“A nation’s strength lies in the spirit of its people.” This timeless truth echoed powerfully throughout Carlow on Friday, 14th November 2025, as the Club Carlow Business Summit brought together more than 400 business leaders for an event that blended insight, inspiration, and community pride. Hosted by Club Carlow in partnership with Carlow County Council and Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet, the summit showcased the unique synergy that emerges when sport and enterprise work hand in hand.
At its core, the summit sought to highlight Empowering Business Resilience, a theme inspired by the values that have long defined both the GAA and Carlow’s business community: resilience, teamwork, leadership, and unwavering commitment. The gathering drew some of Ireland’s most influential figures in sport and business, creating an atmosphere charged with ambition and shared purpose.
Speakers including Brian Cody, Jim Gavin, Anne Heraty, and Denis O’Brien brought a depth of experience that resonated strongly with attendees. Their contributions carried a collective message that success, whether on the field or in the boardroom, depends on resilience, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence with consistency and focus. These insights strengthened the sense that Carlow’s entrepreneurs and leaders are not only part of a local ecosystem but contributors to a national conversation about the future of business in Ireland.
David Walsh, Chairperson of Club Carlow, captured the spirit of the day when he remarked, “At its heart, business is about people building connections, strengthening relationships, and creating opportunities to work together. The Club Carlow Business Summit acted as a catalyst for those connections, supporting our business ecosystem while reflecting the same spirit of community and teamwork we see in sport. It is through these relationships that real growth and resilience are achieved.” His words underscored an essential truth: meaningful relationships, collaboration, and shared vision remain the foundation of a thriving enterprise community.
The summit was not only a forum for ideas; it also served as a rallying point for a broader ambition the development of a Centre of Excellence for GAA in Carlow. The widespread support expressed throughout the event demonstrated a collective belief that when sport excels, business excels, and when business excels, the entire county benefits. This alignment between sporting aspiration and economic ambition is a hallmark of what makes Carlow’s community so cohesive and forward-looking.
Adding to the sense of occasion was the special arrival of the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy Cups, symbols of achievement at the highest level of Irish sport. Attendees also enjoyed a vibrant charity auction hosted by Eoin Conroy, which contributed additional energy to the afternoon and helped raise significant funds in support of the county’s sporting vision.
Cllr. Ken Murnane, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, reflected on the deeper meaning of the summit, saying, “The strength of Carlow lies in its people in our ability to connect, to support each other, and to remain resilient in the face of challenges. The Club Carlow Business Summit was about powering those networks, harnessing our community spirit, and building a culture where businesses and communities can thrive together.” His comments reinforced the importance of unity, collaboration, and local pride as drivers of economic and social development.
In concluding remarks, David Walsh described the summit as “the best business event he had ever attended,” noting that the presence of so many business leaders and their management teams had not only inspired new connections but also generated substantial support for Carlow’s sporting future. His words reflected the overall sentiment in the room: this gathering was more than an event it was a milestone in strengthening the county’s entrepreneurial and community fabric.
The 2025 Club Carlow Business Summit stands as a testament to what can be achieved when enterprise, sport, and community come together with shared ambition. It offers a powerful reminder that the true strength of a county lies not only in its economic output or sporting victories, but in the collective spirit that drives people to build, support, and uplift one another. In Carlow, that spirit is not only alive it is thriving.
