CHAMBER AWARDS NIGHT IS ONE OF BIGGEST OF 2017
On Saturday night I headed for the Carrickdale Hotel where the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce were hosting their annual Louth business awards night and the place was packed for the blacktie evening.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I caught up with Sarah McEneaney from Hill Street and Janet Mooney from Rockfield from Dundalk Parkrun who were looking fantastic, the ladies had taken a break from their busy training schedules specially to be there on the night and were looking forward to a lovely night.
Next I headed over for a chat with Christy Ward from the Loakers and Damien English from Clermont were there representing Dundalk Golf Club. They too were nominated and told me they were definitely ‘in it to win it’.
Heading for another table I then met up with two ladies who were Deirdre McDowell from Medebawn representing 7s Cabs and Julie Foran from Knockbridge representing Horseware. Deirdre told me she was with husband David and were really looking forward to the night.
After this I then caught up with Jim and Anna McDonnell from Tony McDonnell’s and Jim had the unenviable task of picking the best dressed man on the night, not much to choose from seeing that most were sporting tuxedos.
Two busy men making sure the night ran as smooth as possible were Michael Gaynor president of the Dundalk Chamber Of Commerce and vice president David Minto from Dromiskin looking forward to an excellent night with it being the biggest black-tie event in county Louth with 600 in attendance.
Also up for making it a real night to remember were Dundalk Special Olympic Committee members Mary McElroy from Hackballscross and Sean Nulty from Ardee who were making their first appearance at the awards ceremony and were certainly enjoying the experience.
I then caught up with well known publican Greg and Bernie Gormley from Carrick Road who were there representing Russells Gin Emporium and were feeling confident they were going to do very well.
After this I got a word with my old friends April and Davy Woods from Donaghmore, Emily Lennon from Greenwood Drive, Ciara Backwell from Avenue Road, the boss Gerry McDonnell from Castletown Road, Sean and Linda Collins from Rathmullen in Drogheda who were representing Cleaner Earth Recycling Ltd and were all having a great laugh together.
I then headed for a table where I got a word with members of the St. Patricks Soup Kitchen volunteers including Fr. Mark O’Hagan, Rose Bailey from Chapel Street, Tom and Majella Byrne from Inniskeen as well as Joseph Woods and Kate Bailey who had got engaged the previous night and were still celebrating and we wanted to wish them congratulations for a very happy future together.
I then got a quick word with Margaret Conlon, Briege Duffy and Geraldine Rooney all from Inniskeen who were looking resplendent on the night. The ladies were representing Conlon’s Food Hall and were definitely up for making it a real night to remember.
After this I had the pleasure of talking to Helena Mullen and Aine Cotter both from LMFM who told me that although they were in line or any award, LMFM had recently won the best local radio station award in the IMRO’s and they were over the moon with that.
I then got a quick word with Leona Durnin from Ardee Road representing Prometric who were in for a technology award, she told me she was with her boss Brendan Gallagher from Bellurgan, but also wanted a big shout out for her husband Ian Durnin who was missing the night.
Finally, before I departed as the dinner bell sounded, I caught up with Conor and Siobhan Kenny from Castlebellingham, Aidan and Mary Brennan from Readypenny, John and Deirdre Kerr from Mount Avenue, Michael and Lisa Bellew from Bellewsbridge, Benny and Gwen Molocca from Monaghan and Noel and Sheila Sweeney from Blackrock who were there as guests of Kerr Development and were up for making the best of the evening although Conor did divulge the night was a time for new frocks for the ladies and loads of beer for the lads!