Join us at the Business Breakfast Briefing Event. Connect with local businesses and access valuable training resources.

EWBN Business Breakfast Briefing with Tánaiste Simon Harris and Michael Byrne, CEO of CORE Credit Union

Wicklow’s business networking group, East Wicklow Business Network (EWBN), returns after the summer break with a special Business Breakfast Briefing at The GRID, Charlesland.

We are delighted to welcome Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris TD, together with Michael Byrne, CEO of CORE Credit Union, for a morning focused on the issues, supports and sources of finance that matter to businesses in Wicklow.

Sponsored by CORE Credit Union, the event builds on the success of EWBN’s previous Business Breakfast Briefings, bringing local business owners and professionals together to make connections, share experiences and engage directly with leaders who can help shape the environment in which we do business.

Simon Harris TD – Tánaiste & Minister for Finance

Tánaiste Simon Harris will address the supports available to Irish businesses, as well as some of the key local and national issues facing employers and business owners.

He will provide an overview of Government initiatives designed to support business growth, investment and job creation, including measures and supports being developed for the period ahead.

The briefing will also provide members of the Wicklow business community with an opportunity to hear directly from the Minister for Finance on the wider business environment and the Government's priorities for enterprise.

Michael Byrne – CEO, CORE Credit Union

We will also hear from Michael Byrne, CEO of CORE Credit Union, on the changing role credit unions can play in supporting local businesses.

Under Michael's leadership, CORE Credit Union has grown substantially and expanded its presence into Greystones, Newtownmountkennedy and Kilcoole, alongside its existing branch network. Michael is a qualified accountant and has been CEO of CORE Credit Union since 2011. He has also served as a Director of the Irish League of Credit Unions and was appointed to the Credit Union Advisory Committee, which advises the Minister for Finance on matters relating to the credit union sector.

Michael will discuss the increasing range of financial supports and lending options that credit unions can now provide to businesses, CORE Credit Union's ambition to grow its business portfolio, and how it is looking to develop stronger relationships with local businesses.

For business owners, it is an opportunity to understand how the credit union sector is evolving beyond traditional personal banking and the role it can increasingly play as a local source of business finance and support.

Event Details

📅 Friday, 4 September 2026

📍 The GRID, Charlesland, A63 T9K1

8:30am – Doors open, tea, coffee & networking

9:00am – Tánaiste Simon Harris TD

Followed by – Michael Byrne, CEO, CORE Credit Union

Whether you are an established business owner, growing a business or simply want to understand more about the supports and financing options available, this is a valuable opportunity to connect with the Wicklow business community and hear directly from two people closely involved in shaping and supporting the local business environment.

Places are limited, so early registration is recommended.

Description supplied by the event organiser.