INEC one light in Kerry’s glowing business scene

ONE particular message shone from the generous words of Ivan Yates, Mayor of Tralee Cllr Norma Foley, The Kerryman Managing Director John Feerick, and The Kerryman Advertising and Marketing Manager Siobhán Murphy on Friday night: The Kerryman Business Awards 2017 at Ballygarry House Hotel was not so much a celebration of a few businesses as it was an acknowledgment of Kerry business excellence as a whole.

So for the businesses nominated from such an illustrious pool and those ultimately selected as winners, this was a night to treasure long into the future – for far more than just the delicious meal served up by Ballygarry House Hotel and the excellent stewardship of Emcee Caroline McEnery!

And for the overall winners, the INEC in Killarney, it was a particularly sweet night. The Kerryman Managing Director John Feerick heaped praise on the Killarney venue for its immense contribution to tourism and entertainment since its opening, with The Kerryman Advertising and Marketing Manager Siobhán Murphy describing the INEC as an asset in attracting business and employment to the county.

By the time the team at the INEC were announced as Overall Winners, they had already scooped the night’s Leisure Tourism Award, and PR and Marketing Manager Ceara Scanlon was in ecstatic form after a night of nights for the INEC.

“When our name was called out first, we were all just looking at each other and asking if we’d heard correctly; we couldn’t believe it!” she said.

“We were as delighted as we were shocked. It’s a huge honour to win this particular award though because it’s The Kerryman’s; we rely on media to get our work out there, and we have an excellent relationship with The Kerryman.

“It was a big team effort, but credit must go to Maureen Cournane for getting our application together. There’s great co-operation between all of us, but we might fight over which office gets the beautiful trophies we won on Friday!”

Winners of The Kerryman Business Awards 2017. The INEC Killarney. Left to right, Maureen Cournane (INEC), Ivan Yates (guest speaker), Fiona O’Connor (INEC), Siobhan Murphy (Sales & Marketing Manager The Kerryman), Ceara Scanlon (INEC) and John Feerick...

Finalists in the Best Enterprise Award sponsored by NEWKD, with representatives from Local Link Kerry, Food Share Kerry and the Killorglin Family Resource Centre.

Finalists in the Best Tourism Award sponsored by GoKerry, front left, Ceara Scanlon (INEC), Donal Nolan, The Kerryman and Grace O’Donnell (GoKerry). Back, left Breda O’Shea and Hugh Horgan (Cahersiveen Music Festival); Piaras and Catherine Kelly (Kerry...

Finalists in the Best Rural Business Award sponsored by Quinlan’s Fish Shops and Seafood Bars, front left, Liam Quinlan (Quinlan’s); Thomas and Eileen Ashe (Ashe’s Annascaul Black Pudding); Tadhg Evans, The Kerryman. Back, left, Bernie McCarthy...

Finalists in the Social Corporate Responsibility Award, sponsored by the Ballygarry House Hotel, with representatives from Bon Secour Hospital, Tralee; Local Link Kerry and Tralee Credit Union.