{"id":179584,"date":"2025-12-07T16:37:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T16:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/179584\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T16:37:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T16:37:22","slug":"winners-of-clare-business-excellence-awards-toast-success-at-countys-premier-business-accolades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/179584\/","title":{"rendered":"Winners of Clare Business Excellence Awards toast success at county’s premier business accolades"},"content":{"rendered":"

*Mike Carroll of Tierney\u2019s presents the New Business Award to members of Beo at The Well. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

CLARE\u2019s premier business awards have been handed out for 2025 with twenty accolades on offer.<\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t a seat to be had at Clare Business Excellence Awards 2025 Gala Ceremony at the Inn at Dromoland last Thursday hosted by Ennis Chamber in partnership with Clare County Council.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s event marked the 15th running of these prestigious local awards. Big winners on the night included O\u2019Connor\u2019s Bakery, for \u2018Best Family Business\u2019 and the overall award for \u2018Clare Business of the Year\u2019.<\/p>\n

Mick Guinee was the very worthy recipient of the inaugural Ennis Chamber President\u2019s Award for Lifetime Achievement. He received a standing ovation for his contribution to the region as an engineer, employer, entrepreneur, innovator and philanthropist.<\/p>\n

Relative newcomers BEO -The Well scooped two category awards for \u2018Best Caf\u00e9\u2019 and \u2018Best New Business\u2019. Zimmer Biomet took the honours for \u2018Best Manufacturer\u2019 while Lahinch Coast Hotel won what is traditionally considered the hardest fought category \u2013 \u2018Customer Service Excellence\u2019.<\/p>\n

MC for the Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony was comedian and author Colm O\u2019Regan, who brought professionalism and a lot of laughter to the room.<\/p>\n

Ennis Chamber President Diarmuid McMahon said, \u201cClare Business Excellence Awards 2025 culminated in what was a fantastic night of celebration and entertainment. I\u2019d like to congratulate the winners and all the finalists. The quality of the businesses represented in the room, from micro to multi-nationals was a proud testament to the calibre of businesses operating across County Clare.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis event has deservedly gained a reputation as the premier annual event in the business calendar of County Clare and it lived up to that billing this year. I would like to congratulate the hard-working team at Ennis Chamber, led by CEO Margaret O\u2019Brien on producing such a well-organised and fun event. It was a special night of celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr. Paul Murphy (FG) said, \u201cClare County Council was once again delighted to partner Ennis Chamber in presenting the Clare Business Excellence Awards. It was a pleasure to welcome so many Clare based businesses to the awards ceremony. The diversity and innovation of the businesses present was a positive reflection of a vibrant and sustainable local economy, and their success a testament to the resilience and determination they have demonstrated in recent years by overcoming many challenges\u201d.<\/p>\n

Clare Business Excellence Award winners 2025:<\/p>\n

\u2018CLARE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2025\u2019<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Clare County Council
Winner: O\u2019Connor\u2019s Bakery<\/p>\n

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES EXCELLENCE<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Bank of Ireland<\/p>\n

Winner: Ciara Petty Design Studio<\/p>\n

BEST CAFE\/BISTRO<\/p>\n

Sponsored by AIB<\/p>\n

Winner: BEO \u2013 The Well<\/p>\n

BEST RESTAURANT<\/p>\n

Sponsored by AIB<\/p>\n

Winner: The Harbour Restaurant (Kilrush)<\/p>\n

RETAILER OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Clean Ireland Recycling<\/p>\n

Winner: Holly\u2019s Haven Pharmacy<\/p>\n

BEST MICRO BUSINESS (employing 10 people or less)<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Clare Local Enterprise Office
Winner: People & Place<\/p>\n

BEST FAMILY BUSINESS<\/p>\n

Sponsored by MHP Sellors<\/p>\n

Winner: O\u2019Connor\u2019s Bakery<\/p>\n

BEST USE OF DIGITAL MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA<\/p>\n

Sponsored by the Clare Echo<\/p>\n

Winner: Doolin Ferry Company<\/p>\n

BEST GREEN & SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Rengen Power<\/p>\n

Winner: Dromoland Castle Resort<\/p>\n

BEST TOURISM EXPERIENCE<\/p>\n

Sponsored by TUS<\/p>\n

Winner: Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations<\/p>\n

BEST HOSPITALITY IN CLARE<\/p>\n

Sponsored by The Shannon Airport Group<\/p>\n

Winner: Shannon Springs Hotel<\/p>\n

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Ennis Chamber<\/p>\n

Awarded to: Mick Guinee, founder and long-serving CEO of Ei Electronics who was honoured for his immense legacy to County Clare and the Mid-West region, as an employer, entrepreneur, innovator and philanthropist.<\/p>\n

BEST SME (10 \u2013 200 employees)<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Cup Print<\/p>\n

