Pictured are this year’s winners of the 20th Donegal Business Awards from left to right, Olivia Finney, The Counter (Best Business Start-Up and winner of Overall Donegal Business of the Year), Joe Bonnar Metal Crafts (Best Established Business) and John McNamara, of Get Brain Fit (Best New Business Idea). John Bradley and John McNamara of Get Brain Fit will now go on to represent Donegal at the National Enterprise Awards’ Final in Dublin.
Donegal’s Local Enterprise Office (LEO) has announced the winners of the 20th Donegal Business Awards.
The winners of Best New Business Idea are John Bradley and John McNamara, of Get Brain Fit, an empowering online brain training service which gives the brain a daily workout via quality content and stimulation. Get Brain Fit will now go on to represent Donegal at the National Enterprise Awards’ Final in Dublin.
The winner of Best Established Business is Joe Bonnar Metal Crafts Ltd. Established in 1993, the business is one of the country’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of bespoke decorative craft metal work in a variety of metals for interior and exterior use.
Winners of Best Start Up Business are Richard and Olivia Finney for their business, The Counter, which began as a wine shop franchise, until they diversified into an independent wine and artisan food shop, with the addition of a coffee shop and food offering last year.
The winners in each category received a prize of €1,500, while the overall winners of ‘Donegal Business of the Year’, Richard and Olivia Finney from The Counter, received a prize of €2,500.
Michael Tunney, Head of Enterprise at the LEO congratulated each of the finalists and winners on a fantastic achievement.
Pictured at the 20th Donegal Business Awards from left to right are: Padraig O’Ceidigh, Olivia and Richard Finney, The Counter (winners of Best Business Start-Up and Overall Donegal Business of the Year), Seamus Neely, Chief Executive of Donegal County Council and Michael Tunney, Head of Enterprise, Donegal LEO.
“This is the 20th year of the Donegal Business Awards and we’re delighted to have built such a strong platform to allow businesses in Donegal showcase the excellent work they are doing. These awards are about recognising the wealth of talent that exists in this county and, year-on-year our finalists and winners are evidence of the exemplary quality of entrepreneurship and hard work happening throughout Donegal. Judging by the passion shown by our 2016 finalists and winners, we can safely say that the future of business in Donegal is in safe hands.”
As part of Donegal Business Week, all finalists attended a boot camp with serial entrepreneur, Padraig O’Ceidigh.
He said “We had a brilliant morning with each of the finalists and I would like to congratulate them, as well as the overall winners. I’d also like to say a special thanks to Michael, Ursula and all the team at Donegal’s LEO on a great day. These awards are an excellent opportunity for businesses to shine a light on their success, while networking with and learning from other businesses in the county. I was very impressed with the level of passion and commitment from the finalists and have no doubt that their innovation and energy will continue to drive business forward in Donegal.’
The Donegal Business Awards marked the culmination of a very successful Donegal Business Week, which brought a host of national and international speakers to the county to engage with local businesses. These included Alastair Dobson, A Taste of Arran, nutritionist Paula Mee, fitness expert, Pat Divilly, marketing expert, Geoff Ramm and serial entrepreneur, Padraig O’Ceidigh.
Local Enterprise Office Donegal is supported through co-funding from the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund 2014 – 2020
For more information visit www.localenterprise.ie/Donegal or call LEO on 074 91 60735
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