide start-up businesses already in place in the Chamber I Hub and can also avail of complementary membership of the Chamber for 12 months.  We provide 140 events per year for our members so the benefits are enormous for the successful person or business.

All details are available online on both websites  www.kildare.ie/artsservices and www.northkildarechamber.ie

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Discounted annual parking for Naas Town Centre Car Park

Discounted annual parking for Naas Town Centre Car Park

North Kildare Chamber have secured a discounted annual price for there members with Naas Town Centre Car Park. Members can now enjoy 25% off Naas Town Centre’s Annual Price of €690. Our annual price is now €550. To avail of this offer, simply contact Allan in the Chamber office. This results in huge savings for businesses and staff in the town.

We are currently working on a range of discounted offers for members of the Chamber.

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