Emma Rose Conroy has been named as Offaly’s best young entrepreneur, and has won an investment of €20,000, as part of the €2 million Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition.
Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the Local Enterprise Offices.
At a function at the Tullamore Court Hotel on 6th October, awards were made for Offaly’s best start-up, the best new idea, and the best add-on to an existing business, as well as an overall award for the best young entrepreneur in the county, and the winners and investments won were as follows:
- Best New Idea: Jack Dooley representing “Greener Globe” €10,000
- Best Business Start Up: Emma Rose Conroy, “Eurostallions” €20,000
- Best Established Business with new Add on service: Mark Clendennen, “Applied Concepts Ltd” €20,000
Photographs from the awards ceremony available to view on our Facebook page.
The three businesses will now go through to regional finals where they will compete for the right to go through to the national finals and ultimately compete for the award of being named Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur at a ceremony in Dublin.
Marking the occasion, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said:
“Central to our plans for jobs and growth is supporting more businesses to start-up. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups, so if we are to create the jobs we need we must support more entrepreneurs to start new businesses. That is why we put in place the entrepreneurship forum chaired by Sean O’Sullivan and that is why we established the Local Enterprise Offices to provide more and better Government supports to businesses in one easily-accessible place at local level.
“Part of this plan is also fostering a stronger culture of entrepreneurship and promoting start-up business as a career option for young people. That is what is behind this new competition to find the best young entrepreneur in Offaly also ultimately Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur. We have excellent start-ups and entrepreneurs in Ireland – we just don’t have enough of them. It is great to see so many excellent entrepreneurs and business-people in Offaly getting involved in this competition, and I am delighted to congratulate the winner “Eurostallions”. I wish all three winners every success in the later stages of the competition – and wish all participants every success as they grow their businesses and contribute to the job-creation we need”.
Speaking at the awards, Head of Local Enterprise Office Offaly, Orla Martin, said: “The level of new talent emerging in county Offaly offers great hope and encouragement for the future of the county. The Local Enterprise Office looks forward to working with these inspirational entrepreneurs for many years to come”.
The 9 Offaly Finalists were as follows:
Best Business Idea
David Cleary, “Rockridge Foods”
Rockridge Foods is Ireland's first dairy free milk producer based in Co. Offaly, with plans to launch a range of almond milks in early 2015.
Jack Dooley, Representing “Greener Globe”
Greener Globe is owned by four 5th year students from Tullamore College. They have created two water conservation devices: a water saving showerhead, and a leak Detection System.
Martin McGuinness, “www.thateasy.ie”
A website offering a unique approach to hiring local service providers.
Darren McNelis, “Nevermiss”
An app and online service that allows people in the tech and entrepreneur space find out what events in their industry are going on without having to search multiple websites or platforms.
Best Business Start Up
Emma Rose Conroy , “Eurostallions”
Trading since March 2014, Euro Stallions, is Ireland’s first and only fully dedicated stallion semen agency and Ireland’s first EU Approved Semen Storage Centre. Euro Stallions specialises in providing sport horse breeders ease of access to the world's top sport horse stallions.
Conor Lynch, “Conor Lynch”
Design and handcraft of a unique range of high quality wooden products. This range includes bowls, clocks, pens, candleholders and bottle stoppers.
Jack Pilkington, “Pilkos Pet Farm”
Established in 2013, Pilkos Pet Farm based outside Daingean, offers a high quality, friendly experience to visitors.
Best Established Business with new Add on service
Mark Clendennen, “Applied Concepts Ltd”
Founded in 2010, Applied Concepts Ltd specialises in the design and manufacturing of abrasive blasters, and in the supply of abrasive blast media, blast pot consumables, abrasive blasting safety gear, various blast equipment parts and accessories
Keith Lambe, “Keith Lambe Diesel Services”
Set up in 2012, Keith Lambe Diesel Services has grown to become the number 1 diesel repair centre provider in the Midlands and beyond. The business is based in Roscore, just off the N52 at Blueball, Tullamore.
The Local Enterprise Office is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union.
