Newly returned from living in Australia she had taken up residence in a cottage on her parent’s farm near Saul, Downpatrick.  It was her 26th birthday and when asked what she would like as a present she said “Some hens to help keep the grass down”.  In May 2020, Cliodna took receipt of her gift of 10 hens, and she was hooked.  The following week she decided to buy another 10 to keep the first 10 company and the week after that she bought another 10.  A year later, she’s not only got 200 hens but she’s established a growing free-range egg business ‘Ballysugagh Eggs’.

The Covid-19 crisis has had a major or severe impact on two-thirds of small businesses in the Newry Mourne and Down Council area and over a third of business owners have experienced major or severe mental health problems as a result. These are the headline findings of a Down Business Centre survey, which focussed on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the local self-employed sector. 105 local business owners responded to the Local Enterprise Agency’s survey which was conducted on-line during the last week of February.

A new £3 million fund to help retail micro-businesses in Northern Ireland looking to grow their business online has been launched.