Westport Chamber of Commerce

James O'Doherty will give a talk on the Carrowbeg River in the Westport Town Hall Theatre at 5.00pm this evening, September 30th.

Carrowbeg? Carrowbeg! Community action workshop
There once was a time when we could swim, play and see the fish in the clear waters our river…but something changed over the last 50 years…
Come and hear from The River Basin Management Service and local people about the things affecting the water quality and life in the Carrowbeg today
Share your own stories about the river
Learn about the sources of the issues facing the Carrowbeg today and how they might be tackled
Learn about what other communities around Ireland have done to improve the water in their own rivers
Discuss what we could practically do here in Westport

Where: Sean Staunton room, Westport Town Hall Theatre, Westport
When: Wednesday, September 30th, 5 to 7pm

Calling all Westport Businesses 📣
The deadline for entry for the 2026 Mayo Business Awards has been extended to Friday 2nd of October.
If you are hoping to grow your networks, lift your profile and open the door to new opportunities and possibilities while also been given the opportunity to be recognised for your dedication, investment, accomplishments and hard work visit
https://mayobusinessawards.com/ to enter.

Westival 2026 will light up Westport from October 28th until November 1st. With many events across Arts Exhibitions, Music, Theatre, Cinema and lots more.

Check out the full programme of events at www.westival.ie and book your tickets for events like
🎤Dave Lofts on October 30th, fresh from his amazing performance on The Late Late Show last week.
🎭Pat Kinevane peforms Fishamble's King on October 29th in a stunning solo play. ✨Experience Mórshiúl na Samhna which will bring the whole town together with lanterns, music, colour and masks for one unforgettable procession through the streets on Saturday 31st October.

Come and visit Westport during mid-term break there is so much to see and do. Book your visit now - www.destinationwestport.com

🎟️ Tickets on sale now at westival.ie
Westival 2026 | 28 Oct – 1 Nov | Westport | www.westival.ie

Rethink, Reset, Refocus: Social Media for Busy Businesses
Plus practical ways AI can save you time and simplify content creation

Social media can easily become one more task on an already busy list. If you’re posting without a clear plan, or you’re not sure where to focus the limited time you have, this session will help you step back and take a fresh look.

Guest speaker Caroline Kelly, Digitally Direct West, will show you how to:
• Rethink your approach to social media
• Reset your strategy and focus on what works for your business
• Use practical AI tools to save time and simplify content creation
• Get started with AI if you’re not already using it

Everyone attending will also receive a take-home handout featuring three ready-to-use AI prompts for creating social media posts.
And if you have a social media or AI question you’d like answered, send it in advance and Caroline will answer it on the day.

As well as the session, the Business Breakfast is a great opportunity to meet, connect and network with other local businesses over breakfast.

📆Thursday 8th of October 2026
⏰8.30am – 10am,
📍The Leeson Enterprise Centre, Altamont Street, Westport F28ET85.

The event is free to attend and registration can be made by email to [email protected]

Digitally Direct West

A great opportunity to welcome German Ambassador to Ireland, David Gill, to Westport on Monday and connect with representatives from Westport Chamber, Destination Westport, Mayo LEO and Deputy Keira Keogh TD.

The visit highlighted the importance of building strong links between our two countries — creating opportunities for business, trade, tourism and collaboration.

International connections like these help put Westport and Mayo on the map and open the door to new opportunities

Photo 1. Dermott Langan President Westport Chamber presenting The German Ambassador David Gill with a print from a local Westport Artist.

Photo 2; John Magee Head of Economic Development & Local Enterprise Office, Geraldine Horkan CEO Westport Chamber, Dermott Langan President Westport Chamber, David Gill The Ambassador of the Federal republic of Germany, Orla Good Commercial Director Portwest, Keira Keogh TD, Katherina Gruber German Embassy and Joe Corcoran Chairperson Destination Westport.

Destination Westport Portwest Westport Chamber of Commerce Deutsche Botschaft Dublin / German Embassy Dublin

🚨 Final call for entries!

There’s still time to put your business forward for the Mayo Business Awards 2026 — but the deadline is fast approaching!

📅 Entries close Friday, 25th September
🏆 Awards ceremony: Friday, 6th November

Whether you’re entering your own business or nominating another great Mayo business, don’t miss the chance to celebrate the people and businesses helping Mayo thrive.

👉 Enter now: https://mayobusinessawards.com/

WESTPORT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS NEED A NEW TEAM — NOW
Westport’s much-loved Christmas lights are at risk of not going ahead in 2026 — and the town needs people to step forward now.
With Christmas just over twelve weeks away, urgent action is needed to ensure Westport is lit up for the festive season.
Westport Chamber announced earlier this year that, after two years of taking responsibility for the organisation and funding of the Christmas lights from Mayo County Council, it could no longer continue as the driving force behind the project.
During that time, the Chamber worked hard to secure funding and ensure the town enjoyed its Christmas lighting display. However, it does not have the personnel required to continue leading the fundraising effort.
Now, a new community-led Christmas Lighting Committee or Town Team is urgently needed.
Westport Chamber is willing to assist with the administration of the project, but the fundraising and organisation must now be taken forward by a new team.
Could you help keep Westport shining?
We are calling on local businesses, community groups and individuals to come forward immediately.
We need people who can help with:
• Fundraising and sponsorship
• Committee organisation
• Business and community engagement
• Promotion and communications
You don't have to do it alone. A small group of committed people coming together now could make all the difference.
The Christmas lights are an important part of Westport’s festive atmosphere, bringing colour, warmth and visitors into the town during the Christmas season.
Without a new team, there is a very real possibility that Westport will be dark this Christmas.
Don’t let the lights go out – STEP FORWARD NOW.

Can you help, or would you like to be part of establishing a new Christmas Lighting Committee?
Email: [email protected]

📣📣MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 📣📣

Peter Burke Electrical Limited (PBE) is a family-run business founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife team Peter and Therese Burke. With over 20 years of experience in the electrical sector, together, they built PBE with a commitment to quality, safety, and innovation, aiming to provide solutions that seamlessly integrate into modern lifestyles.

PBE specializes in smart home solutions, enabling customers to control and monitor their home systems with ease and convenience through the latest technology. In line with their passion for renewable energy, PBE expanded into the solar installation sector in 2022, offering sustainable energy solutions for environmentally conscious clients.
Today, PBE is backed by a team of highly qualified electricians equipped to handle a wide range of electrical challenges. Known for their expertise and dedication, Peter Burke Electrical Limited has quickly grown into a trusted name in the electrical industry, committed to delivering reliable, cutting-edge services to clients across domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Visit https://pbe.ie/
Follow on facebook and instagram
Phone 087 6789596
Email [email protected]

The Mayo Business Awards are now open to entries, tune in to Midwest Radio this morning at 10.15, where John Magee talks all things Mayo Business Awards

Tune in this morning!

John Magee, Head of Local Enterprise Office Mayo, will be joining Midwest Radio at 10:15 AM to chat all things Mayo Business Awards 2026! 🏆

Hear about this year’s awards, the categories, and how Mayo businesses can get involved.

📻 Tune in to Midwest Radio at 10:15 AM!