The Irish Edge: How Enterprises Compete on Authenticity and Place

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The Irish Edge

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About the Authors

Finbarr D. Bradley

Finbarr D. Bradley teaches at University College Dublin (UCD).He has been a professor at both Dublin City University (DCU)and the National University of Ireland (NUI), Maynooth, anda visiting professor at the University of Michigan, FordhamUniversity and Aalto University. He co-authored with James

J. Kennelly the 2008 book, Capitalising on Culture, Competing onDifference (Blackhall Publishing), co-edited a book of essays on

Irelands economic crisis based on the 2009 MacGill SummerSchool and wrote the 2011 monograph Meon Gaelach, AigneNualaoch (Coiscim). He holds an engineering degree fromUniversity College Cork (UCC) and a PhD in InternationalBusiness/Finance from the Stern School of Business, New YorkUniversity (NYU).

James J. Kennelly

James J. Kennelly is Professor of International Business atSkidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York. He has beena Visiting Professor at NYUs Stern School of Business andat Aalto University. His book The Kerry Way: A History of theKerry Group was published by Oak Tree Press in 2001. His2008 co-authored book (with Finbarr Bradley), Capitalising onCulture, Competing on Difference (Blackhall Publishing) focused

upon Irelands efforts to develop in a manner that is economi-cally, socially and environmentally sustainable. He holds anaccounting degree from Montclair State University, New Jerseyand a PhD in International Business/Management from theStern School of Business, NYU.

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The Irish Edge

How Enterprises Compete onAuthenticity and Place

Finbarr D. Bradley and James J. Kennelly

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Ireland must be re-created from within. The main work mustbe done in Ireland, and the centre of interest must be Ireland.When Irishmen realise this truth, the splendid human power oftheir country, so much of which now runs idly or disastrouslyto waste, will be utilised; and we may then look with confidence

for the foundation of a fabric of Irish prosperity, framed inconstructive thought, and laid enduringly in human character.Horace Plunkett, Irish co-operator and reformer, 19041

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Finbarr D. Bradley

I gcuimhne mathar Mchel, mo mhthar Mirad agus momhuintir go lir at anois ar shl na frinne. Suaimhneas soradibh.

James J. Kennelly

Do Linda, Brendan agus Terence, agus do mo mhuintir go lir, sanam i lthair is am at thart, i gcin is i gcngar.

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Table of Contents

Preface ....................................................................................... xv

PART I: Ireland Old and New 1

1 Inis Mein ......................................................................... 3Introducing Inis Mein ................................................... 4

Authenticity and Place .................................................... 5Inis Mein Restaurant & Suites ..................................... 7

Conclusion ......................................................................... 9

2 A New Vision of Irish Enterprise ................................. 11Where is the Vision? ......................................................... 11A Third Way ..................................................................... 14An Economic Aisling ....................................................... 17Character and Integrity ................................................... 18The Experience Economy ............................................... 20Reviving the Revival Spirit ............................................. 23

Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) ................................. 24The Second Revival ......................................................... 28The Third Revival ............................................................ 31

Who am I, What am I, Where am I? .............................. 32Sargadelos ........................................................................ 34Heath Ceramics ................................................................ 34

Creative Places ................................................................. 36

Why Culture Counts ....................................................... 38Realising the Smart Economy ......................................... 39Creating Shared Value .................................................... 43Greening Irelands Enterprises ...................................... 45Conclusion ......................................................................... 48

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PART II: Stories of Distinctively Irish Enterprises 49

3 Telling Tales ..................................................................... 51Introduction ....................................................................... 51Why Stories? ...................................................................... 52Introductory Tales ............................................................ 55Overview of Stories .......................................................... 58Conclusion ......................................................................... 59

4 A Place in the Heart Tourism and Travel................. 61Background ....................................................................... 61The Evolution of a Dream ............................................... 66Meeting the Marketplace ................................................. 69Recognition ........................................................................ 72Transformative Experiences ............................................ 73The Future .......................................................................... 75Conclusion ......................................................................... 76

5 Keeping the Tradition Alive Arts and Media ......... 77Introduction ....................................................................... 77Irish World Academy of Music and Dance ................... 78Other Voices ...................................................................... 81Burren College of Art ...................................................... 82Telegael............................................................................... 84Irish as Resource ............................................................... 87

Conclusion ......................................................................... 88

6 Making Sense (Not Stuff) Craft and Design......... 91Introduction ....................................................................... 91Louis Mulcahy Pottery ..................................................... 92Brian de Staic Jewellers .................................................... 95Wild Goose Studio ............................................................ 96Authentic Clothing ........................................................... 98Conclusion ......................................................................... 100

