Yeats Tavern is Sligo’s best!
THE SLIGO CHAMPION BUSINESS AWARDS CEREMONY 2017 AT SLIGO PARK HOTEL WITH SPECIAL GUEST GAVIN DUFFY OF DRAGONS DEN FAME
DRUMCLIFFE’S ever-popular eatery Yeats Tavern has been crowned overall winner of the Best Sligo Business of the Year 2017.
The restaurant first won Best Rural Business before being crowned with the much-coveted overall prize at the end of the Gala Awards ceremony in the Sligo Park Hotel last Friday night.
Now in their fifth year, The Sligo Champion Business Awards attracted over 220 nominations this year for ten categories of businesses.
“It was a bit of a surprise but it was wonderful,” said Yeats Tavern owner Damien Davis who was accompanied by his wife Angela and team to the reception.
Dragon’s Den presenter and entrepreneur Gavin Duffy regaled the ‘who’s who’ of the Sligo business community with praise for Sligo.
He spoke about the importance of the Atlantic corridor to give better access to businesses in the North West.
Special Recognition Awards were presented to Vincent Nally, Cathy Jordan, Michael Rogers and Sligo Food Trail.
YEATS Tavern Restaurant in Drumcliffe has been crowned Sligo Business of the Year 2017.
Husband and wife team Damien and Angela Davis and their staff also won Best Rural Business of the Year in the much-coveted Sligo Champion Business Awards 2017.
They were crowned overall winners at a glittering award ceremony in the Sligo Park Hotel last Friday night which attracted over 460 guests from the Sligo business world.
“It was totally unexpected but very nice to win it,” said Angela Davis. “We must be doing something right,” she added, putting their success down to “good staff, looking after our customers and having the right product.”
There were ten business award winners out of 34 finalists on the night.
Entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den star Gavin Duffy said the Atlantic road corridor needed to be built to secure growth along the West coast.
Managing Director INM Regionals West John Feerick said: “Congratulations to all the winners on the night, especially Vincent Nally for Sligo Volunteer of the Year Award. Other awards went to Michael Rogers for Sligo Lifetime achievement Award, Cathy Jordan for Sligo Ambassador of the Year. A special congratulations to Fergal Quinn Hens & Stags who won the Contribution to Local Economy Award and Sligo Food Trail who won the Judges Choice Award.”
John received a huge applause when he quoted Sligo’s favourite and most famous son, ‘Do not wait to strike until the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking’ and I think this is the best advice you could give to any of our budding businesses,” he concluded.
Chief Commercial Officer, Eir Business Eavann Murphy, said Eir was “very honoured” to be involved in the awards as main sponsor.
“As Ireland’s leading provider of communications services to businesses across Ireland we are in the privileged position of seeing first-hand the tremendous entrepreneurship, innovation and talent of Irish businesses across all sectors,” he said.
“These awards are an excellent platform to recognise and reward those hard working businesses. I was delighted to present the “Best Overall Business Award” to the wonderful Yeats Tavern, Drumcliffe who also won the Best Rural Business Award and who bring the best of local produce to their customers creating a ‘win win’ for the local community,” he added.
CEO of Sligo Leader Partnership Chris Gonley said: “The business community here celebrates and supports all the finalists and congratulates the winners. 2017 has been an excellent year for business in the county and this evening we recognise and congratulate the business leaders who drive innovative processes, product development, enterprise, sustainability and overall business success across all sectors.”
MC for the evening Business Development Manager, Lorraine McDonnell The Sligo Champion said the awards attracted 220 nominations for 10 awards in different categories.
“It’s recognition of the huge contribution business makes to the vibrancy of the county and the well-being of those who live in it. The categories of award ranges from start up to green business, from international trade to small retailer. It reflects the wide range of business in the County. Whether it is global multinationals in our Business Parks, restaurants and pubs in Drumcliffe and Strandhill, or retailing in Sligo town and our retail parks the blend is alluring and attractive,” she said. Winners on the night were:
Best New Business Award, sponsored by Callan Tansey Solicitors: Lough Gill Brewery
Best Retail Award, sponsored by AIB Sligo: Castle Davitt Furniture
Best Customer Service Award, sponsored by McSharry Foley & Money Plus: Oona Doherty Beauty Clinic
Best Environment and Heritage Award, sponsored by EBS Sligo: RNLI Sligo Bay Sea Shanty Festival
Best Tourism Awards, sponsored by Joe Kelly Fresh Fruit: Wild Wet Adventures (Best Outdoor Adventure)
Tubbercurry Old Fair Day (Best Cultural Festival)
Atlantic Sheepdogs (Best Leisure Tourism) with Tubbercurry Old Fair Day picking up the overall award for Best Tourism Award 2017.
Best Community Enterprise Award, sponsored by Bank of Ireland: The Avalon Centre
Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award, sponsored by IT Sligo: Aurivo Consumer Foods
Best Family Business of the Year, sponsored by Quayside Shopping Centre : Good 4U.
Best Rural Business: Yeats Tavern.