Sean Gallagher

REAL CRISIS: Homeless people sleeping in tents

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Our children do not deserve to suffer such a terrible trauma

With almost 4,000 children homeless today across Ireland, there is no way to describe the current crisis other than as a national disgrace, a disgrace that is being further compounded by the failure of the Government to provide proper leadership on the issue.

Sean Gallagher with John Lyng of MDI Medical. Photo: Damien Eagers

Health is wealth for medtech team

Set up in 1988 and now owned by John Lyng and Sean Kiernan, MDI Medical is a leading distributor of diagnostic medical equipment. Headquartered in Kells Business Park in Co Meath, and with offices in Belfast, west Lancashire in England, and in New York, the company employs 32 staff and has an annual turnover of €11m.

Sean Gallagher with Patrick Doyle, managing director of Halo Tiles and Bathrooms at his showroom in Camolin, Co Wexford. Photo: Damien Eagers

How to use tiles to build a brand

Located in Camolin in Co Wexford, Halo Tiles is a specialist tile, flooring and bathroom retail and distribution business. Set up in 1972 by husband and wife team Tom and Sheila Doyle, and now run by their son Patrick, the company employs 23 staff and has an annual turnover of €6m.

PRINCIPLE: Sean Gallagher with his wife Trish and their children Bobby and Lucy

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A small elite seems to think an election doesn't fit its agenda

'The President shall be elected by direct vote of the people' - Article 12.2.1 Bunreacht na hEireann

Sean Gallagher with Apex Fire managing director Declan Kelly and finance director Adrian McCabe. Photo Lorraine Tevan

Fire safety firm reels in clients

Apex Fire specialises in the supply and servicing of fire protection and fire detection equipment. Headquartered in Moynehall in Cavan town, the company has offices in Dublin and Cork as well as depots in Athlone, Sligo, Limerick and Derry. It employs 101 staff and are on target to achieve annual revenues of more than €8m before the end of the year.

Sean Gallagher with John and Noreen Doyle of Irish Biltong. Photo David Conachy

Couple shake up the snack sector

Set up in 2015 and located in Toughers Business Park, Naas, Co Kildare, Irish Biltong is the brainchild of husband and wife duo John and Noreen Doyle. Already employing six full-time and four part-time staff, their healthy snack food business is on target to hit annual revenues of more than €1.1m.

Sean Gallagher with Jo Davey from Dublin-based food company Absolute Nutrition. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Tasting success with healthy snacks

Set up in 2014 by Jo Davey, Absolute Nutrition has won numerous awards for its high-quality range of paleo, high-protein and high-energy treats and snacks. Based in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, the company employs eight staff and is on target to hit revenues of more than €800,000 this year.

Sean Gallagher with Brendan Cumiskey of TC Matthews. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Growing chain has it all covered

Headquartered in Walkinstown, Dublin 12, TC Matthews is well established as a leading brand in the carpet and flooring industry. Bought out in 2003 by Louth man Brendan Cumiskey, the business has grown to 11 shops across Dublin, Louth and Meath, as compared to five shops when he took it over. Employing 55 staff directly and 20 sub-contractors, it is on target to achieve annual revenues of €12m this year.

Sean Gallagher with Aaron Groom and Ronan Flood in their Doyle’s Corner bar, Phibsborough. Picture By David Conachy

And the Oscar goes to ….

The first Oscars Cafe Bar was set up in 2013 by partners Ronan Flood and Aaron Groom. Today the pair operate four outlets across Dublin City; Oscars Cafe Bars in Smithfield Square, Dublin 7 and Fishamble St, Dublin 8, Barbers Bar at Grangegorman and Doyle's Corner in Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7. With employment numbers due to top 90 later this year, the business is on target to achieve annual revenues this year of close to €5m.

10 secrets to business success: Inspiring stories share one common theme - courage

Entrepreneurs play an increasingly important role in our society. Whether providing local services or tackling global challenges, they create jobs, drive economic growth and are the glue that holds our communities together. While Ireland benefits greatly from the 1,200 foreign direct investment companies which have chosen to locate here, I believe that it is our indigenous entrepreneurs who hold the key to Ireland's long-term economic stability.

