Shortlist of Carlow businesses announced for this year's National Enterprise Awards

Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office have announced the shortlist of 24 local businesses who will compete for the honour of representing Carlow at the 2024 National Enterprise Awards.

The National Enterprise Awards are the leading forum for recognising the success of small businesses in Ireland. The awards are organised by the Local Enterprise Offices and are held annually.

Each county selects its most vibrant small business as its representative and the successful business will make a presentation on their growth strategy and take part in an intensive questions and answers session with an experienced panel of entrepreneur judges to compete in the national competition.

The National Enterprise Awards are held in the Mansion House, Dublin in May when Ireland’s Enterprise of the Year is announced.

This year the Local Enterprise Office will host an awards ceremony in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel to recognise the vibrancy of businesses in Carlow and to announce the business who will represent the county as “Carlow’s Enterprise of the Year” at the National Enterprise Awards.

The shortlisted businesses include:

County Carlow – Digital Award

• MMPS Carpentry Ltd
• ARC Construction Solutions Ireland
• Dr Susan Ni Chuileann Psychological Services
• Carroll Estimating

County Carlow – Best Startup/Newcomer

• Ballybar Ireland
• FTI wellbeing and training Ltd
• Plúr Bakery
• ARC Construction Solutions Ireland

County Carlow – Green for Business Award

• Mount Brandon Cottages
• Cullen Nurseries Ltd
• Murphy’s Craft Butchers
• Enchanted Castle Melts

County Carlow - Lean for Business Award

• CGL Retail Solutions ltd
• Ventilation Surveys and Services Ireland Ltd
• Ardattin Embroidery
• DeBurca Design

County Carlow – E-Commerce Award 

• Ardattin Embroidery
• Dr Susan Ni Chuileann Psychological Services
• Murphy’s Craft Butchers
• Cullen Nurseries Ltd

Festival & Event Award (Public Vote)

• Graiguenamanagh/Tinnahinch Town of Books Festival
• Carlow Fringe Arts Festival
• Borris House Festival of Writing & Ideas
• Pan Celtic International Festival
• Carlow Vintage Car Show
• The Columban Way
• Carlow Annual Walking Festivals by Carlow Tourism
• Carlow Golf Festival by Carlow Tourism
• Carlow Garden Trail Festival  
• Samhain Festival by Visual

County Finalist - National Enterprise Award

• Woodside Garden Products Ltd
• MTS LTD
• Alloy Tip Limited
• Eskimo Software Ltd

“As a County,  we must recognize and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our economy forward”, said Cllr. Andrea Dalton, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council.

“Business awards not only honour individual achievements but also inspire innovation, hard work, and excellence. By acknowledging and rewarding outstanding contributions in the business world, we foster an environment where success is celebrated, creating a positive ripple effect that benefits our entire society.

“These awards serve as a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence with SME’s in particular in Carlow and the vital role that businesses play in shaping a prosperous and thriving County”.

Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise added

“The National Enterprise Awards offer a huge opportunity to any ambitious business to place themselves in the spotlight and to showcase what they have to offer to a national audience. This year we have expanded the awards to acknowledge 10 years of the Local Enterprise Office working with the business community in County Carlow.”

Comerford continued to say “Each finalist in the National Enterprise Awards bring a great vibrancy to the table and whichever of them is announced as the winner will be a very capable representative of enterprise in our county.”

Further information – Kieran Comerford, 086-8252037 or e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie