AWARDS GLAMOUR
Joanna Kenna, Miskel Nevin, Deborah O’Neill, Louise Dunster, Laura Harvey and Ash Byrne of No 84 Beauty Loft at the Bray Endeavour Awards, presented by Bray and District Chamber, in the Royal Hotel.
BRAY man Rob Moran, who has worked tirelessly for local charities, has been named Bray Person of the Year at the 2019 Bray Endeavour Awards, presented by Bray & District Chamber and sponsored by Commscope.
The Awards, which included a range of presentations to Bray’s civic, community and commercial heroes, were made at a gala awards ceremony attended by 300 guests in the Royal Hotel last Friday night.
First presented in 1981, the annual Bray & District Chamber Endeavour Awards are designed to promote a strong sense of identity within the community of Bray.
The Endeavour Awards recognise and reward outstanding contributions to the local economy, as well as Bray & District’s cultural and civic development, whether by individuals, businesses or local organisations.
Sponsored by event sponsors Commscope, reception sponsors the Royal Hotel and award sponsors AIB, Bank of Ireland, Bray Tourism, Wicklow County Council, Sea Life, Shoreline and Platinum Financial Planning, thousands of votes were recorded for this year’s Endeavour Awards from across the community where members of the public voted for their Businesses of the Year and their Employee of the Year.
There was an emotional standing ovation when Rob Moran was named Person of the Year as the final award was presented.
The audience heard about Rob’s charity work for local groups like the Martin Codyre Foundation and the Gavin Glynn Foundation, and his sporting success that includes three Iron Man competitions this year.
Zan O’Loughlin received a Lifetime Achievement award for her work with the arts and music in Bray over several decades, and her fundraising for local groups.
Adam Burke was presented with the Civic award for his community work with Ballywaltrim Community playground, with Youth Clubs in Bray, his work with The Comedy Festival and his work with Youth pod.
Open Door received the Community Award. Open Door provides facilities and activities for adults with varying disabilities, celebrating 35 years of caring in the community.
The Under 16s Ladies Bray Rowing Club received the sports achievement award for their successful season winning gold medals in the U16s Patrick’s Regatta, the Greystones Regatta, the Wicklow Regatta and the Bray Regatta. They were East Coast Regatta Gold winners and came second in the All Ireland Rowing Championships.
Young achievers were presented with awards for Arts (Eimear Cahill), Sports (Thea Fogarty) and Academics (Rory Mulcahy and Killian Bourke).
Bray Emmets under 14 girls in football and camogie also received an award.
Fleurtique were announced as Retailer of the Year; Arcade Jewellers received Online Retailer of the Year and Catalyst was awarded Emerging Business of the Year.
Bray Homecare received the Small Business award and Oriflame the Large Business award, with Key Plastics given the Manufacturing Business award, and Maison Moli the Hospitality award. Natalie Moloney of Tesco was named Employee of the Year.
Speaking at the Awards, Chamber president Ruth Donnelly paid tribute to all those who had been honoured in this year’s awards. ‘At Bray Chamber, we see these awards as our opportunity, and the opportunity of the community, to say thank you for the tireless efforts that have made to better the business and community life of our town in our community. These awards are unique in that all recipients are nominated by the people of Bray, making the annual Endeavour Awards the premier public accolade that our community can bestow.’