Sean Gallagher with Audrey Gaffney of Audrey Gaffney and Associates. Photo: David Conachy

'When my younger cousin was diagnosed with cancer, she told me I could go on living my life unfulfilled - or I could do something about it' - Interior designer Audrey Gaffney

Set up in 2008, Audrey Gaffney Associates provides interior architectural design solutions, mostly for the hospitality sector.

Sean Gallagher with Mark O'Loughlin, MD of Sanctuary Synthetics at their HQ in Naas, Co. Kildare. Photo: Tony Gavin

The lawn ranger is riding high

Set up in 2002 by Kildare native Mark O'Loughlin, Sanctuary Synthetics specialises in the supply, installation and wholesale distribution of artificial grass. Based on Military Road Industrial Park in Naas, it employs 14 staff and has an annual turnover of €2m.

Sean Gallagher with Rowena Quinn of Hunters Estate agents. Photo: David Conachy

Boutique estate agent becomes hot property with 'the Three Ps - preparation, presentation and price'

Set up in 2012 by Rowena Quinn and Stephen McCarthy, Hunters Estate Agents is now one of the fastest-growing estate agencies in the country.

Sean Gallagher with Tim Dooley, managing director of Dooley Insurance group, and his father Ned. Photo: Mark Condren

Insurer with a client-first policy

The Dooley Insurance Group was set up by Tim Dooley in 2002, who has gone on to acquire a number of similar broker firms - putting him among the top 3pc of brokers in the country. Located in Millennium Park, in Naas, Co Kildare, and with 12 full-time staff, the company has an annual turnover of more than €1.6m.

Sean Gallagher with Jim Hughes from Innovate Photo: Tony Gavin

SMEs on building their companies by harnessing technology

'We enable our client companies to scale their businesses by harnessing the power of technology."

Sean Gallagher with Paul, Angie and Richard Dromgole of Zeba. Photo: Mark Condron

Meet the owners of salon hit Zeba who are doing it with style

This year Paul Dromgoole, his wife Angie and his brother Richard will celebrate 25 years in the hairdressing business. With three salons in Dublin - South William Street, Sandymount Road, and Arnotts Department Store - as well as one in the Manor Mill Shopping Centre in Maynooth, Co Kildare, their company Zeba Hairdressing employs 70 staff and has an annual turnover of more than €3m.

Sean Gallagher with Ian & Joe McGarry from Caragh Nurseries

A blooming great success

Located near the village of Caragh in Co Kildare, Caragh Nurseries is run by husband and wife team Ian and Jo McGarry. Set up in 2004 and spanning 55 acres, the company employs six staff and has an annual turnover of €1.5m.

Sean Gallagher with Piero Tintori from Terminal Four.
Picture By David Conachy 28/3/2018

Edtech chief has higher calling

TerminalFour is a specialist digital marketing and web content management company used by some of the top universities and third level colleges around the world. Set up in 1997 by Dublin man, Piero Tintori while still in college, the business is headquartered on Amiens Street in Dublin and has offices in the UK, USA and Australia. Today the company employs 72 staff and has an annual turnover of more than €10m.

Sean Gallagher with Philip Martin, CEO of Cora Systems. Photo: James Connolly

A global focus in lovely Leitrim

Cora Systems is a global software company set up in 1999 by Philip Martin and wife AnnMarie Burke. Headquartered in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, and with regional offices in London and Boston, the company employs 57 staff and has an annual turnover of €5.5m.

Sean Gallagher meets Graphedia owner Niall Reck. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Designer's firm grasp of Reality

Set up by Niall Reck in 2000 and with offices in Wexford and Kildare, leading digital design company Graphedia employs four staff and has annual revenues of almost €500,000. While it's in a competitive environment where technology is constantly developing, the company has managed to carve out a successful niche for itself in the areas of web design, graphic design, app development and digital animation.

