Uncategorized – Terenure PPU

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Business Lunches, Uncategorized

August 13, 2024

Terenure PPU Business took Place on Friday 18th October in The Westbury Hotel

Terenure College Past Pupils Union Business Lunch “Connecting the Terenure College Business Community & Inspiring the Next Generation of Terenure College Business Leaders”

Took place in The Westbury on Friday 18th of October.

In our 100th year, The Past Pupil’s Union was excited about the re-launch of the Business Lunch.

• The theme of this year’s lunch was Entrepreneurship.

• The inaugural Terenure College PPU Business Person Recognition award was presented to Greg Turley Class of 1980, a past pupil who has excelled in business.

• Tom Lyons (Class of ’98), renowned business journalist and CEO and co-founder of The Currency, will interviewed Tim Griffiths CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) and Greg Turley to a sold out event.

Uncategorized

October 23, 2023

PPU – Tennis Tournament 2024 took place on Friday 4th of Oct Well done to Paul Weber & Andrew Cotter this years winners.

The PPU Tennis Event 2024 took place on Friday the 4th of October in Templeogue Tennis Club.

Well done to our runners up Dave Vaughan & Dermot Prendergast and to this year’s winners of the Bedford/MacNamee Cup Andre Cotter & Paul Weber.

Events, Uncategorized

August 24, 2022

PPU TENNIS EVENT: Took Place on Friday 30th September

The PPU Tennis Tournament took place on Friday 30th of September in Templeogue Tennis Club.

It was a great evening of fun for all who took part and those who joined for the BBQ afterwards.

Well done the Fras Cotter and David Vaughan overall winners this year of the Bedford/MacNamee Cup. It was a close second for Chris Harrington and Alan Quinn.

Uncategorized

November 26, 2021

Niall Fitzharris – The Hazel House Cafe and Woodwork School – Alumni Business in Focus

Terenure PPU – Alumni in Focus – Niall Fitzharris (Class of 2003)

Years attending Terenure College?

I attended the college from 1997 – 2003!

Current compaposition?

Owner and operator of The Hazel House Café and Woodwork School

Tell us about your business/company…

We are a cafe and woodwork school concentrating on real organic homegrown homemade food.

We started off serving tea’s, coffee’s and home baked goods and over the years we’ve grown to a fully-fledged café serving food all day and also run pizza and wine nights at weekends.

We built our own stone, wood-fired pizza oven for our weekend pizza and wine nights. We built a smoker which we use every week for smoking meats and we have converted a cute 1970s caravan into our bakery.

Our ethos is from the ground up.

“Crafting-making-growing-baking”

Hence we have made pretty much everything in the cafe and school out of wood ourselves. We then offer to pass this knowledge on through woodwork courses and in the future plan to offer courses in organic growing and cooking.

We’re currently on a big push to try and have every single item in the Café Organic.

How did you get your idea or concept for the business?

I love wood and I love food. Together they make The Hazel House and that’s pretty much where the idea came from!

Favourite Terenure College memory?

There’s no one single memory that sticks out but I’d have to say all of 6th year. The freedom on the top floor and being able to hang out in the common room, memories of great fun times with the lads.

Have you found the Terenure College community was a benefit to you inyour career? Example?

Absolutely. I started off my career as a carpenter. In the beginning most of my work came from referrals from someone I knew from the college. It’s a great community to be a part of.

If you were Minister for Finance for a day, what change would you make?

I’d reduce company taxes and Vat rates. They can be crippling to small businesses like ours.

What’s an interesting fact people may not know about you?

My favourite movie is in fact “The Notebook”

If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

Just go with your idea and act. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you and keep going one day at a time.

How can people best access you and your business?

Just call right in to us here on Mutton Lane and we’d be love to say hello and offer you a coffee or a bite to eat. You can visit our website at https://www.the-hazel-house.ie/

Or the best way to keep up to date is probably through our Instagram or Facebook accounts

Uncategorized

June 23, 2021

Jeff O’Brien – Zoidii – Alumni Business in Focus

Years attending Terenure College?

1991 – 1996

Current company and position?

Co-founder at Zoidii

Tell us about your business… [20] words or less

Zoidii is Maintenance software…. used to plan, track, and optimize maintenance on buildings, equipment, and vehicles. Anyone that has buildings, equipment, or fleet should be using maintenance software.

How did you get your idea or concept for the business? – (Need to tailor slightly for employees)

This is the second maintenance software start up I’ve been involved with. I started Zoidii as existing systems are cumbersome and difficult to use and many organizations pay for them, but don’t use them. I have designed Zoidii to have just what is needed. It’s the maintenance software solution an 8-year-old could use!

Favourite Terenure College memory?

Probably my first week at Terenure in 1991 – meeting new friends, playing rugby and Gaelic football on the pitches.

Have you found the Terenure College community was a benefit to you inyour career? Example?

