Effort and dedication were celebrated at this year’s Irish Family Business Awards, held at the Crowne Plaza and hosted by author and broadcaster Matt Cooper. Amid much excitement, McCormack Farms from Co. Meath was honoured with the overall Family Business of the Year award. Other winners on the night included Long Meadow Cider who won Best Small Family Business of the Year, The Sweater Shop who won Best in Customer Service and Hotel Woodstock, who took home the award for Hospitality Business of the Year.
The Irish Family Business Awards were joined by their official sponsors Business Post, DCU, Down2Earth, Enterprise Ireland, Family Business Ireland, Family Business Network, Backing Business, Small Firms Association, Forvis Mazars, Skillnet Ireland and Today FM who all attended on the night.
These awards highlight the passion and enthusiasm that Irish family businesses exhibit daily, contributing to the growth and vitality of the Irish economy. From start-ups to multi-generational enterprises, the Irish Family Business Awards recognise and honour companies that have promoted growth, created jobs and demonstrated remarkable determination.
Megan Kellet, sales & marketing executive of Virgin Media Backing Business, sponsor of Retail & Wholesale Business award, said: ‘Family businesses are pivotal in today’s Irish economy, they are the backbone of society and industry, so it is incredibly important to support them as much as we can.’
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Caroline Horgan, CEO of Abbeylands Furniture and Council member of the Small Firms Association congratulated all of the finalists, stating that: “A lot of us spend a lot of time working in the business rather than on the business, so it’s good to be able to step back and to have these awards to honour and recognise all of the hard work family business owners do.”
For all of the big wins, take a look at our highlights video:
Full list of judges
- Angela Canavan, CEO of Canavan Byrne Management and Training Solutions
- Jonathan Carroll, Independent Art Curator
- Marian Curry, Sustainability Advisor
- Dr. Na Fu, Co-Director at Trinity Centre for Digital Business and Analytics
- John Kenny, Director of CultureHead
- Siobhan Killion, Head of Management in the School of Management, People and Development at Technological University Dublin
- Steven Kilroy, Associate Professor and Director of MBA Program at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin
- John McGrane, Executive Director of The Family Business Network
- JJ O’Connell, Chairman and Director of Plato and Family Business Ireland
- Sharon O’Donoghue CEO of MediaLife
- Tomás Sercovich, CEO of Business in the Community Ireland
See the Irish Family Business Awards 2024 winners here:
Overall Family Business of the Year
McCormack Family Farms, Co. Meath
Agri Family Business
Gold: McCormack Family Farms, Co. Meath
Silver: Leahy’s Open Farm, Co. Cork
Bronze: Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese, Co. Wicklow
Best in Customer Service
Gold: The Sweater Shop, Co. Dublin
Silver: Farnan Opticians, Co. Monaghan
Bronze: Kelly’s Butchers, Co. Mayo
Best Small Family Business of the Year, sponsored by Family Business Ireland
Gold: Long Meadow Cider, Co. Armagh
Silver: The Dairy, Co. Antrim
Bronze: TheCleaningCompany.ie, Co. Dublin
Family Business CSR Award
Gold: The Fanagan Group, Co. Dublin
Silver: McGrath Industrial Waste Ltd, Co. Mayo
Bronze: Turtle Tots Ireland Ltd, Co. Dublin
Family Business Longevity Award
Gold: Standún, Co. Galway
Silver: Jack Murphy Clothing, Co. Dublin
Bronze: Tricel, Co. Kerry
Family Farming Business of the Year
Gold: McCormack Family Farms, Co. Meath
Family Food and Drink Producer of the Year, sponsored by Family Business Network
Gold: Clonakilty Food Co, Co. Cork
Silver: Donnelly Fresh, Co. Dublin
Bronze: TS Foods, Co. Down
Family Healthcare and Nursing Business of the Year
Gold: Céile Care, Co. Dublin
Silver: Reidy’s Pharmacy Ltd, Co. Dublin
Bronze: Pioneer HomeCare Ltd, Co. Dublin
Fastest Growing Family Business
Gold: Howth Cliff Cruises, Co. Dublin
Silver: Height for Hire Ltd, Co. Meath
Bronze: Peter Hanley Motors, Co. Longford
Hospitality Business of the Year sponsored by Skillnet Ireland
Gold: Hotel Woodstock, Co. Clare
Silver: Clew Bay Hotel, Co. Mayo
Bronze: The Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, Co. Cork
Manufacturing and Engineering Business of the Year
Gold: Hygeia, Co. Galway
Silver: Kiernan Structural Steel, Co. Longford
Bronze: Advanced Technical Concepts Ltd, Co. Clare
Innovative Family Business Award, sponsored by Forvis Mazars
Gold: CICS Siloclean Ltd, Co. Cavan
Silver: Divilly’s Ltd T / A Divilly Brothers, Co. Galway
Bronze: Pioneer Fire & Security, Co. Dublin
International Family Business of the Year, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland
Gold: Wilsons Auctions, Co. Antrim
Silver: The Tipperary Cheese Company, Co. Tipperary
Bronze: Height for Hire Ltd, Co. Meath
Printer & Publisher Family Business of the Year, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland
Gold: Lee Press Ltd, Co. Cork
Professional and Business Services Family Business, sponsored by Business Post
Gold: LHK Group, Co. Dublin
Silver: ASA Marketing Limited trading as ASA Brands, Co. Cork
Bronze: McCarthy + Co. Solicitors LLP, Co. Cork
Retail and Wholesale Family Business of the Year sponsored by Backing Business
Gold: Jim Flavin Butchers, Co. Limerick
Silver: N.A.A. Ltd, Co. Dublin
Bronze: Global Home Improvements, Co. Dublin
Sustainable Family Business of the Year, sponsored by Down2Earth
Gold: Ryans Cleaning, Co. Tipperary
Silver: Re-Cycle Bikes, Co. Dublin
Bronze: Hygeia, Co. Galway
Tech Family Business of the Year
Gold: Energywise Ireland, Co. Cork
Silver: Tierney’s Office Automation Ltd, Co. Clare
Bronze: Nanny Payroll, Co. Louth
Transport and Logistics Family Business of the Year
Gold: Hendrick European, Co. Dublin
Silver: McElmeel Mobility Services, Co. Armagh
Bronze: McGrath Industrial Waste Ltd, Co. Mayo
Rising Star Award, sponsored by Today FM
Gold: Weighless Wonders Ltd, Co. Dublin
Silver: Rosie & Jim, Co. Dublin
Bronze: TheCleaningCompany.ie, Co. Dublin
People’s Choice Awards - Leinster
Global Home Improvements, Co. Dublin
People’s Choice Awards - Munster
Audiology Medical Services, Co. Cork
People’s Choice Awards - Connacht
BURKESBUS, Co. Galway
People’s Choice Awards - Ulster
Foster and Sons Removals, Co. Down
Family Business Award - Overall People’s Choice Awards
Audiology Medical Services, Co. Cork
#FamilyBusinessAwards2024