Microfinance Ireland, the State-backed SME lending vehicle, has announced a 1% cut in the interest rates it charges borrowers.

They are both workaholics, have two children each and, spookily, turned vegetarian on the same day even though they were on opposite ends of the planet.

Up to €2m will be invested in about 100 indigenous food businesses in Cork over the next three years as part of an ambitious joint city and county council strategy that aims to make the region the food capital of Ireland.

From crowdfunding, bank loans and venture capital to feasibility funds and innovation vouchers, there seems to be an abundance of options for startups and business owners.

Cork County Council has helped create 240 jobs in the past 17 months through its work with Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs).

Despite the Government’s declaration that city and county enterprise boards will be dissolved this year, key stakeholders on those boards remain in the dark as to how their replacements will be operated.