More than 1,500 business leaders and entrepreneurs are gathering this evening at the gala EY entrepreneur of year awards ceremony in Citywest Hotel in Dublin.
24 companies are finalists for the title of 2015 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. One winner will be selected from each of three categories: emerging, industry and international, as well as an overall winner.
That individual will represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Monte Carlo in June of next year.
The winners will be selected by an independent judging panel comprised of previous winners, along with two representatives from Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland.
Cpl Resources chief executive Anne Heraty led this year's judges. She told Newstalk it has been a great year for Irish business.
“This has been a phenomenal year (for Irish enterprise),” she told Newstalk.
“The talent and the businesses that are showcased here this evening are just phenomenal.
“In a lot of ways I think all 24 finalists here are winners because it’s a hard hurdle just to get in the final. They’re fantastic entrepreneurs ... I have to say I don’t know when we’ve seen such a strong panel.”
Ms Heraty said she was impressed with the number of entrepreneurs under 30 and the number of female finalists.
The awards are a valuable asset for the Irish business community she said, as a source of inspiration to others looking to start their own business.
“It’s really important to acclaim entrepreneurs. It’s a real inspiration to people who are trying to create their own jobs and it will maybe spur people on to say ‘I can do that too’, and it’s also fantastic for Ireland,” she said.
Listen: Anne Heraty speaks to Newstalk.com
Sean O’Sullivan, of SOS Ventures, is nominated in the International category and spoke to Newstalk about his company’s relationship with Ireland, and his feeling son being nominated.
Listen: Sean O'Sullivan speaks to Newstalk.com
Alan Coleman of Brite:Bill said a nomination for his company in the Emerging category “reflects the growth we’ve gone through and the fact we’re a rising star, so to speak, so yeah it’s great.”
Coleman also said he thinks the awards provide a valuable moment of respite, and a chance to reflect.
“It’s a moment to kind of pause in what is a very, very busy day job and reflect on how we’ve done and get an opportunity to thank some people who’ve helped me on the way,” he said.
Listen: Alan Coleman speaks to Newstalk.com
The event will be hosted by Mark Little and Victoria Smurfit, and will be broadcast at 10.30pm on both UTV channels.
Newstalk will be in attendance, and will have comprehensive coverage of the awards on air and online.
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015 finalists are:
Emerging
Agile Networks – Darragh Richardson
Amelio Group – Catherine O’Neill
Boxever – Dave O’Flanagan
Brandtone – Donald Fitzmaurice and Padraig McBride
Brite:Bill – Alan Coleman
Drop – Ben Harris
IIS Group – Morgan Browne
X-Bolt Orthopaedics – Brian Thornes
Industry
TyreCheck – Michael O’Dwyer
Cartoon Saloon – Paul Young, Nora Twomey and Tomm Moore
CD Group – Terry Knox
Dunbia – Jack Dobson
Greene Farm Foods – Kenneth Greene
Integrity Solutions – Eoin Goulding
Merlyn Industries – Michael Hoyne
Steeltech Sheds – Sean Brett
International
Crest Solutions – Frank Madden
Diona – Graham Stubbs
PlanNet21 – Denise Tormey
SOSventures – Sean O’Sullivan
StatSports – Alan Clarke
Stripe – Patrick & John Collison
Vita Liberata – Alyson Hogg
Vizor – Ross Kelly & Conor Crowley
Newstalk's Down to Business has been presenting a series of panel discussions comprised of EY Entrepreneur of the Year nominees - these are available as podcasts.
Catherine O’Neill, the 25 year old MD of the Amelio Group wrote a special guest post for Newstalk.com - offering her top five tips for budding entrepreneurs.
Donal Fitzmaurice from Brandtone also contributed to the site, sharing his insights about tapping into opportunities to operate on a global scale as a small Irish firm.
