The Annual General Meeting of Kilkenny Chamber took place on Thursday 25th April at 1.00 pm, in Butler House, Kilkenny.
Anne Barber, proprietor of Butterslip on Rose Inn Street, was elected President for the year 2024-2025. She began her address by paying tribute to outgoing President Brian Keyes, who has combined his active role in the Chamber with a busy job in Iconic Media and who was always available to give his insight and advice.
She welcomed the five new members to the Board, saying it is very exciting to bring fresh ideas and a new perspective is always healthy. She thanked the outgoing board members, Michael Brannigan, Deirdre Shine, Gordon Murphy, Martin Costello and John Masterson for their dedication and contributions to the Chamber over the length of their directorships.
Reflecting on her experience of coming to live in Kilkenny and setting up her new business, Anne said it was her sincere wish that everyone who lives in Kilkenny or arrives from elsewhere should find the same spirit of openness and opportunity that she found.
She pledged to engage with the members and to listen to their ideas and bring them to the Board for consideration.
During the course of her speech, the President announced a Chamber Projects Fund with the aim to utilise the Chamber’s resources, both financial and other, to support and enable the delivery of positive initiatives for Kilkenny that would otherwise not happen.
She also announced the move of the highly successful Kilkenny Gift Voucher project to a digital model in the coming months, and while this will require considerable investment of time, money and resources, the Chamber sees huge potential for growth of the scheme over the coming years.
The Chamber will continue to support local initiatives such as Yulefest and will explore opportunities to further expand its Christmas Lights provision. She took the opportunity to give credit to Marian Flannery and her hard working team for bringing Yulefest to life in 2023 and said that as a city centre business owner she could see first hand the benefits and the joy that such events bring to the city.
In ending her speech, the President paid tribute to the small but dedicated office staff, CEO John Hurley and Business Development Officer Róisín McQuillan.
The following officers were elected: Ex-Officio President Brian Keyes, Vice President: Claire McInerney Brown, Hon Secretary / Company Secretary: Owen Sweeney; Hon. Treasurer: Deborah Broaders; Hon. Assistant Treasurer: Mary Brennan; PR Officer: Sally Leadbetter
The following Directors were elected:
Marion Acreman, Colin Ahern, Paschal Bergin, Joan Butler, Margaret Clancy, Jason Dempsey, Gavin Dixon, Gary Graham, Lorraine Hayden, Ann Mulrooney, Tom O’Connor.