1. It stimulates the local economy

When you buy something from a local business in West Cork, instead of from an international company or online, your money stays in the community and stimulates the local economy. Local businesses will buy from other local businesses and service providers, which in turn adds to growth and job creation in West Cork.

2. Local Charities Reap the Rewards

Many West Cork charities rely on donations from local businesses. When local businesses are doing well, they are able to donate more to local charities that help our community.

3. Unique West Cork Businesses Create Character

By supporting local businesses, you are creating an opportunity for unique business to grow and prosper. This adds character to our community, and acts as a great incentive for more people to visit and shop in the area.

4. It’s Good for our Environment

Shopping local means less travel over long distances, which means less cars on the road, which reduces the impact on the environment. Many local businesses are situated in a central location, which means you can park the car and still have easy access to everywhere you need to go in one trip!

5. It Generates New Jobs

Supporting local businesses helps to create and maintain job. When we shop in local businesses, local businesses need to hire more people to keep up with demand. Every jobs created in West Cork means one less person emigrating.

6. Excellent Local Customer Service

A local business owner will be far more passionate about their work and serving the needs of the local community than a large company with headquarters overseas. As a result, you will find better customer service and a more personal approach with more familiar faces.

7. Local Business Owners Invest In Local Community

Local businesses are owned and run by people with a vested interest in the community. Supporting local businesses means that they will invest in the community, making West Cork a better place for people to live and work in.

8. Benefits outweigh Costs

Local businesses require comparatively little infrastructure compared to the larger chain stores and big businesses. The cost of setting up a small local business to the public is generally a lot less than setting up a large chain store. Smaller stores can set up in existing buildings, meaning less empty premises in our towns, and are far quicker to open than a large store that needs a new building constructed – which also leads to increased traffic and noise during construction.

9. Competition and Diversity Leads To Better Choice

One large shop with a monopoly will have less choice than several smaller ones. A community with a large number of small local businesses allows for more competition to help keep prices fair and provide a wider choice of products and services to local consumers.

10. You Matter

At Skibbereen Credit Union, our members matter. This applies to local businesses too. Each customer is important to a local business, so local businesses value their customers more than large chain stores and will respond to your needs and desires to create a wonderful local shopping experience for the entire community.

The launch of the 142 registration plate lead to the biggest day in car sales in six years, according to SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry). 4,264 were registered on the first day of 142 registration sales, compared to 1,924 cars on the first day of 132 registration sales.

New car sales were up by 23% in the first half of the year, which is far more than was sold in all of 2013. Cork has seen a 27.5% increase in new car sales in the first six months of 2014 as compared worth the same time in 2013. It is expected that this trend will continue for the second half of the year.

There are many options for financing your new car. If you are considering buying a new car this year, why not borrow from Skibbereen Credit Union. We currently offer a New Car Loan with a rate of 5.99%, which is one of the cheapest rates in the marketplace to own your car. Come into one of our offices in Skibbereen, Schull or Drimoleague to talk to a member of staff, or call us on 028-21883. And don't forget, you can use our Loan Calculator to see your potential repayments or even apply for your loan online.

Also taking part in the Chapter Quiz was St Patricks Boys National School, Skibbereen who also did us proud on the day.  

The J2's had a great win on Sunday, the November 6th at Mill Road, while the J1 team won an exciting game against Waterpark on the same day.

Next weekend will see them facing the Old Christans in Rathcooney who won against Skibbereen in the nailbiting County Cup final last season. Best of luck from all at Skibbereen Credit Union.

Congratulations to all the worthy winners:

Best Public Building -The Fire Station

Best Professional Building -Liam O’Donovan Solicitors

Best Exterior Appearance – Kearney’s Well

Best New Business – Yellow House Montessori

Best Small Business – Sean Murray’s

Best Large Business – West Cork Hotel

Skibbereen’s Friendliest Employee – Brendan O’Brien. Field’s SuperValu

On September 14th the 'Celtic Cook off' will take place at the West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen.

Chefs from the five Celtic territories (Scotland, Isle of Man, Ireland, Cornwall, Wales & Brittany) will take part in a cooking competition. In the style of the TV show, 'Ready, Steady Cook', the chefs willl need to impress both you (the public) and the judges to win. This is sure to be a fun event for all to witness. Good luck to those taking part!

Where: The West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen.

When: Wednesday, September 14th.

Time: Doors open at 7pm.

Tickets: €10. (Available at the West Cork Hotel reception from Monday, August 22nd).
 

For more information take a look at the West Cork Hotels Blog.

Here at the Skibbereen Credit Union we are proud to announce that we will be sponsoring the Skibbereen Arts Festival which takes place from July 18th to July 30th this year. The festival is shaping up to be one to remember as many musicians, comics, artists along with film industry experts come together to form what is arguably the greatest line up the festival has had to date and one that will cater for all ages and tastes!

On Friday the 29th of July,  a night of laughter with comic Colin Murphy will take place in Skibbereens Town Hall.

As usual, the music line up at this years festival is very exciting. Following their fantastic success and popularity, the phenomenal Kilfenora Ceili Band will play at the West Cork Hotel on the 23rd. The Dublin Guitar Quartet comes to town on the 22nd of July.  Another show not to be missed is the Gala Concert featuring Nollaig Casey and Arty McGlynn, Dermot Byrne and Floraine Blancke which is taking place on the 24th of July. Earlier on that day, renowned guitar player Arty McGlynn will also host a Guitar Workshop. Band members from Si Schroeder and 3epkano will assemble on the 27th of July to perform their live soundtrack to the film 'Pour la Suite du Monde.'

The festival also features various film screenings and workshops. Conor Horgan who has over 70 TV commercials and pop videos to his name, will host a Film Workshop on the 30th of July. The film he directed 'Wildfire Films', is just one of the many screenings to be shown across the fesitval.

Art exhibitions will take place throughout the festival including the 'Working Artist Studios.' This exciting exhibition consists of a collect of art-objects and drawings representing a period of time in a specific location, while also includes the activity and surrounds of Skibbereen.

Other acts include the Cronin Sisters, St. Fachtna's Silver Band, an Evening with Poet  Paul Durcan, the work of Guillaume Beauron, The Travelling Sounds Library plus GAA Gold!

Best of luck to Brendan and the team from everyone here at the Skibbereen Credit Union!