Business leader Norah Casey calls on government to do more to inspire businesses and entrepreneurs to set up - and scale up - outside of Dublin
- Western Atlantic Corridor has ‘massive untapped potential,’ says Casey
- ‘Powering Up- Scaling for Impact’ event in Carrick on Shannon on October 3
Irish businesses need more support, incentives - ‘and inspiration’ - to set up outside of Dublin and boost regional development, says leading entrepreneur, business figure and broadcaster Norah Casey.
According to Casey, there is ‘massive, untapped potential’ for economic growth along Ireland’s Western Corridor – but the ambition must be backed by more strategic investment, better infrastructure, and support for local enterprises.
Casey, who has enjoyed a highly successful and varied business and broadcasting career, was speaking ahead of an event she will host, organised by Carrick Business Campus Advisory Group and Leitrim County Council, called ‘Powering Up- Scaling for Impact.’
The event on Friday, October 3, will see businesses and senior business leaders meeting in Carrick Business Campus for a series of high-powered talks and panel discussions centred around helping businesses to scale in Ireland and beyond.
Casey, whose mother is from Leitrim, is an advisory board member of Carrick Business Campus and believes centres such as this can help the next generation of entrepreneurs to flourish. She said Leitrim, where she regularly spends time, was home to standout global success stories such as Pat Rigney and The Shed Distillery, and that with the right supports, more Irish enterprises could achieve global success from a rural base.
‘Powering Up- Scaling for Impact’ takes place just days before Budget 2026 which will put a focus on what supports the Government has for Irish businesses and entrepreneurs over the coming 12 months. Current issues facing businesses include VAT rates for the hospitality industry, minimum wage requirements, and pension auto-enrolment schemes.
Commenting, Norah Casey said:
“There is a real need to look at growth in towns along the Western Atlantic Corridor including Carrick on Shannon and Sligo, so we can finally create much-promised regional development and spread the focus away from Dublin.
“Some good things have happened - broadband connectivity is certainly better and there are a lot of existing supports for business and enterprises – but we need far better infrastructure and housing and affordable childcare, for example to attract investment and create successful businesses.
“The region also needs a better share of Foreign Direct Investment. We have seen in Leitrim how people with big ideas have pulled it off by having big ambition and a global mindset – I’d love to see many other businesses do the same thing.
“At Powering Up-Scaling for Impact, people will get an opportunity to hear some amazing success stories and get advice on how to be successful themselves. When you want to know how to get somewhere, what better way than to ask someone who is already there. This event is a must-attend for anyone enthusiastic about Ireland’s entrepreneurial future.”
The October 3rd event will feature a lineup of speakers from across sectors such as technology, science as well as food and drinks industry. Mr. Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, will also attend and deliver the opening remarks.
Panel discussions on leadership will include Pat Rigney of the Shed Distillery, Karen May of Xocean and Colm Hamrogue of Atlantic Aviation Group. A second panel will analyse enterprise and growth and feature Paula Fitzsimons from Going for Growth, Méabh Conaghan, Regional Director, Enterprise Ireland, and Geraldine McLoughlin from the Western Development Commission Investment Fund.
To register for the event, please book through the following link https://www.localenterprise.ie/Leitrim/Training-Events/Online-Bookings/Powering-Up-Scaling-For-Impact-3rd-Oct-2025.html