Meet the finalists in the Athlone Business Awards
The winners of the Athlone Business Awards 2022 will be announced on Saturday.
This year's gala award’s ceremony will take place the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone, and will acknowledge excellence in business across 15 separate categories.
The shortlists for each of the 15 awards are published below.
The prestigious awards will afford entrants the opportunity to show how they have excelled, innovated and contributed to Athlone's thriving business community and helped make Athlone an amazing place to live and work.
Chamber CEO Gerry McInerney said: “After all the difficult times we have had with Covid, it's a great opportunity to recognise all the successful businesses we have here in Athlone.”
The development and growth of the awards, which were subject to a hiatus due to the pandemic, is reflecting of the growth of the chamber itself in recent years.
Mr McInerney thanked all the sponsors and those who entered or nominated businesses.
He also congratulated the finalists and wished them well on the night.
MC for the gala event is Tom McGuire.
BEST ONLINE PRESENCE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Sponsor: Westmeath Independent
Topline Heavins & Euronics
Topline Heavins & Euronics is a family run Hardware & Electrical business established in 1984, exceeding customer expectations for almost 40 years. Heavins.ie caters for both a national and international audience with almost 5000 trustpilot reviews.
Studio 93
Studio93 is a marketing and creative agency based in Moate. It focuses on marketing strategy with creative execution of video, graphic design, web design and social media marketing to build your brand and grow your business
Hodson Bay Hotel
The Hodson Bay Hotel was originally opened in 1992 by its current owners the O'Sullivan family and remains a family-owned and run business. This year will be its 30th birthday. Hodson Bay Hotel comprises 176 bedrooms, fine and casual dining restaurants, purpose-built conferencing suites, a leisure centre, and a luxury spa.
FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: AIB
Waldron Meats
Waldron Meats is an award winning producer of pork, bacon, sausages, puddings & cooked ham. Based in Brideswell, Waldron Meats takes pride in offering customers premium high quality local products at affordable prices.
The Shamrock Lodge Hotel
The Shamrock Lodge Hotel is a family-run establishment located in the very heart of Ireland.
The team at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel prides itself in offering a unique setting with warm hospitality and excellent food.
Fernhill Garden Centre
Fernhill Garden Centre is a family run business that was established in 1978 by the Reid family. It has developed and grown rapidly in the past ten years to become recognised as one of Ireland’s leading garden centres and landscape contractors. Fernhill prides itself on the quality and value of its services and product range with exceptional attention to detail in delivering these services
PROFESSIONAL/SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Bank of Ireland
TUS- Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online and Distance Learning
The TUS- Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online and Distance Learning delivers part-time, flexible and online programmes designed to give you the skills, knowledge and competencies which you may require for your professional development and career progression.
Sirana Spa
Sirana Spa, Sheraton Athlone Hotel, is a uniquely designed urban spa famous for its luxury signature Sirana and Elemis spa treatments. It aims to create a special place where the pace of life slows to its natural rhythm and the client receives a truly unique spa experience. Sirana Spa is urban pampering on a different level that will ensure each clients spa experience is like no other.
Athlone Credit Union
Athlone Credit Union is a member owned, community based, not for profit financial institution. Established in 1966 it has a membership base of 22000 members. Athlone Credit Union exists only to serve members - not to profit from their needs.Branches include Athlone and Monksland.
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Colm Quinn BMW Athlone
Zinkworks
Zinkworks opened in Athlone at the start of 2018 and works in software development primarily in the telecom and financial services sectors. The company has grown to over 200 people in its Athlone office as well as opening new offices in the last year in Letterkenny and in Hyderabad in India. The company is about its people. Building a community where people can grow and be at their best.
Woodfit Acoustics
Woodfit Ltd, one of leading specialist joineries in Ireland, and also a leader in its area across the globe, specialises in custom-made furniture and acoustic panelling manufacturing. Woodfit Acoustics is the world's foremost provider of wooden acoustic panelling, with a client base across the Middle East, South America and UK markets while also expanding into Singapore, Vietnam and Egypt.
Ganly's Athlone
Ganly’s was established in 1989 in a disused garage with a staff of four and one battered truck and is now one of the largest independent builders providers in the country, employing 117 people with an annual turnover of €40 million. In addition to a fully stocked builder’s providers and hardware yard, Ganly’s also offers state-of-the-art showrooms and a retail shop floor to cater for all homebuilding and home styling needs
COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Athlone Credit Union
Lough Ree RNLI
RNLI Lough Ree services those communities and stakeholders on and around Lough Ree by providing a 24/7/365 Search and Rescue service. This service is complemented by the station's water safety team who seek to mitigate water related incidents, a water safety education team to reach out to local schools and community groups with specific water related safety information.
