Wicklow’s business heroes are honoured
MORE THAN 180 guests packed into the newly refurbished Grand Hotel for the 2017 annual Wicklow and District Chamber Business Awards and Dinner Dance.
Master of ceremonies for the night were Aine O’Leary of Wardrobe and Heels and Martina Robinson of Wicklow Community Development.
This year, the awards were chosen by three independent judges. The results were as follows: Best Retail Award, Connolly’s Menswear; Best Eating Establishment, Mickey Finn’s Pub: Best Pub, Chester Beatty Inn; Best New Business, Little Big Bikes; Best Small and Medium Enterprise, Showoff. There was also a Special Recognition award won by Alan Jordan for volunteering his time for the community.
The Honouring Innovation and Entrepreneurship award was presented to Gallagher’s SuperValu, Wicklow, for its support of local food producers.
Hopkins Toymaster won the Honouring Excellence in the Community award after celebrating 190 years of business in Wicklow town.
The International Achievement Award was won by Brenda Jordan of CloudKPI.
Her company developed a business intelligence app for SMEs along with her business partner Maeve Kneafsey and what started in an office in Wicklow has grown to international level, and has been selected as part of a year-long accelerator programme in Silicon Valley.
In making these special presentations, Chamber President Dianna Sheridan said that all the award winners had to be recognised as local heroes who continue to make a significant community and economic contribution to the life of Wicklow town and district.
Almost €1,700 was donated to the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland from the collection held on the night.
MORE PICTURES ON PAGES 24 & 25