As the 2025 party season approaches, many Irish organisations are putting the final touches on their End-of-Year celebrations. This annual event continues to play an important role in strengthening team relationships, boosting morale, and building organisational culture. While it’s important to celebrate another successful year, Employers must be mindful of the specific HR and legal risks associated with work-related social events.

• EHS International and Cinnte Safety Announce Partnership to Enhance Traffic Management Services Nationwide
• Griffith College launch fully funded Sustainability Reporting programme
• Fota Wildlife Park confirms it will reopen to the public on Saturday, December 20th

We have launched our  Sustainability Strategy and Report, setting out a clear roadmap of embedding environmental and social sustainability across our organisation and support a resilient, low-carbon and inclusive business community.

Covering our ESG commitments from 2025–2028 and reporting on our progress from 2019–2024, the publication brings together a comprehensive overview of our sustainability activities and member offerings that underpin our work. It highlights our activity in carbon reduction, biodiversity, wellbeing, governance and community engagement. This publication strengthens our leadership role, from advancing offshore renewable energy to supporting inclusive employment and practical sustainability action across the region.

We are proud to champion sustainability alongside our ambitious membership, whose leadership, innovation and collaboration continue to shape a thriving Cork.

This final edition of ChamberLink for 2025 captures the energy of a region moving confidently into the future. Inside, you’ll find perspectives on competitiveness, sustainability, skills and the partnerships driving progress across Cork. We look back on a year marked by collaboration, from our international engagements to inclusive employment initiatives, and ahead to the opportunities emerging in 2026. With special features on the Cork Chamber Dublin Dinner and a tribute to the late John Mullins, this issue is both reflective and forward-looking.

Limited tickets available

Celebrate the festive season in style at our Cork Chamber Christmas Lunch, a highlight of the year, attracting over 300 guests for an afternoon of great company, entertainment, raffle prizes and festive cheer, a perfect occasion to entertain clients, colleagues and your team.

We will be joined by Tommy Tiernan, Michael D. Higgins, Ronan O'Gara, Roy Keane and many more as Irish comedian and impressionist known to millions as Conor Sketches takes to the stage.

Get ready to supercharge your network with this fast paced, high energy session designed to connect you with up to 20 new contacts in a short amount of time.

Speed networking is a more structured form of networking where you have 1 ½ minutes each side to pitch your business, share your story and spark valuable connections at pace. This event is specially valuable for SMEs, offering a practical space to refine your elevator pitch, build genuine new business relationships, gain referrals and strengthen existing connections.

Cork Chamber Annual Dinner is the region’s largest flagship event, bringing together business leaders, policy makers and key stakeholders for an evening of connection, celebration and insight.

On the night you will hear from Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD and Cork native Seán Doyle, Chair and CEO of British Airways. The winners of the 4 categories of the Cork Company of the Year Awards 2026 will also be announced on the night.

This event will be valuable for both indigenous and multinational companies who are looking to start, maintain or grow their R&D activities in Ireland.

You will hear from Mark O’Sullivan, Partner and Head of R&D Incentives, BDO Ireland, who will provide insights and strategies on the R&D Tax Credit and Grant incentives, while also outlining ways to minimise administrative obstacles and risk and maximise efficiency with the end goal being to allow businesses to focus on their R&D.

Mon 19th Jan | 11am-12:30pm | Online

Utilising transformative tools to support personal and professional clarity, participants will gain a simple year-end review method, improvement tools for the year ahead, and a framework for prioritising joy.

Wed 21st Jan | 2.30pm - 4pm | 2 sessions | Online

Learn how to prioritise, set, manage, and achieve realistic goals & tasks you set for yourself. Learn how to share information with other users and work more effectively as a group.

Uisce Éireann has launched a no-cost, 60-minute online training module for SMEs, designed to help them measure, manage and reduce water use.

The launch coincides with new research showing that SMEs are increasingly conscious of water saving measures - Uisce Éireann's SME Sustainability Sentiment Survey found that 74% of SMEs are now making efforts to conserve water. 

