Insights from the LEO Clare Christmas Networking Event 

TechHeads were delighted to attend the Local Enterprise Office Clare Business Networking Event, held at the  Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) on November 28th — an ideal setting for a morning focused on innovation, AI, and the evolving needs of Irish SMEs. 

The event gathered local business owners, advisors, and subject-matter experts to share practical insights and discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for small businesses in 2026. Hosted by Teresa Mulvihill-Killeen of LEO Clare, the morning was informative and engaging.  

The event opened with Bernadette (Bernie) Haugh, who has served Clare County Council for over 26 years, working across Clare, Limerick, and Galway. She reflected on the evolution of enterprise support over the decades and expressed thanks to Padraic McElwee for his 11 years of service with the LEO. Padraic is now the COO of Ennis 2040 DAC, where he will continue to contribute to Clare’s economic growth. 

Bernie outlined the LEO’s collaborative plans for 2026, developed in partnership with the Tipperary and Limerick LEOs, emphasising their commitment to listening to and supporting local businesses. 

She highlighted key areas of focus: 

• The importance of networking for building lasting business connections 

• The continued rise of social media, particularly LinkedIn, as a tool for growth 

• Increased support for green and sustainable business practices 

• Assistance for businesses exploring exports and entrepreneurship 

• Ongoing digitalisation to help SMEs remain competitive 

• The value of the 11 Digital Hubs across Clare, acting as essential hubs for entrepreneurs, remote workers, and small businesses in rural communities 

Teresa Mulvihill-Killeen then introduced each keynote speaker and thanked attendees for their participation. She emphasised the amount of support available to SMEs through the LEO and encouraged businesses to engage with the resources on offer. 

Mark Kelly, CCO of Alldus International and author of AI Unleashed, delivered an engaging exploration of the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and its increasingly central role in the workplace. 

His core message was simple yet powerful: AI is only as good as the information you give it. 

He emphasised the need for caution and awareness when working with AI, especially given the rise of fraud and misinformation. 

Mark shared a humorous but telling story about AI’s quiet integration into everyday life: his young son once spent over €300 on toys using Alexa, simply by copying himself. The anecdote drew laughs, while driving home Mark’s point that humans need to be driving AI, not the other way around. 

He also outlined practical applications already benefiting Irish SMEs: 

• AI for research and idea generation 

• Tools that automate routine scheduling and admin 

• Voice-to-text features that save time — including a builder who shaved 50 minutes off his day by auto-creating invoices 

Next was Conor Smith of Insight Pension & Investment, who provided a clear and accessible overview of the upcoming Auto-Enrolment Pension Scheme, overseen by NAERSA . You can read more about NAERSA in our recent blog post: NAERSA Established to Manage MyFutureFund – Tech Heads Ireland

Conor emphasised that: 

• The enrolement process is simple 

• It takes only minutes to navigate 

• It is designed to boost long-term financial security for workers without creating complexity for employers 

Michael Quealy of AMQ Accountants offered a grounded and practical perspective on the economic environment facing Irish SMEs in the coming year. 

He noted that while the global economy is performing reasonably, businesses in Ireland face several challenges: 

• Rising employment costs linked to auto-enrolment 

• Margin compression 

• Increased administrative demands 

• Compliance with sustainability and ESG requirements 

Yet SMEs also have unique strengths: 

• They are agile 

• They can adopt new tools — including AI — more quickly 

• They frequently operate in essential service gaps, such as the growing demand for community healthcare and nursing homes 

Michael encouraged SMEs to focus on scaling strategically:

Find your niche. Specialise. Add value that larger competitors can’t! 

The event concluded with a lively and enjoyable panel discussion hosted by Teresa Mulvihill-Killeen, whose energetic moderation ensured the conversation flowed smoothly and naturally. 

Panel takeaways for 2026:  

Conor Smith (Pensions) 

• Register early for Auto-Enrolment. 

Michael Quealy (Accountancy) 

• Use as many digital tools as you can to streamline operations. 

• Also, don’t bet on horses! 

Mark Kelly (AI) 

• Subscribe to the AI Ireland YouTube channel watch one video per day to learn how to transform the way you work using AI. 

The event highlighted that small businesses in Clare have access to a wealth of supports, and by embracing digital tools, AI, and sustainable practices, they can streamline operations, scale strategically, and future-proof their growth in 2026 and beyond. 

The morning was insightful and reinforced a clear truth: SMEs are the backbone of the Irish economy, and now more than ever, they need the right support, knowledge, and tools to navigate a rapidly changing business landscape.