TWENTY-FOUR Irish businesses have been shortlisted for this year’s Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards. The finalists, who will travel to Silicon Valley next month for the annual Entrepreneur of the Year chief executive retreat, were chosen from an initial list of 150 nominees.

The shortlisted companies span a wide range of sectors, including finance, manufacturing, logistics and food and agriculture.

Announcing the shortlist, Ernst Young’s Frank O’Keeffe praised the nominated candidates, who he said are playing a key role in “leading our return to economic growth and job creation”,

The Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards are designed to identify and support successful entrepreneurs from across the island of Ireland. This is the 15th year of the event in Ireland. It runs concurrently in around 50 countries.

The 12-member judging panel comprises leading figures from Irish business, and is chaired by Aer Arann founder Pádraig Ó Céidigh, winner of the award in 2002.

The finalists are selected from three categories – emerging, industry and international. The winners of each category, plus the overall winner, will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.

Next month, last year’s winners – Joe Hogan and Niall Norton of software company Openet – will represent Ireland at the world Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Monte Carlo.

ERNST & YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

EMERGING

Aspen Grove – Seán Ryan

Cobone.com– Paul Kenny

Connect Telecom – Matthew Brown

Glenilen – Alan and Valerie Kingston

Optivia Biotechnology – Peter Milner

Simply Zesty – Niall Harbison

Voya – Mark and Kira Walton

Zatori Results – Ronan OBrien

INDUSTRY

Barry Fitzwilliam - Michael Barry

Decora Blind Systems – Stuart and Russell Dickson

Digiweb Group – Colm Piercy

Finnebrogue – Denis Lynn

Genesis Crafty – Brian McErlain

Keltech – Ray Breen

Nightline Logistics Group – John Tuohy and

David Field

Willowbrook Foods – John McCann

INTERNATIONAL

Apex Fund Services – John Bohan

Cove Energy Plc – John Craven

Dairymaster – Edmond Harty

Excelsys Technologies – Gary Duffy

Kenmare Resources plc – Michael Carvill

OSG Group – Malcolm Hughes

Oxygen8 Communications Ltd – Shane Leahy

Rigney Dolphin – Frank Adrienne Dolphin