Athlone Tidy Towns
Athlone Tidy Towns is a broad community-led group whose main focus is the environment and the presentation of our town and heritage. Athlone Tidy Towns represents residents' associations from both sides of Athlone town and consists of a committee of 12 along with a network of affiliate supporters which help the committee when required. Athlone Tidy towns have many key areas of focus for current and future projects including streetscapes and public spaces, green spaces and landscaping, nature and biodiversity and sustainability.
Athlone Musical Society
Athlone Musical Society is comprised of a hard working committee of 11 people and roughly 50 other members. Founded in 1902 , the society has staged a musical every year since 1902 omitting only the war years and of course 2021 which was pandemic times. It is a voluntary group of people who devote and dedicate most of its members spare time to the arts and to entertaining audiences with musical theatre each year.
START UP/EMERGING NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: RBK Chartered Accountants
Enermech
EnerMech provides specialist integrated mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and integrity services to the international energy and infrastructure sectors. It operates in 26 countries , honing transferable skills in the same multi-disciplined areas of expertise by combining experts, equipment, IP, and technology across the entire asset lifecycle. The EnerMech team and local suppliers and contractors have worked tirelessly over the past year to achieve its successful startup.
Athlone Dental
Athlone Dental is dedicated to providing personalised, specialist care for patients in order to bring confidence back to your smile. Athlone Dental works under the principle of “Patient First” and is firmly focused on the oral healthcare needs of the patient.
DeDANÚ
Founded in 2020, deDANÚ is a family business manufacturing everything in Athlone. It does things the hard way to ensure its values are reflected all the way through its supply chain. It prioritises sustainable harvest, circular waste models, and organic farming while embracing the value of traditional knowledge passed down to us through generations. deDANÚ prides itself in sourcing pure, locally cultivated, botanical ingredients.
SME OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Local Enterprise Office Westmeath Roscommon
MMA Architects
MMA Architects is a design-focused practice offering a personal client-friendly service. Its policy is to promote innovative and energy efficient architectural design to all clients. A deserved reputation in quality architecture and personal service has allowed their practice to grow since its foundation in 2007.
Savoury Fare
Savoury Fare is a hospitality business consisting of three cafe/restaurants in the heart of Athlone. Owned and run by two trained chefs, with a background in hotel management, Savoury Fare prides itself on its quality food and first class customer service. There is a strong management team at each location with both owners very accessible on the floor to all customers, returning and new alike.
Hennessy Coaches
Having identified an opening for a unique passenger transport offering in the midlands, David set up Hennessy Coaches in 2008. From the outset David’s vision was for a unique, distinctive brand, offering the highest quality service on the most modern fleet in the midlands. During the early years David developed long lasting relationships with some of the largest tour operators, which placed Hennessy Coaches at the forefront of ground transportation across Ireland, the UK and indeed Europe.
EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE ACTION
Sponsor: Midland Print
DPD Ireland
Interlink Ireland Ltd was founded in 1986 with ten depots and a central hub based in Athlone. As DPD Ireland, it is now Ireland’s largest dedicated parcel delivery company with 35 depots throughout the country handling in excess of 45 million parcels per year.
MMA Architects
MMA Architects is a design-focused practice offering a personal, client-friendly service. Its policy is to promote innovative and energy efficient architectural design to all clients. A deserved reputation in quality architecture and personal service has allowed the practice to grow since its foundation in 2007.
TapiTag
Tapitag offers a safe and secure online platform that allows users to store and share information digitally via NFC Tags and Cards. Customers can instantly share and receive contact details, social media profiles, websites, videos, music and more by tapping their TAPiTAG off a mobile device. The online system, Tags & Cards is all fully customisable to suit your business needs.
BEST TOURISM EXPERIENCE
Sponsor: Ireland's Hidden Heartlands
Hodson Bay Hotel
The Hodson Bay hotel was originally opened in 1992 by its current owners the O'Sullivan family and remains a family owned and run business. This year will be its 30th birthday. Over the years it has been developed from a 30+ bedroom hotel to a 176-bedroom property, housing extensive conference facilities, leisure facilities, and Spa. It recently purchased 140 acres just beyond the property where it plans to develop an extensive walk out into the center of the lake, building eco-chalet type properties, with the potential to develop a fully sustainable photo voltaic farm.
Baysports
Baysports is a watersports centre located on the shores of Lough Ree. Home to Ireland’s largest floating inflatable waterpark, the centre offers the complete family experience, with multiple choice activities including kayaking, SUP boards, sailing boats, lake tours, powerboat courses and cruises, family picnic lakeshore facilities and more.
At the core of the company’s ethos is a passion and respect for water and a belief that the great outdoors and the potential of Lough Ree and the Shannon can be enjoyed by everyone young and old.
