Bray Chamber

05/09/2026

Bray Chamber of Commerce Salutes Katie Taylor as Bray's Greatest Ambassador Bows Out at Croke Park
Bray, Co. Wicklow — 5 September 2026

Tonight, as Katie Taylor steps into the ring at Croke Park for the final fight of her extraordinary career, the Bray Chamber of Commerce joins the whole town in saluting a woman who has carried our name to every corner of the world.

For two decades, Katie Taylor has been Bray's greatest ambassador — an Olympic gold medallist, and a two-weight undisputed world champion. Bray Chamber was delighted to present her with a Bray Endeavour Award on a few occasions. Above all, she has been a source of pride for every business, family and community group across our town. Long before Bray became a fixture on the sporting map, Katie was already writing that story, one fight at a time.

Tonight she faces France's Flora Pili in an undisputed super-lightweight world title clash in front of a sold-out Croke Park — the first professional boxing event held there since 1972 — bringing her remarkable career full circle in the most fitting way possible: on home soil, in front of the people who have followed every step of her journey.

"Katie Taylor has done more for the profile of Bray than any advertising campaign ever could," said Jonathan Donnelly, President of the Bray Chamber of Commerce. "She has put our town on the map for the right reasons, time and time again, and she has done it with humility, grace and an unshakeable work ethic. Tonight isn't just the end of a boxing career — it's the closing chapter of a story that has inspired a whole generation in Bray and far beyond. We will miss seeing her compete, but her legacy in this town is permanent."

The Chamber extends its heartfelt thanks and best wishes to Katie, her family and her team, and looks forward to welcoming her home to Bray to celebrate a career that will be remembered for generations.

04/09/2026

New Community Market Square Comes to Bray, in Partnership with Glovers.

Ballymore will host a community market at Sea Gardens on Saturday 5th September, in partnership with Glovers Café. Sea Gardens’ Summer Market with Glovers runs from 10am to 2pm at Sea Gardens Market Square, bringing local food, makers and community life together.

Market Square is at the heart of Sea Gardens, offering a welcoming space to gather and enjoy the relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere and authentic market feel. Attendees will enjoy live music, and a curated line-up of local traders bringing food, drink, crafts and entertainment to the square. Traders will include Moss and Milk (natural, handcrafted skincare), Sweet Jewels (handmade Irish bronze and resin jewellery), Trevor Quinn Photography (landscape photography prints), Tierney Enterprises (Lego minifigures), and Spirit Crystal Gifts (handmade leather journals and crystal crafts). For the little ones, there’s plenty of space to run about as well as a face painter, and of course, Teddy’s ice cream.

Glovers Café Opens at Sea Gardens Market Square, Bray
At the heart of it all is Glovers Café, with the day marking the official opening of Glovers Café at Market Square, from opening day onwards, locals, visitors and residents can expect an all-day cafe by morning and a relaxed w**e bar by evening, seven days a week. Specialty Wicklow coffee, seasonal brunch and sharing plates, and Irish cheese and charcuterie boards alongside natural w**es will be on offer.
Glovers Café is run by Sadbh Glover and her mother Meabhdh. For Sadbh, hospitality has always been the family trade rather than a career choice; she grew up helping to run a B&B on the Bray seafront, where guests arrived, meals were made and people were looked after as a matter of course. In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Sadbh opened the original Glovers on Meath Road alongside Meabhdh and siblings Olan and Roisin, bringing homemade food, cakes, charcuterie, tapas and carefully chosen w**es from [supplier] to fans. Glovers Café quickly became a place locals built their routines around, and as Olan and Roisin have since moved to Australia, the Café is now run by Sadbh and Meabhdh. The new Sea Gardens location marks the next exciting chapter for the family business.
“Market Square was always designed to be more than a backdrop, it’s meant to be somewhere people actually gather. Welcoming Glovers, and seeing the square filled with local traders and neighbours for the day, is exactly what we set out to achieve when we first imagined this space. Glovers is exactly the kind of anchor tenant we hoped Market Square would find: rooted in Bray, and run by a family who understand what it means to make people feel at home,” said Hayleigh O’Farrell, Ballymore Ireland.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be part of Sea Gardens and to be working alongside Ballymore in bringing this new community to life. The support we’ve received already has been incredible, and there’s such a lovely sense of community here. We can’t wait to slowly but surely build Glovers, get to know everyone around us, and create a really special space that feels completely at home. Our mission with Glovers is really simple, to get people sitting around the table again. Hearty food, great coffee & of course, a glass of w**e. Most importantly - a proper chat. We want to create a space where people slow down, connect and genuinely enjoy spending time together” Sadbh, Co- Owner of Glovers Cafè

The market square is free to attend.

