Clonmel Chamber of Commerce figured prominently in the Chamber of the Year Awards held at the Marriott Hotel, Druids Glen, Wicklow on Tuesday, 13 May by being nominated for four of the six awards and walking away with the title of Ireland’s Most Improved Chamber.

In the top award category, Chamber of the Year, the nominees were Cork, Limerick, Wexford and Clonmel chambers.  This was won by Cork which is seven times the size of Clonmel Chamber (Limerick Chamber is five times and Wexford is twice the size of Clonmel). 

Limerick and Wexford were also nominated for the Most Improved Chamber award but this went to Clonmel in recognition of the great strides made during 2007.  The citation mentioned Clonmel’s two highly successful conferences on shaping the future of the town, the excellence of the operating plan, which the Chamber is working to, and the considerable growth in membership.

The President of Clonmel Chamber, Declan Byrne, expressed his delight at this award and paid tribute to the Chamber’s Board and staff members for what had been achieved in the face nationwide competition.  “This event is the ‘Oscars’ for Ireland’s chambers and it is marvellous that Clonmel figured so prominently on the national stage. There are 60 chambers affiliated to Chambers Ireland and this is the first time that Clonmel has won an award. I urge business people in Clonmel who are not yet members to join us and help make the Chamber an even stronger voice on behalf of local business.”

Clonmel Chamber had the second highest number of nominations.  It was also nominated for Best Local & District Chamber (with Cobh, Wexford and Newbridge) – Cobh and Wexford shared this award.  Finally, Clonmel was nominated in the Most Innovative Commercial Project category (in recognition of the Chamber’s work in bringing an ice rink to Clonmel) – also nominated in this category were Waterford, Wexford and Carlow with the latter taking that title. 

Best Event of the Year was won by Kilkenny Chamber and Bray Chamber won the award for Best Lobbying Campaign.  The awards were presented at a glittering banquet with a packed attendance.  The sponsors are Vodafone who regard the chambers as key contributors to the success of local business and enterprise.  The Awards recognise the dynamism of the chamber movement and the part played by chambers in generating a positive environment in which business can be transacted with maximum benefit.

Clonmel Chamber to represent Ireland at US convention

Clonmel Chamber of Commerce will have a representative at this year’s convention of American Chamber of Commerce Executives in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.  This is courtesy of a scholarship presented by the Greater Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce and offered to members of the World Chambers Federation which is based in Paris.

Clonmel Chamber President Declan Byrne commented: “This is an international achievement for Clonmel Chamber and we will be sending our CEO Frank O’Donoghue to this convention which is specially geared for Chamber organisers.  Some 1,200 people mostly from US Chambers will attend the four-day event at the end of July which will include 60 workshops and the world’s largest exhibition for chambers with 80 exhibitors offering products aimed at the chamber movement. Clonmel will be representing Ireland and this exposure should help Clonmel Chamber move forward even more rapidly.”

Clonmel Chamber is one of ten recipients of a scholarship to the Pittsburgh event which will commence on 30 July.  The other winners come from all over the world, e.g. India, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, the Philippines, Fiji and Bangladesh.  The only other English speaking scholarship winner is from the British Chambers of Commerce which is the umbrella organisation for the British Chambers.  Clonmel will be the only Chamber to fly the Irish flag.

Clonmel Chamber AGM

 A packed attendance participated in the Chamber's AGM on Tuesday 11 March 2008. Besides reviewing the past year's activities, the many members present introduced their businesses to fellow members and this facilitated considerable networking.

 The venue was the magnificent boardroom at Abbott Vascular which is large enough to accommodate the 62 representatives of member companies who attended this highly successful and enjoyable function.