MBTA 2024: Meet the finalists in the Not for Profit category

With Special thanks to Sheridan Insurance

Growing an inclusive family event to be enjoyed by everyone

Ablefest

Tell us about your business and team

Co-founders of Ablefest Kevin Farrell and Shay Casserley set up the non-profit organisation to provide an inclusive family event to be enjoyed by everyone. It stemmed from the love they have for their own children and the gap there for events that families with children with disabilities could consider attending. In its first year 4,000 people attended the festival from across Ireland. Ablefest wouldn't be possible without every single volunteer but each and every person and family attending are also the real stars.

Describe the best thing about your service

Seeing the pure joy in everyone's face at Ablefest with everyone feeling as happy as they can be with no judgement, is the best thing about the service it provides. At Ablefest people are 100 per cent part of a community of like-minded people, wheelchair users and everyone at the festival can go anywhere they want, no restrictions, everywhere is fully accessible.

What's the best business advice you've ever been given?

Best advice I ever been given is to be 100 per cent yourself. People feel everything off you so stay real. Keep everything simple, no need for complications.

What does the future hold for your business?

We are planning multiple events for people with disabilities and their families and friends. Bringing joy to people's lives and making them feel seen is everything to us.

Local storytellers sharing our heritage and a warm welcome

WalkAbout Tour Guides, Kells

Tell us about your business and team

The Kells Walk-About volunteer tour guides have a deep interest in Kells, its history and culture and have studied many aspects of its heritage and share this knowledge with great enthusiasm to locals and national and international visitors.

The WalkAbout guides are the town's ambassadors, providing a warm welcome from a friendly local storyteller who is well-informed on topics ancient, medieval and current.

Themes include St Colmcille and the Book of Kells, local stories of beer-making and lace-making and Georgian heritage.

We also support the arts and cultural developments within the town such as the Hinterland festival and Heritage Week.

Describe the best thing about your service

The WalkAbout guides are the friendly face who greets visitors. We welcome them to our town and, through skilled narratives, we invite them into the story of Kells, to see behind the surface, to see the richness of our history, culture and folklore: to walk in the footsteps of Medieval monks.

We are good communicators, are outgoing and we enjoy interacting with others and are very importantly passionate about our town and district. We are aware of Health and Safety pertaining to managing groups and we are confident in dealing with small and large groups of people, often working together as a team.

What's the best business advice you've ever been given?

“Value your staff, especially volunteers.”

What does the future hold for your business?

Tourism is a fast-growing industry in Ireland and according to research, the number of overseas visitors to our shores will increase significantly over the next few years. Therefore, the demand for tour guides has never been higher. We see great potential for the WalkAbout guides into the future.

Community heartbeat ‘making a difference in the lives of others’

Ratoath Community Centre

Tell us about your business and team

The lively Ratoath Community Centre first opened its doors in September 2006 at its the current community centre building, which is the third place it has featured in Ratoath. The community centre attracts huge crowds for arts, heritage, education, culture and community welfare purposes from one end of the week to the other, giving great entertainment to the ever-growing population of Ratoath. The centre, which has a registered business name of St Oliver’s Community Centre is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors, led by Chief Executive Laura Murphy It employs up to 28 people and also indirectly providing main employment to over 40 additional people in class and service providers. The team is made up of employees, both part-time and full-time, 15 Community Employment participants and Tus participants.

Describe the best thing about your service

Ratoath Community Centre is there first and foremost to service the community. Our mantra is whether you are aged between 3 and 93, or indeed younger or older, you should be able to find something for you in our facilities at what hope is, the heart of Ratoath village, according to Chief Executive Laura. People love to come into the community centre as it’s like a home away from home and they feel part of the community. “We are making a difference in the lives of others.”

What's the best business advice you've ever been given?

In life and business, always try to do the right thing. You’ll know it’s right as it’s usually the hardest thing to do.

What does the future hold for your business?

The future we believe is bright, we have seen huge transition and growth in Ratoath village, with new businesses and clubs and the state-of-the-art facilities in the village brings an increase in footfall. The community centre now serves 12,000 village residents and the more the word spreads that we are here for each and every one of our residents, the more they will visit us and together we will put the heart back into our community.