Cork City Business Gets Chance to Shine at Ploughing 2026
02/09/2026
A small business from Cork City – Second Street Bakeshop - will get the chance to exhibit and sell their products to almost 300,000 people at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co. Offaly this month as part of the Local Enterprise Village.
Second Street Bakeshop, supported by Local Enterprise Office, Cork City, is an award-winning Cork confectionery company, handcrafting small batch toffee treats using premium Irish ingredients.
Owner, Claire Keane, is looking forward to the event: “Opportunities like the Ploughing can make a real difference to a small business. As a return immigrant, I came back to Cork and found my way as an entrepreneur with the support and guidance of the Local Enterprise Office in Cork City. To now have the opportunity to represent LEO Cork City at one of Ireland’s biggest events is incredibly special. We’re delighted to be bringing a taste of Cork — and our love of toffee — to the Local Enterprise Village at this year’s National Ploughing Championships.”
The Local Enterprise Village, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, will house over 30 small businesses from across the country and will be located at the heart of this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Offaly from the 15th to 17th September.
This year the Local Enterprise Village will also have a Business Advice Hub for any budding entrepreneurs or existing businesses who want to get advice from the Local Enterprise Offices Specialist Business Advisors. So, for anyone who has a business idea that wants to figure out how to get it off the ground or for someone with an existing business who may want advice on funding, sustainability or building digital and AI into their business there will be advisors on hand to meet with.
With close to 300,000 visitors expected across the three days of the event the Local Enterprise Village provides these small businesses with significant exposure to new audiences and potential new customers. Enterprise Europe Network will also be based in the Village for the first time, giving advice to businesses who want to begin looking at new markets across the EU.
Dr. Niall O’Keeffe, Head of Enterprise at LEO Cork City said: “This is an opportunity like no other for a small business in Ireland. The chance to bring their ideas and products to almost 300,000 potential customers is a showcase like no other. The Local Enterprise Village has become one of those areas everyone wants to drop into to find their local business and see what they can pick up.This year we are building out our offering to small businesses who may be attending the Ploughing or maybe those that have a great idea and don’t know where to start with our Start-Up Advisor Hub. Enterprise Europe Network will also be on site to help open new doors across the EU. And then there is so much for visitors too with a huge variety of businesses exhibiting this year highlighting the depth of sectors that the Local Enterprise Offices support from manufacturing and food and beverage, to software solutions and fashion. Whatever you are interested in there is something for everyone at the Local Enterprise Village.”
With some of the biggest companies and organisations in Ireland taking up residence at the Ploughing every year, the Local Enterprise Village continues to be a popular destination on the site for those looking to pick up something unique to bring home from some of the best small businesses in Ireland.
The Local Enterprise Village will showcase the very best of Irish entrepreneurship and will house businesses across all sectors from clothing, craft and artisanal food to bovine genetics and woodwork machinery.
Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association, said: “The Local Enterprise Village is such a valuable part of the Ploughing, giving small Irish businesses from across the country the opportunity to showcase what they do to the huge crowds that attend each year. We are delighted to welcome the 31 businesses selected this year and it’s great to see them have the opportunity to reach new customers and showcase their products and services to such a large audience. It’s great to welcome the Local Enterprise Offices who will be on hand offering advice and support and to see the valuable supports available to small businesses and budding entrepreneurs.”