National Enterprise Award finalists announced by Minister.

Ireland’s top local enterprises line up for the National Enterprise Awards Final.

Minister Mitchell O’ Connor announces the 32 National Enterprise Award finalists ahead of Awards night on May 25th

Minister with Sheelagh Daly and Brendan Flood

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D., has announced the finalists for this year’s National Enterprise Awards, to be hosted by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) later this month.

The National Enterprise Awards will celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s top small businesses and micro-enterprises from all parts of Ireland in a showcase of enterprise, innovation and ambition at Dublin’s Mansion House on May 25th.

Announcing the finalists, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor said: “Last week, we saw that Ireland’s unemployment rate has dropped to a new low of 6.2%. This is hugely encouraging, and it is due to the hard work and dedication of enterprise heroes such as these local businesses who are quite rightly taking their place in the spotlight at the National Enterprise Awards on May 25th.”

The Minister added: “These innovative businesses are led by people who are serious about their ambition, who are taking real risks and making real sacrifices to achieve success, and they are making a huge contribution to their local communities and to the economy at large. It is very important that we mark their achievements. I wish all of the finalists the very best of luck in the Final on the 25th May.”

The 32 finalists are drawn from diverse business sectors, such as skin-care, ice-cream making, language courses and mobile game development. The announcement of finalists was made at the Mansion House by Minister Mitchell O’ Connor, accompanied by Sheelagh Daly and Oisín Geoghegan representing the Local Enterprise Offices, Brendan Flood of Enterprise Ireland and last year’s Overall Winner, Mark Clendennen of Applied Concepts in Offaly.

Sheelagh Daly, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities said: “Small business and micro-enterprises are making an outstanding contribution to our local and national economy. Last year almost 3,700 new jobs were created by over 6,800 micro-enterprises supported by the LEOs. These entrepreneurs are continuously looking to grow by developing new products and services and investing in export markets. The National Enterprise Awards help to recognise the contribution that small businesses and micro-enterprises make to our communities every day.”

Last year’s winner, Applied Concepts in Birr, manufacture and export blast machines used in construction and renovation projects in countries such as Spain, Denmark and Chile. Previous winners have included Irish Yoghurts, Innovate, Grouse Recording Studios, Simtech Aviation, MyBio and Design Pro.

The winners of this year’s National Enterprise Awards will be announced at the Mansion House in Dublin on Thursday, May 25th. Twelve awards will be presented including eight regional awards.  The overall winner will receive €10,000 to invest in their business.

NEA

Competition updates and results will be available through www.localenterprise.ie and by following #NEAwards on social media.

The Local Enterprise Offices are co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.

NATIONAL FINALISTS IN 2017 (supported by their Local Enterprise Office)

LEO Area & Company                                               Website                                           

Carlow                        McNally Denture Clinic                                                www.mcnallydentureclinic.ie

Cavan                         Moran’s Megajam Ltd                                                  www.moranshomestore.com

Clare                           Core Optimisation Ltd                                                  www.coreoptimisation.com

Cork (City)                   Rebel Chilli                                                                 www.rebelchilli.com

Cork (North & West)    Enibas Jewellery                                                          www.enibas.com

Cork (South)               Polar IceTech                                                               www.polaricetech.ie

Donegal                      Sharon McDaid – Silver Birch Gallery & Studio               www.sharonmcdaid.com

Dublin (City)                Pink Kong Studios                                                       www.pinkkongstudios.ie

Dublin (DLR)                Moontour                                                                    www.moontour.ie 

Dublin (Fingal)            Hope Beer                                                                   www.hopebeer.ie

Dublin (South)            Acutrace                                                                      www.acutrace.com

Galway (City)              9th Impact                                                                    www.9thimpact.com

Galway (County)         IMS Marketing                                                            www.imsmarketing.ie

Kerry                          Irish Host Family Ltd                                                    www.irishhostfamily.ie

Kildare                        Broghies Ireland                                                         www.broghiesireland.com

Kilkenny                     Greensbridge Engineering Ltd                                      www.greensbridge.ie

Laois                           Infrastruct AMS Limited                                              www.infrastruct.ie

Leitrim                        Jinny’s Bakery                                                             www.jinnysbakery.com

Limerick                     Student Programmes Ireland Ltd                                   www.spil.ie

Longford                    Purpledecks Ltd.                                                           www.purpledecks.com

Louth                        Aphix Software Ltd                                                      www.aphixsoftware.com

Mayo                        Monaghan Bros Bar Furniture Manufacturers Ltd           www.barfurniture.net

Meath                       Hexafly                                                                        www.hexafly.co

Monaghan               RAMfit Ltd                                                                  www.ramfit.com

Offaly                      Dezynamite                                                                  www.dezynamite.com

Roscommon           PJ Fallon & Son                                                           www.pjfallon.ie

Sligo                      Studyclix                                                                     www.studyclix.ie

Tipperary               MediSkin                                                                     www.mediskin.ie

Waterford               Pip and Pear Chilled Baby Food                                    www.pipandpear.ie 

Westmeath             Lift Hire Ireland                                                           www.lifthireireland.com

Wexford                 Scup Gelato                                                                www.scupgelato.com

Wicklow                Goldfish.ie                                                                   www.goldfish.ie