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Ernst & Young: “2006 Entrepreneur of the Year” short-list
22nd May 2006
Dublin, Ireland [Monday, May 22, 2006]: Following over two months of entry assessment by an 11 strong panel of judges, Ernst & Young has announced the Irish shortlist for the 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year® Programme. The shortlist of 24 finalists was decided from a competitive pool of over 150 business and individual entries across the island of Ireland. The finalists represent companies in manufacturing, food, property & construction, technology, mature tree production, recruitment & training and sports retail.
Announcing the shortlist, Enda Kelly, Ernst & Young Partner- in-Charge of the Programme said that the enterprise culture in Ireland remains strong and there is a positive predisposition towards entrepreneurship. “About a quarter of a million adults here are actively engaged in enterprise and I believe that it is the self-belief that stimulates the Irish entrepreneur,” he added.
Commenting of today’s announcement, Robert Gallagher, Chief Executive, Ulster Bank Corporate Markets, said “we are delighted to be sponsoring the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards for the first time this year and we at Ulster Bank recognise that great entrepreneurs need to be energetic, passionate and think outside the box. As the preferred partner to many great entrepreneurs, we applaud their innovative spirit and pride ourselves on our ability to tailor solutions to meet their unique needs”.
The highlight of this year’s Programme the Shanghai CEO retreat where the party of 50 plus entrepreneurs, including this year’s 24 finalists and those from previous years, will have relevant one-to-one meetings with Chinese business leaders and also receive master classes from global experts.
“As the fastest-growing consumer market in the world, China is bristling with opportunity for Irish entrepreneurs and this year’s visit is a fantastic opportunity to assist finalists in developing their business”, said Kelly. The trip has been made possible with the help of our support agencies, Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland, he added.
Quoting a Chinese proverb “When you reach the top, keep climbing” Kelly commented that each of the 24 finalists are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses. The Entrepreneur of the Year® Programme has always been the very pulse of the entrepreneur community seeking to reward individuals and businesses for remarkable leadership and successful accomplishments in their field and to allow them due acclaim before their peers and the nation as a whole, he added.
Led by Chairman Denis O’Brien, the judges for the Entrepreneur of the Year® Programme, will use all of their expertise and personal experience as they get to know and assess the 24 finalists.
The 24 finalists in the 2006 programme fall into three set categories; Industry, International and Emerging and will each be profiled in further detail in the Irish Times over the next three weeks, beginning with the International Category on Monday 26th May. They are also interviewed in a three-part series to appear on RTE in September. The winner will be announced at a televised Awards Ceremony in September, held at City West Hotel, Dublin.
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year is run in association with The Irish Times, RTE, Ulster Bank, Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland, Invest Northern Ireland and The Ryan Academy.
The 2006 Shortlist Finalists
Entrepreneur Company Business Activity Founded Location International
- Christopher Watson Chain Reaction Cycles Retailing 1999 Antrim
- Barry Smyth Changing Worlds Ltd Mobile Technology 1999 Dublin
- Anne Heraty CPL Recruitment 1989 Dublin
- Michael J Flynn FLI Environmental Environmental 1989 Waterford
- Kieran O’Connor FreightWatch Group Ltd Security 1998 Dublin
- Brian Connolly OmniPay ePayment Processing 2000 Dublin
- Stuart Steele Silver Hill Foods Food Production - Duck 1962 Monaghan
- Martin McKay Texthelp Software Products 1994 Antrim Industry
- Declan Gallagher Gallaghers Bakery Bakery 1994 Donegal
- Ray Grehan Glenkerrin Group Residential Development 1987 Kildare
- Dermot McElroy & Ciaran O’ Donoghue IQON Technologies Computer Manufacturing 1994 Louth
- Fergal Broder Lotus Automation Ireland Engineering 1989 Sligo
- Anthony Woods Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies Ltd. Construction Materials 1998 Laois
- Mark Elliott & Noel Elliott P. Elliot & Company Construction & Property Development 1942 Cavan
- Thomas Walsh Sap Holdings Ltd Mature Tree Production 1975 Tipperary
- Richard Barrett & John Ronan Treasury Holdings Property 1989 Dublin Emerging
- Aldagh McDonagh & Sandra Lawler Alternatives Marketing 2000 Dublin
- Dr Steve Brankin Asidua Ltd Software Consultancy 2002 Antrim
- Colum O’Sullivan & Cullen Allen Cully & Sully Food Production 2004 Cork
- Christopher Foley Dansk Window Systems Integrated Window Solutions 2001 Dublin
- Dylan Collins Demonware Computer Games Software 2002 Dublin
- Alan Scroope FreeFlow Software Development 2001 Kerry
- Seamus McMenamin Masol Ireland Ltd Crane Manufacturing 1998 Donegal
- Sean Gallagher Smarthomes Structured Cabling System: Residential Market 2002 Louth
The 11 members of the Judging Panel are:
- Denis O’Brien, Digicel Group (Chair), (Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 1998)
- Peter Fitzgerald, Randox Laboratories Ltd (Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2004)
- Aidan Heavey, Tullow Oil Plc (Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2005)
- Brian Long, Seer Partners Ltd (Ernst & Young Technology Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2000)
- Pat Maher, Enterprise Ireland
- Mary Martin, AGI Therapeutics Ltd
- Pat McDonagh, Riverdeep (Ernst & Young Master Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2005)
- Liam Nellis, InterTrade Ireland
- Pádraig O’Ceidigh, Aer Arann Express
- Donal Durkan, Invest Northern Ireland
- Liam Shanahan, Shanahan Engineering
Further information on the finalists and the features of the 2006 programme can be viewed online at www.eoy.ie
If you have any queries or interview requests please contact:
Brona Cusack / Gabrielle O’Gara, Plunkett Communications
01 6781460 / 087 230 5692
