No slowing down after four memorable years

NOW into its fourth year, The Kerryman Business Awards is by now a well-established and looked-forward-to part of the county’s social calendar.

And despite the high standards pushed up and up every year, the occasion always meets and exceeds the levels of editions gone by.

The Ballygarry House Hotel and Spa, yet again, played the more-than-capable host of the event last Friday night, and they were no small part in it being an occasion enjoyed by everyone – and certainly not just the 31 nominated businesses.

While it’s probably fair to say that overall winners Corrib Oil and lifetime achievement recipient Billy Nolan left with a particular spring in their steps, this was a night for the hundreds who attended – and, boy, it was some occasion for all of them.

The night began with a pre-ceremony drinks reception and lively music, ensuring the buzz was well in place long before Ballygarry House served up three terrific courses in its dining area.

Thereafter, there followed superb emceeing by The HR Suite’s Caroline McEnery and a hugely enjoyable contribution by guest speaker Terry Prone. Her speech was perfectly in tune with the atmosphere of the night; it was often funny, sometimes downright hilarious, and always engaging.

Among the many topics she touched upon was the importance of communication in business – and she had the audience in stitches recounting some of the occasions where businesses, shall we say, did not communicate as effectively as they could have.

A video by the ‘ Tralee My Love’ campaign also featured – just as the initiative did on the front page of our Tralee edition earlier this year – with further details of this to emerge shortly.

The Kerryman General Manager Siobhán Murphy congratulated all the nominated and winning businesses, and was crystal clear in outlining the event’s purpose.

“These awards aim to celebrate achievement, innovation and excellence amongst Kerry’s leading business, business leaders and social enterprises,” she said.

“Tonight, ye have the opportunity of seeing first hand what fantastic, innovative Kerry businesses and community enterprises are on our doorsteps.”

And there’s no doubt the event showcased exactly that.

Pictured at the The Kerryman Business Awards 2019 held in the Ballygarry House Hotel Tralee, from left, Billy Mangan, The Corkman; Mayor of Kerry Clr Niall Kelliher; Lorraine Salmon of The Brehon Hotel (Winner of the Best Tourism Award) and CE Kerry County Council Moira Murrell.

Pictured at the The Kerryman Business Awards 2019 held in the Ballygarry House Hotel Tralee, from left, Owen McCarthy and Sr Terasita Hoare, Bon Secours Tralee; Ashley Fitzgerald, Listowel Credit Union (winner of the Social Corporate Responsibility award) and Teresa O’Shea, The Kerryman.

Pictured at the The Kerryman Business Awards 2019 held in the Ballygarry House Hotel Tralee, from left, Kevin Sugrue, McCarthy Insurance; Micheal Moran, Ryle Menswear (winner of the Best Retail Premises Award) and Louise Boyle, The Kerryman.

Pictured at the The Kerryman Business Awards 2019 held in the Ballygarry House Hotel Tralee, from left, Kieran Corcoran, Corcoran’s Furniture & Carpets Ltd; Helen O’Sullivan, O’Sullivan’s Bakery Ltd (winner of the Best Family-run Business Award); and Danny Cooper, The Kerryman.

Pictured at The Kerryman Business Awards 2019, held in the Ballygarry House Hotel Tralee, were The Kerryman General Manager Siobhán Murphy; Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Billy Nolan of Nolan and Hilsers Jewellers, Tralee; John Mulhern, Kerry Airport; and Terry Prone, guest speaker.