Drogheda Business Awards

Drogheda’s Business Community celebrate Business Awards in style!

Drogheda’s business community donned their glitzy evening dresses and tuxedos last Saturday night for the first annual Drogheda Business Excellence Awards in the Boyne Valley Hotel & Country Club. This very special Gala Black-tie Awards night was hosted by Drogheda Chamber of Commerce and the Guest Presenter for the evening was RTE’s own Brian Dobson.

In August 2005 the Drogheda Chamber posted out 2,500 brochures and application forms to businesses in the Greater Drogheda Area, including South Louth and East Meath. The Chamber encouraged local businesses to nominate their own businesses, and others, for some 8 individual Award categories. The response was overwhelming! The Chamber recruited an independent Judging Panel to assess the nominations and for the past 15 weeks the Judges have been busy reviewing application forms and sending mystery shoppers out to assess the businesses short listed for Awards.

Patrick Mercer of Flogas presenting the award for Tourism/ Hospitality to representatives of the Droichead Arts Centre

The Awards are sponsored by Drogheda Borough Council and Brú Bistro, Lounge, Café. Media Partners are the Drogheda Independent. The evening’s events kicked off with a very special Awards Reception sponsored by North East Printers, followed by dinner with over 300 guests and then the very much anticipated Business Awards Ceremony commenced.

There were 8 individual Award categories and 4 businesses short listed in each category. The overall winners of each category were presented with their Awards by President of the Drogheda Chamber, Graham O’Rourke, and the category sponsors. The overall winners of each of the individual categories were as follows:

Best Newcomer Award sponsored by Murphy Environmental –
1.Anu Therapie

Best Small Business sponsored by Chara Estate Agents –
1.Georges Patisserie & Deli

Best E-Business sponsored by MOR Solutions –
1.Arrow Tours

Best Innovation sponsored by Callan Computers –
1.Calipo Theatre & Picture

Best Business Growth sponsored by Vhi Healthcare –
1.Hickeys Pharmacies

Customer Excellence: Retail sponsored by Boyne Valley Country Club –
1.Hickeys Pharmacies

Customer Excellence: Tourism/ Hospitality sponsored by Flogas –
1.Droichead Arts Centre

Customer Excellence: Service sponsored by IIB Bank –
1.Murphy Environmental

There was also a very special Lifetime Achievement Award presented on the night which recognised the work and contribution of one member of the business community. This Award was separate from the other categories and the winner was elected by nomination of the Drogheda Chamber.

Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Gunne Group –
1.Malachy McCloskey, Chairman Boyne Valley Group.

The evening was a celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, sales and business growth and was created by the Drogheda Chamber to give local businesses something very special to aspire to. Guests and Award winners celebrated long into the night with live music and DJ.

Graham O’Rourke, President of the Drogheda Chamber, commented “The Awards were a success because of the participation and dedication of all involved. Members, Non members, Sponsors and our Media Partner”

“I would like to personally congratulate each of the winners for proving they are the cream of business in Drogheda and East Meath.”

“All of the shortlisted companies can be proud of their performances. The Judges were very impressed with all of the finalists and in particular Ronan Dennedy of the Louth County Enterprise Board and Rosemary Sexton of Enterprise Ireland were impressed with the number of entrants and the quality of presentations to the judges.”

“The winners spanned new businesses, small companies, large retail chains, the arts and tourism and I believe all will both benefit from receiving the award and also inspire other local business.”