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Online seminar on government supports for new start-ups


The Dublin P&PR and Dublin Freelance branches are hosting an online seminar on Irish government supports for start-up businesses. The seminar will be held on the evening of June


24th on Zoom, at a time to be announced. The event will be chaired by NUJ rep George Kiely, who has more than 30 years experience in developing business. The seminar will focus on the financial assistance


and other supports that Irish state-sponsored bodies have to offer micro-businesses, but will also address such issues as how to start a micro-business, developing a business plan and how to approach a bank.


Fergal Bowers goes on record for Covidaid Ireland charity project


Fergal Bowers, RTÉ health correspondent, is part of the team behind a new charity music project, Covidaid Ireland, to help people meet the challenges brought by the coronavirus crisis.


The project will benefit Age Action Ireland and its


hardship fund, which was established with the Irish Red Cross. The funds will be used to assist people most in need who have been affected by Covid-19. Covidaid features a song originally recorded by


Mike Oldfield in 1975, ‘On Horseback’, which has been re-imagined musically for the fundraiser. The single is available for download on iTunes, GooglePlay and all other music platforms for €1.29. The project features singers and musicians who


have volunteered their time, including Gemma Goodey, Noah Byrne, Robyn Byrne, Emma Burke, Isla Burke, Eoin Burke, Niamh Grant, Moya Grant, Méabha Lynch, Veronica Rickets, Lauren Rix and Aoibhe Smyth. The guitarist is Kyle Tyther. Covidaid Ireland was devised by Fergal, who


provides the spoken word on the song, with Irish producer and composer Gary Grant, who produced


the track. Fergal collaborated with Gary to create this coming together of musicians and singers from the four corners of Ireland, while Gary, based in Canada, is under lockdown in Toronto. The main sponsor is Uniflu and the initiative is also supported by the Irish Pharmacy Union, with community pharmacies promoting the song. Paddy Connolly, Chief Executive of Age Action


Ireland said,:“Age Action needs to raise at least €250,000 to be able to meet current need, so we hope that the public will get behind Covidaid Ireland, download the song or donate at the Covidaid Ireland GoFundMe page today to help us help older people in vulnerable situations.”


Visit www.covidaidireland.ie for more. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) located in


every county in Ireland are particularly relevant here, and there are also many providers of financial and training schemes for individuals and groups interested in starting a business. Experts in the sector, particularly LEOs, will engage with participants in this interactive online seminar. Barry McCall proposed the event and organisers


said the seminar will be of great use to journalists and other members interested in creating new enterprises within the sector.


For more information, contact the P&PR branch at nuj.dublin.ppr@gmail.com.


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