Sadbh Glover Ballymore Bray, At The Heart of it

02/09/2026

Celebrating Bray’s Best: Bray Chamber Calls for 2026 Endeavour Award Nominations

Did you know 2026 is a massive double milestone for our town? The Bray & District Chamber of Commerce of is celebrating 70 years of supporting our local community, and the Endeavour Awards are turning 45!

For four and a half decades, these awards have shone a light on the incredible people, businesses, and volunteers who make Bray such an amazing place to live, work, and visit. Now, it’s your turn to say thank you!

Do you know an unsung hero, a standout local business, an inspiring young person, or a dedicated volunteer? Help them get the recognition they deserve.

Nominate ➜ https://braychamber.ie/newss/celebrating-brays-best-bray-chamber-calls-for-2026-endeavour-award-nominations/

📅 Deadline for nominations: Sunday, September 27th, 2026
🎉 Winners will be honoured at the gala awards night at the Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre on Thursday, October 22nd!
📷 2025 Endeavour Award recipients

The Bray & District Chamber of Commerce is delighted to launch the 2026 Endeavour Awards, the town’s most prestigious celebration of the individuals, groups, and businesses that make Bray such a vibrant community. This year marks a momentous occasion for the area, celebrating both 70 years of the ...

28/08/2026

Press Release: Chambers Ireland welcomes Cost of Business Report and calls for urgent implementation

28 August 2026

Chambers Ireland, the nationwide voice of business, has today welcomed the publication of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum Report, while warning that its value will be judged by delivery rather than publication. As businesses across Ireland continue to face intense pressure from energy, regulatory, infrastructure, legal and finance-related costs, the report must now serve as a clear roadmap for reducing avoidable costs and complexity.

The Cost of Business Advisory Forum brought together businesses and business groups to look at the structural issues driving up costs and steps that can be taken to mitigate them. This engagement was designed to ensure that the lived experience of businesses, particularly SMEs and indigenous enterprises, from across Ireland was reflected in the final report’s 63 recommendations.

Commenting on the publication of the report, Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, said:

“We welcome the publication of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum Report and the constructive engagement with businesses and representative organisations throughout its development. Publication, however, is only the starting point. The report clearly reflects the pressures our members experience, but businesses do not need another document to sit on a shelf. They need action that reduces the real costs and complexity affecting decisions on investment, hiring and expansion and, for many SMEs, basic viability.

The recommendations must now move quickly from report to delivery. Business confidence has been weakened, and the priority must be implementation. The Forum has done important work in identifying practical reforms and engaging business organisations; Government must now ensure that this work produces measurable results.”

Chambers Ireland has called for the report to be adapted into an Action Plan on Tackling Business Costs. This should include clear implementation timelines, named lead bodies for each recommendation, regular public reporting and dedicated funding where required to deliver meaningful reform.

Commenting on the concerns raised across the Chambers Ireland network, Ian Talbot continued:

“Across our network of 36 Chambers, we see every day how integral SMEs are to local economies right across Ireland. They create jobs and build connected, thriving local communities. If we want Irish businesses to grow, we have to get serious about the costs and complexity they face. That means reducing avoidable administrative burdens, improving price transparency, tackling infrastructure and utility cost pressures, and ensuring regulation is proportionate, predictable and outcome-focused. We welcome this focus in the final report.”

Chambers Ireland has also called for the Cost of Business Advisory Forum to continue in an advisory capacity or be reconstituted as an implementation group to support delivery of the report’s recommendations. A continuing structure would maintain engagement with businesses and strengthen accountability across Government.

Chambers Ireland said that the report’s focus on regulatory reform, better engagement with enterprise, improved transparency, easier switching between providers, and targeted resourcing reflects many of the priorities consistently raised by Chambers across the country. Ian Talbot concludes:

“Ireland needs a business environment that encourages entrepreneurship, supports indigenous growth and gives SMEs the confidence to expand. The test is whether this report delivers measurable change for firms on the ground.”

