Mairead McGuinness to be keynote speaker at Meath Business and Tourism Awards

Event on Friday 8th November to recognise the best of the county's enterprises and the people driving them

Mairead McGuinness, EU Commissioner for Financial Services, Stability and Capital Markets Union will be the keynote speaker at this year's Meath Business & Tourism Awards.

Ms McGuinness (pictured), who is coming to the end of her term as Commissioner, will address the work she has being doing for the small and medium sized business sector during her period of office.

Meanwhile, if the entries to this year’s Meath Business & Tourism Awards were a barometer of how business and industry is doing in the county then all is very well indeed.

While some of came from companies who are regular participants and previous winners, the majority were companies entering and showcasing their talents for the first time.

The strongest category was Excellence in Customer Service where judging was quite a challenge for the panel. Best Family Business has always been a popular category and this year was no exception. Outstanding Small to Medium Business - a new category this year sponsored by META - was equally encouraging, and Innovation is alive and well in Meath companies.

With Meath becoming increasingly popular as a tourist and visitor destination, the calibre of entries, both new and established, was no surprise but has nevertheless thrown up an array of unique and trendsetting businesses.

Mary Bisgood of Celtic Media Group said all the finalists making it through to the event on Friday 8th November, at Knightbrook Hotel, Trim, should be very proud, adding that all participating businesses will be acknowledged with certificates to display in their places of business.

"Thanks to AIB we also have the Pitch Night to look forward to on Wednesday 23rd October, starting at 6pm. Hosted this year by Meath Chronicle sports editor, Fergal Lynch, we ask all the finalists to do a two-minute pitch on their business and why they should win their category and therefore be in the running for Overall Business of the Year award.

"We bid farewell and a huge thanks to a great friend of the awards, Kevin Stewart, who has hosted the pitch nights since they started. He has passed the baton on to Fergal and we wish him well. Best of luck to all these Meath companies and we look forward to meeting them on Wednesday 23rd in AIB in Navan."