GMIT Innovation Centre
Spirit of Entrepreneurship
By Judith Feehan
18, Aug 2011 - 21:05

Two leading entrepreneurs to tell their ‘start-up' story.

Several hundred people are expected to attend the annual GMIT Innovation in Business Centre (IiBC) "Spirit of Entrepreneurship" event in GMIT Castlebar on Monday 19th September to hear about funding sources and supports for start-ups.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny will attend the event which commences at 5pm in St Mary's Hall, GMIT. Two leading entrepreneur businessmen, Sean Gallagher, panelist on tv programme Dragon's Den, and Ciaran Crean, co-founder of micksgarage.ie, will address the gathering. This is the fifth year the GMIT Innovation Centre (Castlebar) has hosted the Spirit of Entrepreneurship event. Previous speakers include Jerry Kennelly, Stockbyte & Tweak, Frank Salmon, CMS Peripherals, John Concannon, JFC Manufacturing, Tommy Griffith, PEL Recycling, Sean Rowland, Hibernia College, Leonard Moran, Ovagen and Biological Labs Ballina, and Jonathon Ruane, Eventovate. This year's event is sponsored by CMS Peripherals, Kiltimagh.

The entrepreneurship event begins with client companies in GMIT's Innovation Centres showcasing their products and services. This will be followed by talks from two guest entrepreneurs, Dragons Den panelist and entrepreneur Sean Gallagher, who will speak about what investors look for in a promoter and pitch, and Ciaran Crean, entrepreneur and co-founder of micksgarage.ie, who will talk about selling car parts on-line and e-commerce, and how his website business has grown.

Three companies from the GMIT Innovation Centres will also pitch their business ideas to the general public.

Maria Staunton, Manager IiBC, GMIT Castlebar, says: "We want to get people thinking about setting up their own business or developing their existing business further. This event will outline the funding sources and supports available, while successful entrepreneurs who have been through it all will tell their own stories. It will also give potential entrepreneurs a good understanding of what our Innovation Centre here offers. Our overall aim is to create more start-up companies in our regio

Admission is free. Booking is advisable as places are limited. Register your attendance either by e-mail iibccastlebar@gmit.ie or telephone: 094-9043198. The Spirit of Entrepreneurship event is sponsored by CMS Peripherals, Kiltimagh. E.Irl are also supporting the event.

This event is being held as part of Mayo Ideas Week, which runs from 19 to 23 September. During Mayo Ideas Week a series of idea generation and entrepreneurship events are hosted by business development organisations and enterprise support agencies in Co Mayo.