€200,000 up for grabs with nine Cork towns in the hunt

THE judging panel for the 2019 Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards is visiting Cork every day this week, giving business and community groups an opportunity to showcase the spirit of enterprise in their local area.

A total of ten Cork entries are competing against towns from across the country that have been nominated by local authorities and their Local Enterprise Offices or recommended by the public.

Youghal was visited by the judges last week and Cork’s remaining nine entries are being judged this week:

• Newmarket and Charleville on Monday last (see also Charleville page 28

• Mitchelstown and Kinsale on Tuesday

• Clonakilty and Skibbereen on Wednesday

• Bantry on Thursday

• Ballincollig and Cork’s Victoria Quarter on Friday

A total awards prize fund of almost €200,000 will be shared by 40 towns, including the overall national winner and the winner of the ‘Rising Star’ category.

Commenting ahead of the judging process, Liam Sheedy, Bank of Ireland Regional Director for Munster said: “Cork is very well represented in this year’s Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards and the judges will have the opportunity to see the strong spirit of enterprise that exists in the city and county.

“Enabling communities and business to thrive is at the heart of what we do at Bank of Ireland and the National Enterprise Town Awards are a chance for us to recognise and reward the spirit of enterprise across the country.

“We value the support of Cork County Council and its Local Enterprise Office and wish all the Cork entries the best of luck for the judges’ visits and for the awards ceremony later in the year.”

The National Enterprise Town Awards are part of Bank of Ireland’s €1.2 million investment in enterprise development within communities across Ireland this year. The winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony in the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Co. Kilkenny on December 5.