Glasson Lakehouse
Glasson Lakehouse destination hotel and golf resort is an imaginative retreat perfectly located on the tranquil shores of the Lough Ree, allowing exploration of the best of Ireland’s hidden heartlands.
This hidden oasis offers a stunning landscape, spacious rooms including dog friendly hotel rooms, delicious food, a luxurious Brooks & Co. Spa and an award winning golf course.
With somany nearby attractions and outdoor activities, it an ideal destination for relaxing romantic or girly getaways, fun filled family breaks, a top golf break in Ireland as well as experiences and events.
BEST MEDTECH/PHARMA
Sponsor: Matrix Recruitment
Signature Orthopaedics Europe
Signature Orthopaedics Europe manufactures a range of orthopaedic devices designed to meet the demands of clinical practice or serviced market.
Established in 2009 and starting life as a bespoke instrument design consultancy, Signature Orthopaedics has rapidly grown in size to become a world wide force in orthopaedic supply.
Boasting an extensive implant catalogue and intellectual property portfolio, it has been able to attract customers around the globe. This increase of international customers has lead to the expansion of a second manufacturing and design site in Athlone to increase bandwidth and better serve those in Europe and the Americas.
Renew Pharma Ltd
Diagnostic Green is part of the Renew Pharma which is headquartered in Athlone. Experts in fluorescence imaging, our product lines include the leading Indocyanine Green (ICG) pharmaceutical product used by physicians to visualize fluorescence and guide surgical procedures along with the CE approved IC-Flow Imaging System, a compact and easy to use handheld camera that visualizes and records tissue fluorescence. It now has over 50 distributors worldwide, selling in over 80 territories - all managed from an expert group of people in Athlone.
GLOBAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: DPD Ireland
Lark Bridal
Ruth Larkin is the founder and Managing Director of Lark Bridal Ltd, the largest global bridal wear distributor which was established 10 years ago. Operating currently across 32 export countries with almost 1000 accounts in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, the company distributes a portfolio of luxury leading US brands, including both the number one bridal brand, Maggie Sottero and bridesmaids brand, The Dessy Group, in the world.
Headquartered in Athlone, the team at Lark Bridal is responsible for all sales, marketing, new client acquisition, customer management, accounting and distribution to retailers across the territory and continues to focus on remaining the #1 customer service provider to all clients, offering 7 days a week live support.
The company also includes Larkin Consultancy Services offering mentoring, consultancy and training.
Athlone Extrusions
Athlone Extrusions is a thermoplastic sheet extruder and compounder founded in 1971 and which operates from a manufacturing facility of 14,000 sq. metres.
It is part of 3A Composites Transport & Industry Europe, an international division of the 3A Composites Group and part of Schweiter Technologies AG. The group is leading manufacturer, for extruded plastic sheets, aluminium composite materials and lightweight foamboards for the fields of agricultural and commercial vehicles, caravans, sanitary ware, furniture construction, shipbuilding and the rail vehicle construction industry.
It attaches particular importance to sustainable manufacturing processes and environmentally friendly materials.
Woodfit Acoustics
Woodfit Ltd, one of leading specialist joineries in Ireland and also a leader in its area across the globe, specialises in custom-made furniture and acoustic panelling manufacturing.
Woodfit Acoustics is the world’s foremost provider of wooden acoustic panelling, with a client base across the Middle East, South America and UK markets while also expanding into Singapore, Vietnam and Egypt. It combines expertise across acoustical engineering and design with world class manufacturing facilities.
With over 40 years of experience delivering on high profile projects around the world, with clients such as Intel, Google, HP and Apple to name a few, it has earned a reputation for the highest levels of skill and craftsmanship.
RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Permanent TSB
Kilmartin’s N6 Service Station
Kilmartin N6 Service Station is a family run local business employing 50 brilliant staff. Their mission is to look after their customers with the highest standards of excellence. Then team are a major part of that, supported by continued re-investment in our facilities.They seek to create a place where rest, refuelling and sustenance is user-friendly and efficient immediately upon entering the forecourt, re-inforced through choice and range of product. Kilmartin N6 aims to deliver an excellent customer experience ensuring customers feel welcome from the minute they enter the store until they leave and indeed return again
Topline Heavins & Euronics
Topline Heavins & Euronics are a family run hardware and lectrical business established in 1984, exceeding customer expectations for almost 40 years. Heavins.ie caters for both a national and international audience with almost 5000 trustpilot reviews.
Fernill Garden Centre
Fernhill is a family-run business in its 45th year of trading. It is set over a 9-acre site that includes a newly renovated lifestyle and gift shop, a fully covered garden centre with qualified expert horticulturists to hand, and a leading outdoor living department along with Fernhill’s landscaping service - making Fernhill Ireland’s leading go-to destination centres.