Absolutely. I continue to tap into the Terenure College community whenever I can as its good to work with people you know. I recently had a Zoidii demo call with Brendan O’Brien, a guy I sat beside in 1.4 back in 1991. Brendan was able to connect me with a bunch of prospects in his network.

If you were Minister for Finance for a day what change would you make?

Incentivise the construction of “affordable, good enough” houses. They over did it on building regulations after the crash in 2008 but now we have too many people in social housing or on housing lists. You know something is wrong when bankers, IT consultants, architects, teachers, and Gardai cannot afford housing. I believe everyone should be able to buy their own house and the only way to do that is to increase the supply of affordable housing.

What’s an interesting fact people may not know about you?

I lived in Canada from 2010 – 2019 and gained Canadian citizenship.

If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

While working in my first maintenance software startup in Canada, the company grew from zero to 200 employees and raise almost $60m in funding. The key to success was not a great product, good timing, product market fit, technical skills, or rockstar employees etc…. the key to success was resilience. We could have abandoned ship so many times but kept pushing through the difficult times. My advice would for anyone starting out is to be resilient. Push through any crisis or challenge, believe in the vision, and make it work…. in business or in life.

How can people best access you and your business?

Connect with me on LinkedIn or via phone on the Zoidii.com website

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffobriensaas/

News, Uncategorized

May 26, 2021

Mike Murphy – RAPID Physio Clinic -Alumni Business in Focus

Years attending Terenure College?

Started in the Junior School in 2003 and left Secondary in 2013.

Current company and position?

I have recently set up my own business – Rehabilitation and Performance Initiative Dublin (RAPID) – which is a physiotherapy and sports medicine clinic.

Tell us about your business… [20] words or less

RAPID is a sports medicine clinic which integrates physiotherapy with strength and conditioning, to thoroughly rehabilitate clients from initial injury to elite performance.

How did you get your idea or concept for the business?

I’ve always dreamt of working for myself and running my own business. Having worked at the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry, worked for a year over in Austin, Texas and then completed my Masters in Sports and Exercise Medicine, I felt that now was the time to set up my own clinic.

Favourite Terenure College memory?

There are far too many great memories to single out just one! Winning a Junior Cup in 2010 was definitely a huge highlight.

Have you found the Terenure College community was a benefit to you inyour career? Example?

Extremely. I’m only set up a couple of months but already I’ve had great support, custom and advice from members of the Terenure College community, from helping to spread the word to helping me get set up – it’s been greatly appreciated!

If you were Minister for Finance for a day what change would you make?

I’d review the taxation structure for mega tech companies in Ireland, call Apple’s unpaid tax due and redistribute it to the small businesses hardest hit over the past year.

What’s an interesting fact people may not know about you?

I mentioned it above – but I spent a year living in Austin, at the heart of Texas. I was also a proud Young Scientist in 2011 for Terenure College!

If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

I’m probably not in much of a position to give that kind of advice just yet as I’ve only started myself! But for anyone on the fence about starting out, I would say get started, back yourself, and don’t be too shy or afraid to ask for help and advice. People are more than happy to help!

How can people best access you and your business?

Through the website – www.rapid.ie – from there you can learn more about the business and can book an appointment if needed. I’m located at the Walkinstown Roundabout which is easily accessible for a lot of the Terenure College community.

News, Uncategorized

April 14, 2021

Mark Dowling – Park Printing – Alumni Business in Focus

MARK DOWLING – PARK PRINTING – ALUMNI BUSINESS IN FOCUS SERIES

Years attending Terenure College?

1981 – 1993

Current company and position?

Park Printing Co., Director

Tell us about your business …

We are a Design and printing company. It’s a family business and we are 50 years trading this year!.

We work with businesses from pretty much every sector as most companies have design or print requirements.

How did you get your idea or concept for the business?

My father set up the business. After a few years working in the trade, he decided to try working for himself!

Favourite Terenure College memory?

Many happy memories but always enjoyed the sports and great facilities.

Have you found the Terenure College community was a benefit to you in your career? Example?

The contacts and friendships we make through the network of past pupils is definitely beneficial. Whether they be customers or suppliers. It’s nice to work with people we know!

If you were Minister for Finance for a day what change would you make? –

Right now I think we need to see a safe return to business. So many sectors have been impacted. I’m optimistic there will be a real boost eventually, with most people eager to get working again.

What’s an interesting fact people may not know about you?

I’m a closet tech geek.

If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

Make sure you enjoy what you do. Then it doesn’t feel as much like hard work.

How can people best access you and your business?

Contact me anytime by phone or email which is available on our website https://parkdp.ie/

What- ever the query I can either help or point you in the right direction.

News, Uncategorized

January 28, 2020

Philip Lynch E&J Gallo Winery -Alumni Business In Focus

About Philip Lynch Country Manager Ireland E&J Gallo Winery

Philip is a past President of the Past Pupils Union and went to both the Junior & Senior School graduating from the class of 1985 having spent 11 years in Terenure College (back then there was a 2^nd class Junior School class.)Read More