By Evelyn Cullen
OPERATIONS and Risks Manager with Bank of Ireland, radio producer and DJ with Highland Radio and now new President of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce for 2025, Jimmy Stafford does not let the grass grow under his feet.
But it’s not his first rodeo in this role, which is all about effective leadership, clear communication and advocating for businesses in Donegal and the north west. Jimmy was the Chamber president in 2020 through the Covid-19 pandemic. If he could handle that, surely there’s not much that will take the fizz out of him.
“Covid was a challenging time of course, but it was also a time of great learning,” said Jimmy, when he called in to our office for a sit down chat on Friday afternoon.
“Businesses had to adapt and grow in order to thrive. And they did. There’s a resilience in Donegal, Derry and the border counties that isn’t in other places” said the Cobh man, who moved to Donegal in 2007 to take up a job in Bank of Ireland.
He puts this down to the hardships people and businesses had to endure throughout the Troubles, when Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) checkpoints were a daily barrier to travel and trade in the north west.
THE ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY BY BUSINESSES
The biggest change he has seen in the business landscape since his last term is the adoption of technology and the move online.
“I’ve seen the business model change in the last five years, and that’s down to the willingness not just to change but to pivot,” he said.
“Businesses that barely had a website back then are now doing most of their trade online,” he added.
ST PATRICK’S DAY FATALITY
He’s just over a month into his 2025 Presidency, which has already not been without its challenges. As the news came through on St. Patrick’s Day morning of the terrible collision in Letterkenny the night before, which resulted in the death of Anthony Gallagher, Jimmy Stafford was doing his Bank Holiday morning show on Highland Radio.
Between ad breaks and songs, Jimmy chaired a zoom meeting with the 17 Chamber board members and took the decision to cancel the parade.
“There was never a question in my mind to cancel it when the news came through that Anthony had sadly passed away,” he said.
It was an unprecedented situation and it’s is the kind of decisiveness that will likely characterise Jimmy’s presidency. Being an effective communicator is one of his key trademarks.
“I always tell the people I work with never to be afraid to reach out to me. I’d rather tackle something early on than let things fester and escalate, and that’s where good communication is crucial,” he said.
“It helps that there’s no egos around the table in the Chamber. There’s 17 people, each with their own set of skills, and I know I can pick up the phone and call any one of them any time if I need to.”
So what are his key priorities for the year ahead?
“To build on the momentum that the Chamber has built up steadily in the last 10 years. We have a really strong membership now, so for me it’s about supporting them; listening, talking and meeting with them. The Chamber simply would not exist without them,” he said.
Donegal News reporter Evelyn Cullen pictured with Letterkenny Chamber President, Jimmy Stafford who called into our office for a chat.
The president’s job is also to chair the board meetings, which is very much a leadership role.
As well as that the Chamber celebrates 60 years in business this year so there will be various events to mark this fantastic milestone, and Jimmy will be at the forefront of this.
He takes the reigns from Claire McDonough, whose successful term as president was characterised by strong advocacy and steady leadership.
Some key events in the Chamber’s calendar this year include the President’s Lunch on June 6, which is a more formal version of the President’s Breakfast, which took place two weeks ago in Kernan’s Bistro in the Letterkenny Retail park. There was a great turnout at that with over 60 business people turning out to welcome Jimmy and wish him well in his role.
“Our events are very much about the coming together of business and the community,” said Jimmy.
On a personal level, music is one of his passions. He counts Dire Straits as one of his all-time favourite bands and he loves those beautiful Irish power ballads such as, ‘The Greenfields of France’, ‘Rivers Run Free and ‘Grace’ sung by Jim McCann.
He’s also a fan of Limerick-based band Kingfishr but said he didn’t want to start mentioning Donegal bands, because there’s so many great ones and he’s afraid to leave anyone out.
“There’s something about up here, I don’t know what it is but there are so many amazing musicians”. He does venture a few, mentioning Onóir, Clann mhic Ruairí, Moya Brennan, Altan and Muireann Bradley as incredibly talented musicians.
In his downtime he enjoys a pint of Guinness in his local, Harry’s Bar at the Mountain Top. One of his favourite places to relax is Ards Friary, as well the nature walks in the surrounding forests and beaches. In fact he proposed to his wife Tríona at the secluded Lucky Shell Beach at Ards, so it also holds a special meaning for him. Very romantic indeed.
“Donegal is a brilliant county with so much going for it. The people are amazing up here and I can say that objectively as a Cork man,” he insists. Well, we won’t argue with him.
As Jimmy Stafford settles into his second term as Chamber President, it’s clear he brings not only experience and steady leadership, but heart, humility and a deep-rooted belief in the power of community. Whether it’s guiding his team at the bank, chairing a board meeting, spinning a ballad on the airwaves or walking the shores of Ards with his family, Jimmy leads with calm conviction and a genuine love for the county he now calls home.
Donegal, he says, has something special, and with Jimmy at the helm, the Letterkenny Chamber is in safe, steady hands for the year ahead.
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