BEST IN HOSPITALITY
Sponsor: Richmond Marketing
Il Colosseo
If you are looking for that authentic Italian experience in the heart of Ireland, Il-Colosseo Italian Restaurant will meet all your expectations.
Located in the heart of Athlone town, above Lord Bellamy’s Bar, Il Colosseo occupies an excellent location. It specialises in authentic Italian cuisine. There is also an extensive wine list to compliment every dish. Friendly staff and top class service make Il Colosseo a truly unique dining experience.They also cater for large groups and parties.
Athlone Springs Hotel
Discover a warm welcome at the Athlone Springs Hotel & Leisure Club, the gateway to Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, located on the outskirts of Athlone town.
The hotel boasts 68 bright and spacious bedrooms, extensive leisure facilities, and ample free car parking on site. Bedrooms feature smart TVs with Netflix, while the state of the art gym features a new fitness studio and an indoor 20-meter swimming pool.
The newly refurbished Cedar Brasserie & Bistro and lobby area are the perfect places to catch up, relax and unwind. Outdoor dining is enjoyed in the Secret Garden.
Dead Centre Brewing
Dead Centre is not a faceless corporation…milking the beer industry for all it’s worth. Instead, it is tight knit crew that relies on friends, family, colleagues and other breweries to create a product that it can truly be proud of, and that is fresh, flavoursome and (wherever possible) featuring local ingredients.
They have installed a beautiful copper clad brewery in the Brew Pub right on the banks of the River Shannon as well as pizza kitchen and lunch menu offerings. A hands on approach is how they know they can stand over every drop of beer that leaves the brewery.
The ingredients are what give the beer its character. Cutting corners is not an option at Dead Centre Brewing.
CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Viking Tours
Grovelands Childcare
Grovelands is a family business. Ensuring your little ones receive a level of care and education that’s second to none is what drives it and its staff. Led by Regina Bushell, Grovelands has been innovating for almost 30 years to raise the standard of early learning and care in Ireland. It has been campaigning for increased government investment and support to make childcare more accessible and affordable for its customers. Today with the support of family members Ronan and Deirdre, along with a vibrant staff of almost 100 expert educators, Grovelands Childcare Plus has won national recognition and multiple awards. With five state of the art centres in Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar, it caters for over 600 happy families every week.
The Snug
The Snug Bar is renowned for its live music, friendly atmosphere and speedy service. It is a family run business and caters for small, medium and large gatherings. It has two heated beer gardens, an upstairs bar and a main bar which are suitable for a variety of occasions from hen parties, birthday parties, corporate events and family gatherings.
Matrix Recruitment
Matrix Recruitment Group is a leading Irish owned national recruitment company. Established in 1998, it has four offices nationwide – Waterford, Carlow, Athlone and Dublin – all staffed by highly qualified and experienced consultants.
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: TUS Midlands Midwest
Tanya Cannon - A1 Cleaning
A1 Cleaning & Maintenance Services Ltd was established in March 2007 by Tanya Cannon. It carries out work for all types of industries and businesses, providing a first-class cleaning service to retail premises, offices, schools, medical centres, pubs, restaurants, sports and leisure centres throughout Athlone and the Midlands.
Tanya Cannon, Managing Director of A1 Cleaning & Maintenance Services Ltd, has over 30 years experience in the cleaning industry.
Over the years Tanya and the team have built a loyal client base by consistently delivering high quality work and excellent customer service. It prides itself on offering very competitive rates and a highly dependable service that you can simply rely on.
Michael Ganly - Ganly's
Ganly’s was established in 1989 in a disused garage with a staff of four and one battered truck and is now one of the largest independent Builders Providers in the country, employing 117 people with an annual turnover of €40 million.
The success of the business is down to the drive, foresight and intelligence of its founder who can still be found every day in either the store or the yard, dealing with customers, and checking his stock.
Michael is recognised nationally as a leading light in the hardware industry and is involved in a number of national committees. He has developed successful relationship with suppliers of both national and international calibre over the years and is always at the forefront of any changes within the hardware and construction industries.
Carmel Owens - Sidero
Sidero, led by CEO Carmel Owens, is home to one of Ireland’s most accredited and experienced teams of software engineers and cloud experts. Founded in Athlone in 2013, it builds mission-critical software for some of the most successful Irish and global companies. Its entire organisation is agile and easy to do business with, ensuring that customers stay for the long term. Sidero customers enjoy long-term relationships with its people.
Carmel Owens has more than 20 years’ experience in the IT sector, previously holding senior roles at tech companies in Ireland and the UK such as Sungard Availability Services, Dell EMC and Version 1. Owens joined Sidero as its new CEO in 2020 and has played an instrumental role in overseeing Sidero’s business operations, developing and enhancing partnerships with global technology leaders, and devising and delivering on strategies to grow Sidero’s customer base.