Kildare businesses to feature on RTÉ’s Nationwide television programme

Newbridge Business Centre (NBC), Kildare’s new serviced offices and co-working hub, is set to make its small screen debut on RTÉ’s Nationwide.

The popular television programme will feature the historic Charlotte House and its residents, a mix of local Kildare businesses. The episode airs on RTÉ One, on Monday, March 25 at 7 pm.

Nationwide is well-known for bringing a round-up of news and events from across Ireland. Viewers can tune in to learn more about the landmark building, its famous former resident, and the vision of one local man, Martin Cooper, to create a state-of-the-art business centre in Newbridge city town centre. 

Produced and directed by Kildare woman, Mary Fanning, a multi-award winning journalist, the programme will showcase the protected building and birthplace of a pioneering 1940s female scientist, Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, and its transformation into a secure co-working space.

Mary interviews an eclectic group of local businesses using NBC and their extraordinary stories from HR consultants to musicians, Podcasters to cyber-experts who work and co-create in Newbridge Business Centre. 

Charlotte House, once the town’s main post office was restored by a local couple, Martin and Aine Cooper. Former engineering consultant to the aviation and energy industry, Martin worked in business hubs across the globe for 30 years. He built Newbridge Business Centre with the vision of creating a space that addresses the needs of local professionals.

Martin Cooper, owner and CEO of Newbridge Business Centre, said, “It was an incredible opportunity to share our journey of saving a historically important local structure, and telling the wonderful story of Dame Kathleen Lonsdale on RTÉ's Nationwide. We invite everyone to come and see what we've achieved in developing this high-spec, high-tech working environment for the local and national business community. We’re looking forward to seeing the programme broadcast next Monday.”

Featured on the show is local business owners Daragh Naughton, from the Naas headquartered cybersecurity company Stryve, local musician Mairead Carroll, broadcaster Keith Walsh along with his podcasting student including Dave the Builder from KFM's Kildare Today self-build segment, and Neil Gissane from Olympian Gymnastics opening next month in Newbridge. Each of the guests works or co-creates from Newbridge Business Centre. Representatives from the Kildare County Council are among the guests featured on the episode. 

Other local businesses involved were Pop Up Art Newbridge and One More Thing which provided the artwork and floral arrangements in the backdrop of the episode. 

The incredible heritage story of Charlotte House, its transformation for modern-day use and the legacy of Kathleen Lonsdale at Newbridge Business Centre, is the heart of the story.  

Newbridge Business Centre at Charlotte House will feature on Nationwide, RTÉ one, on Monday, March 25 at 7 pm. See www.newbridgebusinesscentre.ie for more.