NEWS RELEASE 26/03/2015

Nenagh firm Echo IT wins inaugural County Enterprise Awards

Nenagh firm Echo IT Ltd promoted by Donal Bray won the inaugural all County Tipperary Enterprise Awards.  At a ceremony held at Bru Boru, Cashel on Wednesday 25 March attended by the Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government, Alan Kelly TD,  Templemore Firm Chimney Draught Stop was the runner up and The Scullery Ltd, owned by Nenagh woman Florrie Purcell won third place.  Roscrea’s Herdwatch won a special award for Technology while Clonmel based Clonmel Covers Ltd promoted by Seamus & Eugene Phelan won a special award for diversification into new markets.  The local competition carried a prize fund of €5,000 in addition to commemorative trophies and certificates.

This was the second year of the Green Business Network awards organised in conjunction with the Tipperary Green Business Network. The awards were introduced to encourage Tipperary firms to “green” their business and to assist the Network increase awareness of their mission. The Best Green Business Award went to Solaregy Ltd., Templemore and the Best Emerging Green Business was won by Tom Pollard, Caravantasia.  Ciaran Lynch, Development Manager at LIT Thurles spoke at the event on the topic of green business and the benefits green can bring to your enterprise.

The awards were announced by Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council. Officiating at the event, Mr John Carroll, MCC, Leas Cathaoirleach, Tipperary County Council said the awards were particularly significant as 2015 marked the inaugural all County Tipperary competition and the first Local Enterprise Office awards.

Other finalists in this year’s competition included Piemontese Meat Company, Printsmart Consulting, Alive Displays, Bionord Sera , Remen Agri & General Supplies, The Label Factory, Longways Cider, Killenure Dexter Gourmet, Duggan Veterinary and Dave Corboy, Revived & Retro.

The competition was judged by Catherine Hogan, Senior Development Advisor, Enterprise Ireland and Jim Ryan member of the LEO’s Evaluation and Approvals Committee. Speaking on behalf of the adjudicators, Catherine Hogan outlined the criteria set nationally for this competition and confirmed that entries had been marked according to employment potential, marketing strength, financial strength, innovation/technology and quality of the business plan.

Echo IT Ltd will now progress to represent Tipperary at the National Final which takes place in Kilmainham, Dublin on 11 June. At national level, the competition carries a prize fund of up to €20,000.

The Local Enterprise Office is funded by the Irish Government and by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.