Make it your business today to nominate for this year's awards!
The Anglo-Celt Cavan Business & Tourism Awards 2024
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Cllr T.P. O’Reilly, Cathaoirleach, Cavan Co Council, speaking at the launch of The Anglo-Celt Cavan Business & Tourism Awards Thursday last in the Digital Hub. Alex Coleman.Image 2 of 3
Carmel Smith, Hybrid Energy Group; Linda O’Reilly, managing editor, The Anglo-Celt and Micheál Smith, Hybrid Energy Group. Hybrid Energy will sponsor the Green Business of the Year Award, a new category for this year’s event. Alex Coleman.Image 3 of 3
LEFT: Enjoying a coffee at the launch of The Anglo-Celt Cavan Business & Tourism Awards were Joanne Hayes, Tourism Officer, Cavan Co Council and Aisling Vaughan, Manager, AIB Cavan. Alex Coleman.Excitement is building ahead of The Anglo-Celt Cavan Business & Tourism Awards for 2024, in partnership with Cavan County Council.
Nominations are now open across eight categories with two new categories in the mix (see advert on page across) Green Business of the Year and Best Fashion and Lifestyle Business.
The awards were officially launched in the Digital Hub last week. Celt Managing Editor Linda O’Reilly said it was particularly fitting that the event was hosted in the Innovation Suite given the innovation on display from so many Cavan businesses. She also revealed that the 2023 Cavan Business & Tourism Awards has been shortlisted for an Innovation Award at the Local Ireland Awards to be announced next month. “These awards are a way of the Celt giving something back to businesses the length and breadth of County Cavan, without whose advertising revenue this newspaper could not continue to operate and employ journalists to report on issues that matter,” she said.
Ms O’Reilly said the awards are about shining a spotlight on best practice and people across a wide variety of businesses. Last year’s winners were M-Tec in Swanlinbar, which also claimed the title of Best Family Business.
To nominate your business or a business you admire, click here. It only takes a few minutes.
Officially making the call for entries, Cathaoirleach, Cllr T.P. O’Reilly, thanked all the sponsors and the Celt for the “fantastic initiative”. He said that Cavan County Council is delighted to be partners for the event, which “celebrates Cavan’s most enterprising and innovative businesses”.
The Cathaoirleach praised the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in County Cavan, pointing out that the business community is made up largely by smaller and medium businesses rather than large multi-nationals.
“Cavan businesses, whether in retail, tourism, agriculture, or industry have always been extraordinarily resilient. Lacking the advantages enjoyed by business in areas with larger population bases or tourist footfall, our local businesses have remained competitive through creativity, hard work, and excellent customer service,” said Cllr O’Reilly.
He hailed Cavan as being a great county in which to live, work and do business; saying it is very “self sufficient”.
“We have everything we need right here in Cavan,” said Cllr O’Reilly proudly.
He added: “Supporting local business is central to everything Cavan County Council and we as councillors do – we recognise that small to medium enterprises are the bedrock of our local economy, supporting jobs, families, and communities.”
Looking to the future, the Cathaoirleach said there is much cause for optimism and much to celebrate in business in Cavan. “The recent re-establishment of Cavan Chamber of Commerce, which is being supported by Cavan County Council, is further reason for optimism,” he said.
Cllr O’Reilly is particularly enthused by ongoing enhancements to the county’s tourism offering.
“This is an exciting time for our tourism sector in particular, with Cavan County Council progressing important projects such as The Shannon Pot Discovery Centre, new elevated sky walk and upgrades at Cavan Burren Park, the Dun na Rí Masterplan, our Greenway network, and new walks and amenities at Bruise, Ballyhaise, and Crover Shore,” he said.
The Cathaoirleach also said that the council is delighted to see a new Green Business award category. “Given the ongoing climate challenge, which Cavan County Council is committed to tackling via our Climate Action Plan, it is particularly pleasing to see green businesses will be recognised this year,” he said.
The closing date for entries and nominations is September 13 (see advert across for details on how to nominate). The judging panel will then shortlist up to four finalists in each category, all of whom will be profiled in a special publication in the Celt ahead of the main event. Winners will be selected following a special pitch night, hosted in AIB, Cavan, on October 2.
The awards will be presented at a gala dinner in the Slieve Russell Hotel in Ballyconnell on Friday, October 18, when the overall Cavan Business of the Year will be named.
To nominate your business or a business you admire, click here. It only takes a few minutes.