Business breakfast briefing
Business Breakfast Briefing with Tánaiste Simon Harris – A Huge Success for Wicklow’s Business Community
East Wicklow Business Network (EWBN) hosted a packed house at The GRID on Friday morning for its first Business Breakfast Briefing since the summer break — and what an inspiring morning it was.
In partnership with the Wicklow Local Enterprise Office (LEO), the event brought together entrepreneurs, employers, and community leaders from across the county to share insights, exchange ideas, and connect over coffee. The briefing featured an outstanding line-up of speakers, including Tánaiste Simon Harris TD, entrepreneur and broadcaster Seán Gallagher, and Feargal McKenna of Moneycube.ie, with Louise Gaskin, incoming EWBN Chairperson, and Vibeke Delahunt from the Wicklow LEO also addressing attendees.
A Morning of Insights, Inspiration, and Action
Tánaiste Simon Harris TD reminded attendees that Irish businesses thrive on consistency and clarity, not uncertainty about whether future budgets will support enterprise. While promising that this year’s Budget would be “unapologetically pro-business”, he underscored a more enduring message: stability and strategic planning are the real foundations of business success.
Seán Gallagher challenged the room to reflect — both professionally and personally.
From a business perspective, he asked: Are we really capitalising on demand from international markets like Japan and the MENA region? If not, why not?
On a personal level, he urged everyone to silence the inner voice that says “don’t ask” and to take action. His message resonated so strongly that one attendee literally leapt to her feet to seize the moment.
Gallagher also drew a powerful distinction between management and leadership:
“Management is about maintaining the status quo. Leadership is about guiding your business through change.”
Feargal McKenna of Moneycube.ie built on that theme, linking leadership to practical action around the upcoming Auto-Enrolment (AE) rollout in January 2026. He compared introducing AE on a separate platform to “asking Dubliners to drive on the opposite side of the road” — a recipe for confusion. Instead, he invited businesses to prepare early and explore better options by testing Moneycube’s free Auto-Enrolment Calculator for employers:
👉 Try the AE Calculator
Local Enterprise, Local Support
Vibeke Delahunt, Head of Enterprise at Wicklow LEO, shared details of the many soft supports available to help businesses cut overheads, lower carbon footprints, and embrace digital innovation. Her message was clear: every Wicklow business should engage with the LEO — those who don’t risk missing valuable growth opportunities.
Louise Gaskin, incoming EWBN Chairperson, reflected on a year of progress for the network — from growing membership and hosting social and educational events, to developing a new framework of workshops designed to help local businesses thrive.
Looking Ahead: Digital Marketing Through AI
Attendees also had an exclusive opportunity to pre-register for EWBN’s upcoming “Smarter Marketing with AI” workshop in partnership with the KWETB, taking place this October. The workshop will equip business owners with practical tools to harness AI for marketing and productivity — and spaces are already filling fast.
A Community Effort
The event was made possible through the voluntary efforts of EWBN’s committee, the support of its members, and the generous sponsorship of Storm Recruitment. As always, the network’s strength lies not only in financial contributions but also in the energy, interaction, and ideas members bring to every event.
EWBN: Supporting, Connecting, and Growing Wicklow’s Business Community
The September Business Breakfast Briefing was a reminder of what makes Wicklow’s business community so special — collaboration, curiosity, and the shared drive to help each other succeed.
Stay tuned for more upcoming events and workshops — including the AI Digital Marketing Workshop this October — and be part of a network that’s helping local business flourish.
👉 Join EWBN today to connect with peers, gain insights, and help shape the future of Wicklow’s enterprise community.
