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So far Francine Ongchangco has created 12 blog entries.

Network Ireland Tipperary branch – Businesswomen of the Year Awards 2019

2020-10-20T20:32:31+01:00

Network Ireland Tipperary branch - Businesswomen of the Year Awards 2019 Margaret Valette O'Connor’s numerous achievements were honoured at the Women in Business Awards 2019 as the Regional Finalist for the Established Business Category for her exemplary contribution to the growth of nationwide bakery chain, Quigley’s. The annual awards showcase the outstanding level of talent and innovation in the county, with the winner proudly representing Tipperary in the national competition. Network Ireland, a non-profit, voluntary organisation, “is a progressive, dynamic organisation supporting the professional and personal development of women.” Start-up members credit the network for providing support as they go through [...]

Network Ireland Tipperary branch – Businesswomen of the Year Awards 20192020-10-20T20:32:31+01:00

Midwest Empowerment and Equality Conference 2019

2020-10-20T20:31:59+01:00

Midwest Empowerment and Equality Conference 2019 University of Limerick Concert Hall The University of Limerick hosted the Midwest Empowerment and Equality Conference in its Concert Hall on Wednesday, May 1st . “Designed to empower, educate and encourage men and women both young and old to take better care of themselves”, the conference addressed current social issues and was organised and presented by Dr. Mary Ryan, Consultant Endocrinologist, Bon Secours at Barrington’s Limerick and Senior Lecturer at Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS), University of Limerick. According to Dr Ryan, “The conference has been organised as a means of giving back to society [...]

Midwest Empowerment and Equality Conference 20192020-10-20T20:31:59+01:00

The Nenagh Guardian – The Woman Who Put the Icing on a Bakery Firm

2020-10-20T20:34:19+01:00

The Nenagh Guardian Fashion and Lifestyle Magazine Autumn / Winter 2018 Cover and Article: The Woman Who Put the Icing on a Bakery Firm Margaret Valette O'Connor welcomes the Nenagh Guardian into her beautifully decorated home and sits down with reporter Peter Gleeson to talk about her flourishing career, managing a demanding business while being a mum to four children and the key to her success. They open the conversation with Margaret’s journey from being a corporate executive to, together with her then-husband, taking over Quigley’s, a 5th generation family business. “It was cobwebs and whitewashed walls”, she said, recalling the [...]

The Nenagh Guardian – The Woman Who Put the Icing on a Bakery Firm2020-10-20T20:34:19+01:00

Tipp FM – Quick Cuppa Launch With Margaret Valette O’Connor

2020-10-20T20:35:22+01:00

Tipp FM Interview 25 July 2018 Regional Irish radio station Tipp FM launched a brand-new online series under the Life and Style category titled “The Quick Cuppa Interview Series” by interviewing Margaret Valette O’Connor, then Managing Director of Quigley’s Cafe Bakery, Deli. The local station, known to “celebrate what is local, in every way, every day”, calls the series “a quick chat with various celebrities and personalities in the county and nationally, getting to get to know them over a coffee, teasing out what makes them tick and have a little fun!”. The host, Fran Curry, was delighted to have one [...]

Tipp FM – Quick Cuppa Launch With Margaret Valette O’Connor2020-10-20T20:35:22+01:00

Guest Speaker at Local Enterprise Office – Clare

2020-10-20T20:36:21+01:00

Local Enterprise Office (LEO), Co. Clare September 2017 In recognition of her award as Image Magazine’s Businesswoman of the Year along with the booming success of Quigley’s Café and Deli, Margaret Valette O'Connor was invited to be a guest speaker for Clare’s Local Enterprise Office event entitled “Promoting, Supporting & Developing Entrepreneurs in County Clare”, celebrating the National Women’s Enterprise Day. The title of the panel was “To Hear It From Experience” in which Margaret was joined by fellow successful women entrepreneurs Stephanie Shine, Marketing and Business Development Manager of Samco, Alison Banton, Founder and CEO of Brooke and Shoals, Tara [...]

