County's entrepreneurs and risk takers to be honoured at Meath Business and Tourism Awards
Entries open for event recognising excellence to be held in November
The commitment, hard work, and risk taking in striving for business excellence by companies and enterprises in Meath will be recognised at the 2024 Meath Business and Tourism Awards, which were launched this week at Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim.
The awards are run by the Meath Chronicle with partners, Meath County Council and Meath Tourism, and were launched by the cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr Sharon Tolan, on Monday.
She said: “These awards recognise the amazing work and contribution that businesses make to our region, be it a new business starting off its journey offering a local service or an established business exploring export opportunities.
“Companies in Meath continue to display remarkable agility, adaptability, and courage in developing and expanding their businesses. These awards celebrate their commitment and hard work in striving for business excellence. The variety of categories allows businesses of all sizes and sectors to get involved – from sole traders and ‘solopreneurs’ to SMEs and multinationals, all businesses are encouraged to enter – there really is a category for everyone.”
Cllr Tolan said that for Meath County Council, the Business and Tourism Awards present an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the vision, drive, and dedication of our local business community and the best that our local economy has to offer.
“I am looking forward to welcoming all the nominees to the awards event later this year. I wish everyone the best of luck as we celebrate success and innovation in our county.”
On behalf of the Meath Chronicle, John Donohoe welcomed guests to the Knightsbrook Hotel for the launch event for the 14th edition of the Meath Business and Tourism Awards, which will be held in November.
He said that in the decade and a half since the awards were first established, the world has certainly changed.
“We could not have foreseen the turmoil that would hit a decade later. While we were just finding our feet again after the economic crash, along came a once in a century epidemic, and a return to wars in Europe and the Middle East.
“We still live amidst that uncertainty, more reason to look forward and try to overcome those difficulties as best we can, and celebrate our business leaders who take great risks.”
He said that looking back at previous winners of these awards, a theme emerges, showing what we are good at in the Royal County – constantly evolving and diversifying, but with that rootedness in the land, the family farm, food production, and the building up of strong family businesses.
“The first award winner back in 2010 was one of those businesses built up from scratch – the Waters family's Panda Waste at Beauparc, sold 12 years later to an Australian financial services firm for a reported €1 billion,” he said.
“But the common thread through a lot of the winners was how farm families grew their food production businesses or moved into tourism and accommodation, from Meade’s , Hogan’s, Finnegan’s and McCormack’s to Causey and Grove Farms, Largo Foods and Tayto Park; Slane Castle Distillery and Bru Brewery.
“It wasn’t all eating and drinking – there was Dromone Engineering; Martin Skelly Travel; BSG Design; Turmec; Tattersalls; Killeen Castle and the Hay Festival Kells, now Hinterland.”
Mr Donohoe continued that last year’s winners are at the other end of that food chain.
“Harp Renewables are converting waste food into energy, a hugely important service in this era of sustainability, climate issues, and energy demand. And last year’s Tourism winners, the Johnstown Estate and Spa had more success to claim credit for this year – they looked after the Armagh football team on All-Ireland senior football championship weekend.
“It is that combination of hospitality, food production, tourism providers, and history and heritage that has seen Meath been successful in attracting the international Puca festival, centring on Trim and Athboy at Halloween.
“That leads me to thank our partners Meath County Council and Boyne Valley Tourism and thanks to Des Foley and Michele Whelan for all their support and their input into the awards every year.”
He acknowledged the sponsors, without whom the awards simply could not take place.
“Some of the sponsors have been with us now for many years: Benny and Miriam Sheridan from Sheridan Insurances, the team at Alltech, Noel and Valerie Moran from Bective Stud, and Catherine Fox and Denis Leonard from Dunboyne College.”
He welcomed new sponsor this year Meta, who have established a data centre in Clonee in recent years, and representative, Aoife Flynn.
And the team at AIB Navan who will host the pitch night in the Navan branch, when the finalists do a two minute presentation to the judges saying why they should win their category and either of the two overall awards on the night.
The overall awards ceremony will take place in Knightsbrook on Friday 8th November .