West Cork Business & Tourism awards finalists are 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