Winners of Kildare Pride of Premises Awards announced
Kildare County Council hosted the Pride of Premises Awards on Tuesday 28th, March, recognising the efforts business owners across the county have made in enhancing their shop fronts and streetscapes through the Kildare County Council Retail Support Schemes.
The ceremony took place in the MERITS - Mid-Eastern Regional Innovation Think Space building in Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas.
Through the Shopfront, Accessibility & Age Friendly Grant Scheme and the Retail Window Merchandising schemes businesses across Kildare were awarded funding to carry out works that have improved the appearance of their shop fronts or commercial properties.
Boyle’s Bar was the overall County Winner while Lips & P’s took home the award for Overall Window Display. Awards were also given to winners and runners-up across each of the 5 Municipal District areas. The award in the Accessibility and Age-Friendly category went to Shining Stars Academy, Athy, honouring the parameters and requirements of universal accessibility.
Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Kildare County Council joined Leas-Cathaoirleach, Councillor Joe Neville in presenting the awards to the respective winners, and said “The Pride in Premises awards are a great opportunity for us to recognise the fantastic efforts and commitment of business owners across the county in enhancing their shop fronts and streetscapes, and their contribution to our vibrant towns and county. We are proud to continue to support businesses across Kildare through our suite of retail supports and I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the nominees and winners.”
Kildare County Council established its Retail Support Scheme to financially assist and support independent business owners to improve the appearance of their shopfronts/commercial properties. Shopfronts help form people’s first impressions of a town centre, so their condition can really affect a town’s image.
In 2021 and 2022, Kildare County Council funded businesses to enhance their shopfronts and premises to the value of €247,271; Kildare businesses also draw on the Window Merchandising Grant appreciating the seasonality element of doing business locally. These funds, combined with matched funding from the businesses, totalled €589,883.18 spent in the local economy over the past 2 years.
The entrants for the Pride of Premises Awards were adjudicated by an independent panel of judges comprising Denise Doyle, a retail consultant and MD of Retail Republic, and Vivian Cummins, a registered architect and co-owner of Dooley Cummins Architects + Engineers.
Kildare County Council, Pride of Premises Awards 2023 Results:
Municipal District Winners:
Winners Runner Up
Athy House 41 Royal Garden
Celbridge/Leixlip OBUS School and Wellness Centre Tara's Boutique
Newbridge/ Kildare Boyle’s Bar Roche’s Barbers
Naas Lock 13 Adora & Co
Clane/Maynooth Bob & Kate’s Gift and Home OB1 Hair
Overall County Winners Winner: Boyle’s Bar
Runner Up: House 41
Overall Window Display: Winner: Lips & P’s
Runner Up: Manleys Menswear
The award in the Accessibility and Age-Friendliness category was adjudicated by Michael Hurley, Health & Safety Office in Kildare County Council, with attention given to the parameters and requirements of universal accessibility.
Accessibility and Age-Friendliness:Winner: Shining Stars Academy, Athy
Runner Up: HOMESbyDESIGN.ie, Naas
Closing the event, Andrew Gaynor, Enterprise and Economic Development Officer for Kildare County Council, commended the businesses on their efforts and noted Kildare County Council’s continued support under the Kildare Retail Support Scheme in 2023.
You can find out more information about Kildare County Council supports at: www.localenterprise.ie/ Kildare/ or by phoning 045 980838.