7 The Green Island Farming and Food ....................... 103Introduction ....................................................................... 103

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Kerrygold ........................................................................... 104Small Food Ventures ........................................................ 105Country Choice ................................................................. 106Follin ................................................................................. 108Origin Green ...................................................................... 109Food Authenticity ............................................................. 113Future Promise .................................................................. 116Conclusion ......................................................................... 118

8 The Independent Spirit of Ireland Brewing and Distilling............................................... 119Introduction ....................................................................... 119Cooley Distillery ............................................................... 120The Future of Irish Whiskey............................................ 125Conclusion ......................................................................... 126

9 Sustainable but Scalable Global and Green .......... 127

Introduction ....................................................................... 127Global Enterprises ............................................................ 128Kerry Group ...................................................................... 130Small Green Ventures ...................................................... 134VOYA ................................................................................. 135Conclusion ......................................................................... 137

PART III: Towards 2016 141

10 An Authentic Republic .................................................. 143

Endnotes ................................................................................... 151

Index .......................................................................................... 165

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Preface

Walk on air against your better judgement.

Seamus Heaney, Irish Nobel Prize winner, 19952

If we had exercised our better judgement, we would perhapsnever have written this book. It treads a path at variance withthe economic orthodoxy that now holds sway in Ireland.But, at a time when Irish public policy remains focused uponforeign direct investment as the primary engine, if not thesaviour, of the Irish economy, it troubles us that the accom-plishments of successful, home-grown enterprises that areintimately rooted in both the soil and culture of Ireland areoften overlooked or dismissed out of hand treated as one-offcuriosities or small enterprises that are not scalable and,thus, not worthy of serious attention. This attitude towardsindigenous enterprises that are uniquely distinguished byauthenticity and integrity, by Irishness, reminds us of the

counsel of Taoiseach Sen Lemass, the original architect ofIrelands outward-looking economic policy. Even as he wasleading the country out of economic isolation into a tumul-tuous new world of international trade and investment, hecautioned:

The people of the world will respect us only to the extentthat we respect ourselves, our history, our traditions, ourculture and our language it is all the more importantthat we should preserve and develop every characteris-tic and value which distinguishes us from other nations.The movement of the Irish people which brought us so

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far on the road to independent nationhood was neverinspired by materialistic motives alone. If it had been, itwould have failed, and we in our day will fail also unlesswe recognise and utilise the spiritual forces which acti-vate both men [sic] and nations.

Sen Lemass, former Taoiseach, 19613

We go even further: it is precisely these characteristics andvalues which underlie significant, inimitable and very real

competitive advantages for Irish enterprises that are basedon culture, authenticity and a sense of place. After all, it isdifference, not sameness, that matters in global markets alas, a fact scarcely appreciated in contemporary Ireland.

As Ireland searches for the right mix of policies that willenable it to overcome its serious economic challenges, ithas often failed to notice that at least part of the answer isright under its nose, hiding in plain sight. We believe thatan economy is only successful when it serves the needs ofthe people and society in which it is embedded, and notthe other way around. Indigenous Irish enterprises charac-terised by distinctiveness and authenticity must play a keyrole in a balanced development strategy that is financially,socially and environmentally sustainable. The best of theseenterprises create shared value: creating social value whilst

competing successfully with the best firms in the world.This is not just pie-in-the-sky thinking; such distinctivenessis already exemplified in any number of Irish enterprisesthat, even in the midst of economic recession, have builtcompetitive, world-class businesses. These enterprises,Ireland-based and locally owned, demonstrate what we callthe Irish edge. Their stories are instructive and deserve tobe told.

We have written this book, not to propose a detailedset of policy instructions, but to relate stories of successfulfirms that build upon Irelands distinct cultural, human andnatural resources. Such enterprises are essential to build

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not only the smart economy but, ultimately, a successful,vigorous and diverse society and nation one that is no lessglobally competitive for being distinctively Irish. In a time ofno little doom and gloom, there are good stories out there!Some are truly inspiring.

Although we are business academicians by training, thisbook, whatever its faults, does not suffer from a narrow,disciplinary perspective. We have instead taken a broadinterdisciplinary approach, for the themes that we examine

demand no less. To that end, we hope that this book is ofinterest to policymakers, entrepreneurs and other businessprofessionals, as well as the general reader with an interestin Ireland. Like our last book4, the emphasis is on the Repub-lic more than Northern Ireland, but we hope our ideas applyto the island as a whole.

If any reader has queries or comments on this work, pleasecontact Orpen Press at [email protected].

Finbarr D. Bradley, Blackrock, Co. DublinJames J. Kennelly, Saratoga Springs, New YorkJuly 2013

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