Enterprising Monaghan is a not for profit organisation which was established in 1988 under the International Fund for Ireland (IFI). Enterprising Monaghan has evolved over the last 25 years to suit the changing needs of the county’s many entrepreneurs and businesses. It is essentially a community-based company and all of its directors work on a voluntary basis.
Since its inception, Enterprising Monaghan have helped many businesses get off the ground and expand. We are proud to say that our clients have chosen Enterprising Monaghan facilities to be their corporate home. Our clients include, public, private and voluntary sector organisations. We have start-up businesses as well as other companies which have a truly global reach.
GET TO KNOW THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Paul Shortt - Chairman
Paul originally trained as an accountant with PWC and served as financial director at Norish Plc for 18 years. He formed Castlecool in 1994 and the company has since expanded to become the largest temperature controlled warehousing company in Ireland; Castlecool was sold to US company Agro Merchants Group in 2014. Paul now provides business consultancy to various companies in the county. He is a mentor for Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, as well as director of Castleblayney Enterprise Centre.
Claire Cunningham
Claire is director of Aura Internet, an IT company offering web development and training which recently celebrated 20 years in business. She is a member of the Monaghan IT Forum, Carrickmacross Chamber of Commerce and the Patrick Kavanagh Society.
Pat O’Brien
Pat is a self-employed Publican and the Enterprising Monaghan representative for Ballybay. Pat has spent the last 30 years involved in Community Development in his local area.
Declan Nelson
A native of Ravensdale, Co. Louth. Declan studied Environmental Science in the Dublin Institute of Technology and worked for a number of years as an Environmental Health Officer in the Eastern Health Board. He also graduated with a B. Comm from UCD and worked for a number of years as a College Lecturer in D.I.T. His career in local government began in Louth County Council where he was appointed Housing Officer..Subsequently he was appointed County Secretary in Offaly County Council, Assistant County Manager in Galway County Council and County Manager in Monaghan County Council. He has served as a board member and chairman of numerous boards at local and national level, and is currently a board member of the National Museum of Ireland.
Padraig Watters
Padraig is a self-employed Machinery, fuel sales and property development professional. He resides in Muckno parish and is a board member of the Castleblayney Enterprise Centre. Padraig devotes his spare time to helping the homeless, needy and unemployed in his local community. In addition, he serves as a Peace Commissioner.
John McEntegart
John holds an honours degree in Business Studies plus an M.B.A. He worked as financial controller for a multi-national firm, before joining the Monaghan County Enterprise Board as CEO in 1996. He is now head of enterprise with Monaghan County Council Local Enterprise Office. He has served as secretary of Enterprising Monaghan (formerly the Monaghan County Enterprise Fund) since 1998.
Noel McKenna
Noel is a chartered surveyor, chartered building engineer and architectural consultant professional with over twenty years’ experience at senior level. He set up his own practice, Noel McKenna & Associates Ltd, in 1996. He is currently head of the Department of the Built Environment at the Dundalk Institute of Technology (Dkit); the department delivers honours degree programmes in Civil Engineering, Building Surveyor and other related subject matter.
Paraic Duffy
Páraic Duffy (Director): Páraic was a teacher and Guidance Counsellor in Saint Macartan’s college from 1996, until he joined the GAA as a Player Welfare Manager in 2007. He also worked as a part-time lecturer on the Masters in Education Management programme in DCU. In February 2008 he became Director General of the GAA and served in the role until his retirement in 2018. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Borad Of Management of Saint Macartan’s College, is President of Ulster Schools GAA and is an independent member of the Management Committee of Ulster GAA. Páraic has a B.A degree in History and Modern Irish History from UCD and a Masters in Educational Management from Ulster University
Claire McAree
Claire has a BA in European Business and German, specialing in Finance. She completed a 2 year IBEC graduate programme with Combilift where she was stationed in Germany. Upon her return to Ireland, Claire managed a team in Citi bank looking after their German clients. Claire now works as Chief Financial Officer in her family business, McAree Engineering. She is involved in numerous local committees and boards including Enterprising Monaghan and the North East Lean Committee where she is vice-chair.
Marie Mohan
Marie Mohan is a qualified Accountant and Financial Director of Greenfield Foods in Monaghan. Over the last 30 years, she has gained a vast knowledge and experience of the egg sector in Ireland and abroad. Along with her husband John, they have grown the business organically to become a leading player in the Irish egg market. Based on the border, they have an associated company in Northern Ireland as well.