If you have any feedback that can inform the Chamber's submissions to the following public consultations, please contact Aoife, amoriarty@corkchamber.ie:

With the support of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) team at Cork Chamber, we are delighted to highlight how Cork-based wine importer Bubble Brothers expanded its international reach and secured eight new suppliers in Sicily.

From a targeted European trade mission, this story shows how expert matchmaking and local support helped a busy business build valuable new partnerships and bring the taste of southern Italy to their clients.

The EU Business Hub is organising a business mission to the Republic of Korea during the ENVEX 2026 exhibition.

Up to 50 European SMEs and start-ups will be selected to exhibit and showcase their products/services at the expo, providing an excellent opportunity for networking and connecting with potential Korean business partners. 

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) at Cork Chamber would like to share an exciting international opportunity. A Polish cosmetics company is looking for producers of 100% natural essential oils (primarily white thyme and lavender).

To find out more on how to connect with this company, contact monica@corkchamber.ie.

Step into the spirit of the season and discover the very best that Cork has to offer. From thoughtful gifts and festive treats to unforgettable experiences, our Christmas Gift Guide showcases the creativity and quality of local businesses across the region. By choosing local this Christmas, you’re supporting jobs, talent and the vibrant heartbeat of Cork. 

• Host your Christmas gathering at St. Patrick’s Distillery Ltd. with a private whiskey tasting experience
• Enjoy festive food, drinks, and activities for the ultimate Christmas celebration in The Mardyke Entertainment Complex
• Give the Gift of Getaways This Christmas with Leonardo Hotels
• Surprise the food lover in your life with a weekend ticket to Ballymaloe Festival of Food 2026 - on sale now
• Sibly's Office Subscription this Christmas - Join offices all over Cork in having Irelands best snacks available to your employees, delivered to your door each month 
• Treat someone special to unforgettable memories this Christmas with a voucher for Hayfield Manor
• Make this Christmas truly special, give the gift of travel and memories that last a lifetime with Frosch Ireland
• Celebrate the season with Ground Wellbeing’s thoughtful gifts of rest, balance, and self-care for everyone on your list this Christmas
• Elevate their Christmas with a ticket to luxury, style, comfort and unforgettable moments at The Montenotte

A very warm welcome to our new members, who joined us in October and November

• Quinlans Seafood Restaurant
• Corporate Care Relocation
• Compass Finder Limited
• Resco Resin Bond Solutions LTD
• Manotherm Limited
• Swing&Sing Creative
• Ballymaloe Grainstore Event Space
• Apex Group
• Capitalflow
• Corporate HR Ireland
• Pinta Crew Ltd
• IC&E Business Consultancy & Advisory
• HMC Sailmakers LTD T/A McWilliam Bags
• Insight Out
• LiverScan.ie
• Cathy Cullen Communications
• Twelve South Creative
• Antonia Prime Realty
• R&D Tax Solutions
• Lansdown Corporate Finance
• Forth & Ledger
• Career Decisions
• The Journey by Dunne & Co Limited
• Mckhayat Consulting

• Christmas Pop-Up Market at Republic of Work – Thursday 11^th December
• Chopin at Christmas with Fionnuala Moynihan at Triskel Arts Centre – Friday 12^th December
• Christmas Cooking Demonstration at Dripsey Castle Estate – Sunday 14th December
• SERVE presents Rapunzel at Scala Retreat Centre – Wednesday 17^th December – Sunday 21st December
• Crystal Cloud by Fiona Quilligan at Cork Dance Firkin Crane – Friday 16^th and Saturday 17^th January

• Volunteers needed for SERVE for an upcoming PANTO at Scala, Blackrock 

• 15% Off Stunning Resin-Bound Surfaces with Resco Resin Bond Solutions – Just for Members
• STEM Recruitment Partners offers Cork Chamber members a free 1-hour recruitment strategy consultation for STEM employers
• Custom Branded Packaging for your business - 10% off your first order with Southern Tapes & Packaging
• Complimentary 15-minute online meeting and 10% discount on pre-planning package for Cork Chamber members with RHEA Family Funeral Care
• Acorn Business Centre - offer 10% off your rent on top of any existing offers
• Bring Your Event to Life – 20% Off for Cork Chamber Members with Amphibian