Kilkenny Chamber held its 77th Annual General Meeting at The Bridge House Suite at the Kilkenny River Court Hotel on Thursday, 10th April.
Chamber President Anne Barber paid tribute to the hard work the Chamber has undertaken over the past year, reflecting on a period of resilience, progress, and impactful engagement with the business community.
Kilkenny Chamber President Anne Barber said,
“Throughout the year, the Chamber has remained committed to its mission: to represent, support, and champion our members. Our focus has remained steadfast – to create an environment where businesses can grow and flourish. The past year has been a busy one for the Chamber, with a growing membership and ever-increasing event attendance. A strong Chamber is essential, not just locally, but also as part of Chambers Ireland, the largest business network in the country.”
A major initiative introduced this year was the Kilkenny Gift Card, a prepaid credit card designed to keep consumer spending within the local economy.
Since its launch in November, the Kilkenny Gift Card has proven successful. In December alone, €35,000 was spent using the gift card in over 120 outlets in Kilkenny, €25,000 in January, and €20,000 redeemed in Co. Kilkenny in February. These outlets include cafés, restaurants, retail shops, hotels, pubs and more across the city and county.
Kilkenny Chamber plays a key role in business advocacy lobbying at both local and national levels. A significant development saw Kilkenny Chamber CEO John Hurley appointed to the Board of Chambers Ireland, strengthening Kilkenny’s voice in national policymaking.
President Barber reaffirmed that supporting business education and development remained a priority, with the Chamber facilitating workshops and talks on critical issues such as tax planning, retail training, cyber security, and pension auto-enrolment.
Kilkenny’s economic landscape was further bolstered by major investment wins, such as State Street and Abbott launching new facilities locally. “…having companies such as Abbott and State Street and others choose Kilkenny for their operations is a great statement of confidence and one we can be very proud of.” The President commented.
She also welcomed Claire McInerney Brown, CEO Tradebridge, as the Vice-President for 2025-2026 and said she looked forward to working with her over the coming year.
Sustainability will continue to feature prominently on the Chamber’s agenda, and a new event series focusing on environmental responsibility was launched at this year’s AGM.
Before the AGM concluded, CEO John Hurley thanked ex-officio President Brian Keyes and the Board for their service, acknowledging the contributions of Joan Butler of T. Butler Engineering and Margaret Clancy who are stepping down from the Board. He also welcomed Pat O’Donnell, Vice President State Street Global Services, as a new member of the Board of Directors. Finally he thanked his colleague Róisín McQuillan for her tireless dedication and excellent work.
“Kilkenny businesses will rise to any challenge, and Kilkenny Chamber will always be here to support them.” Chamber President Anne Barber concluded.
Details of the Chamber Board of Directors can be found here.
Photograph: CEO John Hurley, Vice President Claire McInerney Brown, and President Anne Barber (photograph by Vicky Comerford.