Search
06 Sept 2025
Search
06 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
John Hurley, CEO and Colin Ahern, President of Kilkenny Chamber PICTURE: Vicky Comerford
The Kilkenny Business Awards are back! After a challenging 18-months for local businesses, Kilkenny Chamber is pleased to announce that the Kilkenny Business Awards will proceed in 2021. Plans are now underway for its annual flagship event set to take place in the Lyrath Estate Hotel on Saturday, November 20.
Kilkenny Chamber, along with the main sponsor TransferMate, were delighted with the huge response to the call for nominations, a testament to the strength and positivity within the local business community, The finalists have now been selected and will go forward to the interview stage, taking place on Wednesday, October 20.
The Kilkenny Business Awards gala evening promises to celebrate the grit and determination of the 50 finalists.
Businesses that, in the face of an unprecedented global pandemic, enduring lockdown, restrictions, closures and much uncertainty, have emerged more resilient and stronger than ever.
There will be 18 award category winners announced at this year’s event plus the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award and President’s Award that acknowledge businesses that have made an extraordinary contribution to the local economy.
A new category was introduced this year, Best Business Pivot in the Pandemic, for local businesses that had an exceptional Covid-19 story to tell.
Applicants were invited to outline what challenges they faced in the pandemic, how it impacted their business, what action they took to overcome the extraordinary circumstances.
Congratulations to all the finalists for the 2021 Kilkenny Business Awards:
Food & Drink Producer Award - The Fig Tree / Arán / Elite Living Nutrition
Best Business Pivot in the Pandemic Award - Intosport / Lorimat Jewellery / CF Pharma
Craft & Design Award - K Kajoux Jewels / DFM Clothing Ltd. / Zoe Carol
Culture, Heritage and Tourism Award - Hawkeye Falconry / Shenanigans Walks / Rothe House & Garden
Customer Service Excellence Award - Callanan Couriers / Springhill Court Hotel & Conference Centre / UPMC Aut Even Hospital
Emerging New Business Award - Dialize Clothing / Luke Parsons Hair Salon / The Indie List
Employee of the Year Award - CF Pharma / Optimize Recruitment / Goods of Kilkenny
Employer of the Year Award - Hibernian Hotel Kilkenny / Veri / Lyrath Estate Hotel
Environmental Excellence Award - White Feather Ladies Wear & Holistic Shop / Value Centre / Valley of Roses
Exporter of the Year Award - CR Payroll / Modubuild / Biddy’s Good Luck Horseshoes
Family Business of the Year - Momentum Healthcare / Blushes Salon / Dore Optometrists
Hospitality Excellence Award - Pennyfeather Restaurant / Hoban Hotel Kilkenny / Mount Juliet Estate
Innovation in Business Award - Cleere Life / Loanitt / LawEd
Investment in Skills, Training and Development Award - UPMC Global Technology Operations Centre / Optimize Recruitment / Mint Medispa by Pembroke
Retailer of the Year Award - Brett’s Hardware Home & Garden DIY Centre / Fitzpatrick’s Fruit & Veg / Lilyrose Boutique
Small Business of the Year Award - The Wine Buff / Rafter Dempsey’s /Muse Coffee
Social Media & Digital Marketing Excellence Award - Newpark Hotel / Mountain View / The Indie List
Technology and e-Commerce Excellence Award - ISE Forest & Garden / UPMC Global Technology Operations Centre / Lova.ie
Colin Ahern, President of Kilkenny Chamber said, "It brings me great pleasure to announce the finalists for the 2021 Kilkenny Business Awards. We have been blown away by this year’s applications.
"We know that the last year and a half has been a strange and challenging time for everyone, and now is the time to celebrate all that has been achieved by the business community during that time."
The winners of the Kilkenny Business Awards will be revealed on Saturday, November 20 at this year’s Kilkenny Business Awards.
The event will be held with all necessary safety precautions in place and in strict adherence to the Government guidelines.
For more information or to reserve tickets, see www.kilkennychamber.ie
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
