The finalists in each of the ten awards categories for this year's inuagural Southern Star West Cork Business & Tourism Awards have been announced.
THE finalists in each of the ten awards categories for this year’s inuagural Southern Star West Cork Business & Tourism Awards have been announced.
There was a fantastic response to the awards, which are being run in association with AIB and Cork County Council, with almost 250 entries received across ten categories from 128 different businesses and organisations.
The panel of six judges had a tough task due to the high standard of entries, and have now shortlisted three finalists for each category, (four in the Best SME category) along with a ‘highly commended’ in each category.
The next stage for finalists is the ‘Pitch Night’ which will be held at AIB Bandon on Monday November 5th from 6pm. This is an opportunity for the finalists to really sell themselves and their businesses to the judges.
Following the pitch night, the judges will choose an overall winner from each category and these will be announced at a special Gala Awards Dinner at Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa Hotel on Friday November 30th, with TV presenter Sile Seoige as guest MC.
The evening kicks off with a drinks reception followed by a four-course meal, music and dancing, and the awards presentations will include an overall West Cork Business of the Year, and an Outstanding West Cork Business Ambassador award.
All finalists and category sponsors will receive two complimentary tickets to the night and there is an opportunity to buy additional tickets for staff, at €60 per ticket. Please note there are only 100 additional tickets available. To book tickets, contact Jennifer Barron ([email protected] / 028 21200) as soon as possible.
All category finalists will be profiled in a special 40-page awards supplement which will be published in The Southern Star on Thursday, Nov 22nd.
THE SHORTLIST:
Best SME
sponsored by Skibbereen & Bandon Credit Union
Keohane Readymix
Rowa Pharmaceuticals
O’Donnells Furniture
Blacks Brewery & Distillery
Highly Commended: West Cork Vegetables, Fresh Fish Deli
Best New Business
sponsored by Blueprint Financial Planning
Employmum
RGSK
West Cork Eggs
Highly commended: Beara Distillery
Best Customer Service
sponsored by Trigon Hotels
Sheenco Travel
Murphy’s SuperValu
Hairy Henry
Highly commended: Lemon Leaf Café
Best ‘Not For Profit’
sponsored by Eli Lilly
Bantry Hospice
Employability West Cork
Ludgate Hub
Highly commended: Lisheens House
Best Use of Social/Digital
sponsored by Ludgate Hub
Irish Tech News
Vantage Point Video
Career Services
Highly commended: Travelmaster
Best Artisan Food Company
sponsored by Clonakilty Black Pudding
Caherbeg Free Range Foods
Durrus Cheese
Taste of Irish Spirit
Highly commended: Kinsale Mead
Best Marketing Campaign/Initiative
sponsored by Fitzgerald & Partners
The Little Red Fish Co
Morgan O’Driscoll auctioneers
Sheep’s Head & Bantry Tourism Co-Operative
Highly Commended: Healy’s SuperValu
Best West Cork Festival
sponsored by AIB
West Cork Music
Fastnet Film Festival
A Taste of West Cork Food Festival
Highly commended: Ardfield Summer Festival
Best Unique/Innovative Small Tourism Organisation
sponsored by AIB
Clonakilty Park Adventure Centre
Cottages for Couples
West Cork Farm Tours
Highly commended: Allihies Copper Mine Museum
Outstanding West Cork Tourism Experience
sponsored by The Blue Haven Hotel
Sam Maguire Visitor Experience
Michael Collins House
Cleire & Fastnet Tours
Highly commended: Kinsale Heritage Walks
