A county with flair and spirit

CAVAN BUSINESS & TOURISM AWARDS 2023

A Longford woman originally, I joined the team at the Celt in 2008. From an early stage, Cavan and its people always struck me as being entrepreneurial.

Recently retired Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Tommy Ryan, a Roscommon man incidentally, had the same impression.

I think he puts it best when he says: “I realised that all people needed in Cavan was the supports to get what they needed done and I saw the local authority as the vehicle for that.”

Tommy, who is set to receive a Special Achievement Award, at this year’s awards also remarked: “Cavan people wanted to get things done.”

I have found that to be true, also.

This is the 10th year of the Cavan Business & Tourism Awards and the Celt is delighted to be joined by Cavan County Council this year as partners for this event.

The awards are designed to showcase the best of Cavan businesses and entrepreneurs across a range of categories. They also serve as a platform for companies, small and large, to promote themselves.

The event also gives the Celt an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to our advertisers who support us – although being an advertiser is not a condition of entry! Revenue from advertising helps us to continue investing in local journalism and serving the community of County Cavan, as we have done, in print and online since 1846!

To say I have been blown away by the companies and people who have entered the awards over the years is an understatement.

This year, for example, we have a diverse range of businesses from all over the county – from sushi in Virginia to snail farming up the road, trailers being exported from Swanlinbar and a family firm in the heart of Cavan Town that’s celebrating 100 years in business.

These people all have something in common – they are fierce and brave and innovative and they are doing it for themselves. They have toiled through recession and the pandemic and now a cost of living crisis. But they are still here – providing employment in their local communities.

Google are unlikely to buy a set of jerseys for your local football team. A large multi-national firm won’t give you teenager a part-time job to help put them through college (unless that firm is based in Cavan of course!)

And good luck returning that laptop you bought online for repairs.

Keep that in mind when you are shopping and support your local businesses.

Congratulations to all the finalists and a huge thank you to our sponsors who are also established local businesses in their communities.

Linda O’Reilly

Managing Editor