CLARE COMPANY WINS AT NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS
6th June 2023
Wild Irish Seaweeds, who are supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare, were winners at this year’s National Enterprise Awards. The awards, which took place at the Round Room in the Mansion House in Dublin, were in their 23rd year and run annually by the Local Enterprise Offices.
Wild Irish Seaweeds, a family business from Quilty took home the Best Export Award. The business produces seaweed products for the following industries: Food Ingredients, Cosmetic, Nutraceuticals, Retail, Food Service, Horticulture, and Agriculture. They have ranges of seaweed products for all these sectors exporting Organic Seaweed to 18 different countries. Evan Talty operates the business along with his parents Gerard and Eileen Talty.
Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise Clare said “Congratulations to Wild Irish Seaweed on a well-deserved recognition of the success they have achieved in developing export markets. Wild Irish Seaweed have upheld a long tradition of top-class businesses in Clare being recognized on a national stage. Their success reflects the huge potential for all Clare businesses willing to explore opportunities in new markets and as a Local Enterprise Office we are proud that we assisted Wild Irish Seaweed in achieving their goals”.
L-R: John Magee - Chair of LEO Network, Padraic McElwee - Head of Enterprise Clare, Cllr. Ann Norton - Leas Cathaoirleach Clare County Council, Gerard & Evan Talty - Wild Irish Seaweeds, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Simon Coveney T.D., Eileen Talty & Ashling Moloney - Wild Irish Seaweeds
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Tony O’Brien, said, “Once again a Clare business demonstrates the undoubted ability of many Clare businesses to achieve success in developing new markets outside of Ireland. Businesses like Wild Irish Seaweed are crucial to the ongoing economic development of Clare by providing employment and enabling employees to remain in their local communities. My congratulations to the Talty family and continued success in growing the business”.
Previous Clare winners were ABC Nutritionals, Callan Technology, Aaron PCB, Get the Shifts, Torpey, McConnell Woollen Mills and WowWee.
The 15 National Enterprise Awards trophies were designed and handcrafted by Conor Murray of Kilkee Forge, an award winning design and manufacture studio in Kilkee, Co. Clare. The stars on the trophies symbolize the standards of excellence that the winners have reached in their respective businesses.
Back: L-R: Ashling Moloney - Wild Irish Seaweeds, Cllr. Ann Norton - Leas Cathaoirleach Clare County Council, Sinéad Dixon-Slattery - LEO Clare, Eileen Talty - Wild Irish Seaweeds, Michelle Guthrie - LEO Clare, Carmel Kirby - Director Clare County Council
Front: L-R: Padraic McElwee - LEO Clare, Evan Talty & Gerard Talty - Wild Irish Seaweeds
The overall winner at the National Enterprise Awards was Advanced Cosmetics who are based in Ballina and supported by Local Enterprise Office Mayo. The “concept to shelf” manufacturing company was set up by cosmetic chemist Noreen Hackett in 2018, before launching to market in 2022. The business has achieved significant success, securing contracts with some of the biggest brand names in the cosmetics industry.
Announcing the award winners at the Mansion House, Minister Coveney said; “The National Enterprise Awards are the highlight of the small business and enterprise calendar. Year on year the diversity of businesses and the standard of companies that are coming through the process is getting stronger. We should not be surprised given the innovation and endurance that businesses have shown in the past couple years. We have some outstanding winners but the finalists on the whole have been excellent, and this is very much the start of their journey. We will ensure they continue to get the support they need to grow their businesses as small businesses in Ireland are at the core of every town, village and community and are vital to our economy.”
Several other companies won across a range of categories at the Awards, which were established by the Local Enterprise Offices to celebrate the impact and quality of small businesses across the country.
The National Enterprise Awards are one of several initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland. Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eight years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 25,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie
