Chamber AGM 2011 - Welcome Mr President – Padraic Kierans
There was excitement in the air as an excited audience awaited for the news of who their new President would be at the D Hotel on Thursday last.
The formalities of the AGM were observed and Nuala Spiteri of Matthews Walsh & Co. detailed the Chamber accounts. Mayor Paul Bell spoke of his term coming to an end but how he shared the desire to work closely together with the Chamber, the Borough and the Drogheda Economic Forum. He spoke of how it is extremely difficult for businesses at present but that he wished all the Chamber members support, for their future endeavors and congratulated the Chamber for their success and hard work.
Patricia White, Office manager of the Chamber brought the group through the different committees and arms of the Chamber and all the work that gets done behind the scenes in order to help the business community. Along with the various committees Patricia highlighted work that the Chamber does with the Drogheda & Louth Economic Forums and how the Chamber is constantly working on behalf of their members.
Graham Hughes’ final address summed up the year we’ve just had, and the rewarding, loyal individuals who have helped along the way. He made reference to the fact that Drogheda is best placed for any business with our rail, road, sea & air network. Hughes acknowledged that there is still a lot of work to be done in the town but that the Chamber will continue to work on behalf of their members.
Hughes received a huge round of applause for his hard work and dedication over the last year before reading out the nomination for President, Mr Padraic Kierans from Anglo Printers. Kierans was “proposed” and “seconded” by the floor and upon receiving the Chains of Presidency, addressed the crowd with an extremely uplifting speech.
Kierans is Drogheda born and bred and hopes to fulfill his role as President by being equally as effective as his predecessors. He indicated his motives for taking up the position: “I have no illusions about the challenge which faces me in this role. I have not taken the job to be the big guy with the chains, for the pictures in the paper, for the betterment of my own fortune, or that of my business. I also know that when you put your head above the parapet in taking a job like this, that you are bound to attract criticism from all quarters. I am prepared for that, and welcome all criticism, however I urge those who wish to knock me for my efforts, that you better have a better proposal, or a better plan than mine – because if I am bitten – rest assured I will bite back, for the Chamber and its members!”
He acknowledged that the Chamber has a lot of work to do, to better communicate with their members and to be more vocal on everyday issues effecting businesses. He is actively involved in the Rates Campaign and will continue to fight this battle, but this is not the only issue on the table for businesses. Kierans said “We must push our policies on those who will listen, but more importantly on those who will not”.
He then went on to outline what the Chamber means to him, and should mean to it’s members “I firmly believe in the motto of the Chamber – “In Business for Business”. But what does that mean? For me it means the Chamber is the voice of Business in the locality. It is the platform on which we build the foundations of change which are needed for all our businesses to succeed. It is the coming together of like-minded, focussed, driven, business owners and managers who want their businesses to be the best they can. Chamber is about us – the business people of Drogheda – working together as a unit to lead the wider community to a better future for our businesses, for our employees, and for this great, great town of Drogheda and its citizens.”
Kierans then went on to indicate the passion he has for the town of Drogheda, “I love Drogheda. I know what Drogheda has to offer. Drogheda must promote itself better, it must showcase its wealth of assets. Drogheda must become a Destination, a Destination for business, for pleasure, for tourism, for Arts & Culture, and should live up to its title of ‘Irelands biggest town’ and more passionately shout the strapline under the new logo ‘Star of the East Coast’. Why not? Why can’t we aspire to this? No reason whatsoever,” he continued.
The new President went on to point out that he wanted to shake up the current Chamber, “I want to re-invigorate the Membership of the Chamber, I want to reach out to all business owners big and small to say – ‘You are not alone’. Retail, SME’s, Sole Traders, Partnerships, Multi-nationals – whatever level you are at - We want to talk to you, we want to listen to you, but most of all we want you to get involved to help us help one another. Together we have one very strong voice, together we can form and present Policy to the Local Authority, to State Agencies and to Central Government which can influence their decision making on business related matters. Please consider this appeal and I encourage each and every one of you here to engage with your peers to bring forward new members to Chamber, and bring forward your ideas, which we can push for together with gusto! “
Kierans went on to stress how important it was for Business Owners and Managers to remain positive, “It is my aim during this term of office to be positive in my representation of Drogheda as a Destination of choice for all the great reasons outlined earlier. All the reports from Indecon and Bacon tell us that we are best positioned with 1.7m people within a 60km Radius to grow, and prosper. Grow and Prosper – we haven’t heard those words in a long time now have we? How can we do this? We can do this by pushing our policy on those who will listen, and more importantly those who wont!! We can do this by working together with Chamber as the vehicle to effect the changes needed.”
In conclusion the new President of Drogheda & District Chamber quoted Charles Tandy (Irish Author and Philosopher); ““It is tempting to call for better leadership, but we probably expect
too much from the leaders of the nations. Those nations are too big, the connections not strong enough, the commitment to the future not long enough. It is better to look smaller, to our now-
smaller organisations, to local communities and cities, to families and clusters of friends, to small networks of portfolio people with time to give to something bigger than themselves. We have to fashion our own directions in our own places.” “
Kierans called on all Businesses to support him and the Chamber in the term ahead, and to join the Chamber in its quest, “I do not have all the answers, and I will fail in many things that I will try to do. But I will try and keep on trying for the right reasons – for my Business, for your Business, and for Drogheda. I implore you to support me, to support the Chamber. We are all volunteers, giving our time for the improvement of business and provision of better business conditions. Come join with us, lets move forward together – Grow and Prosper, Grow and Prosper!”
Padraic is looking forward to that challenges that lie ahead and thanked his family and colleagues in their support of his new role.
The AGM concluded with the newly voted in Council, President and members enjoying a summer BBQ with friends & Colleagues while wishing Padraic Kierans much success in his new role as President.
