*Photograph: Mike Mulcaire.
CLARE’s premium ceremony for business in the county, The Clare Business Excellence Awards have been launched.
Hotel Woodstock in Ennis hosted the well-attended networking breakfast which was hosted by Ennis Chamber in partnership with Clare County Council, the main sponsors of the awards.
This year marks the 15th running of Clare Business Excellence Awards, of which The Clare Echo is media partner and sponsor of the award for ‘Best Use of Social Media’.
New categories have been added this year by organisers to shaken things up.
Ennis Chamber President, Diarmuid McMahon said, “We have introduced several new categories this year including ‘Best Family Business’, ‘Best New Business’ (up to 5 years old), ‘Business for Social Impact’ and a special award to celebrate ‘Innovation in Business’.
“I’m delighted to also introduce our inaugural ‘President’s Award’. This award will be bestowed upon an individual who has a proven track record in exceptional leadership and innovation. We are fortunate in County Clare to have many such candidates,” he added.
Diarmuid, director of auctioneers Sherry Fitzgerald McMahon in Ennis, continued, “We sincerely thank Clare County Council our overall sponsor for their continued commitment to these annual awards and we also thank each of our category sponsors, without them, these awards couldn’t take place. I can confidently guarantee there’s a category to suit all business types and every sector in this year’s awards line-up”.
McMahon concluded, “These awards provide an opportunity to acknowledges and celebrates the contribution that locally based businesses make to Clare’s economy by providing employment and support to local communities”.
Ex Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Cllr. Alan O’Callaghan (FF) noted, “The SME community in County Clare is exceptional, as underpinned by the consistently high calibre finalists and winners of the annual Clare Business Excellence Awards. It is always a source of pride to see businesses continue to innovate and drive economic growth across the county. The capacity and resilience of our business leaders to evolve and adapt is to be admired”.
He added, “We are delighted to support these annual business awards, hosted by Ennis Chamber and are particularly pleased to note how many of the winners and finalists over the years have availed of training opportunities, grants and other supports on offer from Clare County Council, especially the range of initiatives provided by Clare Local Enterprise Office”.
Cllr. O’Callaghan continued, “The Clare Business Excellence Awards provide Clare County Council with a great opportunity to support and showcase the hard-working business community in County Clare. The range of award categories ensures that businesses of all size and representing all sectors can be part of this celebration”.
Margaret O’Brien, CEO Ennis Chamber said, “We look forward to attracting excellent entries again this year from all corners of county Clare and we especially look forward to hosting a fun night out at the Awards Gala on Thursday, November 27.
While we appreciate that everyone is busy, and time is precious, we hope local businesses see the merit of making time to enter this year’s Clare Business Excellence Awards. Submissions can be made online on Ennis Chamber homepage: www.ennischamber.ie
The application forms are short, straightforward and accessible to all. And most important, entries are free.
- BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD – Sponsored by Essilor Luxottica
- BEST VOLUNTARY/ COMMUNITY GROUP – Sponsored by Vitalograph
- BEST MICRO BUSINESS (employing 10 people or less) – Sponsored by Clare Local Enterprise Office
- BEST NEW BUSINESS (UP TO 5 YEARS OLD) – Sponsored by Tierney’s
- BEST FAMILY BUSINESS – Sponsored by MHP Sellors
- INNOVATION IN BUSINESS AWARD – Sponsored by PTSB
- BEST USE OF DIGITAL MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA – Sponsored by The Clare Echo
- BEST SME IN CLARE (10 – 200 employees) – Sponsored by Cup Print
- PROFESSIONAL SERVICES EXCELLENCE AWARD – Sponsored by Bank of Ireland
- BEST MANUFACTURER – sponsored by Ei Electronics
- BEST GREEN & SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES – Sponsored by Rengen Power
- BEST TOURISM EXPERIENCE – Sponsored by TUS
- BEST HOSPITALITY IN CLARE – Sponsored by the Shannon Airport Group
- BEST PLACE TO EAT (2 x sub-categories; Best Restaurant and Best Café) – Sponsored by AIB
- CLARE RETAILER OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by Clean Ireland Recycling
- CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE – Sponsored by McKeogh Gallagher Ryan Accountants
- ‘CLARE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2025’ (Overall Winner) – Sponsored by lead sponsor – Clare County Council
To make a submission: https://www.ennischamber.ie/services/business-awards
Judging and Closing Dates:
Independent adjudicators, Spotcheck NI, will complete mystery visits and reviews for categories involving retail, hospitality, tourism and customer service. For categories depending on written submissions an independent expert panel has been established to adjudicate.
Closing date for mystery visit categories (Hospitality, Retail) August 01, 2025
(Customer Service Excellence/Tourism/Best Place to Eat)
Closing date for written submission categories: September 12, 2025
Finalists to be announced in early October.
This year’s Gala Awards ceremony will take place at the Inn at Dromoland on November 27.
It is FREE to enter Clare Business Excellence Awards. For further information contact: info@ennischamber.ie
