A number of local businesses in Carlow have been shortlisted by Carlow County Council's Local Enterprise Office to compete for the honour of representing the county at the 2026 National Enterprise Awards.

Ireland’s premier celebration of small business achievement, the National Enterprise Awards are hosted annually by the Local Enterprise Offices. Each county selects its standout small business to put forward for the national competition. Finalists present their growth strategy and take part in a rigorous question‑and‑answer session with an expert panel of successful entrepreneurs. The competition concludes each June with a ceremony at Dublin’s Mansion House, where the title of Ireland’s Enterprise of the Year is awarded.

Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office will host an awards ceremony during Local Enterprise Week in March to recognise the vibrancy of businesses in Carlow and to announce the business who will represent the county as “Carlow’s Enterprise of the Year” at the National Enterprise Awards. Businesses will also compete for a number of other prestigious titles including “Carlow Lean Business of the Year”, “Carlow Green Business of the Year”, “Carlow Digital Business of the Year” and “Carlow Exporting Business of the Year”.

The businesses who have been shortlisted and who are in contention to represent Carlow at the National Enterprise Awards are:

• McNally Denture Clinic – Delivering world-class industry training solutions from Carlow
• Murphy Engineering & Mobile Welding Services – Innovative manufacturers of a range of engineering solutions for industry customers
• Seed Golf – Designers of high performance, tour grade golf balls from their headquarters in Carlow town. 

The Carlow businesses competing for the other category awards at the forthcoming event are: Digital Business of the Year – Advanced Coatings Technology, McHugh Buckley Accountants, Sun Arc Solar Systems; Export Business of the Year - Equinox Education Services, Flying Tumbler Irish Whiskey, Rodent Shield Systems; Green Business of the Year - Conway's Bar and Restaurant, equipU, Mace Tullow; Lean Business of the Year - HPMP Fire, Murphy Engineering and Mobile Welding, Sun Arc Solar Systems.

According to Cllr. Ken Murnane, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council “Carlow’s strong track record at the National Enterprise Awards is a testament to the county’s vibrant and dynamic small business community. In each of the past two years, Carlow entrants have secured category wins in the National Enterprise Awards, building on the previous success of David Walsh of Netwatch and Halocare who was the deserving recipient of the inaugural Outstanding Achievement Award. I’m excited to see who will be selected to represent Carlow this year and am confident they will once again be a formidable contender at the national finals.”

Séamus Doran, Assistant Head of Economic Development & Enterprise added “The National Enterprise Awards offer an exceptional platform for ambitious businesses to achieve national recognition. All of the shortlisted Carlow companies are dynamic and impressive, and whichever business is ultimately selected will be an outstanding representative of the county’s enterprise sector.”