Sean Gallagher with John Molloy and Stephen Byrne from Orca Financial. Photo: David Conachy

Orca chief is man with a plan

Orca Financial was set up in 2004 by John Molloy and Stephen Byrne. Headquartered in The Grange Offices, on the Stillorgan Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin and with a second office in Portlaoise, Co Laois, the company employs 11 staff and this year will see their turnover reach close to €1.5m

Sean Gallagher with James McManus from Earth’s Edge Picture: Gerry
Mooney

Adventure firm aims for summit

Earth's Edge is Ireland's only fully-licensed adventure travel company and specialises in taking clients on adventure holidays and expeditions across the globe. Set up in 2007 by experienced adventurer James McManus and his wife Rosie and located in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, the company employs six staff and has an annual turnover of €1.5m.

Sean Gallagher with Bevin Mahon Photo: Gerry Mooney

Dental firm's service for a smile

Dental Tech was set up by Brian Mahon and his wife Mary in 1993 and today is run by their daughter Bevin Mahon. Headquartered in Terenure, Dublin and with clinics in Waterford, Wexford, Kildare, Cork, Galway and Carlow, the company employs 24 staff and six contractors and this year turnover will reach €2m.

Sean Gallagher with mother and daughter duo Ailish Kelly and Niamh Murdock of The Avoca Clinic. Photo: Gary O Neill

Avoca Clinic at the cutting edge

In an age of social media and selfies, the pressure on women to look their best has never been greater. Advances in surgical and cosmetic procedures makes access to treatments more available to women of all ages. Mother and daughter Ailish Kelly and Niamh Murdock have grown The Avoca Clinic into market leaders.

Sean Gallagher with Brendan Phillips, CEO of OVVO, in Dundalk. Photo: Tom Conachy

Flatpack firm makes connections

Ovvo co-founder and CEO Brendan Phillips explains it simply: "The OVVO Connection system is a unique, patented solution that allows two pieces of material, mostly furniture, to join together invisibly without the use of tools, glues or screws."

Sean Gallagher with Colm O’Brien, founder of Carambola — the company supplies school lunches to more than 32,500 children. Photo: David Conachy

School lunch firm packs punch

Carambola supplies school lunches to more than 32,500 children in 250 schools across Ireland every day. Set up by Colm O'Brien in 2003 and based in Annacotty in Co Limerick, the business employs 130 staff and has an annual turnover of more than €8.5m.

Sean Gallagher and Roisin Lafferty at Kingston Lafferty Design in Dublin. Photo: Mark Condren

Interior design expert on a space odyssey to create exciting rooms

Our physical environments "really do affect our moods and how we live and work," says Roisin Lafferty, co-founder and managing director of Kingston Lafferty Design. Set up in 2010 and based in Eastmoreland Lane, Dublin 4, the company provides professional interior architecture and interior design services to both the commercial and residential sectors.

Sean Gallagher with Gerry Kelly and David O’Neill of Sprintprint. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Printers winning quality race after making shift to digital

Located in the Greenogue Business Park in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, Sprint Print was set up by Gerry Kelly and David O'Neill in 2012 after the printing company where they both worked, closed down. Today they employ three staff and have an annual turnover of €700,000.

Sean Gallagher with Aspira co-founder Pat Lucey. Photo: Mark Condren

IT experts take on tech big guns

Deciding to launch a new business can be daunting, let alone launching one in a sector dominated by large global competitors. Project management software and consulting firm Aspira has done just that and is now on its own journey towards internationalisation.

Sean Gallagher with Ventura’s Juergen Riedel and Arlene
McIntyre at the Ventura head office. Picture: Frank McGrath

Ventura's designs on expansion

The downturn in the construction sector from 2007 onwards led to the demise of many businesses involved in the area of interior design and furniture manufacture. However, Ventura - led by Arlene McIntyre and Juergen Riedel - developed a business model that has seen them continue to grow and thrive.