LIMERICK’S Kirby Engineering was hailed Overall Business of the Year at the 2015 Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards on Friday nights last. The awards, sponsored by LIT, were announced at the Limerick Chamber’s 200th Anniversary President’s Dinner at the Limerick Strand Hotel.
Over 430 of the region’s top business leaders and government officials attended the annual dinner and awards ceremony which featured a keynote address by Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Limerick Chamber President, Catherine Duffy, congratulated all the winners as well as those who were shortlisted, commenting that “The competition was incredibly stiff this year, so all shortlisted companies should be very proud of their achievements. This year’s winners represent the impressive array of innovative and dynamic companies operating in our region and their talented workforce.”
Presenting the Overall 2015 Business of the Year award, she praised Kirby for its innovative approach to business and identifying new markets, and noted that “Kirby operates within a very competitive market-place, but has put in place robust plans and strategies to prosper.”
In addition to the 8 business awards contested on the evening, a special President’s award was presented by Catherine Duffy.
Dr Ed Walsh was the recipient of the Limerick Chamber President’s Award. Dr Walsh, founding President of UL, was honoured for his vision and foresight in connecting UL to the real world and helping educate an FDI attractive workforce and generations of entrepreneurially-minded graduates which in turn had an economic and social impact on Limerick and Ireland.
The full list of the 2015 Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards winners is as follows:
2015 Best Start-Up/Emerging Business, sponsored by LIT: Arralis
2015 Best SME Business, sponsored by Bank of Ireland: DesignPro Ltd
2015 Best Large Business, sponsored by Holmes O’Malley Sexton: Kirby Group Engineering
2015 Best Corporate Social Responsibility, sponsored by IDA Ireland: Vistakon Ireland
2015 Best Community, sponsored by Limerick City & County Council: The Learning Hub, Tait House Community Enterprise & Limerick City Build (joint winners)
2015 Best Retail & Hospitality Business, sponsored by BDO: Absolute Hotel
2015 Best Sport, Art & Culture Business Award, sponsored by Northern Trust: Thomond Park and University Concert Hall (joint winners)
2015 Best Service Business, sponsored by Action Point Technology: Shannon Group Plc
2015 Overall Business of the Year Award: Kirby Group Engineering
2015 Limerick Chamber President’s Award: Dr Ed Walsh
