He applied to his local AIB [!] branch in Nenagh for a loan of €135,000. Circumstances were on his side: He had a perfect credit rating; his business survived the recession'; and the government had made a big play in purporting to support small businesses.

To this end, funding had been earmarked specifically for small business through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, to be administered by the pillar banks. ...

Belfast [!] based agri-technology company Devenish Nutrition has secured €118m in long-term funding to enable its research, development and growth plans.The EIB loan of €40m will enable the company to develop a purpose-built Global Innovation Centre in Dowth, County Meath.
[...]
The investment is backed by other finance partners Ulster Bank and Danske Bank.

archived o'er the cliff edge
redlining

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.