Grooveyard and Davis Events lead winners at Event Impact Awards 2026

Grooveyard demonstrated particular strength in best green event and best event at the Event Impact Awards 2026, with Riverfest winning awards in two separate categories. The company, which delivers over 125 events annually, was presented with the best event award for the five-day Riverfest Festival in Limerick that attracted 140,000 people. The Great Limerick Run, one of Riverfest’s highlight activities and Ireland’s largest participant event outside Dublin, saw 14,000 race entries.

The awards, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry and hosted by Fiona Buckley, recognised outstanding achievement among corporate in-house event teams and industry professionals. A total of 20 trophies were presented across the evening, with 60 entries competing and 133 sector executives in attendance.

The outstanding contribution award was presented to Francis Joseph Quigley, founder of Corporate Audio Visual Services (Cavs). Quigley was a teenager when he became Thin Lizzy’s roadie, and from rock’n’roll roots Cavs grew to become one of the largest full-service providers in the audiovisual sector. The company’s activities span rock concerts, product launches, corporate seminars and trade shows. Quigley described the award recognition as “pretty cool”.

Grooveyard and Davis Events have emerged as the leading winners at the Event Impact Awards 2026, each securing four accolades at a ceremony celebrating excellence across Ireland’s events industry.

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Kate FitzGerald, head of strategy at Grooveyard, said it was fantastic to see the awards growing year-on-year and spotlighting the impact and achievements of the events industry. She added that the evening was also about networking and celebrating with peers, colleagues and clients.

Davis Events Agency secured two awards for event design, including the festival award for its Movember stand at the National Ploughing Championships, seeing off five other category finalists. The Big Mo-Shed reimagined the Irish farm shed as a space for men’s health conversation, with the installation engaging 250,000 visitors through storytelling, interactivity and design innovation.

Davis Events also showcased excellence in talent development, winning individual recognition for two team members alongside their design awards. Sarah McConnell, account manager at Davis Events, described her rising star award as a complete shock. “I’m only in the industry just over a year now. It’s an achievement for myself and I’m delighted to have won it,” she said. Paul Davis, the company’s chief executive, said the firm’s multiple awards “recognise our team’s creativity and commitment to delivering transformative events that connect people, inspire action and drive business results”.

Leading experiential agency Fuel, which has delivered more than 600 global events in the past 18 months, was the awards winner in the event management company and launch event categories. Shell Holden, head of marketing, credited the dedication of the firm’s 70-strong team.

Fuel was responsible for managing the Kaleidoscope family music festival at Russborough, near Blessington. The event won the best sponsorship award for home builder Glenveagh, with the award citation noting that “the sponsorship delivered meaningful connections with families, exceptional media reach and a blueprint for purpose-driven, innovative brand partnerships in Ireland”.

Martin Clancy, senior marketing manager at Glenveagh, said: “Kaleidoscope is something we’re enormously proud of and we’re delighted to work with Fuel and Live Nation in presenting Kaleidoscope. It’s a massive achievement for us and we’re thrilled.”

Judging co-ordinator June O’Byrne-Prior observed that the Event Impact Awards showcased an exceptional standard of submissions, highlighting the strength of Ireland’s event sector and its talented professionals. “I was delighted to serve again as judging coordinator and to support continued collaboration between industry and educators. Sincere congratulations to all nominees and winners,” she said.

Neil Wall, community director at awards organiser Business River, stated: “The Event Impact Awards Ireland are made possible through the generous support of our partners. We are proud to acknowledge our 2026 supporter, Amárach Research, and our communications partner, The Irish Times. Their investment in the awards reflects a strong and ongoing commitment to recognising excellence, innovation and impact across Ireland’s events and experiential marketing industry.”

Award judges

June O’Byrne-Prior (judging co-ordinator), head of department of hospitality, tourism & wellness, Technological University of the Shannon
Cian Branagan, chief executive, ForeFront Group
John Carty, lecturer/researcher, Atlantic Technological University
Lynn Lester, senior vice-president, The Drum
Bob Manzanilla, sales, Croke Park Meetings & Events
Emmet McLoughlin, senior lecturer, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Steve O’Sullivan, creative director, Catapult
Gayle Tarmey, head of department of heritage & tourism, languages & humanities, Atlantic Technological University Ireland