-ENDS-

21/08/2026

HELP US TELL THE STORY OF 70 YEARS OF BRAY CHAMBER

As Bray & District Chamber prepares to celebrate its 70th Anniversary with a Gala Black Tie Dinner, in November, we're looking back through the decades – and we'd love your help.

Do you have any old photographs, newspaper cuttings, magazines, programmes, newsletters, invitations, memorabilia or stories connected with Bray Chamber?
We're especially keen to hear from former Chamber Presidents, past members, and the families of those who are no longer with us, who may have treasured photographs or memories they'd be willing to share.

Every photograph and every story helps preserve an important part of Bray's business and community history.

Email: [email protected]

📍 Or please drop items into: Chamber House Prince of Wales Terrace Bray

(If you're lending original photographs or documents, we'll take great care of them and arrange their safe return.)
Please share this post so we can reach as many people as possible across Bray, Enniskerry and beyond.
Let's celebrate 70 years of enterprise, community and memories together.

21/08/2026

Last night, Bray Chamber Executive members were delighted to welcome representatives of the Bray Retailers Group, Liam McGarry and Wessel Badenhorst, to Chamber House.

They shared the findings from their recent Pop-Up Info Hub on Bray Main Street, providing valuable insights into the views and experiences of local businesses and the wider community of Bray and its Environs.

The Chamber Executive itself represents a broad and diverse cross-section of Bray’s business community, including Transport, IT, Retail, Legal services, Estate agents, Auctioneers, the Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre and Arts, Travel and Tourism and more. This gives us a valuable and well-balanced perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing our town.

Many of the findings from the Pop-Up Hub aligned closely with issues the Chamber has identified through our own engagement with local businesses — including traffic, Main Street shopfronts, changing retail habits, public transport connections and the Luas.

Most importantly, the meeting highlighted a shared commitment to working together. By bringing the Chamber, retailers and the wider community together, we can ensure Bray’s voice is heard as our rapidly growing town continues to develop.

There is a lot to do, but working together gives us the best opportunity to help shape a vibrant and successful future for Bray.

NB: Photograph taken after some members of the Chamber Executive had already left the meeting.

23/07/2026

Supporting Our Town | Bray Chamber Is proud to champion Worldfest 2026 and the Trail!

This weekend, isn’t just about incredible live music, workshops, and cultural performances—it’s about celebrating the vibrant community that makes so special.

This year, we’ve teamed up with local businesses to bring you exclusive festival menus, unique discounts, and wellness specials!

How to take part:

1️⃣ Head over to 👉 https://bray.ie/worldfest2026/
2️⃣ Explore our brand-new interactive trail map and directory.
3️⃣ Filter by your mood (Hospitality, Retail, or Wellness) and plan your weekend route!

Support the town that supports the festival. Let’s make a conscious effort to this weekend! 🛍️☕🧘

19/07/2026

Day 2 of the Beach BBQ
It's all happening, music, great BBQs
Ice creams

17/07/2026

We’re delighted to announce that Bray Walking Tours are now taking bookings for their FREE Bray: Movies, Music & More tours.
Their first tour will take place this Sunday, July 19 at 2.30pm from Bray Dart Station and will last approx two hours.

They also have space on their FREE Hidden Gems and Secrets tour on Friday, Jul 17 at 2.30pm.

Their tours are wheelchair friendly, suitable for all ages – and you can even bring your (well-behaved ) dog!

These are proving to be a great success, so if you have visitors and family in Bray for the summer, why not book a FREE walking tour and share more about this wonderful town packed with history and facts.

Click here to book: www.braywalkingtours.ie

23/06/2026

’s 2026 summer calendar is bursting with diverse events designed to captivate both locals and visitors alike. From breathtaking air displays to laid-back Sunday sounds by the sea, there’s no shortage of fun in the sun.
Get the full scoop on all the fun and download the Ultimate 2026 Guide ➜ https://bray.ie/summer2026/

As one of Ireland’s favourite seaside towns, Bray is gearing up for an unforgettable season as the official 2026 campaign bursts into action. Running from June through to September, the seafront transforms into a buzzing hub of live music, cultural events, thrilling family attraction...