Oh What A Night: Carlow Business Awards 2024
THE Carlow Business Awards are like the Oscars for local businesses, and the 2024 ceremony was bigger than ever. In recent years, the George Bernard Shaw Theatre at VISUAL has been the venue for the awards organised by the County Carlow Chamber of Commerce. However, this year saw the event expanding into a second venue—the Link Gallery at VISUAL, with over 400 in attendance.
Huge congratulations to Caredoc, who were crowned the overall Carlow Business of the Year 2024, sponsored by Carlow Credit Union. The service was originally founded by a small group of GPs in Carlow town with a vision to provide an out-of-hours service for the people of Carlow. It expanded into Kilkenny, south Tipperary, Wicklow, and beyond.
Family business was one of the themes of the evening, with many of the sponsors and nominees celebrating milestones, including Dooley Motors, who are 35 years in business this year. The night ended on a high for many local family businesses, including Doyles Tarmacadam Ltd (Family Business of the Year) and Douglas Jewellers (Retailer of the Year), who walked away with gongs.
Outstanding Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Carlow County Council, went to Murphy Engineering and Mobile Welding Ltd. I had the pleasure of co-hosting the night with KCLR’s Shannon Redmond. One of the personal highlights for me was hearing Eamonn Tracey’s acceptance speech after being awarded Carlow Ambassador. I cannot think of a more worthy recipient, as Eamonn has represented his county and country on a global stage. He recently was crowned Supreme World Ploughing Champion at the 69th World Ploughing Contest in Estonia. Eamonn is a very humble man but out on his own when it comes to his precision and ploughing techniques.
I was also thrilled to see long-term employer Pat Amond accepting the President’s Award for Carlow Toolmaking Service, sponsored by Tile n Style. Other high points on the night were watching James Kehoe from the Lord Bagenal gathering his crew to collect their award for Nighttime Dining, and also seeing the wonderful staff of the Woodford Dolmen Hotel winning the Customer Services Award.
The audience were fantastic and also joined in the fun by singing happy birthday to Joan Fitzharris, who collected an award on behalf of her son, Shane Fitzharris, in the Outstanding Contribution to Business Award category. Shane, who started out as a bar manager of Tully’s back in the day, is now a leading player in a US spirits company.
Pat Bramley was there to celebrate his long-established family business when his pristine premises won Best Premises Carlow Town, sponsored by Harney Nolan Accountants. The other winners were:
- Outstanding Medium Business of the Year, sponsored by Carroll Estimating: VSS Ireland Ltd.
- Business Supporting Community Award, sponsored by Arboretum Garden and Lifestyle Centre: MSD Carlow
- Carlow Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Burnside Autocyl Ltd: Aileen Broderick
- Best Online Presence Award, sponsored by Carlow County Council: Cullen Nurseries Ltd
- Personal Services Award, sponsored by Milford Financial Services Ltd: Berlin Hair Lounge
- Emerging Business, sponsored by Blacknight Solutions: Infinite Energy
- Culture, Heritage and Tourism Award, sponsored by VisionGreen Consultancy: Carlow Arts Festival
- Food & Beverage Producers Award, sponsored by Talbot Hotel Carlow: Carlow Brewing/O’Hara’s
- Professional Services Award, sponsored by JPD Management: ANA (Aidan Nolan & Associates)
- Research Innovation & Technology Awards, sponsored by SETU: Future Grass Technology Ltd
- Sustainable Initiatives Award, sponsored by Carlow County Council: VisionGreen Consultancy
- Best Premises Tullow & Carlow North, sponsored by Codd Mushrooms: Coppenagh House Farm
- Best Premises Muine Bheag & Carlow South, sponsored by Bank of Ireland: Barrow Brew
- Daytime Dining Award, sponsored by Seamus Byrne Electrical Ltd: The Old Post Office
- Workplace Health and Wellbeing Award, sponsored by KCLR: Unum Ltd
- International Business Award, sponsored by UNUM: Burnside Autocyl Ltd
After the awards ceremony, there was music by Culture Crush in the bar at VISUAL, where the party continued. Some of the winners celebrated with one for the road in Carpe Diem at the end of the night.
Oíche iontach ar fad. Táimid
ag súil le 2025 cheana féin!
Featured Image by Tom Sunderland Photography.