Stradbally Businesswoman Is New President Of Laois Chamber

The 3rd AGM was held today in Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery.

A new President has been appointed to Laois Chamber. 

Yvonne McKeon from McKeon Stone in Stradbally is taking over the role from Alison Browne, of Gerry Browne Jewellers. 

The 3rd AGM was held today in Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery.

It marked a new chapter with the collaboration of Laois Chamber with Laois Tourism to form “Laois Chamber Alliance”. The groups are teaming up to  promote the O'Moore county as the ideal location to live, work, visit and do business.

James McElwee of Rolleston McElwee Solicitors is the newly elected Vice-President, with Fiona Hyland of The Gandon Inn elected as Treasurer and Tom Clowry as Secretary.

Ashleigh Doyle of CJ Sheeran, an existing Director of Laois Chamber, was re-elected. Bernie Foran was also elected as a Director.

Speaking following the AGM, outgoing President Alison Browne said: “This is a very hard-working Chamber, always putting Laois front and centre of every agenda.  Today is the start of another new phase in the history of Laois Tourism and Laois Chamber. The coming together of the two organisations means we are stronger together and can achieve so much more by working in unison. This is a very exciting development and one that will benefit both business and tourism for the county and our members.  Thanks to Caroline for being an excellent and hardworking CEO for the Chamber.  To an excellent board who take these roles very seriously and deliver for our county, thank you.   I would like to wish Yvonne McKeon the very best in her role as the new President.  Business is in her blood, and we are so fortunate in Laois that our long standing well know business people want to take an active role in the Chamber and give something back.”

CEO of Laois Chamber, Caroline Hofman added: “It has been a pleasure working closely with Alison over the past year in her role as President. Returning to in-person events and face to face meetings, Laois Chamber has been part of some excellent events and initiatives with Alison leading the way throughout her presidency, including the Commercial Vacancy Incentive Scheme which was introduced earlier this year to tackle commercial vacancy and to encourage businesses to establish new premises. This collaboration with Laois Tourism marks a new chapter for the county, ensuring Laois is well and truly put on the map as a key domestic and international location to live, work, visit, and invest. This will benefit businesses across all sectors. I would like to thank our directors who have stepped down at this AGM for their time as Board members, and for their commitment and hard work for the benefit of Laois and investment in the county. I look forward to working closely with Yvonne as newly elected President of Laois Chamber and wish her the very best of luck in her new role. Yvonne has been terrific as Vice-President over the last year and will be a huge asset to the Chamber in her presidency over the coming year.”

 Following her election as the new President of Laois Chamber, Yvonne McKeon said:  “We have had an excellent Board for the past year, who have achieved so much and brought us to this new chapter. We have an exciting time ahead with the new Laois Chamber Alliance now in place. The benefit of this collaboration will bring a new energy and strength to Laois business and to Laois Tourism. We now have the opportunity to be better together.”