Winner: Cahir Environmental Services<\/p>\n

BEST NEW BUSINESS (UP TO 5 YEARS OLD)<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Tierney\u2019s<\/p>\n

Winner: BEO \u2013 The Well<\/p>\n

BEST MANUFACTURER<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Ei Electronics<\/p>\n

Winner: Zimmer Biomet<\/p>\n

INNOVATION IN BUSINESS<\/p>\n

Sponsored by PTSB
Winner: \u00d3ir Tonics<\/p>\n

CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Xeinadin<\/p>\n

Winner: Lahinch Coast Hotel<\/p>\n

BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL IMPACT<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Essilor Luxottica
Winner: Common Knowledge<\/p>\n

BEST VOLUNTARY\/COMMUNITY GROUP<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Vitalograph<\/p>\n

Winner: Scariff Bay Community Radio (who also receive \u20ac500)<\/p>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Frank Holly of Holly’s Haven Pharmacy accepts the Retailer of the Year award from Clean Ireland Recycling. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Nandi O’Sullivan, Pat Nagle and Sheila Lynch. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Mick Guinee is presented with the inaugural Lifetime achievement award by Ennis Chamber President, Diarmuid McMahon. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Terry Fox of Cup Print presents the Best SME Award to Flan Cahir of Cahir Environmental Services. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Ashling McDonnell, Jessica Phelan and Laura Long from HSF. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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\u00d3ir Tonics’ Edel Breslin and colleagues accept the Best Innovation Award from Will Reidy of PTSB. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Scariff Bay Community Radio won the Best Voluntary Community Group. Marie McNamara and Jim Collins accept the award sponsored by Vitalograph. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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People & Place employees accept the Best Micro Business award from Bernadette Haugh of Clare LEO. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Ei Electronics’ Barry Loughnane presents the Best Manufacturer award to Mike O’Malley and the Zimmer team. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Annmarie O’Connor from O’Connor’s Bakery accepts the Best Business Award from Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Paul Murphy and Chief Executive Gordon Daly. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Marie Faughnan and Renae Downes. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Liam O’Brien and Carol Buckley of Doolin Ferry Company receive the Best Use of Digital & Social Media from Stuart Holly of The Clare Echo. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Members of the Zimmer Biomet team. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Director of Tourism Development with Clare County Council, Siobh\u00e1n McNulty and Clare LEO Head of Enterprise & Investment, Bernadette Haugh. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Hilda Dolan of Bank of Ireland presents the Best Professional Services Award to Ciara Petty Design Studio, Ciara is pictured with her husband Barry Connolly. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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John O’Brien of The Harbour Restaurant receives Best Restaurant Award from Elizabeth Hogan from AIB. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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BEO The Well receive the Best Cafe award from Pat Enright of AIB. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Siobhan Bermingham of Essilor Luxottica presents Harrison Gardiner and Fionn Kidney of Common Knowledge with the Business for Social Impact Award. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Stephen Keogh of MHP Sellors presents the Best Family Business Award to Annmarie O’Connor. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Brid O’Meara & Liam St George take the Service Excellence Award from Aileen O’Neill of Xeinadin. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

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Dromoland Castle Resort staff were awarded for Best Green and Sustainable Practices by Joe Roche of Rengen Power. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Dermot Kelly and John Gavin of The Shannon Springs Hotel receive the Best HospitalIty Award from Nandi O’Sullivan of The Shannon Airport Group. Photograph: Mike Mulcaire<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"*Mike Carroll of Tierney\u2019s presents the New Business Award to members of Beo at The Well. Photograph: Mike…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":179585,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[72,97858,97859,97860,97861,97862,17100,97863,97864,97865,26809,97866,97867,61,60,97868,97869,97870,97871,7118,97872,97873,97874,97875,97876,97877],"class_list":{"0":"post-179584","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-caherconnell-fort-sheepdog-demonstrations","10":"tag-cahir-environmental-services","11":"tag-ciara-petty","12":"tag-ciara-petty-design-studio","13":"tag-clare-county-council","14":"tag-common-knowledge","15":"tag-diarmuid-mcmahon","16":"tag-doolin-ferry-company","17":"tag-dromoland-castle-resort","18":"tag-ennis","19":"tag-ennis-chamber","20":"tag-hollys-haven-pharmacy","21":"tag-ie","22":"tag-ireland","23":"tag-lahinch-coast-hotel","24":"tag-mick-guinee","25":"tag-oconnors-bakery","26":"tag-oir-tonics","27":"tag-paul-murphy","28":"tag-people-place","29":"tag-scariff-bay-community-radio","30":"tag-shannon-springs-hotel","31":"tag-the-harbour-restaurant","32":"tag-the-well","33":"tag-zimmer-biomet"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179584\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/179585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}