Guest Speaker at Local Enterprise Office – Clare2020-10-20T20:36:21+01:00

Network Ireland North Tipperary Business Woman of the Year Awards 2016

2020-10-20T20:28:57+01:00

Network Ireland North Tipperary Business Woman of the Year Awards 2016 Guest Speaker The Nenagh Guardian published the article entitled “Celebrating women business flair in Tipp” in which the Network Ireland North Tipperary Businesswoman of the Year Awards that took place on June 3 rd was featured. The annual event highlights the successes of key women entrepreneurs in North Tipperary. The winners will represent the county in the national finals. Margaret joined an esteemed panel of judges that are experts in their respective industries namely Eleanor Forrest of Local Enterprise Office Tipperary and Rita Dempsey of AIB Thurles. “We were very [...]

Network Ireland North Tipperary Business Woman of the Year Awards 20162020-10-20T20:28:57+01:00

Irish Country Living Magazine Cover Feature and Article 2013

2020-10-20T20:40:58+01:00

Margaret Valette O'Connor made the cover of Irish Country Living Magazine, from the Farmer's Journal, in January 2013 outlining the success of the cafe business, including Quigleys, Cafe Q and Quigleys Bakery & Deli.  Expanding from one shop in 1985 to 17 in 2013. Farmer’s Journal Irish Country Living 19 January 2013 Cover Feature Recipes for Success Aisling Hussey of Irish Country Living sits down with Margaret Valette O’Connor, the face of this month’s cover feature, to talk about Quigley’s Cafe, Bakery & Deli, the Irish bakery empire that she grew from one humble branch in Nenagh, Tipperary, and what is [...]

Irish Country Living Magazine Cover Feature and Article 20132020-10-20T20:40:58+01:00

The Sunday Times 2012 – How I Made It

2020-10-20T20:42:51+01:00

The Sunday Times 2012 How I made it: Margaret O’Connor Helping turn one bakery into a €7m business has been the icing on the cake for the managing director of Quigley’s, Café, Bakery, Deli. Sandra O’Connell of The Times likened Margaret Valette O'Connor to baking soda, noting how she was key in expanding the family-owned Quigley’s Cafe, Bakery & Deli from one shop in Nenagh town to 16 branches all over Ireland with a turnover of €7m. “It was the late 1980s and John’s mother was running it, but it was going nowhere. The business was little more than cobwebs, three [...]

The Sunday Times 2012 – How I Made It2020-10-20T20:42:51+01:00

Image Magazine – Entrepreneur of the Year 2012

2020-10-20T20:44:19+01:00

Image Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 Image Magazine, a high-end woman-focused magazine that “connect clients to audiences by creating stimulating, smart, relevant bespoke content”, opened its 6th year of celebrating the successes of Ireland’s leading businesswomen at the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2012. This year’s Awards were sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, who continually looks for ways to help and offer support to new businesses. Categories include Entrepreneurship, Young Businesswoman (under 30s), Management Professional, Start-up, Overseas, Social Entrepreneurship, and Creative Industry. Margaret Valette O'Connor bags the coveted Entrepreneur of the Year Award, joining an impressive line-up of inspiring Irish [...]

Image Magazine – Entrepreneur of the Year 20122020-10-20T20:44:19+01:00

The Irish Times Inside Track Q&A 2012

2020-10-20T20:46:01+01:00

The Irish Times Inside Track Q&A 2012 The Irish Times invited Margaret Valette O’Connor for an interview for Inside Track Q&A. For years, the section has created varying dialogues with industry leaders, experts and influencers and is known for its fast-paced and direct enquiry style, providing its readers with a behind the scene glimpse of what goes on in a business and the great minds that run them. What’s the most unique thing about your business? Quigley’s is a fifth-generation Irish business. It was on my husband John’s side of the family. His mother was a Quigley and she took over [...]

The Irish Times Inside Track Q&A 20122020-10-20T20:46:01+01:00
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