Tralee Chamber hosted its annual Presidents Lunch on Friday 24th November 2023 at the Rose Hotel, Tralee. Newly elected Tralee Chamber President Stephen Stack, along with keynote speakers David Walsh, CEO of Halocare and President of MTU Prof. Maggie Cusack attended the sold-out event.

Speaking at the lunch, Colette O’Connor CEO of Tralee Chamber presented an overview of progress Tralee Chamber has made in 2023, saying: “membership has grown by 78%, while, either directly or indirectly, Tralee Chamber has supported 7 festivals and events in Tralee. 2023 also saw the Chamber lobbying for increased connectivity from Kerry Airport, while also being represented on the Shannon Estuary Taskforce Tourism sub-group.”

She paid special recognition to the Tralee Tidy Town Committee and the business community of Tralee who came out in force to support them. She added that “today’s lunch is a platform to offer stakeholders a thorough understanding of the Chamber’s initiatives, the individuals contributing, and our ambitious plans for 2024. As we enter the festive season, the Chamber is eagerly anticipating a bustling period with all resources dedicated to the Christmas in Tralee programme.”

Also speaking at the Tralee Chamber President’s lunch, newly appointed President Stephen Stack expressed his enthusiasm for the Astellas project, highlighting its potential to be a game changer for Tralee. Stack commended Kerry County Council for its proactive efforts in enhancing the town’s infrastructure, setting the stage for such progressive developments.

“Tralee is poised for a positive transformation, and the Astellas announcement is a testament to the town’s potential,” remarked Stack. He emphasised that Tralee is not only a great place to live, with a growing population, but also a thriving University town and a vital economic driver for the South-West region. Commending the outgoing President Nathan McDonnell for his ideas and enthusiasm, Stack affirmed his commitment to building on the foundation laid by his predecessor.

The event also featured insightful contributions from distinguished speakers, including Prof. Maggie Cusack from MTU, who expressed her vision for the university to be the “first choice for students”, providing an environment for “continuous excellence”.

David Walsh, the guest speaker from Netwatch and HaloCare, shared valuable insights on how businesses can drive or fall victim to change. Emphasising the pivotal role of innovation and culture, Walsh urged businesses to recruit positive, ambitious individuals who share core values.