Meath Business & Tourism Awards Finalists Announced!

Fifty-one Meath companies and organisations were celebrating this week after receiving word that they have been shortlisted for Meath Business and Tourism Awards for 2018. There was a massive number of entries this year with honours in 12 categories up for decision.

The Meath Chronicle, which hosts the annual award ceremony to recognise the outstanding achievements of our local business community, received hundreds of entries with submissions for the Best Customer Service and New Business categories particularly strong this year.

Celtic Media Group Marketing Manager, Mary McGuigan, said the calibre of entry this year was extremely high and presented the judging panel with some difficult choices. The judges are: Kevin Stewart, Meath County Council, Noel Moran, eComm; Joe English, Meath LEO, Gary O’Meara, Meath Enterprise; John Keogan, Meath Chronicle/ CMG and Conor Corry from AIB, Navan.

“We’re so looking forward to our ninth Meath Business & Tourism Awards which will be held in the Newgrange Hotel on 23rd November. It’s always one of the most anticipated nights of the year and great occasion where we celebrate the best of local businesses and organisations making a real difference in the County,” said Mary McGuigan.

Commenting on the selection of this year’s final shortlist, Kevin Stewart, Director of Planning Services at Meath County Council said the standard of entry was “exceptional” and the process had been a difficult one for judges.

“The Meath Business & Tourism Awards is a fantastic event and we had our work cut out for us with the standard of entries this year. We were particularly delighted with the number of submissions for Best New Business and Customer Service while Social Media was also very strong.

Ahead of the glittering awards ceremony - which will once again be MC’d by Athboy native Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh - shortlisted business owners will appear at a special ‘Pitch Night’ event which will give the nominees a chance to wow the judges and their fellow finalists with a special three-minute insight into their business. That event will be held in AIB’s Navan branch on November 12th. AIB is a proud partner of the Meath Business and Tourism Awards alongside Meath County Council and Discover Boyne Valley.

The full short list can be found below and a huge thank you to all the businesses who entered the awards this year.

TOURISM AWARDS

Outstanding Boyne Valley Festival
Dowth Point to Point
Royal Meath Show
Moylagh 50 Mile Challenge

Outstanding Boyne Valley Welcome
Dunboyne Castle Hotel
Cusack Hotel Group
Decoy Country Cottages
Hideaway At Foxhollow

Unique Small Tourism Business Initiative
Martry Mill
Slane Castle
Highfield House

Best Boyne Valley Tourism Experience
Navan Adventure Sports
Beautiful Meath Tours
Boyne Boats

BUSINESS AWARDS

Best New Business
Slane Distillery
Greenline Plumbing
Fire & Salt Restaurant at the Johnstown Estate
Time Bar & Restaurant

Best in Social Media and Marketing
Conyngham Arms Hotel
Tayto Park
Brogans Butchers

Best Customer Service
Navan Dental
Knightsbrook Hotel
Bodyworks

Best Local and Artisan Food Producers
Farmers Daughter
Finnegans Farm
Hugh Maguire Butchers

Best in Retail
Topline Murtaghs
Nallys Supervalu Trim
Gleesons Butchers

Not For Profit and Community Spirit Award
Moylagh 50 Mile Challenge
Special Hands Activity Group
Athboy Hub
Trim Tourism Network

Local Enterprise Office Award
European Industrial Coatings
Bearded Man
Durnins Fruit & Veg

Young Entrepreneur Award
DGPT
Room 8
The Pop Box
Bearded Man